-
News you can use
- Statewide pest management trainings for school coordinators start in March
- From pests to pollutants, keeping schools healthy and clean is no simple task
- SPN: Warm-Season Turfgrass Fall/Winter Preparation
- Uninvited vultures draw community ire: AgriLife provides solutions to human-vulture conflict
- Statewide pest management trainings for school coordinators start in March New laws went in effect that school districts, coordinators need to be aware of
Tag Archives: school garden
Uninvited vultures draw community ire: AgriLife provides solutions to human-vulture conflict
What can Texans do when their neighbors are unsightly, smelly and have the habit of relieving themselves wherever they like? If those neighbors happen to be one of the state’s two vulture species, they can call on the expertise of wildlife specialists with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and Texas Wildlife Services. “The range and population of turkey vultures and black vultures has expanded over the past decade, leading to increased interactions with humans in both urban and rural settings,” said Mikayla Killam, AgriLife Extension wildlife program specialist with… Read More →
Youth gardening programs grow great kids
There are numerous benefits when youth participate in the Junior Master Gardener Program. Research has shown that outdoor interests, physical activity, and good nutrition all yield positive benefits for youth. And research also shows gardening is an excellent way for young people to connect with nature and learn about personal responsibility, commitment, and teamwork. “Through Junior Master Gardener youth programs we engage young people in novel, hands-on group and individual learning experiences that help them develop a love of gardening and an appreciation for the environment, while also cultivating their… Read More →
What’s that blob in my playground?
Are you seeing a lot of odd looking blobs of yellow, pink, white, or even orange looking foam substance? You are not alone. And no it’s not some animal vomiting, this is Slim Mold. Slime molds belong in the phylum Myxomycota in the kingdom Protista. They are not a true fungus. These organisms exist in nature as a “blob” (plasmodium), similar to a amoeba. And they engulf their food, mostly bacteria. The slime mold that typically appear on mulches are from the genus, Fuligo septica . The brightly… Read More →
School IPM Coordinator Training Odessa
Day One – Required New Coordinator Training If you’re a new IPM Coordinator and have not yet taken the six-hour mandatory IPM Coordinator training, this class is for you. This class fulfills Texas state requirements for IPM Coordinators under Texas Administrative Code (TAC), Title 4, Part 1, Chapter 7, Subchapter H, Division 7 School IPM (whether this is your first time, or you just need a refresher course). The course instructors help coordinators understand their role in the school IPM program and help prepare them for TDA inspections…. Read More →
School IPM Coordinator Training – Houston Area
Day One – Required New Coordinator Training If you’re a new IPM Coordinator and have not yet taken the six-hour mandatory IPM Coordinator training, this class is for you. This class fulfills Texas state requirements for IPM Coordinators under Texas Administrative Code (TAC), Title 4, Part 1, Chapter 7, Subchapter H, Division 7 School IPM (whether this is your first time, or you just need a refresher course). The course instructors help coordinators understand their role in the school IPM program and help prepare them for TDA inspections…. Read More →
SPN: Announcing the 2020 School IPM Coordinator Training Schedule
The long awaited 2020 School IPM Coordinator training schedule for Texas A&M AgriLife Extension is finally here! If you can’t make one of our in-person trainings check out the online courses at AgriLife Online Pest and Weed Control Courses there you can find the 6 hour School IPM Coordinator class and new for 2020 a 1 hour School IPM refresher class that will allow you to receive this credit to complement a 5 hour structural CEU course to fulfill the 6 hours you need every three years to… Read More →
SPN: Gardens, Mosquitoes and Fungi
In this month’s edition of School Pest News, I have several items to share with you. In an effort to help School IPM Coordinators in TX with their school garden programs, I recently worked with the Junior Master Gardener team to develop a simple document that help explains the volunteers and teacher roles in the school garden process. This document can be shared with those in your district overseeing gardens to help educate them as well. At the same time, there is an online module on School Gardens… Read More →
Bugs and basil: Insecticides and veggies don’t always mix
Who wants to eat insecticide? Not me, and I’m guessing certainly not your customers. So if your company does residential pest control, are your employees trained to know what to do when they encounter a vegetable garden, fruit or nut tree in a backyard? And are they trained to answer a customer’s questions about the safety of their insecticides around vegetables or herbs? I’m guessing this subject is not commonly addressed in technician training classes. I was asked by an industry sales representative this week: “Is it appropriate… Read More →
KEEP YOUR SCHOOL GARDEN PROGRAMS GREEN!
Funding School Garden Programs for long term success. By Jeffery Raska, Program Assistant, 4-H Youth Development, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension – Dallas County Many times, I am asked by school groups at the initial planning meeting, “Can I do this or can we build that’’ and my answer is always the same, sure we can ‘’ it only takes money and knowhow!!” I am amazed that some of the best initially funded schools obtain funding to start a garden, but do not have an ongoing budget planned to… Read More →
Getting a school garden blooming (The Garden Committee)
By: Jeff Raska, Program Assistant, 4-H Youth Development, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Dallas County Texas jwraska@ag.tamu.edu A school vegetable garden can be a wonderful outdoor classroom for studying natural science or just hanging out writing a story. Having worked on and off with school gardens for 25 years I have seen many great school garden programs bloom and fade as time passes and school priorities change. For the last 7 years, I have had the privilege of working with school gardens as a 4-H Program Assistant for Dallas… Read More →
.