- Author: Chris M. Webb
Read below to learn a little about Ventura County Santa Rosa Valley 4-H club. This article was featured in a recent addition of Clover Lines, our 4-H newsletter. This article and others can be found on our website.
by Terri Hargleroad
Santa Rosa Valley club is excited to start a new 4-H year. We are a large and growing club of nearly 100 members. We have projects ranging from cake decorating to pygmy goats to motorcycles to horses.
Our Horse project had a great time at the horse fair and won the barn awards this year. They competed in Western, English and Gymkhana events.
We just returned from the big fair where our members showed their years work in such projects as Photography, Jewelry, Cavies, Lambs, Poultry and much more.
Our quietest meeting of the year was when we had Officer Alvarez from the Ventura County K9 Unit visit us with his dog, Fibi. The kids and adults listened to every word, asked great questions and were allowed to pet Fibi. Fibi did tricks!
We also participate in several community service events throughout the year as a club. We work at Underwood Farms, Operation Gratitude and TOTSOCE. Our kids who are too young to help out with some of the community service help write letters to the troops at Christmas and Valentine’s Day.
We also fill the year with fun activities like potlucks, a Halloween event, an Easter Egg Hunt and a swim party. The end of the year pool party was a blast with swimming,potluck, awards and our send-off to the kids moving on to college.
This year we are adding many more projects - like Fashion Revue, Bicycles, Canning and Interior Design. There are a lot of new skills to learn for each of us.
Happy New 4-H Year. It is going to be great!
- Author: Chris M. Webb
The following Featured Club Happenings was written and submitted by two 10 year old Somis 4-H Club Members, Jorden Harber and Juliette Avalos.
Somis 4-H is a smaller club with only about 30 members; however, it has a lot to offer!
We started off the 4-H year with an ice cream social and by sharing the many awards that were earned at the Ventura County fair!
At our monthly club meetings, the 4-Hers share their experiences in community service, projects, and/or any awards they have earned.
This year, Somis 4-H is offering many animal projects such as Poultry, Lamb, and Swine.
Our club is proud to participate in many community service projects such as Rescue Mission, TOTSOCE, beach clean-ups, and we have our own graffiti task force. This year all of our fall service projects such as the toy and turkey drives will be donated to the Salvation Army.
Some other projects offered this year include cooking, CPR/first aid, coyote calling, hiking and arts and crafts. Some of us will learn to cook a full meal for the first time or test our courage by calling coyotes in the middle of the night.
Somis 4-H has a wonderful variety of projects for all ages and all interests!
Featured Club Happenings are regularly included in our Clover Lines 4-H Newsletter. Additional articles and newsletters can be found here.
- Author: Chris M. Webb
At this time of year many Ventura County 4-H youth participate in the TOTSOCE (Trick or Treat so Others Can Eat) community service project. Instead of going door to door for candy, these kids go door to door for canned and other non-perishable food items. The food is then passed on to FOOD Share, Ventura County’s food bank. They in turn distribute the food to a network of certified charitable agencies in our county.
Last year 4,170 pounds of food was collected. The official collection period for this project is October 19th through November 8th, and the goal is 5,000 pounds. Please do what you can to support this effort.
While the project is organized by Ventura County 4-H and FOOD Share, the project is open to other youth groups and organizations. If interested, contact totsoce@gmail.com.
- Author: Chris M. Webb
The USDA has just launched a website, “Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food”. The main goal of the site is to create new economic opportunities by connecting local food producers and consumers. In addition the USDA wants to help people be more connected and aware of the importance of understanding where our food comes from and how it gets onto our plates.
How does the USDA hope to accomplish these goals?
- By building the infrastructure to support the growth and viability of small and mid-sized farms and ranches new opportunities will in turn strengthen local and regional food systems and the communities they serve.
- They want people to make smart decisions about what they eat. Communities filled with people making healthy decisions will further support and strengthen local communities.
- The USDA will work with interested food producers to lower their energy costs and improve their resource management as well as assisting to preserve farm and ranch lands.
- These goals will be met using programs and people to support this effort. An assortment of programs and grant funds are available to help make this vision a reality.
To find out more, please visit www.usda.gov/knowyourfarmer.
- Author: Chris M. Webb
Our Ventura County UCCE Master Gardeners work hard delivering science-based gardening information to the public. One of the ways they accomplish this is through their MG Speaker Bureau. The speakers are very knowledgeable in their subjects and are available for group meetings.
The current topics offered are:
- Composting
- Container Gardening
- Container Vegetable Gardening
- Fruit Gardening
- Garden Design/Plant Selection
- Gifts from the Garden
- Introductory Horticulture
- Pest Management
- Water-Wise Gardening
- Low Cost/No Cost Gardening
- Low Maintenance Gardening
- Propagation
- Pruning
- Roses
- Tomato Culture
- What About Soils?
- Succulents and Cacti
- Vegetable Gardening
- What is a Master Gardener?
- Peppers, Onions and Tomato Facts
- Fertilizer Use
- Weed Killers
Additional information and instructions on how to request a speaker can be found by clicking here. Please contact our office if you need additional information.