- Author: Chris M. Webb
Ever wonder what 4-Her’s do? They are busy for sure! Read the following Featured Club Happening, to find what has been happening in the Chief Peak club submitted by club leader Jackie Larson.
Chief Peak meets in Upper Ojai where most of our members live. If you don’t know where that is you can find it up the mountain on HWY 150 between Ojai and Santa Paula.
We have been meeting at Summit School for over 50 years and we’re about as rural as Ventura County gets. The little school we meet at has about 50 kids total and about 10 % of them are 4-Hers. A lot of the parents in our club were members when they were kids. Once 4-H is in your blood it seems to stay there.
Although we may be small in numbers we are mighty in spirit. Our biggest project this year is Market Swine with 17 kids expecting to go to fair this year. Our Mini Horse project marched in the Ojai 4th of July parade along with a trip to Quick Silver Ranch in Solvang. Our Pygmy Goat project is growing by leaps and bounds and this year there will be bouncing babies everywhere. We also have Photography, Scrapbooking, Arts & Crafts, Archery, Beef, Horse, and Rabbits. We’re hoping to get a Science Project going this upcoming year as well.
Community service is a very important part of our club. Last year we collected donations for soldiers in Afghanistan and mailed off 6 big boxes of treats and supplies to them. Each November in the last few years, we have collected and bagged snacks for the Homeless Shelter Program in Ojai along with sponsoring one of the dinners served at the shelter. We cook all the food and deliver it to the church serving the dinner and some of the older members stay and help serve. We participate in TOTSOCE by bringing in our own donations since we don’t really have neighborhoods to trick or treat in. In December we got together for our annual Holiday Cookie Baking Party. Covered in flour we baked dozens and dozens of cookies for the shelter and ourselves.
The 4-H Featured Club Happenings is part of Cloverlines, our 4-H newsletter. These newsletters can be found on our office website.
- Author: Chris M. Webb
As we move out of our rainy season, many of us will again rely on sprinkler systems to water our lawns. UC ANR has a great publication for optimizing water use on lawns. Easy to follow instructions are provided to help people reduce water use in three steps:
- Determine if your grass is a warm-season or cool-season variety
- Determine the output of your sprinklers
- Determine how many minutes you need to water your lawn each week
This resource can by found by clicking here.
For additional related topics please see our previous posts:
There is only one week left to register for this year’s Watershed U series. The course will cover the Ventura River Watershed. See our previous blog post for details and registration!
- Author: Chris M. Webb
The County of Ventura Integrated Waste Management Division website is a great resource for the community. At the site you will find information about recycling, reusing and reducing waste. It is the spot to find out about local hazardous waste collection dates and locations. You will also find links to other programs and websites for more information and opportunities to reduce your carbon footprint – for both individuals and businesses.
On Saturday March 27, 2010 the County of Ventura Integrated Waste Management Division will be holding their 2010 Truckload Event. They will be selling backyard compost bins and rain harvesting barrels at a greatly reduced cost. Check the flyer for details.
Composting and rain harvesting are both great ways to improve water quality and water quantity.
- Author: Chris M. Webb
Farmers markets are a great place for farmers to sell their produce and for the public to support local agriculture . These regular events around our county attract many people.
Who regulates our local farmers markets? The County of Ventura Agricultural Commissioner’s office is responsible for this task. Their website has a great collection of information for both farmers and consumers. Useful links can be found at the site, including:
- California Dept. of Food and Agriculture Certified Farmers Market program and other related programs
- California Organic Program
- National Organic Program
- Local Fresh Food Guide
- Ventura County Certified Farmers Markets
- Author: Chris M. Webb
There is much community and grower support to stop the Asian Citrus Psyllid (ACP) from becoming established in Ventura County. While it has not yet been identified in our county, it is very close. An ACP was found recently in Van Nuys.
This is an extremely dangerous pest because it can carry the vector for the disease, Huanglongbing (HLB, also known as citrus greening), that destroys citrus trees, orchards and related industries in locations were ACP becomes established.
Invasive pests and disease, such as the ACP/HLB pest-disease complex negatively affect agricultural productivity, public health, natural resource biodiversity and our own backyards.
Thank you all for your support. Please contact our office if you would like hard copy outreach materials for yourself or for groups.