- Author: Susana C. Bruzzone-Miller
The expanding presence of the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) threatens the California citrus industry. However, this tiny, flying insect that can transmit the harmful and incurable Huanglongbing (HBL) disease may have met its match-a wasp from Pakistan.
The UC Hansen Fund provided $53,000 to support the biological control of ACP research efforts of entomologist Dr. Mark Hoddle, UC Cooperative Extension Specialist and his team from UC Riverside. "The work Hansen funded will play a key role in the ACP suppression program throughout California, and it will become integral to the IPM program for commercial operations that Ventura County pioneered", said John Krist, CEO of the Farm Bureau of Ventura County.
The Los Angeles Times reports release of the wasp in residential areas of Southern California, including Ventura County.
- Author: Susana C. Bruzzone-Miller
Join the University of California Cooperative Extension in a one-day statewide science project. It's easy to participate. You can join us at the UC Hansen Agricultural Reaseach and Extension Center (UC HAREC) in Santa Paula where we will be celebrating 100 years of science and service all day. Or, you can simply go outside your own home, school or place of work and record observations. Your answers will help build a healthier future for you and your community.
1. How many pollinators do you see? Spend three minutes outside counting how many you see then add the to our pollinator map.
2. How are you conserving water? Tell us how and if you're conserving water in your home, garden, landscape, or on your farm.
3. Where is food grown in your community? Help us populate our California food map by telling us where there's a garden or a farm in your neighborhood.
If you would like to join the celebration at UC HAREC, please do so!! Suggested times:
- Preschool Open House 9-11 a.m.
- School-age Youth Open House 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Community Welcome 2-5 p.m.
For more information go to http://ceventura.ucanr.edu/ANR_Centennial_/
Join the social media conversation by following #BeAScientist on Twitter.
Are you an educator or do you work with kids in an afterschool program? No problem! Download our fact sheets and lesson plans to do fun classroom and learning activities.
There are so many ways to participate! Record your observations, share your pictures, and tell us what's happening in your community.
Be a scientist for a day on May 8, 2014
- Author: Susana C. Bruzzone-Miller
Second graders-175 in all, from Sycamore Canyon School in Thousand Oaks gave the 4-H Classroom Outreach lesson rave reviews last week. "Farmers" Jim and Joanne Abing, our UC volunteer team, provided lively presentations to each of the seven classes that rotated through for a morning of fun and learning! The lesson aligns with education in the classroom as well as in the school garden and includes-plant cycle, edible plant parts, pollination, and the importance of healthy eating. Classroom outreach lessons (K-5th grades) will be delivered at different Ventura County school sites each Wednesday throughout the spring.
- Author: Susana C. Bruzzone-Miller
Twenty 7th and 8th graders from Balboa Middle School are enrolled in the 17-week after-school program. Activities are led by Food Corps member, Chris Massa, currently serving with Ventura Unified where he supports the Farm to School work.
The experiential learning format of the student farm consists of a short lecture followed by hands-on practice. Weekly topics include Ventura County agriculture, food safety, soils, irrigation, plant biology, integrated pest management, seeds, sustainable food systems, nutrition and cooking. Students participate in monthly field trips to local farms and Ag related businesses to gain a better understanding of agriculture and career opportunities. Produce grown on the student farm will be sold back to Balboa's cafeteria to be used in the salad bar. Some will be donated to Food Share, a local food bank. Any subsequent profit will be used to support the program.
The students participated in all aspects of the farm from laying down irrigation to weeding the rows. Some of the January plantings are ready and the students proudly harvested and delivered 60 pounds of radishes and 7 pounds of cilantro to the school cafeteria. Ten pounds of radishes were harvested and donated to Food Share. This week student will continue harvesting spinach and cilantro.
- Author: Susana C. Bruzzone-Miller
Last week's much needed rain helped our field trip garden and rye maze double in size...just in time for today's spring education and outreach season kickoff. The garden isn't the only thing that's growing. Our education volunteer pool has also grown. Winter volunteer recruitment was very successful. We welcome six amazing new volunteers that have now completed the application, orientation and training process. They are ready to start working with students and we are excited to have them on board.
Dr. Roslynn Brain, Assistant Professor and Sustainable Communities Extension Specialist from Utah State University will be at the Center March 17-19. She will conduct a 3 day train the trainer workshop for her sustainability youth camp called Sustainable You.The program is geared grades 4-6. Our new intern, Chris Massa, will deliver the week-long camp at the Center summer 2014. The training is open to RECs, 4H and community partners. Contact sbmiller@ucanr.edu to attend.
Preparations are under way for May 8th UCCE-Ventura County: A Celebration of Science and Service. Self-guided activities...preschool to adult will be available throughout the day at HAREC. All participants will also be encouraged to participate in a state-wide research opportunity to collect data using the computer application developed by the Centennial committee. The central themes will be water, food, and pollinators. More details to follow, stay tuned.