- Author: Chutima Ganthavorn
Early in the morning of Saturday, July 13, 2019, it was already getting warm. The temperature had been in the 90's lately. But as Bryan Medina promised, six youth/young adults from Inland Empire Job Corps showed up with their supervisor, Calvin Pondexter. They were there at the Riverside Faith Temple in Eastside Riverside to help with the new garden start-up effort. Pastor Duane Sims has been working with the University of California Cooperative Extension teams (Master Gardeners and CalFresh Healthy Living, UC) in the past six months to convert the empty lot across from the church into a community garden.
On this day, Nicole Ogosi, a staff member from CalFresh Healthy Living, UC, brought orange infused water to show the best way to quench your thirst on a hot sunny day. The water tasted great! Job Corps youth spent three hours that morning to help remove dried weeds, rocks and debris. Everyone pitched in and together we generated over 40 bags of trash. UCCE Master Gardener, Thurman Howard, taught us the difference between soil and dirt (soil has nutrients and microorganisms; dirt does not) and the value of being patient with your land. It takes time to remove weeds and cultivate your soil. He said, “Don't be in a hurry. You want to have good soil to grow good crops.” I am glad I got to spend the morning with this group of young adults. We all had a good workout and did some good work! Thank you Inland Empire Job Corps!
- Author: Chutima Ganthavorn
- Author: Marlyn Pulido
- Editor: Michele Byrnes
This week, schools across the nation are celebrating Red Ribbon Week (October 23-31, 2018). This annual campaign has raised drug awareness and educated youth to participate in drug prevention activities since 1988. This year with the school's focus on student wellness, Cesar Chavez Elementary expanded the drug prevention message to include loving and taking care of the whole body. Instead of just saying NO to drugs, the school wanted to include positive messaging as well. Two school teachers, Megan Greene and Veronica Alvarez, invited the UC CalFresh team (Marlyn Pulido, Itzel Palacios-Sanchez and Nicole Ogosi) to present “My Amazing Body” during the student assemblies for Kinder/1st to 4th grades. The event MC/DJ, Carlos Castaneda, did a great job getting the children excited. The students had a wonderful time getting their heart pumping, feeling the bones in their arms and giving themselves a hug because their body is so amazing! The UC CalFresh curriculum, “My Amazing Body” teaches kids to eat right, stay active, sleep well and wash their hands. Thank you Cesar Chavez Elementary for this opportunity to promote student wellness! We are looking forward to continue implementing nutrition education in your school.
- Author: Cheryl Reynolds
Learn about opportunities to receive continuing education hours. October is upon us and before you know it, we'll be wrapped up in the busy holiday season. If you hold a license or certificate from the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) and have a last name that begins with letters A through L, this is your year to renew. DPR encourages license and certificate holders to avoid the end-of-the-year rush and submit renewal applications by November 1.
Early renewal has its advantages. DPR can take up to 60 days to process a renewal application. Submitting applications now not only avoids late fees and gives you time to fix any problems that DPR may find, such as not having enough continuing education (CE) hours to renew, but also ensures that you will have your new certificate or license by the first of the year.
Without a renewed license in hand, you are not allowed to use or supervise the use of pesticides after January 1, 2019 until you receive it. You also run the risk of having to retest if there are problems with the renewal application and not enough time to fix them.
If you need a few last-minute credits, take a look at the online courses the UC Statewide IPM Program (UC IPM) offers:
Laws and Regulations
- Proper Selection, Use, and Removal of Personal Protective Equipment (1.5 hours) $30.00 charge NEW for 2018
- Proper Pesticide Use to Avoid Illegal Residues (2 hours) $40.00 charge
- Providing Integrated Pest Management Services in Schools and Child Care Settings (1 hour Laws and Regulations and 1 hour Other)
Other
- Citrus IPM: California Red Scale (1 hour)
- Citrus IPM: Citricola Scale (1 hour)
- Citrus IPM: Citrus Peelminer (1 hour)
- Citrus IPM: Citrus Red Mite (1 hour)
- Citrus IPM: Cottony Cushion Scale (1 hour)
- Citrus IPM: Forktailed Bush Katydid (1 hour)
- Pesticide Application Equipment and Calibration (1.5 hours)
- Pesticide Resistance (2 hours)
- Tuta absoluta: A Threat to California Tomatoes (1 hour)
- Urban Pesticide Runoff and Mitigation: IPM – Pesticide Properties (1 hour)
- Urban Pesticide Runoff and Mitigation: Impact of Pesticides - Urban Pesticide Runoff (1 hour)
- Urban Pesticide Runoff and Mitigation: Water Quality and Mitigation: Bifenthrin and Fipronil (1 hour)
- Urban Pesticide Runoff and Mitigation: Herbicides and Water Quality (1 hour)
UC Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) is also offering monthly webinars on specific pest issues for CEUs. More information can be found on the UC Ag Experts Talk website.
Check out the list of DPR-approved continuing education courses. For more information about license renewal, visit DPR's licensing and certification webpage.
Learn about pest management and other training opportunities from UC IPM.
- Author: Chutima Ganthavorn
- Editor: Michele Byrnes
The California Agriculture (Ag) in the Classroom Conference is held once a year to bring teachers and anyone interested together to learn about ag. This year, the conference is held in So Cal at the beautiful Renaissance Hotel – Marriott, in Palm Springs from September 27-29, 2018. Ag teachers and supporters from all over the State attended. UC Cooperative Extension's UC CalFresh Nutrition Education Program in Riverside County had an exhibit to showcase our nutrition and gardening curriculum “TWIGS”, Teams With Inter-Generational Support. According to Marilyn Johns, Cooperative Extension Advisor-Emerita and the author of this curriculum, TWIGS is designed to be community-based and to integrate schools, agencies and the community to focus on the positive development of children. Involving children in the development, planting, care of, harvesting, and consumption of a vegetable garden has great potential for positively impacting children's attitudes, preferences for, and consumption of vegetables. Over 40 teachers from as far north as Butte County to as far south as Imperial County, signed up for more information about the UC Cooperative Extension nutrition program and TWIGS curriculum. Thank you to the Riverside County Farm Bureau and the California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom for this informative and inspiring conference!
- Author: Sonia Rios
ACP Scouting and Monitoring Workshop for Growers in Riverside County
The University of California Cooperative Extension is hosting free workshops for citrus grove owners, managers and farmers. The workshop will provide an overview of proper Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) scouting techniques from University of California research entomologists Dr. Monique Rivera. Attendees will have the opportunity to practice psyllid scouting techniques in blocks of trees known to host ACP.
- No cost to attend this event
- Strongly encouraged to bring a hand lens (a loaner hand lens will be provided if needed).
- 1.5 of “other” DPR Continuing Education Hours will be given.
- Further details on workshop location will be provided to registrants by email 48 hours prior to the event.
Space is limited, please register at: http://ucanr.edu/survey/survey.cfm?surveynumber=25658
October 2, 2018, 9-11 AM
If you have any questions, please contact:
Sonia Rios
951-683-6491 EXT 224
