- Author: Chutima Ganthavorn
- Editor: Michele Byrnes
Summer is finally over and students at Loma Vista Middle School in Alvord Unified have returned to start a new school year. The student garden club held their first meeting on August 22, 2019. Regina Linton, the school garden teacher, was pleased to see over 50 students joining the club this year, including several students who returned from last year. Regina started the garden club in 2015 and obtained a grant to expand the garden following year. These efforts helped the school win the Gold Award twice from the Alliance for a Healthier Generation's National Healthy Schools Program. To keep the school garden club going, Regina relies on the help and support from CalFresh Healthy Living at University of California (CFHL,UC) and Master Gardener Program from University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE).
On this hot afternoon, the students were excited to see several weed filled garden beds waiting to be cleaned up. UCCE Master Gardeners Debbra Corbin-Euston and Kim Coons-Leonard, CFHL,UC Educators Claudia Carlos and Itzel Palacios-Sanchez, and two interns from Loma Linda School of Public Health, Jennifer Tran and Sarah McAfee, were on hand to help supervise students. The two master gardeners taught students to differentiate weeds from the baby nasturtiums which are edible plants, and how to use tools for weeding. With so many hands, a lot of work was accomplished in just one hour. The garden beds soon were presentable and ready for the next step. The students will get to plant a winter crop later this month, and a couple of garden beds will be used to plant a cultural garden for Shaping Healthy Choices Program which is being implemented in Mrs. Hipp's class this year by CFHL,UC.
- Author: Chutima Ganthavorn
- Editor: Michele Byrnes
Parents of new and returning students at Arizona Middle School in Alvord Unified were greeted by University of California Cooperative Extension Master Gardener, Eva Mayer and CalFresh Healthy Living-UC Program Supervisor, Claudia Carlos during the back to school night on August 22, 2019. Eva and Claudia conducted a youth engagement garden project at this school last year and they are looking for students to continue expanding on this project. Prospective students and parents were invited to do a quick tour of the garden and sign up for the upcoming garden club meeting.
The garden has become the focal point for this school and the pride and joy for students and staff alike. Last year, the Library Assistant, Mary Beth Stevens donated a garden bench that provided a place for students, teachers and parents to sit in solitude and enjoy nature. Eva and her son Eli have also donated several items and worked hard to create the tranquil and inviting atmosphere to the garden. Eli Mayer graduated from this school many years ago and is happy to be back to take care of this garden. What a treat to see a couple of butterfly cocoons or chrysalis hanging on a branch and several butterflies flying around. Indeed, this is a garden that shows love and care. Thanks to Eva and Eli, and to Brittany Peacock, the school garden teacher and Principal Jeffrey Diulio for all their support! CalFresh Healthy Living-UC and local partners are transforming the school environment, one school at a time, to support healthy eating and healthy living.
- 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.
