March Challenge:
Use your canvas grocery bag at more than the grocery store! Get in the habit of using them all over. 1.14 million disposable grocery bags are used in the US every hour.
Archives of past newsletters:
Free Backyard Composting Classes
Would
you be interested in something that would make your lawn
greener and more resistant to the summer heat or
something that would fertilize your flowers and allow
for less watering? It’s not a hoax; it’s not an
infomercial…its compost!
Thanks to a grant through the America Recovery Reinvestment Act, the Johnson County Environmental Department and the Johnson County K-State Research and Extension Office are working together to teach Johnson County citizens how to turn leaves, grass and other organic materials into dark rich compost. Your lawn can provide you everything you need to produce compost that will do all this and more! Composting in your backyard is simple once you get familiar with the 5 Rules of Rot.
But how do I learn about the 5 Rules of Rot, you ask? See our list of upcoming classes online here. Learn the basics of how to build a compost pile, where to put your compost pile, and what to do with it when it’s done. Each class is instructed by an Extension Master Composter with over 20 hours of instruction in the art of composting and is also an Extension Master Gardener. Do you have a group that would like to learn more? Contact the KSU Extension Office at 913-715-7000 for more details on how you can schedule an Extension Master Composter to come speak with your group or event for free.
How Green Does Your Garden Grow?
Find
out how green your garden grows by taking the “Kansas
Healthy Yards and Communities” assessment at
www.kansasgreenyards.com!
This online assessment allows you to discover how
environmentally friendly your lawn care practices are
and find out if you are a beginner environmentalist by
“Waiting to Sprout” or an expert that is “Blooming with
Green.”
The Kansas Healthy Yards and Communities is a state-wide initiative by K-State Research and Extension to educate the public on environmentally friendly lawn and garden care techniques. Following the Healthy Yards Program will create a healthy, beautiful yard, enhance your neighborhood and community, and protect the environment.
The Healthy Yards strategies include 1) Building a healthy soil, 2) Right plant, right place, 3) Water wise, 4) Mulch, 5) Grasscycle and Compost, 6) Stormwater runoff and water quality, and 7) Songbirds and Butterflies. The Kansas Healthy Yards and Communities website is full of valuable resources, including tips and demonstration videos, all designed to help you have an environmentally friendly yard.
Locally, the Johnson County Stormwater Management Program and the cities of Overland Park and Lenexa have partnered with Johnson County K-State Extension to host the first Kansas Healthy Yards Expo at the Lenexa Conference Center (11184 Lackman Rd.) on March 27th from 9 am -3 pm. This green lawn and garden show will feature vendors who can help you “green” up your lawn care practices. For more information on the expo, please visit www.johnson.ksu.edu and click on the “Johnson County Healthy Yards Expo” link.