Sustainable Ag Workshop Set for March 6 in Griffin, GA

UGA Extension in Spalding County is hosting a workshop on maximizing both production and market potential for sustainable small farms and market gardens.

When: Thursday, March 6, 9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Where: Kiwanis Center in Griffin, GA - Kiwanis Club of Griffin, 1025 South Hill St., Griffin, Ga 30224
Cost: $5 fee includes instruction, materials, and lunch.
Registration: Preregistration by March 3 is required. Please call 770-467-4225, or email uge2255@uga.edu to preregister.

The workshop is second in a series organized by Spalding County Agent Wade Hutchinson. For more information, read the description, which includes the list of topics to be covered, in the Georgia FACES article "Sustainable Ag Workshop Set for Griffin," or call 770-467-4225, or email uge2255@uga.edu.

Egg Candling Classes Scheduled in Paulding County

The Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) has scheduled four back-to-back classes in Paulding County for certification in egg candling:

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

UGA Extension/Paulding County

530 West Memorial Drive

Dallas, GA 30132

The classes will be offered at two hour intervals, starting at 8:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 12 noon, and 2:00 p.m.

Anyone planning to sell eggs to individuals or at a farmers market must hold an egg candling certificate. According to GDA information, the license can be obtained by successfully taking and passing both written and candling exams.

Classes are open to any Georgia resident, without age restrictions. There is no charge, but preregistration is required. Time slots will be available on a first-come-first-served basis. Study materials will be mailed by the GDA after registration.

To register:
Call the GDA at 770-535-5955, and provide your name, mailing address, email address, and preferred class time.

Upcoming Events

Dahlias

Tuesday, February 11, 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. Free and open to the public. Free Seminar covers the basics of growing beautiful Dahlias all summer and preserving the tubers for sharing and for spring planting. Presented by Renae Lemon of UGA Extension/Cobb County, in the second floor classroom at 678 South Cobb Drive, Marietta, GA, 30060. Please preregister by calling 770-528-4070.

Weed ID for Weed Control

Friday, February 14, noon to 1:00 p.m. Free and open to the public. Presented by County Agent Neil Tarver as part of the ongoing Lunch & Learn series of the Master Gardener Volunteers of Cobb County, at the Training Room of the Cobb County Water lab, 662 South Cobb Drive (at the intersection with Atlanta Rd.). Neil will help us identify weeds in order to select the most effective method of controlling them.  

Creativity in Growing and Using herbs

Tuesday, February 18, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.  Free and open to the public. Presented by Tracy Minjauw of the Chattahoochee Herb Society, as part of the ongoing Gardeners Night Out presentation series of the Master Gardener Volunteers of Cobb County, at West Cobb Regional Library, 1750 Dennis Kemp Lane

Seed Starting for the Vegetable Garden

Thursday, February 20, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. Presented by Amy Whitney, of UGA Extension/Cobb County, in the second floor classroom at 678 South Cobb Drive, Marietta, GA, 30060. $5 charge for supplies. Preregistration is required: Call 770-528-4070. Doors open at 6:00 p.m.  Space will be limited.

Spring Vegetable Gardening and Early Disease Management

Saturday, March 8, 11:00 a.m. – noon.  Free and open to the public. Presented by Amy Whitney, of UGA Extension/Cobb County, at Crossroads Community Garden, Chestnut Ridge Christian Church, 2663 Johnson Ferry Road, Marietta, 30062.

If Plants Could Talk – a Cherokee Relationship

Friday, March 14, noon to 1:00 p.m. Free and open to the public. Presented by Master Gardener Tony Harris as part of the ongoing Lunch & Learn series of the Master Gardener Volunteers of Cobb County, at the Training Room of the Cobb County Water lab, 662 South Cobb Drive (at the intersection with Atlanta Rd.). Learn how the Cherokee used plants for food, medicine, tools, weapons, shelter, and ceremonial purposes.

Tomatoes 101

Tuesday, March 18, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. Free and open to the public. Presented by Renae Lemon, of UGA Extension/Cobb County, at the Powder Springs Library, 4181 Atlanta Street, Powder Springs. 

Seed Saving for the Vegetable Garden

Thursday, March 20, 6:30 – 8 p.m. Free and open to the public. The class will be presented by Amy Whitney, of UGA Extension/Cobb County, in the second floor classroom at 678 South Cobb Drive, Marietta, GA, 30060. Please preregister by calling 770-528-4070. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. 

When Evergreen Shrubs Turn Brown from a Hard Freeze

When the leaves of azaleas, camellias, gardenias, and other evergreen shrubs turn brown after a hard freeze in winter, the instinctive first step that a  homeowner wants to take is to prune away the ugly, dead-looking parts of the plants. Instead, the first action to take is to keep away from the pruning shears!

UGA Extension's Keith Mickler, in the GA FACES article "Don't prune ice-covered ornamental plants until spring," says "The best advice for now is the 'wait and see approach.'"

He explains: "Severe pruning should be delayed until new growth appears in the spring. Waiting ensures live wood is not removed." Mickler adds, "Pruning away dead wood can expose buds, which may still be alive, to harsh elements. Another hard freeze just might wipe out any survivors."

For those who consider the browned leaved too unsightly to allow them to remain in the landscape, Mickler says that the dead leaves may be removed.

For additional information about caring for ornamental plants in winter, see the complete article, linked above, and UGA's publication "Winter protection of ornamental plants."

Annual 4-H Plant Sale

Flyers for the 2014 4-H plant sale are here! This annual fundraiser includes plants for nearly every landscape, offering hardy and productive varieties of berries, muscadines, and figs, and flowering shrubs and perennials for sun and for shade, including a shrub for semi-shade, the fragrant Daphne relative Edgeworthia chrysantha that flowers on bare stems in winter.

New for this year are two ferns, Autumn fern and Tassel fern, the shrub Flowering Quince, variety Cameo, and an ornamental grass, Miscanthus 'Purperescens', that has reddish tinged green blades in summer turning orange-red in fall and burgundy in winter.

As in the past, plants are ordered through the Cobb County Cooperative Extension office, and the prepaid orders are picked up at Jim Miller Park on one day only; this year that day is Saturday, March 15, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.  The deadline for the prepaid order  is Friday, March 7.

For those whose gardens are full but who would like to support 4-H, donations are also very much appreciated.

For more information about the plants, including pricing and specific varieties available, pick up a copy of the 4-H Plant Sale flyer-and-order-form at the Cobb County Cooperative Extension office or download one from our website. To download, go to the homepage, then click on the button below the words


.
that are below the program area links.

Anyone interested in learning more about growing the offered fruits at home is invited to attend a presentation by Agriculture Agent Neil Tarver on Wednesday, March 5, from 6:30 - 8 p.m. at the Cobb Water System Training lab. He will present information about the ornamental plants on Monday, March 3, from 6:30 - 8 p.m. at the same location.

To register for either seminar, call 770-528-4070, or check the appropriate box on the 4-H Plant Sale flyer-and-order-form.