Find a Farmers’ Market
Hi folks, USU Extension has created a new listing of Farmers’ Markets that will be open in 2021, Yea!!! The website will be continuously updated to reflect on-going changes. Find a Farmers’ MarketRead more
Happy Mother’s Day
Happy Mother’s Day to all you moms out there!!! In celebration of your special day, here is a recent The Herald Journal News article which featured USU’s own worm whisperer. ‘Worm whisperer’: USU student uses earthworms to turn food waste to fertilizerRead more
2021 Vegetable IPM Twilight Meetings
Come learn and discuss new pest topics, production practices, and share your questions and thoughts with other vegetable producers and USU Extension experts. All meetings will start at 7 PM MDT and use the same Zoom Meeting link, participants are encouraged to come prepared to discuss, ask questions, and share ideas. Schedule of Meetings May…Read more
USU’s New Website on Drought
Due to drought conditions throughout the state, Governor Spencer Cox recently issued an executive order declaring a state of emergency for Utah. To date, 100% of Utah is in the moderate drought category, and 90% of the state is experiencing extreme drought. To assist homeowners, businesses, agricultural producers, stakeholders, government partners and others, Utah State University…Read more
2021 Virtual Urban Homestead Expo
2021 Urban Homestead Expo Saturday, April 17, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM Calling all backyard gardeners, urban homesteaders, and hobby farmers! Do you want to step up your sustainability game? Interested in moving beyond Attend the Urban Homestead Expo to learn from our experts. Presented by: Utah State University Extension and the Jordan Valley Conservation Garden…Read more
Backyard Fruit Tree Care
Spring is in the air! However, before you get carried away with planting fruit trees, make sure to take some time to inform yourself on how to properly care for them. Mair Murray with the Utah Pests team recently posted an excellent recorded presentation on backyard fruit tree care. Marion Murray, IPM Project Leader, Utah…Read more
New Pest Alert!!!!!
You know it’s serious when a blog title gets 5 exclamation points, but there is a new pest in town and it deserves all of them!!!!! If you’ve never heard of the Japanese beetle, you need to learn about it. We’ve seen it before in Utah and chased it out of town, that was then…Read more
March 25th, 2021 Class Through Jordan Valley Conservation Garden Park
Thank you everyone for attending the Organic Vegetable Gardening class presented Thursday, March 25th, 2021 through Jordan Valley Conservation Garden Park. As promised, here are the class notes! Happy Gardening!!! Basic Organic GardeningRead more
New Factsheet on Utah Toxic Algae Blooms
The USU Extension water quality team recently published a factsheet on the prevalence of toxic algae on food crops. Turns out, drum roll please, it’s complicated but very important information of gardeners irrigating garden crops with contaminated water. Here is a link to the factsheet. HABsinVegetablesEXTRead more
Upcoming March Webinars from the Utah Pests Team!
Upcoming March webinars about berries and trees sound fantastic to me! Enjoy! March WebinarsRead more
9th Annual and Virtual Urban and Small Farms Conference!
This week the Urban and Small Farms Conference planning committee is in feverous preparations for the first virtual conference starting next week, March 1-4, 2021. We are very excited to be online this year with micro-farming, soils, water, small fruits, cut flowers, farm finance and animal session offerings. For more information and to register, visit diverseag.org.…Read more
Start Your Own Seedlings Indoors
Growing your own plants from seed can be a rewarding and fun hobby. Gardeners have a wider range of varieties to pick from when choosing seeds and can gift away extra transplants to a friend or neighbor. We love finding new and convenient ways to share information with a broad audience. Check out our past…Read more
DYI Pruning Your Fruit Trees, Grapes and Raspberries
Nothing is more gratifying than learning how to do something yourself. I find many gardeners are a little apprehensive to take pruners to their fruit trees and small fruits but this is a skill you can learn to do on your own and USU Extension is here to help you! Check out these great 3…Read more
A Special Valentine’s Day Gift from the Utah Pests Team!
I’m always in awe of the great publications and resources put out by the Utah Pests Team. A recent factsheet on vegetable diseases of Utah does not disappoint! What a great resources for navigating potential disease problems in Utah veggie gardens! Vegetable Diseases of UtahRead more
Preservation of Historic Orchards in Capital Reef National Park
What??? A road trip involving fruit trees and spectacular vistas…count me in!!! In case you missed it, Ksl.com recently posted an article on historic orchard restoration plans in Capital Reef National Park. A park official reached out to me and they REALLY want public input on the project. It is beyond cool, both from a…Read more
Flower Power with Fawn Rueckert
It had been a while since I checked in with KUED’s Modern Gardener but when I did, I was excited to see the latest episode featured our very own Master Gardener graduate and Sego Lily Flower Farmer Fawn Rueckert. Check out her interview on growing cut flowers – I promise you’ll be inspired! How to…Read more
Register Now for Upcoming February Webinars!
Upcoming February Webinars Native Bee Conservation in Urban Areas (“Cultivating Healthy Plants” Webinar Series) Pollinators, especially bees, are known for providing valuable ecosystem and agricultural services. Although the honey bee is gaining recognition for its vital role in our agricultural systems, the United States is home to more than 3600 different bee species, most of which…Read more
Thriving Hive Beginning Beekeeper Series
After a chaotic year in 2020, are you ready to slow things down a bit and get back to the basics. If so, perhaps beginning beekeeping is just what the doctor ordered – after all, a spoon full of honey helps the medicine go down! Lucky for you, USU Extension is hosting a virtual beginning…Read more
What Positive Change Will You Make in 2021?
Dear Utah – I love New Years’ Resolutions!!! I think the start of a new year is a great opportunity to make much needed (or maybe just desired) personal change. The year 2020, with all of its challenges, had one very bright point – at least from my perspective – many new people decided to…Read more
Whew, 2020, What a Year of …… Weather?
No doubt, 2020 was full of challenges! However, weather events beyond the earthquake, fires and windstorm, do not top most people’s list as most remarkable. But 2020, dare I mention it, was a remarkable weather year and savvy gardeners know remarkable weather can sustain future impact on gardens. As we move forward in 2021, it…Read more