The Holiday Cookie Challenge Is rescheduled for Saturday, January 29th between 10:00-11:00am!! It is time to preheat your ovens… Use your best cookie recipe and make a batch of cookies that include color for the 4-H Holiday Cookie Challenge!

Description:
Bake a batch of cookies and you must include color! Get creative… color can by your choice and can be used however you decide!

Cookie Entries:
Place 4 of your best cookies on a paper plate covered with plastic wrap (entries/plate will not be returned). Cookie entry must include two neatly hand-written or typed cards no larger than 4×6″ with:
Card #1: Name of cookie and full recipe
Card #2:

1. Youth Name & Cookie Name
2. Age of participant
3. Years in 4-H
4. Years in cooking/baking (if in current project)
5. Explanation of something you learned while baking your cookies

Cookie entry must be dropped off at the Fleet Reserve Association Building, 11281 Old Frontier Blvd, Silverdale between 10:00am – 11:00am on Saturday, January 29th.

Contest Eligibility:
Cookie Challenge open to all enrolled 4-H youth members, only one entry will be accepted per youth.

Awards:
Ribbons will be awarded to youth with high levels of overall performances based on the 4-H Cooking scorecard. (Ribbons will be mailed to participants).

One cookie entry per age division will receive Grand recognition and a prize package (prize package will be delivered to winners).

Youth awards will be announced live on the Kitsap County 4-H Facebook page following the judging (around 7:00pm)

If you have questions please email sheila.jernigan@wsu.edu

– Posted January 20, 2022

If you’re inspired to make a difference in the health of our local ecosystems, the Stream Steward training is for you!

The Stream Steward Program provides Kitsap residents with the opportunity to turn environmental knowledge into action. Through an annual, multi-day training, participants learn about connections between our lands and waters and the life that depends on their health. The training includes classroom sessions, field trips, and hands-on activities, and connects participants with experts and opportunities to get involved in local efforts.

Upon completion, volunteers are required to commit to 20 hours of ecosystem-based volunteer service in the next year and report these hours to WSU Extension. Volunteer hours can be applied to a wide range of opportunities that work toward the larger goal of improving Kitsap ecosystem health. From getting involved in a citizen science project to engaging in public outreach, volunteers can connect with opportunities that fit their skills and interests.

Throughout the training, organizations will provide participants with information about local projects and offer exciting opportunities to plug in and make a difference in Kitsap County.

Sample topics for the 2022 training include:

• Stream and forest ecology
• Restoration and wildlife
• Drinking water and water quality in Kitsap
• Opportunities to volunteer with local organizations

Cost:

• Early bird registration (until Dec.31): $50
• General registration (starts Jan. 1): $60

Registrations will not be refunded after Jan. 18, 2022.

• Scholarships are available–contact Amy Smalley directly at amy.smalley@wsu.edu for an application.

Location: Tuesday class sessions will all be through the Zoom platform. Thursday field excursions will all be within Kitsap County, exact locations will be announced before the training begins.

Date/Time:

• Zoom classroom sessions: Tuesdays January 25-March 1, 2022, from 9:30am-12:30pm

• In-person field explorations: Thursdays January 27 – March 3, 2022, from 9:30am-12:30pm. A couple field excursions may be at different times due to tides and speaker schedules.

To participate in any of the in-person field excursions, WSU policy states that you will need to be Covid-19 vaccinated. Please do not send me your vax card. We will set up a Zoom prior to the training beginning to verify. Thank you for your understanding.

WSU Extension programs and employment are available to all without discrimination. Evidence of noncompliance may be reported through your local WSU Extension office. Reasonable accommodations will be made for persons with disabilities and special needs who contact the WSU office at amy.smalley@wsu.edu or 360-228-7303 at least two weeks prior to the event.

– Posted December 16, 2021

Give us your feedback for our 2022 WSU Regional Small Farms programming!

It’s that time of year again, we are planning our 2022 Regional Small Farms programming and educational offerings. If you are a farmer in Clallam, Jefferson or Kitsap Counties we want to hear from you! The goal of the Regional Small Farms program is to support a thriving food and farm sector through:

• Classes and workshops – many suggested by local farmers and geared towards the needs of the region
• Farmer-to-Farmer networking
• Technical support and access to WSU specialists
• Access to local markets and regional food systems work
• Applied research and policy development

The Regional Small Farms Program supports small to mid-sized farms by leveraging the broad resources of a major university to resolve issues and create a positive food future for our region.

 

– December 2, 2021

Earn Double SNAP Produce Match coupons at Safeway from Nov. 10 through Dec. 31! Spend $10 on qualifying fruits and vegetables, and receive a $10 coupon on the bottom of your receipt toward your next shopping trip. Click the link below for more info.

Learn more!

– December 1, 2021

TWO WAYS TO ATTEND!

• On Zoom: Thursdays, February 3 Through April 14
• In Person: Saturdays March 26 and April 23

Thursdays 2/3/22 – 3/14/22 on Zoom:

Organic Vegetable Gardening in the Pacific NW

 

Growing your own food is not only good for you, but fun! Learn the basics and more in this course designed for all levels of gardeners.

Whether you’re new to vegetable gardening, or just want to sharpen your skills, you will learn something new in this series of classes taught by WSU Master Gardeners. Growing food in their own gardens, as well as in Master Gardener Demonstration Gardens has given them experience with all of the common crops and problems, as well as some of the more unusual.

Classes will be held on Zoom on Thursday evenings from February 3rd through April 14th. Classes will begin at 6:30 PM and end at 8:30 PM. Each class is $10 , or $5 for WSU Master Gardeners.

There will be two additional in-person classes. Saturday, March 26th will cover composting and vermicomposting. Saturday, April 23rd will be on cover crops, mulches, and irrigation techniques. You can get more information and register for them here: https://bit.ly/2022vegsats

Register for 6 or more classes and we will send you a copy of the “Maritime NW Garden Guide”, published by Tilth Alliance ($24 value). It’s filled with monthly tips, plant lists, and charts for our local conditions to keep you on track all year. The books will be mailed at the end of the series. Each attendee will also receive the link to a Google drive with additional articles and support materials.

Here is the schedule of topics:

Thursday, February 3: Soil Science

• Plant needs
• Soil description and functions
• What makes good soil and how to protect it
• The soil food web
• Soil nutrients and pH
• Organic matter
• Soil testing

Thursday, February 10: Planning the Garden

• Garden location considerations
• Sun exposure and garden soil
• What to grow and when to plant it
• Different planting methods
• Crop rotation
• After the harvest
• Keeping Records

Thursday, February 17: Seeding and Planting

• What you need to know about seeds
• Starting your plants from seed
• Transplanting
• Direct seeding

Thursday, February 24: Common Pests & Diseases

• Basic principles of Integrated Pest Management
• Pest and disease identification
• Preventative and therapeutic organic control of pests and diseases

Thursday, March 3: Plant Families-Quirks and Idiosyncrasies Part 1

Details about growing:

• Apiaceae (Carrot) Family
• Brassicaceae (Cabbage) Family
• Cucurbitaceae (Squash) Family

Thursday, March 10: Plant Families-Quirks and Idiosyncrasies Part 2

Details about growing:

• Solanaceae (Tomato) Family
• Amaranthaceae (Beet) Family
• Fabaceae (Bean) Family

Thursday, March 24: Plant Families-Quirks and Idiosyncrasies Part 3, and Fertilizing

Details about growing:

• Asteraceae (Lettuce) Family
• Alliaceae (Onion) Family
• Corn

• Organic fertilizing products, methods for use
• Timing and application of fertilizers

Thursday, March 31: Pollinators and other Beneficial Insects

• What are beneficial insects and why do we love them?
• Common beneficial insects in the PNW
• Predators, parasitoids and pollinators
• Non-insect beneficial animals
• Encouraging beneficial creatures: Habitat, food, water

Thursday, April 7: Edible Perennials

• Design and planning for perennial food plants
• Incorporating edible perennials into an established vegetable garden
• Basic care of herbs, berries, asparagus, artichokes, and other more “permanent” food planting

Thursday, April 14: The Four Season Harvest

• Choosing a winter garden site
• Basic botany for the Four-Season Gardener
• Choosing the right crops
• Planting and harvesting timetables
• Adding fall/winter crops to the rotation plan
• Season extension and weather protection

 

Saturdays March 26 and April 23, 2022 – In Person:

Organic Vegetable Gardening – Composting, Cover crops, Mulch, and Irrigation

 

Learn to create beautiful compost, use mulches and cover crops, and to water your garden efficiently in these two in-person classes.

These two in-person Saturday classes enhance the Organic Vegetable Gardening course that will be taught by WSU Kitsap Master Gardeners via Zoom on Thursday evenings, February 3 through April 14, 2022. Topics for those classes include: Planning, Seeding and Planting, Soils, Fertiizing, Pests & Diseases, Beneficial Insects, Four Season Harvests, Perennial Crops and specific information about common crop families. To register and for more information about these classes, please go to: https://bit.ly/2022vegthurs

Each registrant will receive an email a few days before class with the link to a Google drive with digital handouts and resource materials. We recommend that you take a look at them before the class and download or print anything that might be useful for note taking. You will have access to the shared drive after the class, also.

The instructors will discuss composting processes and the uses of compost on Saturday, March 26. They will demonstrate both standard composting and vermiculture (worm composting) systems.

Topics will include:

• What is compost and composting?
• The benefits of composting
• The composting process
• Appropriate materials for composting
• Hot and Cold composting techniques
• Carbon Cycle, Microorganisms
• How to create and use your gorgeous compost
• The basics of Vermicomposting
• How to create and maintain a worm composting system

On Saturday, April 23rd, learn all about Cover Cropping, Mulches and Irrigation for the home gardener. Topics include:

• Reasons to use cover crops and mulches
• Common cover crops and mulches
• Planning and Timing
• Planting and growth of cover crops
• Terminating cover crops to plant vegetables
• Irrigation methods and techniques
• Figuring out how much to water, and when

Each of these half-day classes will include the opportunity to see and touch the materials used to achieve great results in the garden.

 

WSU Extension programs and employment are available to all without discrimination. Evidence of noncompliance may be reported through your local WSU Extension office. Reasonable accommodations will be made for persons with disabilities and special needs who contact the Extension office at 345 6th Street, Suite 550, Bremerton, WA 98337 360-228-7300 at least two weeks prior to the event.

Submit your photos here and vote on your favorite submissions!

WSU Kitsap Extension Water Stewardship wants to see your photos! We are currently hosting our annual photo contest. Have you taken any nature photos in Kitsap recently? Feel free to share your favorite photos of wildlife, plants, landscapes, ocean views, and more here. You could win one of four awesome prizes. We are giving away local guidebooks, our favorite identification books, experiential opportunity certificates and more! Remember, you don’t have to be a photographer to enter. Let’s share our appreciation of nature in Kitsap!

The contest ends on December 1st.

-November 12, 2021

We are looking for adults that have time to share with youth and/or a special talent or skill they want to teach youth for hands on learning. Don’t have a talent to share, that is ok! We have many different volunteer roles and provide training for each one.

4-H students are leaders. They pursue passions. They solve problems and tackle everyday challenges. And YOU are the key to their success! We need adult volunteers to mentor 4-H youth, lead local clubs, and run events. No experience necessary – we’ll train you! Based on your specific role, we’ll let you know what level of training you may need.

You decide the level of involvement that fits your skills and schedule, such as:

• Lead community clubs, or after-school programs and camp settings
• Serve as chaperone, board member, event judge or camp counselor.
• Create community service opportunities for youth in your area
• Work with other adults to create fun and exciting programs

If interested, please contact Sheila Jernigan ( sheila.jernigan@wsu.edu ) or Lis Nilsson ( elisabeth.nilsson@wsu.edu ).

– October 28, 2021

Instructor Zsofia Pasztor is a horticulturist, arborist and urban agriculturist who has been involved with Low Impact Development stormwater management work in the NW for over 20 years. She is a co-author of the book Rain Gardens for the Pacific Northwest.

Installation and Maintenance

Thursday, Nov. 4, 1:00-2:00 PM
For more info and to register:
CLICK HERE
Learn what to consider when planning the installation and maintenance of a new rain garden. Time, costs and materials will be discussed.

Choosing the Right Plants

Thursday, Nov.18, 1:00-2:00 PM
For more info and to register:
CLICK HERE
Learn what plants to use in a rain garden. Which plants are best suited to each level and situation.

Trouble Shooting Problems

Thursday, Dec. 2, 1:00-2:00 PM
For more info and to register:
CLICK HERE
No matter how carefully planned, some things don’t go as expected. Learn to troubleshoot and return your rain garden to full efficiency.

Presented on Zoom
$20 Per Class
CEUs available
For more info, contact hari.stone@wsu.edu