MANHATTAN, Kan. – Mini-grants are now available to support community service projects as identified by community or college-based leadership development programs.
The Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development and the Huck Boyd Foundation, with support from the Kansas Health Foundation, are offering up to 10 mini-grants worth $450 each. The mini-grants are to be used to implement a project of community or local need as identified through an educational leadership development program.
“These funds can be used to help a local leadership class or a leadership student carry out a community service project to meet local needs,” said Clare Gustin, chair of the Huck Boyd Institute board of directors. “We encourage community- or college-based leadership development programs to apply.”
More information, including examples of successful grants from previous years, can be found at www.kansasleadershipfund.org.
Proposals should be submitted electronically (in pdf or Word format) to [email protected] no later than Oct.15, 2014. Please put “Proposal” in the subject line.
All proposals must be received by Wednesday, Oct.15, 2014 to be considered. Winning proposals will be selected through an independent third-party review. Questions can be emailed to the Huck Boyd Institute at [email protected].
The Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development is a public/private partnership between K-State Research and Extension and the Huck Boyd Foundation. The foundation office is at the Huck Boyd Community Center in Phillipsburg, Kansas. The institute office is at Kansas State University in Manhattan.
Sweet potatoes should be harvested no later than the first fall freeze
because cold temperatures can damage the sensitive roots. However, you may
want to harvest earlier if you prefer a smaller sweet potato. Test dig a
hill to see if they are the size you want.
Sweet potatoes should be cured after being dug. The digging process often
damages the tender skin, and curing helps these small wounds heal.
Place the roots in a warm, humid location for 5 to 10 days immediately after
digging. A location with a temperature around 85 to 90 degrees is ideal. A
space heater can be used to heat a small room or other area.
Raise the humidity by placing moist towels in the room. The curing process
not only heals wounds but also helps convert starches to sugars.
This process improves the texture and flavor of the roots.
Sweet potatoes should be stored above 55 degrees. Storage at temperatures
below that injures the roots, shortens storage life and gives them an off
flavor.
I know what you are thinking.no way, wrong season. But you’d be mistaken.
Now is the time to start thinking about your psychological need for color
when winter seems like it will never end. You know the feeling, it’s dreary
and cold outside and you just can’t wait for some green. As soon as you see
those first little leaves poking out of the ground, you can’t help but get
full of anticipation for the change of seasons. Every year you probably
think, I wish I had thought ahead to plant some bulbs last fall so I’d have
some of this color in my yard.
Right? Well, now is the time to do some thinking, planning, buying and
planting. Not just for the best selection and healthiest bulbs, but for your
mental and spiritual well being in six months! [This is a good selling point
for your spouse.or just me enabling your plant habit.] First of all, what
can you plant now (September to November-before the ground freezes) that
will emerge in the spring? From first appearance to last appearance we have
crocus, grape hyacinth (Muscari), daffodil, hyacinth and tulip. Before we
get carried away with the garden possibilities, it’s important to know a few
things about choosing, planting and caring for bulbs. For the best show
you’ll want to purchase the largest bulbs you can find that are appropriate
for that variety.
Healthy bulbs will be firm, have a thin, papery covering on the outside, be
free of bruises, mechanical damage and/or signs of mold or mildew.
Avoid bulbs with green tips peeking out since these plants are coming out of
dormancy too early. Follow the directions on the bulb package for planting
depth. They may benefit from some fertilizer and, like other plants, will
need a little water in the winter.
Technically a “corm” rather than a “bulb,” crocus are the first to bloom in
the spring and are sold alongside other spring-flowering bulbs in stores.
They are short little plants that range in color from dark blue, purple,
white, cream, yellow and orange. Grape hyacinths are hot on the tails of
crocus and complement them nicely with their bottle-brush heads in blues and
whites. Daffodils are next and come in many colors and petal types, most
often yellow and single, but there are plenty of really neat cultivars. They
are great for naturalizing (spread randomly around the garden and let them
grow at their own pace) and deer avoid them.
Hyacinth and tulip are among the last to put on a big show of early spring
color. As you know, the common oriental hyacinth is very fragrant. If you
aren’t able to plant any in the fall, there are always some in full bloom
available for impulse purchase near checkout lanes at the grocery store.
Indulge yourself, my friend.
Tulips come in many, many sizes and colors. I freely admit to being
overwhelmed by choice when it comes to tulips, but you can’t really go wrong
with them in the landscape. Just remember that they look amazing when massed
together for big swaths of color. Tulips require a long chilling period so
get them in the ground as soon as possible. They may also require more
frequent dividing in order to maintain large blooms in subsequent years. Or,
you can always replant with fun, new selections.
If you just don’t get around to planting any bulbs this year, never fear.
You can always purchase some in the spring for container gardens or forcing
indoors (hello January project). With a little planning ahead and working in
your yard (or containers) while it’s beautiful out this coming season, you
can enjoy a great show next spring. You’ll be so grateful that you got some
bulbs planted this fall-get to it!
Story by: Katie Allen, Communications Specialist, News Media and Marketing Services, K-State; Source: Londa Vanderwal Nwadike, State Extension Food Safety Specialist, Kansas State University and University of Missouri Extension
Tailgating season is underway, and as football fans flock to games with their grills and favorite tailgating foods, they must keep in mind several food safety measures to keep from getting sick.
“For some people, tailgating may be more important than the game itself,” said Londa Vanderwal Nwadike, state extension food safety specialist for Kansas State University and the University of Missouri. “However, food safety can be more challenging when preparing and eating foods outdoors where refrigeration and running water are likely not available.”
Nwadike said the following tips help people reduce their risk of getting foodborne illness from what should be a fun event.
Sept. 8-14, 2014 is National Suicide Prevention Week
Janet Hackert, Nutrition and Health Education Specialist, Harrison County, University of Missouri Extension
Sadly, suicide has become a common cause of death. In Missouri, there are 16.3 attempted suicides each day and many of those attempts are made by young people ages 15 to 19.
Gary Hillebrand from Preferred Family Healthcare (PFH) Prevention Services, a mental health facility offering treatment services throughout Missouri, parts of Kansas and in San Antonio, Texas, said that suicide is the most preventable kind of death.
“The suicide rate these days (approximately 13.7 per 100,000 a year) is like as if a full airliner took off and crashed every other day, killing everyone on board,” Hillebrand said. “If this happened, we’d ground planes till we figured out and corrected the problem! The same needs to happen with suicide. Suicide is preventable.”
Hillebrand also described and corrected some of the common myths about suicide and suicide prevention. For example, confronting a person about suicide mostly likely will lower, not raise, the anxiety they are experiencing about their negative feelings. Knowing someone cares enough to ask directly can make a big difference. Also, it’s not just for experts to take care of — everyone can help prevent suicide.
