Strafford County News & Publications

          News:

• Think Before You Plant - Deborah Goard, April 2011Newspaper Article
• Do you qualify for " Earned Income" tax credit?Foster's Daily Democrat January, 2011
• How to Choose and Care for a Christmas Tree Foster's Daily Democrat November '10
• Putting your lawn and gardens to bed this winter Rochester Times October '10
• Rochester 4-H Baking Competition Results Fosters Daily Democrat October '10
• UNH students volunteer to help create 'Hero Packs' for children whose parents are deployed overseas Fosters Daily Democrat September '10
• Not just fun and games: Fair a learning experience for Rochester 4-H members Fosters Daily Democrat September '10
• UNH keeps those who grow in the know: President praises university, co-op extension partnership Fosters Daily Democrat September '10
• Help your child succeed in school Fosters Daily Democrat September '10
• Youth in 4-H looking forward to Rochester Fair Fosters Daily Democrat September '10
• Raising Healthy Eaters Fosters Daily Democrat August '10
• White House Garden Cookbook features Master Gardener Recipes UNH Campus Journal August '10
• Sick Tree? It may not be as bad as you think. . .The Granite State Sentinel July '10

• Spend Less, Eat Healthier? Fosters Daily Democrat June '10
• Fathers Play a Large Role in Family Health Fosters Daily Democrat June '10

• Sugaring tradition starts again soon Fosters Daily Democrat Feb. '10
• 4-H Youth - Old sing praises of the young at Riverside rest home Rochester Times Dec. '09
• Monthly personal finance workshops to be held in Dover and Portsmouth Fosters Daily Democrat Dec. '09

Publications:

• Storing Garden Produce
• Making A Difference
• Food Safety During and After a Power Outage
• Feeling the Pinch

Events:

• View photos from Pruning Demonstrations March, 2010
• View photos from the Bedding Plant Conference on Feb. 18, 2010
• View photos from the Growing with Technology workshop on Jan. 26, 2010

For information about upcoming events please visit the Strafford County Events Calendar.

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County Commissioners George Maglaras and Bob Watson with Registrar of Deeds Leo Lessard judged Strafford County 4-H Overall Club Exhibits at the 2009 Rochester Fair.  Top recognition was awarded to the Lebanon Clovers 4-H Club of Lebabnon, Me.  Other clubs participating in the 4-H building this year are Lee Hill 4-H Club, Madbury Sugar Maples 4-H Club, Friends for a Green Country, Projectiles-Shooting Sports, Seymour Osmond Community Center 4-H after school club, Farmyard Friends, Kids Can Grow, Yankee Teamsteers & This-N-That 4-H Club.

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At a ceremony held in 2009 on the sunny banks of the Cocheco River, Governor John Lynch signed House Bill 58 protecting the Cocheco River as the 16th designated river in the NH Rivers Management and Protection Program. He also signed six other bills of importance in the conservation of water resources in New Hampshire. The gathering was hosted by Strafford County Commissioners, Strafford County UNH Cooperative Extension, and the Cocheco River Watershed Coalition. County Commission Chair George Maglaras welcomed the group Legislators and senators who were key in the legislative process spoke to the gathering of the importance of resource conservation in the region and the necessity of local volunteer participation.

The Cocheco River corridor runs from New Durham southeasterly through Middleton, Farmington, Rochester, and Dover to the tidal limit at Cocheco Falls, a distance of almost 35 miles. In the next few weeks, towns will select representatives to the Cocheco River Local Advisory Committee to carry out the NH Rivers Management and Protection Program (RMPP). Click here for the NH Department of Environmental Services Environmental Fact Sheet for the Cocheco River. Click here for more information about the RMPP and the Cocheco River nomination. For an article and editorial in The Rochester Times July 16, 2009 Edition click here.

The Cocheco River Watershed Coalition nominated the Cocheco River to the RMPP. After twelve years of educational activity in the watershed, the CRWC submitted the nomination package to NH DES. Strafford County UNH Cooperative Extension staff have from the beginning provided educational support to the Coalition. We look forward to continued collaboration with the new CRLAC.

Photo caption: Credit Deborah Goard. Governor Lynch signs HB 58 designating the Cocheco River for protection in the NH RMPP. July 15, 2009

Left to right: Senator Amanda Merrill, Senator Martha Fuller Clark, in rear State Extension Council Chair Anna Boudreau, CRWC River Coordinator Lorie Chase, in rear Representative Judith Spang, HB 58 Sponsor L. Mike Kappler, Governor Lynch, in rear CRWC Chair Tom Fargo, Strafford County Commission Chair George Maglaras, and HB 58 Sponsor Peter Schmidt.

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Photo: Greenhouse and nursery growers listening to a discussion about increasing sales in a slowing economy at the Cooperative Extension summer twilight meeting hosted by Wentworth Greenhouses in Rollinsford in 2009.

The discussion was led by Frank Zaunscherb, President of ZMI a marketing consulting firm with Extensive marketing experience in green industry. The focus of the discussion was on how to enhance summer sales and boost profits. Other topics discussed at the twilight meeting included risk management for greenhouse and nursery growers, disease and pest management for greenhouse crops and an update on the Asian long horn beetle. Geoffrey Njue, Extension Agriculture resources Strafford County coordinated the program, and UNH Cooperative Extension Specialists, Stan Sweir, Cheryl Smith, Mike Sciabarrasi and Brian Krug helped to lead with the discussion on different topics. 41growers attended the twilight meeting.

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Other topics discussed include crop management and disease and management issues of different small fruit and vegetable crops. Geoffrey Njue, Extension Educator Agriculture Resources, Strafford County Coordinated the program and UNH Specialists, Alan Eaton, Cheryl Smith and Becky Grube helped to lead the discussion on different topics. 32 growers attended this 2009 twilight meeting.

Photo: Small fruit and vegetable growers listening to a discussion about blueberry diseases and pests at the Cooperative Extension twilight meeting hosted by Emery Farm in Durham.

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Kids Can Grow is one of the many programs offered at Strafford County UNH Cooperative Extension. Please call 603-749-4445 for more information.