SAVE THE DATE - THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 2013.  UCCE's strawberry and vegetable advisor, Dr. Oleg Daugovish, will be hosting an irrigation field day in Oxnard.

The event will be located at Henry Ito's ranch where attendees will be able to view plots and see the experiments at work and hear guest expert speakers on a variety of irrigation related topics including regulations, methods and test results.

Refreshments will be included.

Date:  Thursday, June 6
Time:  9:00 am - 11:15 am
Where:  Henry Ito's ranch at 1835 Hueneme Rd. in Oxnard
Contact:  Dr. Oleg Daugovish, 805-645-1454 or odaugovish@ucdavis.edu

Two hours of VCALIG educational credits have been approved from the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board.

For an agenda and map, click here.

It’s springtime, the sun is warm and the UC Hansen Agricultural Research and Extension Center (UC HAREC) is a busy place. Garden volunteers and farm staff have worked countless hours preparing the farm over the winter. The fields and gardens are flourishing and the sounds of children fill the air. Yellow school buses are a welcome sight at the Center. Over 1700 Ventura County youth grades K-3^rd will participate in the 4-H Farm Field Trip and Classroom Outreach Program that kicks off in March and runs through the end of May.

Specially trained and dedicated volunteers work alongside staff to deliver fun and hands-on agricultural based lessons. For many Kindergarteners, this is their first time on a farm. Getting a glimpse of where food comes from, planting seeds and learning what makes them grow are unforgettable experiences. Older students delve deeper into plant growth and development, discover the important role pollinators play in our food system, and learn about the agricultural county where we live.

Picking and sampling farm fresh vegetables such as beets, carrots, sugar snap peas, and lettuce are favorite activities with all ages and a great way to introduce MyPlate, the newest USDA guide to healthy eating choices, and encourage daily physical activity. What can be better than getting your hands dirty, smelling the rich Santa Paula soil, and eating vegetables you helped harvest? Children aren’t the only visitors. Over 300 parents and teachers will visit, learn, and munch alongside youth.

The cost of buses makes a trip to the farm prohibitive for many schools. When visiting the farm is not an option, lessons delivered in the classroom bring the farm to life. The 4-H Classroom Outreach Program is an opportunity to learn about agriculture without leaving the school grounds.

Yes, it’s a busy and exciting time. Happy spring!

UCCE's Dr. James Downer and Anna Howell will be speaking at the Tuesday, March 19 meeting of the Entomological Association of Southern California.   Entomological professionals from Southern California will also be presenting and providing county specific updates.  This meeting is open to the public.

The meeting is a day of presentations and discussions on topics related to insects.  Dr. Downer, an expert plant pathologist, will talk about insects that damage oaks.  Bee expert, Anna Howell, will contribute a talk on using native bees for pollination. 

Four hours of DPR CEU's are applied for. 

Date:  Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Time:  9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Location:  
     Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden
     301 N. Baldwin Ave.
     Arcadia, CA 91007
Registration:  At the door.  Free for members.  $15 for nonmembers.

Contact:  Jim Downer, 805-645-1458

For more information see the flyer here.

Learn more about the Entomological Association of Southern California here.

Ventura County's Agricultural Museum in Santa Paula is featuring a special exhibit devoted to World War I and II home gardens entitled "When Gardening Was Patriotic."  The exhibit includes war era posters and other articles relevant to this period in history. 

Maintaining a strong food supply was an integral part of homefront support efforts where victory garden campaigns were not only important in creating food for home use and supplying to troops, but also as a patriotic booster for those at home who wanted to do their part.

Rose Hayden-Smith, Ventura County Cooperative Extension's community and youth development advisor, spoke at the exhibit on January 26 on "Digging for Victory: How America's Gardeners Helped the War Effort."  Rose is a historian with an active and passionate interest in victory gardens, their place in history and their relevance to maintaining a healthy and abundant food supply for the present and the future.   You can learn more about this at her Victory Grower website.

Check out this historic exhibit so relevant to our county which has some of the most versatile agricultural land in the state. 

Dates of exhibit:  Now through March 27, 2013
Location:  
   Museum of Ventura County
   926 Railroad Ave.
   Santa Paula, CA 93060
   805-525-3100
Please see the museum website for hours and admission costs.