OSU Extension: Free cooking classes offered for teens

If you are looking for a summer activity for teens ages 13-17 be sure to check out the Cooking Matters program for teens ages 13-17. Please note participants must be from a SNAP-eligible household. The classes will be held at the Fairfield County Ag Center located at 831 College Avenue beginning on June 4 through July 16. Teens will learn healthy food tips for the entire family, be provided with groceries to practice for your family. Classes are provided at no cost but it is requested you attend all classes. This program is made possible by support from the George and Dollie L. Zimpfer Memorial Fund of the Fairfield County Foundation in collaboration with the Youth Advisory Committee. For More details contact OSU Extension in Fairfield County at 740-653-5419. Registration deadline is May 17.

A Matter of Balance classes offered

The Senior Hub and OSU Extension in Fairfield County have partnered to offer this free 4-week series (classes meet twice per week) to those 60 and older. A Matter of Balance will help you engage in a range of motion exercises that increase strength and balance, overcome the fear of falling, and set realistic goals for increasing activity. Registration is required to attend by calling Linda at The Senior Hub at 740-681-5050 ext 119. Classes begin on Monday, May 20 and will be held at The Senior Hub-Meals on Wheels located at 1515 Cedar Hill Road, Lancaster. Classes are held on Monday and Wednesday beginning May 20 through June 1. There will be no class on Monday, May 27.

ODA to begin Spongy Moth treatments

The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) will soon begin aerial treatments to control populations of the Spongy Moth (formerly Gypsy Moth), an invasive species, in Ohio.

Treatments will be applied in the following counties: Auglaize, Fairfield, Hardin, Hocking, Knox, Licking, Logan, Vinton, and Washington.

Licking County will tentatively receive treatments the week of May 7, followed by a second application the week of May 14. The remaining applications are tentatively scheduled for mid-June, weather permitting. Treatment dates and information can be found on ODA’s Spongy Moth webpage.

Applications are administered using a low-flying yellow aircraft, approximately 100 feet above the treetops.

In most areas receiving treatments, ODA will use a single application of the product SPLAT GM-O. This product does not kill the moth, but it disrupts the mating process by confusing the male as it searches for a female mate. SPLAT is an organic and biodegradable formula that is completely harmless to both humans and animals.

A second product, Foray 48B, will be used in some Licking County areas to target the larval stage of the moth. This product is a naturally occurring bacteria found in soil. Spongy moth caterpillars ingest the protein and stop feeding.

If you are in contact with either product, simply wash the affected area with soap and water. Clothing can be cleaned with hot water and laundry detergent. These products are not harmful to birds, bees, plants, pets, or humans.

When the project begins, daily updates on treatment progress across the state will be available on the website or by calling (614) 728-6400.

Spongy Moths are invasive insects that defoliate over 300 species of trees and shrubs. In its caterpillar stage, the moth feeds on the leaves of trees and shrubs and is especially fond of oak. A healthy tree can usually withstand only two years of defoliation before it is permanently damaged or dies. In Ohio, 51 counties are currently under Spongy Moth quarantine regulations.

For more information about the Spongy Moth or for specific treatment locations, visit ODA’s Spongy Moth webpage https://agri.ohio.gov/divisions/plant-health/spongy-moth-program.

Stay out of the garden when the soils are wet

Keep in mind you will create more problems if you become overanxious and begin working your garden soils when they are too wet. If worked too wet, heavy soil become hard and will not handle well for the entire season. If a handful of the soil can be pressed into a ball, work in the garden should be delayed.

You can begin working in the garden when the moisture content of the soil is such that the soil “shatters” when turned. When moisture conditions are right, soil crumbles freely. Such soil requires a minimum of preparation. Usually raking or harrowing to level the soil is all that is required.

Upcoming events

Pesticide Testing offered at the Fairfield County Ag Center: May 21, at 11 a.m. Please call OSU Extension in Fairfield County for reservations at 740-653-5419

Tuesday, June 4 – 6 to 7:30 p.m. Food Preservation Classes begin at Keller Market House with a Lesson on Canning Basics. water bath/pressure canning. Classes are free but registration is required go.osu.edu/FCFoodPreservation

Thursday, June 6 - 6 to 7:30 p.m. Food Preservation Classes begin at Keller Market House with a Lesson on Canning Basics. water bath/pressure canning. Classes are free but registration is required by calling Wagnall’s Memorial Library at 614-837-4765.

Problem Solving in the Backyard Garden: Insects, diseases, deer, Oh My!: From 6 to 7 p.m. June 12. Join Carrie Brown, Extension educator with Ohio State University Extension in Fairfield County, and Fairfield County Master Gardener Volunteers, to learn more about gardening and landscaping with this series of classes being held at the Pickerington Public Library, Sycamore Branch and the Fairfield County District Library, Main Branch.

Grill Smart for Adults: Two Grill Smart sessions are scheduled. Hosted at the Fairfield County Ag Center, 831 College Avenue, you may choose the 10:30 a.m. session or the second one that begins at 4 p.m. June 27. Participation at each session is limited to 16 participates that will work in groups of four. Cost is $30 per person and covers the cost of the meat, seasonings and grilling equipment. Call 740-653-5419 or visit https://go.osu.edu/fclocal to register.

This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: OSU Extension: Free cooking classes offered for teens