It’s that time of year when it seems like no matter how much you water your lawn, it still goes brown. USU Extension can help!

The Grass Is Greener… On Both Sides!

Contrary to popular belief, there is so much that can be done to keep your lawn green without wasting water. Utah is the second driest state in the nation based on annual precipitation, yet among the top per capita users of water!

Do you know where most of that H2O is going? Yep, that’s right, straight into the dirt. Over 60 percent of residential water usage is used outdoors!

Of course it’s preferable to have a green lawn, but once you see the cost that excessive watering has on your bank account and the environment, those yellow patches and prickly grass blades suddenly seem much more endearing.

Fortunately, USU Extension has figured out a way to make the grass greener on both sides! Here are 10 tips to help keep your lawn green during the roasting summer heat. Do you want to know what the best part is? Most of these tips are free and will actually help you save money!

References

extension.usu.edu

Before you fire up the grill, you may be surprised at how much better everything will taste – if you clean it first!

What You Didn’t Know About Your Trusty Grill

One thing is for sure: Americans love to grill. Three out of four households own at least one grill, and more than a quarter of those have at least two!

Did you also know that July is National Grilling Month? Grilling is a great way to get family and friends together to enjoy holidays and the great summer weather.

Although July is almost over, it doesn’t mean that the grilling season is. Chances are that you will keep grilling for the rest of the summer and possibly the rest of the year!

For safety and to keep your food tasting delicious, remember to give your grill a good deep cleaning.

Stop burning time and check out this video featuring Teresa Hunsaker so you can get cleaning your grill today!

Bonus Recipes!

Now that your grill is clean, try these delicious recipes! This homemade marinade is so simple and tastes fantastic on any meat or vegetable.

Click on either recipe for a printable version!

References

www.hpba.org

Be a gardening hero by learning how to save your own garden seeds!

A Seed Saved is a Seed Earned

Have you ever saved your own seeds? If you haven’t, now is the time to try it! Saving seeds has a ton of great benefits for you and your garden. Here are some of the reasons you should try saving seeds:

1. Money Savings. Saving seeds means saving money. Free things are always better!
2. Regional Adaptation. Crops grown in your own soil will produce seeds that will thrive in your environments. Commercially purchased seeds will be less acclimated to the soil and conditions of your garden.
3. Seed Security. If you save your own seeds, you know exactly what you can plant next season. Large corporations have consolidated the seed industry to focus more on hybrids. When you save your own seeds, you control the supply.
4. Consistent Quality. Commercial companies often sacrifice quality to remain competitive on price. Saving your own seeds ensures that the seeds you will use next season are top quality.

To help you get started, hop on over to the Organic Forecast to find 5 essential tips for collecting and storing garden seeds!

Which fruits and veggies are you looking forward to saving this year?

References

The Organic Forecast
Mother Earth News

Wildfires are a very heated topic in Utah right now. With such dry conditions and high temperatures, wildfires can’t help but take the spotlight.

Fight Fire With… Yard Work?!

Did you know that the likelihood of a home burning is directly related to the amount of flammable material near it? To lessen the chance of a fire destroying your home, follow these 9 simple, life-saving tips:

1. Replace wood roofs with fire-resistant roofing material. Enclose the eaves of your home with soffits and screen openings with 1/8” galvanized mesh. This will reduce the chances of blowing embers entering your attic space and igniting your home.

2. Think about the places around your home where leaves collect after a windstorm; this is where burning embers will also collect, making it important to regularly clear leaves and pine needles from the valleys of roofs, gutters and deck corners.

3. Remove debris from the yard and mow, irrigate and prune. The first 3 to 5 feet from the home should be a no-burn zone consisting of pavers, concrete or small, succulent plants. In the zone between 6 and 100 feet out, the landscape should be clean and green, with dead leaves, needles and twigs removed. There should be few highly flammable trees and shrubs in this zone, and trees should be pruned. To be effective, this must be done on a regular basis, depending on the type and amount of vegetation.

4. Select appropriate species to grow in the home ignition zone. Evergreens and scrub oaks tend to be highly flammable, while aspen and many broad-leafed ornamentals tend to be less flammable. Plants that are green and moist during the hottest, driest part of the year are best.

5. The wildlands beyond 100 feet should be thinned. Avoid dumping brush in this zone. Often we do not control the land 100 feet from our homes, but a plan can still be in place. Contact neighbors and talk with them about safety and what you can do together. This includes individual neighbors but may also include government neighbors like the U.S. Forest Service or the Bureau of Land Management.

6. Keep firewood, construction material and other flammable items at least 30 feet from your home. Consider burying your propane tank and be sure it is located at least 100 feet from any structure with vegetation cleared 10 feet around each tank.

7. Make sure emergency personnel can easily locate and identify your home. Be sure house numbers are clearly marked and visible.

8. Provide ample turnaround and overhead space for the ingress and egress of large firefighting equipment.

9. Take the time to protect your home. Homes that do not meet minimum safety standards are more likely to be bypassed by firefighters seeking to limit unnecessary risks to the safety of the crew and vehicles.

For a list of recommended plants and more information on landscaping to minimize fire hazard, visit USU Extension forestry’s website at forestry.usu.edu or call 435-797-0560

Author – Julene Reese

References

Darren McAvoy, USU Extension program associate, Department of Wildland Resources, 435-797-0560, darren.mcavoy@usu.edu

Michael Kuhns, USU Extension forestry specialist, 435-797-4056, mike.kuhns@usu.edu

When life gets busy, it’s easy to get into the routine of dinner and a movie. Here’s a reminder that it’s fun and easy to add something new and different to your dating scene!

No More Popcorn!

Author – Naomi Brower

Your challenge, if you choose to accept it, is to pick one fun date night and make it happen this month.Think outside of the movie theater and add some excitement to your dating life! Here are a few ideas for date nights that I think are pretty fun and inexpensive to get your creativity going:

• Have a romantic picnic. Give your taste buds a new experience as your try new varieties of cheese (yum!) paired with sparkling cider and fresh fruit. For extra fun, add a blindfold and try to guess the type of cheese your sweetheart is feeding you.

• Go on a “vacation” for the night. Pick a destination and then eat food and do activities that would be similar to what you’d do if you were there. Or, attend a travel expo and dream about places you want to go. For extra credit, make a collage of pictures from all of the travel books you pick up and put it somewhere in your house. (Yes, I really have this hanging in my house.)

• Play glow in the dark tennis, volleyball, Frisbee, or golf. You can buy many of these items at local stores for $20 or less.

• Cultivate your green thumb. Attend a class together at one of the local USU Extension offices or botanical gardens. Put your new knowledge to work in your yard.

• Look for “the best______” (fill in the blank) in the area. For example, spend time comparing places for creating “the best” echo or places that sell “the best” frozen yogurt (my favorite!).

• Take a hike. Explore a new hiking trail in your area and then enjoy snacks as you take in the view at your final destination.

• Have a fondue party. Melt chocolate or cheese and dip veggies, meat, bread and treats. (Fondue pots are helpful but small crock pots also work well.)

• Go window shopping. Check out the latest electronic gadgets. Get ideas for decorating your home. Try on a new clothing look. Take some goofy photos together. (This is the perfect opportunity to get gift ideas for your sweetheart for future occasions!)

• Have a progressive dinner for two. Go to several different restaurants, enjoying a yummy appetizer at one, your favorite main course at another and the dessert you’ve been craving at the last.

• Take a trip down memory lane. Watch your wedding video or look at your old photo album of when you first met. You might notice something that you missed the first time.

• Attend the Utah State University planned county date nights designed to provide inexpensive and fun dates for couples, while learning relationship tips that will keep your relationship strong.

Not only is playing with your sweetheart fun, but spending time playing as a couple can increase feelings of closeness, improve communication and help couples to unite, which can help them when overcoming differences and challenges.

For additional inexpensive date night tips, as well as tips, classes and resources on building healthy relationships, see www.strongermarriage.org.

What are your favorite fun and inexpensive date night ideas?

This article was written by Naomi Brower

Naomi Brower is an Extension Associate Professor for Utah State University. She has a Masters of Family and Human Development from Utah State University. Often called the relationship guru by friends, Naomi is passionate about helping others improve the quality of their lives through creating and strengthening their relationships with others.

References

http://strongermarriage.org/

Tips on how you can enjoy your garden veggies all year long!

Don’t Forget About Your Freezer

Summer gardens have been planted, and it won’t be long before it will be time to preserve the harvest. Canning and dehydrating are always options, but freezing is my favorite way to preserve vegetables.

I like freezing because it’s fast. Freezing also preserves the fresh flavor and bright color of the vegetables. And, because vegetables are harvested at their peak and prepared and frozen quickly, they keep their nutrients.

You can prepare excellent frozen vegetables at home by following these tips.

1. Find a good set of instructions. I recommend the National Center for Home Food Preservation, http://nchfp.uga.edu/. They have lots of great information about freezing, canning, dehydrating, pickling and making jams and jellies. You can find general information or instructions for preserving a specific food.

2. Harvest the vegetables when they are tender and fresh. The quality will not improve with freezing. Start with the best.

3. Blanch vegetables to preserve their quality and extend the time they can be stored in the freezer. Using a blancher (a pan with an insert that holds the vegetables and allows you to lower the vegetables into the boiling water and lift them out) makes this job easier. Chill the vegetables in ice water for the same amount of time they were blanched.

4. Package the vegetables in air-tight boxes, plastic containers or bags designed for the freezer. Remove as much of the air as possible. Using containers specially designed for the freezer will help preserve the quality of the vegetables for a longer time.

5. Label and date the containers so you know what is in them and how long they have been stored.

6. Store frozen vegetables in an upright or chest freezer at 0° F or colder. The quality of the vegetables won’t last as long if they are stored in the warmer temperatures of the refrigerator’s freezer compartment.
Start preparing now so you will be ready when the peas, spinach, corn and summer squash are ready to harvest.

This article was written by Ann Henderson

References:

National Center for Home Food Preservation

Wedding season is here! Amidst all the planning and excitement, it’s important for couples to be sure they know each other well.

Something Borrowed, Something Blue

How many weddings have you been to this summer? They are happening left and right!

Before tying the knot, here are some important questions to consider:

1. Do I get along well with my partner’s family?

2. Does my partner have a good conscience?

3. Do I have common interests with my partner?

4. Can I communicate well with my partner about tough topics?

5. Does my partner take time to understand my point of view, even if he/she disagrees with it?

6. How does my partner deal with conflict?

7. How does my partner handle money?

8. Are my family values similar to my partner’s?

9. Are my spiritual values and beliefs compatible with my partner’s?

10. What are other people’s perceptions of my partner?

For more information and class schedules on relationships, visit http://healthyrelationshipsutah.org/.

This article was written by Naomi Brower

Naomi Brower is an Extension Associate Professor for Utah State University. She has a Masters of Family and Human Development from Utah State University. Often called the relationship guru by friends, Naomi is passionate about helping others improve the quality of their lives through creating and strengthening their relationships with others.

References:

healthyrelationshipsutah.org

Summer is the time for outdoor picnics, barbecues and unfortunately, food poisoning. Avoid getting sick by following these suggestions!

Eating outdoors in warm weather can be a food safety challenge. Bacteria in food multiply faster at temperatures between 40°F and 140°F. Knowing these 7 basic food safety tips will keep you safe this summer.

1. Wash hands.
“Hand washing is THE single most effective way to prevent the spread of disease,” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It’s really simple — make sure to wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. To help kids learn this, try singing the ABC song with them while they wash. Cleaning up is especially important after using the bathroom and before cooking or eating. Oftentimes you find yourself outdoors with no bathroom in the summer. You can use a water jug, some soap and paper towels. Moist disposable towelettes are also good for cleaning your hands.

2. Keep raw food separate from cooked food.
You take the raw meat on a plate to the grill, right? But remember that you do not want to use that same plate to put the cooked meat on. This is known as cross contamination and can cause food-borne illness. Keep utensils and surfaces clean.

3. Marinate food in the refrigerator, not out on the counter.
Marinating can make meat tender and tasty. But if you want to use some of the marinade as a sauce on the cooked food, reserve a separate portion. Don’t reuse marinade that contained raw meat.

4. Cook food thoroughly.
A meat thermometer can really help in making sure meat is cooked to a safe temperature. Steaks should reach 145 degrees and then be allowed to rest for 3 minutes. Chicken should be cooked to at least 165°F. Hamburgers should be cooked to 160°F. If a thermometer is not available, make sure hamburgers are brown all the way through, not pink.

5. Refrigerate and freeze food right away.
It can be hard to remember while a party is going on, but food should not be left out of the cooler or off the grill for more than 2 hours. It’s especially important to remember NOT to leave food out for more than one hour when the temperature is above 90°F.

6. Keep hot food hot.
Hot food should be kept at or above 140°F. Hot food should be wrapped well and placed in an insulated container – this will keep the heat in. If you have purchased something like fried chicken at a deli, try to eat it within two hours. Bacteria multiply rapidly after that and can make you sick. Don’t forget to pack your meat thermometer.  When re-heating food, be sure it reaches 165°F.

7. Keep cold food cold.
Cold food should be held at or below 40°F. Think about potato salad and similar foods. Keep them on ice in a cooler and don’t set them out for long periods of time in the heat.
Those are the basic tips to remember. If you have ever suffered from food-borne illness, you know how miserable it is. Follow these simple steps to keep your food safe and enjoy your summer barbecues and camping trips.

This article was written by Darlene Christensen
Author Bio: Darlene Christensen is an Associate Extension Professor at Utah State University and serves as the family and consumer sciences/4H agent in Tooele County. She loves working with 4Hers and enjoys teaching adults.

References:

U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Barbecue Basics: Tips to Prevent Foodborne Illness.

With berries and other fruits in season, right now is the best time to start jamming!

Making Jam is Berry Easy

If you have berries from your garden coming out of your ears, making fruit spreads is a wonderful way to use them up. It might seem intimidating, but with the right recipes and tips, making jams and jellies is fun and simple.

Jam or Jelly?

First things first, do you know the difference between jam and jelly?

Jam is made by boiling fruit and sugar to a thick consistency and has fruit bits.

Jelly is made by boiling sugar, the juice of fruit with gelatin or pectin, and doesn’t have fruit bits.

There are also other delicious spreads made with fruit such as marmalade, fruit preserves, fruit compote and fruit butter!

Don’t know where to get started? Here is a fact sheet from USU Extension with more than 20 delicious recipes!

For a great way to enjoy your delicious garden strawberries all year long, try this simple freezer jam recipe. Not only is it easy, but this jam will last in your freezer for up to one year. Now that’s a good reason to get into a sticky situation!

Freezer Strawberry Jam

• 2 cups crushed fresh strawberries
• 4 cups sugar
• 1 (1.75 ounce) package dry pectin
• 3/4 cup water

Mix crushed strawberries with sugar, and let stand for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, stir the pectin into the water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and boil for 1 minute. Stir the boiling water into the strawberries. Allow to stand for 3 minutes before pouring into jars or other storage containers.
Place tops on the containers and leave for 24 hours. Place into freezer, and store frozen until ready to use.

Recipe courtesy of Carolyn Washburn, Extension professor.

References

Freezer Jams

While fireworks are beautiful and spectacular, loud fireworks can severely frighten pets. Keep them safe with these seven tips!

Don’t Forget About Balto!

Fireworks are an exciting way to celebrate during the summer, but loud fireworks displays are no fun for many pets.

Kerry Rood, USU Extension veterinary sciences specialist, said pets’ responses to loud noises can range from mild nervousness to more aggressive behaviors like barking, chewing on furniture, digging, chewing on fencing or running away. This can lead to your pets hurting themselves or destroying property. Noisy thunderstorms can also frighten pets.

If you are worried about noise bothering your pet, here are seven useful tips to help keep your pet safe and calm.

1.Make sure your pet gets plenty of exercise during the day. Pets are more likely to stay calm if they’ve already used up a lot of energy.

2. Create a safe place for your pet. Arrange to keep your pet somewhere dark and quiet. “House the pet deep inside the home where there is the least amount of noise,” Rood said. “Sometimes a basement bathroom or bedroom will suffice.”

3. Try not to leave your pet alone. Being alone will add to his or her fear and increase the likelihood of running away.

4. Distract your pet with an activity that captures their attention. Try to interest them in a favorite toy or game.

5. If your pet does start acting out, don’t yell or scold them. “Stay calm yourself and do not become agitated, as this fuels your pet’s reaction,” Rood said.

6. Make sure your pet has a collar with clearly marked ID tags. According to Pet Amber Alert, animal control services report a 30% increase in lost pets between July 4 and July 6. If you do lose a pet, contact your local animal control dispatch.

7. If your pet has extreme reactions to noise, ask a veterinarian for help. There are medications that will help calm a pet’s nerves.

Using these tips won’t stop the fireworks, but can make the holidays less stressful for you and your pets.

This article was written by Shelby Ruud
Contact: Kerry Rood Kerry.rood@usu.edu, (435) 797-1882