NFREC Happenings

For questions regarding this blog, please contact Charlene Cupp Kinch at accupp@ufl.edu.

Ag in the Classroom Comes to NFREC Marianna

November 16, 2009

On October 28th and 29th the Jackson County Extension Office held their annual “Ag in the Classroom” at the NFREC-Marianna. Approximately 600 first graders from Jackson County Schools came out to the center for a visit and to learn firsthand about agriculture. They went through a corn maze, made peanut butter, milk shakes, and they also learned to shuck corn. The children had a fun filled day here at NFREC-Marianna.

Submitted by Gina Arnett

Garden Plantings

November 6, 2009

You've seen all those stakes and orange tape in the Demo Garden area. Keep watching that area for a bit more pleasing sight. On October 6 Gardening Friends of the Big Bend members planted daffodil bulbs suitable for this area of Florida. The varieties include: Nony, Erlicheer, Nat Williams, N. italicus, Chinese Sacred Lily, Grand Soleil d'Or, and three different Paperwhites.

Look for the first leaves in November followed by flowering in December and on into March.

Written by Jill Williams GFBB

Ag Adventures Comes to NFREC

October 26, 2009

Research Faculty, Extension Specialists and Agents surrounding the North Florida Research and Education Center (NFREC) implemented an Ag Adventures Program designed to teach 4th-6th grade students in the North West District of Florida about local agriculture through in-class, in-field, and hands-on learning.

Local teachers prepared their students with in-class experiences before Ag Adventures Day, a field trip to NFREC where they would be exposed to seven target topics at different stations including corn, pumpkins, pollination, peanuts, cotton and soybeans. Each station involved a short discussion about its theme, and culminated in hands on experience and samples of popcorn, soybeans and peanuts. There was also a corn maze that offered much entertainment to the children and adults!

Teachers and students alike were excited to return to their schools from Ag Adventures Day with the promise that they would be able to continue their inquiry. Indeed the investigations continued, and as a result local teachers and students are more aware of agriculture and our team of specialists and agents have an annual event on their hands!

Gardening Friends of the Big Bend

October 9, 2009

If you missed Gardening Friends of the Big Bend October 3 event on agaves, succulents, and related plants you missed three excellent speakers - Doug Hopkins, Landscape Designer and Grower in Gainesville; Dr. Ed Duke, FAMU Horticulture; and NFREC's own Dr. Gary Knox. Participants uniformly praised the event and reveled in their plant purchases. Many thanks to all who attended, worked toward making this event a success, donated plants, and performed any of the multitude of tasks necessary for a successful event. GFBB's next event will be the most enjoyable Plantaholic Preview Party, 6 PM, Wednesday, October 21. This evening fund-raiser includes party food and drinks with a crowd of plant enthusiasts bidding on silent and live auction items. Pre-priced plants will also be available for sale. Auction and sale items include rare, unique, bodacious and perhaps even bizarre plants and accessories suitable for our area. This event is a one-of-a-kind evening with happy gardeners helping NFREC with its research and educational missions. A $25 ticket for the evening party and auction can be purchased prior to October 21 from GFBB’s website, www.thegfbb.com; from Sue Watkins, stwatkins@nettally.com, 850-224-1394; or from Jill Williams, B419@aol.com, 850-663-2280. Tickets at the door on October 21 will be $30 each. Following this, Gardening Friends of the Big Bend will sponsor an outdoor Plant Sale Extravaganza on Saturday, October 24, 2009, open and free to the public. This event, starting at 8:30 AM, is also held on the grounds of NFREC. Trees, shrubs, flowers, and garden-related items will be offered at more-than-reasonable prices. Thanks go to a number of local wholesale and retail nurseries and private individuals as well as the NFREC for their extraordinary donations of plants and garden-related items. This extravaganza is a fun, relaxed event where everyone can find something and we can all add more 'green' to our North Florida gardens.

Written by Jill Williams

Big Day for UF/IFAS and NFREC

October 5, 2009

As you're all well aware, Saturday, September 19 was a big day for the University and IFAS. The North Florida Research and Education Center hosted it's eighth annual Fall Field Day and Open House in Quincy. Thankfully, the weather held and about a hundred registered guests enjoyed a beautiful morning filled with research farm tours, hydroponics, and wildlife demonstrations. Everyone in attendance had a fun and educational morning on behalf of IFAS with everything wrapping up early enough in the day for folks to get back and enjoy that other UF event going on at 3:30. Photos from the field day are now online and available for viewing and download from the links below. Highlights include an IFAS pumpkin patch with pumpkins so large that it put's Charlie Brown's pumpkin patch to shame, an irresistible mud bathing farm dog, and a raccoon hugging a small gator (I swear, it happened). Don't take my word for it though, you can see for yourself below. Enjoy the images.
http://kingdom.ifas.ufl.edu/tylerljones/UFEVENTS/NFRECFallFieldDayQuincy091909/Gallery/