Pollinator Week is typically the third week of June annually. This effort was initiated and is managed by Pollinator Partnership, and 14 years ago the U.S. Senate’s unanimous approval and designation of a week in June as “National Pollinator Week” marked a necessary step toward addressing the urgent issue of declining pollinator populations. Pollinator Week has now grown into an international celebration, promoting the valuable ecosystem services provided by bees, birds, butterflies, bats, beetles, moths, wasps, and flies.
Research has shown that most insect pollinators belong to four insect orders. They are listed in descending order from the most to the least number of pollinators: (1) Hymenoptera (bees and wasps), (2) Diptera (flies), (3) Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies), and (4) Coleoptera (beetles).
Pollinator Week is an annual celebration in support of pollinator health. It is a time to raise awareness for pollinators and spread the word about what we can do to protect them. The great thing about Pollinator Week is that you can celebrate and get involved any way you like!
Come check out the OSU Pollinator Research garden located at the Fairfield County Ag Center located at 831 College Avenue in Fairfield County. The Garden is located on the wast side of the parking lot. The plants are labeled and you can easily see lots of pollinator activity throughout the planting.
Some of my personal favorites in the garden are the Purple Betony - Purple betony is an herbaceous perennial wildflower in the Lamiaceae (mint) family. Its native habitat includes meadows, gardens, parks, pastures, hedge banks, and open forest woodlands. Grows in matted clumps it slowly reaches 1 to 2 feet in height and width.
Plant in full sun to parital shade in well drained moist neutral to acidic soils. Once established, this plant is resistant to drought and spreads very little.
Lesser Calamint - A low-growing garden plant, lesser calamint is a tough, drought tolerant plant that blooms most of the summer with a cloud of white to lavender flowers over mats of gray-green foliage. Calamints are cousins to the herbal mints and are very fragrant but do not spread as aggressively.
Goldenrod ‘Fireworks' is a cultivar of the native herbaceous perennial S. rugosa in the Asteraceae (daisy) family. Plants form a bushy, upright clump reaching 2 to 3 feet tall and wide of dark-green leaves and grow best in moist, well-drained soil, but are somewhat tolerant of dry and wet soils.
In late summer the blooms appear along 18-inch arching stems held above the foliage to provide a stunning display of yellow flowers that resemble fireworks, hence the cultivar name. 'Fireworks' is not super aggressive and will not try to take over your garden as it spreads slowly by rhizomes. Look for some of these great plants in your favorite garden store today and be intentional about planting a few pollinator plants in your home landscape!
Grill Smart for Youth coming soon
For years by participating in MQP and carcass projects, Fairfield County youth have experienced raising livestock that produced quality product for the consumer. Unfortunately, some youth have seldom experienced how to properly season and grill the product they produce.
Understanding that few things can satisfy like the aroma, tenderness, juiciness, and deep rich flavor of a steak, loin chop or ground product grilled to perfection, on June 28 local youth can learn and experience how to correctly select, season, prepare and grill the perfect steak or ground product during Grill Smart for Youth.
Grill Smart is a program adapted by OSU Extension Beef Field Specialist Garth Ruff from the Barbecue Science class that is taught annually on campus at The Ohio State University. This program for local youth will take participants all the way from meat selection to safely serving a perfectly grilled masterpiece.
More specifically, during the 2 +/- hour Grill Smart for Youth class, participants learn to match the appropriate cooking methodology with a particular muscle or cut, gain an understanding of how or why different muscles are typically merchandised as steaks or roasts, and which cuts are best suited for preparation on the grill. Furthermore, those in attendance will learn about potential food safety issues when preparing meat and other food products.
Hosted in the Fairfield County Ag Center beginning at 11 a.m. on June 28, youth are invited to bring a steak or loin chop from home and learn how to safely season and prepare it on the grill. Participants will also season and grill ground beef that will be provided. The grill, seasoning and all other supplies will also be provided funded in part by the Fairfield County Cattlemen.
Youth should register today to participate in this opportunity to learn to select, prepare, grill and safely serve the perfect steak, chop or ground beef. Call the OSU Extension office (740-653-5419) for more information and to register.
Upcoming events
Fairfield County Local Foods Tour - Grill Smart: 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. June 27. Few things can satisfy or impress family and friends like the aroma, tenderness, juiciness, and deep rich flavor of a steak or chop grilled to perfection. However, there may not be anything that strikes as much apprehension and fear into the hearts of a dinner host as that of failing to correctly select, prepare and grill the perfect steak. If you’ve ever struggled with the angst of whether you can pull off that perfect meal and eating experience of dinner originating from your grill, then the Grill Smart class is designed for you. Cost is $30/person and includes grilling meats.
Fairfield County Local Foods Tour - Mirabelle Farm & Vineyard: 6 to 7 p.m. July 9. Join OSU Extension in Fairfield County to learn more about Mirabelle Farm and Vineyard. Attendees will be able to learn more about the vineyard as well as take a tour. No cost to attend, but please let us know if you are coming so we can plan. Register at https://go.osu.edu/fclocal.
Let's Preserve Series: At Keller Market House, 134 S. Columbus Street, Lancaster. Are you planning to preserve summer produce? Join Shannon Carter, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator and Sandy Bohl,Instructor, with Ohio State University Extension Fairfield County to learn more. Call 740-653-5419 to register
- Freezing: Tuesday, July 9, 2024, 6:00 - 7:00 pm
- Dehydrating: Tuesday, August 6, 2024, 6:00 - 7:00 pm
- Canning Basics: Tuesday, August 20, 2024, 6:00 - 7:30 pm
This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: OSU Extension: Celebrating pollinators in your landscape every day
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