June 23, 2020

Dear Kent County neighbors:

Marylanders are searching for information, resources and help to better their lives and stay in business during these uncertain times, while staying at home, managing family and work. We currently are working with county officials to plan our return to the offices in accordance with the plans set forth by the University of Maryland - College Park, our parent institution.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the University of Maryland Extension has been serving the essential workforce, families, and youth throughout the state and we are showcasing a few innovative ways that our faculty and staff are reaching out to their communities. These programs demonstrate the breadth and diversity of our programs, and the dedication of our field agents and staff to keep providing the state with science-based solutions. 

Kent County Fair: While the Kent County Fair is not happening this year, our 4-H youth will have a Kent County Virtual 4-H Fair. Please check out the Kent County Fair website for more information. A virtual 4-H Livestock Auction will active on from July 16-18th at https://kentcountylivestockauction.com/

Kent County Agriculture:  See our June Agline Newsletter for all sorts of Ag related information!  Grain Farmers - Grain Marketing/Timely Ag Issues now offered online: Next meeting Tuesday, Jul 7, 2020 (8am – please register in advance). Finally see our June Agronomy Newsletter.  

Kent County Home Gardening Information: For all your gardening questions or if you would like to receive occasional updates on gardening related issues, please contact Sabine Harvey, sharvey@umd.edu. If you are a Facebook user, you can access more information on the Kent County Home andCommunity Gardening Facebook Page. Kent County residents who are interested in becoming a Master Gardener, should contact Rachel Rhodes (Horticulture Educator and Master Gardener Coordinator-UME Queen Anne's County) rjrhodes@umd.edu. At this time Kent County does not have a Master Gardener program however we collaborate with UME-Queen Anne's County to offer the Master Gardener Program to Kent County residents.   

Agricultural Nutrient Management Program: Nutrient Management updates from the Maryland Dept. of Agriculture are here. For information on the University of Maryland Extension’s Nutrient Management Program click here.  

The Garden Hoes Podcast: The Garden Hoes Podcast is a monthly podcast where we help you get down and dirty in your garden, with timely gardening tips, information about native plants, and more! The Garden Hoes Podcast is brought to you by the University of Maryland Extension. Hosts are Mikaela Boley- Senior Agent Associate (Talbot County) for Horticulture, Rachel Rhodes- Agent Associate for Horticulture (Queen Anne’s County), and Emily Zobel-Senior Agent Associate for  Agriculture (Dorchester County). To listen to the podcast visit https://www.buzzsprout.com/687509 or visit Facebook:

Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) team announce free webinar series for UME Grow It, Eat It, Preserve It. Register for new Capture the Flavor: Herbs and Spices and food preservation methods through June and July.

FSNE: Educators work with collaborators in the community to provide timely resources for eating healthy and staying active during the pandemic. Find simple, tasty recipes and other resources for kids and adults at https://www.eatsmart.umd.edu/. The EatSmart blog has a series of timely articles on shopping, meal planning, and stretching food resources during COVID-19, and the FSNE Facebook page provides daily tips, tools, videos supporting nutrition and physical activity for families.

 Aquaculture Business Planning - Matt Parker, Prince George’s Co. educator in the environment and natural resources program, produced an instructional webinar available on YouTube, assisting aquaculturists in developing their business plan as part of a U.S. Aquaculture Society series.

 Virtual Pasture Walks - Amanda Grev, in partnership with Extension educators in the western Maryland region, are hosting weekly pasture walks and addressing new topics every week including soil sampling, grazing management, and more for livestock owners. Follow the Maryland Forages Facebook page for ongoing updates.

 Gardening Series - In Harford County, Joyce Browning is using Facebook to share Master Gardener lessons, posted daily with advice on local horticulture. Her videos can also be seen on the Home & Garden Information Center YouTube channel.  

AGsploration and Learning from Home: Check out these learning opportunities from Maryland 4-H and especially AGsploration, developed with Cecil Co. 4-H Educator, April Barczewski!

STEAM for Youth - 4-H educators across the state are helping kids keep in touch and keep busy. In Baltimore City, Albert Lewis is providing weekly STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art & math) activities for his students, as well as fun videos on YouTube educating them on the importance of following current safety guidelines like wearing a mask. 

Farm Life - One of the Upper Shore’s own 4-H educators in Kent County, Beth Hill, made severalvideos on farm life and 4-H that you can find on her Facebook Page.

Healthy Home Environments - Jen Dindinger, with the Maryland SeaGrant Extension program in Dorchester County, is teaching her communities how to prepare gardens and rain barrels for the spring through YouTube videos, helping ensure less runoff to the Chesapeake Bay from urban coastal areas.

 Grow It Eat It Preserve It - Donielle Axline, Family & Consumer Science educator in Frederick County, offered a webinar on the basics of growing, eating, and preserving your own food, designed for elementary-aged students. 

 These are only a few examples of the dynamic virtual education happening across the state as we continue to adjust to the changes associated with the stay-at-home order. We are committed to educating our communities, and assisting families and our essential workforce.

 As always, find news and updates at https://extension.umd.edu/ and your local Extension personnel at https://extension.umd.edu/locations.

Stay Healthy!

Dr. Paul Rickert

Area Extension Director

Cecil, Kent, & Queen Anne’s Counties

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