Gardening Resourses And Information

Many faces of agriculture emerge at Penn State's 2011 Ag Progress Days

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- In Pennsylvania, agriculture does more than fill supermarkets. It's at once a major economic driver, a steward of natural resources and a preserver of a venerated lifestyle. So it's no surprise that Penn State's Ag Progress Days , set for Aug. 16-18 at Rock Springs, brings together people with a wide variety of perspectives on the production of food, fuel and fiber.

"Whether you are a crop grower, a livestock producer, a parent, a young person, a gardener, a conservationist, or simply a consumer of food, fiber and energy, there is something here to interest you," said Bruce McPheron , dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences .

Now in its 43rd year, Ag Progress Days showcases work done by Penn State faculty, staff and extension educators across the state to help agricultural producers, families, communities and government agencies address economic, environmental, health and quality-of-life issues. With so many diverse stakeholders, McPheron explained, the exposition addresses agriculture from a wide range of perspectives.

"Around the grounds, college specialists, commercial exhibitors and our government and industry partners are on hand to show you the latest technology and answer your questions about crop production, animal science, equine care, home gardening, forest resources, health and nutrition, food safety, farm safety, and a wealth of other topics," he said.

New or special attractions at this year's expo will include:

-- PA One Stop. Come to the Ag Map tent to learn more about a free online tool that lets farmers create maps required for completion of nutrient balance sheets for imported manure and nutrient management plans.

-- Yard and Garden Tent potato plots. Potato farmers and backyard gardeners get to see some traditional Pennsylvania potato varieties plus some new varieties at the Yard and Garden Tent’s new potato plots, with 30 varieties either growing in the soil or freshly dug.

-- Charcoal Production: A Walk Back in History Tour. This woodlot tour covers charcoal production and the role of the colyer or charcoal maker harkening back to the colonial era when hardwood lump charcoal fueled iron furnaces throughout the eastern United States. Historical re-enactors will make charcoal on a forest hearth during the one-hour tour.

-- The Learning Center. Visit to learn about financial and business management, feed management, updated manure-management regulations, technological seed advances in corn production, deer management and conservation topics.

Urban Land Army · Volunteer at a Bucket Brigade!

Become a Brigadier!

We are seeking volunteers for a series of Bucket Brigades in southeast Seattle on August 20 & 21 .

We will be handing out hundreds of containers and seed packs, showing people how to plant a vegetable container garden, and talking to new gardeners about growing their own food.

These events are hosted in partnership with Seattle Tilth and Rainier Valley Eats , which promote growing, sharing, and eating healthy food in Seattle’s Rainier Valley neighborhood.

Take a look at the following events, pick your favorite, and then let me know if you can help out!

We’d love to have you.

Contact Sandy at  sandy@urbanlandarmy.com or call 206 257-8492 .

Back to School Bash 4351 S Othello St., Seattle, 98118

About Bucket Brigade

Bucket Brigade is a vegetable container gardening project that rescues unwanted buckets and turns them into mini vegetable gardens for people who want to grow some of their own food.

Volunteers at Bucket Brigades teach people how to plant and seed vegetable containers and give them gardening resources and information to make their garden a success!

Since 2008, more than 1,200 people have taken home a Bucket Brigade container garden and seeds to keep their garden growing.

Doug Welsh's Texas Garden Almanac

Organic Gardening for Dummies

Cincinnati Magazine

The Massachusetts Gardener's Companion, An Insider's Guide to Gardening from the Berkshires to the Islands

Genetically engineered food, a self-defense guide for consumers