Come Grow with Us at the Ochs 4-H Garden Club

Come and grow with us at the Ochs 4-H Garden Club!

Orientation for the spring garden will be January 5, 7, & 9 during garden hours.
Call 582-2597 to reserve your spot.
Here’s what you need to know about the garden:

What: This is a 4-H club that focuses on vegetable gardening and
conservation of natural resources. Each member receives a 4-H project
book. Club meetings every other Tuesday. Planting choices include: tomato, pepper, squash, cucumber, beans, okra, Swiss chard, lettuce, collard, beet, radish, carrot, and kohlrabi.

Where: Ochs/4-H Educational Center at 14644 113th Ave N, Largo.

When: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:00 – 5:00 and Saturdays from 9-11:30

Cost: Enrollment is $25 ($15 for 4-H enrollment and $10 per plot)
If you already belong to a 4-H club, the cost is $10.

Who: Boys and girls ages 5 to 18 years old.

How: We learn by doing and have fun as we learn.

Contact: Jean Rogalsky, 4-H Agent (727) 582-2597

Please note: You must pre-register by calling the number above.

4-H Families are Invited to the District Winter Ball

Pinellas County has the privilege of hosting the 4-H District Winter Ball for the second year in a row. The Ball will be held on Dec 11th from 6:00-8:30pm in the Pinellas County Extension Magnolia Room. This is a great way to get together with fellow 4-Hers from not only Pinellas County, but from all around District 9. While the District Council is for senior 4-H members, all 4-H members and their families are invited to this event. We will be playing winter games and eating great food, along with holding a toy drive to help the needy. The Florida Botanical Gardens also has their holiday light spectacular this evening, which you would not want to miss. Please come and enjoy a great time with your 4-H Community. If you’re planning to attend please bring a dish to share and a toy/book to help the homeless children who are in need this year. Attire is casual.

Please try to RSVP with names of those attending by Dec 7th to Janet Golden at jgolden@pinellascounty.org or (727) 582-2105.

Mark Your Calendars!

Pinellas County Extension has some great family friendly events coming up that we want to make sure you know about.

Farm City Week Celebration at Heritage Village

Be sure to attend this event on November 21 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. to learn about the importance of agriculture in our every day lives. There will be farm animals, a beekeeper, hands-on activities for youth, and presentations throughout the day. Plus you can visit the Market in the Park to buy fresh produce and other food. Below is a flyer with more details.
http://pinellas.ifas.ufl.edu/blog_4H/20091121_FarmDays.pdf

Holiday Lights at the Florida Botanical Gardens

Beginning November 28-January 3 from 6-10 p.m. nightly the Florida Botanical Gardens invites you to the beautiful holiday light display (see video below). The suggested donation is $2 per person and children under 12 are free. Each evening there will be entertainment, food, beverages, and holiday shopping. On December 18th at 7 p.m. 4-H has invited "Green Santa" to the gardens for a book reading of When Santa Turned Green and a follow-up activity to help children understand the important issue of global warming.

Come to the 4-H Open House!

The 4-H Open House is this Saturday, November 14. Along with the Open House, the judging of the Apple and (new this year) Pecan Cook-Off will also take place.
This event is a great way to learn about today's 4-H and the history of 4-H in Florida. Pinellas 4-H clubs will be here to display their project work with everything from LEGOS to dairy goats. There will be free activities and club fund raisers to support. Everyone who visits each display and fills out their passport will be eligible for a 4-H door prize. Two of the most popular activities are back - the Extreme Gingerhouse Building Contest and the Rockets Away rocket building and launch. Best in Show pet treats will also be there to promote this nation-wide 4-H fund raiser.
The 4-H Open House will take place at the Pinellas County Extension at 12520 Ulmerton Road, Largo from 10:00a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Here is what will be happening:
10:00
Apple Pecan Dish Drop off
Club Displays (all day)

10:30, 11:30, 12:30
Extreme Gingerbread House Contest

11:15, 1:30
Ballroom Dancing Demonstration

11:45
Rocketry Workshop

1:00
Apple Awards and Entry Sampling

2:15
Rocket Launching

Join us as we celebrate 100 years of youth success in Florida. Be part of the 4-H experience!

For more information on the 4-H Open House or 4-H in general, please e-mail jrogalsk@pinellascounty.org.

Disney will offer free admission to 1 million guests who complete a day of volunteer work next year!

The "Give a Day, Get a Disney Day" program will provide certified volunteers with a one-day ticket to any park at Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif., or Walt Disney World near Orlando, Fla., in 2010. Disney is partnering with HandsOn Network, a clearinghouse for volunteer opportunities, to connect people with projects and to certify that the work was done. Please visit the links below for more information.

Disney Link: http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/disneyparks/en_US/WhatWillYouCelebrate/index?name=Give-A-Day-Get-A-Disney-Day
Disney Press Release about program: http://corporate.disney.go.com/news/corporate/2009/2009_0929_volunteer_free_day.html

4-H Open House and Apple Cook-Off - November 14

It is almost time for the annual 4-H Open House and Apple Cook-Off. All 4-H clubs are invited to promote their clubs, sell items to raise funds, share 4-H activities and experiences, and enjoy the day with the Pinellas County community. As of this writing, we have the following activities lined up:
4-H Teen Council is hosting the Extreme Gingerbread House Contest;
Ochs 4-H Garden Club is sharing news of the vegetable garden ;
Horse clubs are offering equine related activities;
Tasting of Apple/Pecan Cook-Off entries;
Rocketry;
Best in Show pet treats;
Conservatives 4-H is hosting a goat ask me booth;
and the BBB’s will bring their ballroom dancing

There are more displays planned. If your club is interested in being part of the 4-H Open House, there is still time to reserve a table. Please contact Jean Rogalsky at (727) 582-2597 or jrogalsk@pinellascounty.org.
A big part of this day has been the Apple Cook-Off. Now it will be an even bigger part as the Apple/Pecan sale. Not only are apple recipes welcomed, but pecan recipes as well. Apple recipes must have at least one apple and pecan recipes must have at least one cup of pecans to be eligible. Registration forms are available at http://pinellas.ifas.ufl.edu/blog_4H/AppleCookOffPre-registration2009.pdf , or from the 4-H Office. The deadline for registrations is November 1, but the contest is limited to the first twenty entries. Recipes can be sweet or savory. Apples and pecans can be used in a variety of ways, so be creative!
After registering for the contest, be prepared to bring the finished product to the Extension Office by 10:00 A.M. November 14.
These events take place at Pinellas County Extension, 12520 Ulmerton Road, Largo. The Open House runs from 10:00 in the morning until 3:00 in the afternoon. Come join us for a great time.

4-H Apple-Pecan Sale!

Now is the time to order your juicy, crisp, fresh apples and crunchy pecans. The annual Apple-Pecan Sale is one of the major fundraisers which the Pinellas County 4-H Foundation sponsors each year. The sale runs from September 1, 2009 through October 1, 2009. All orders should be in by October 1. The apples will arrive the last week of October.
Apples may be ordered through your local 4-H club or individuals may order on their own.
If you are new to this fundraiser, you should know that the apples are picked and delivered to us within days. They are much fresher than the apples you buy in the stores. The pecans are this year's crop and come in several different varieties. The plain halves and pieces are in one pound bags. The chocolate covered and glazed varieties come in decorative 12 ounce bags. These bags make great gifts for all the upcoming holidays.
For more information about the sale and to download order forms, please go to: http://www.pc4hfoundation.org/ .

The Pinellas County 4-H Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit organization serving Pinellas County 4-H Youth Development Program by receiving, managing and administering private funds. It was incorporated in 1972 and is chartered by the State of Florida. The Foundation is governed by an all volunteer board of directors composed of 4-H friends, 4-H alumni, donors and individuals. Membership to the Foundation is open to anyone in the community interested in working for the benefit of youth.
Each year the 4-H Foundation provides $6,000 in scholarships so that 4-H youth and volunteers can attend state, regional, and national events. These events include trainings, 4-H competitions, and 4-H camps.
What better way to support Pinellas County youth than through the 4-H Foundation fundraiser?
Enjoy your apples and pecans!