Things To Do In Iowa This Weekend

What	Flea Market
When	Saturday, May 30, 2009 - Sunday, May 31, 2009 From 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Where	4-H Exhibits Building, Iowa State Fairgounds
Description	Contact Info: United Methodist Church 515/262.7518
What	Brucemore Historic Landscape Tour
When	Saturday, May 30, 2009 From 10:30 AM to 1:00 AM
Where	Brucemore, Cedar Rapids
Description	Join the Brucemore garden staff on a walking tour that traces the history of the Brucemore gardens and grounds.
Long Description	Experience the passion influential historic landscape architect, O.C. Simonds, had for retaining the natural elements of the land, using native vegetation, and applying his knowledge of nature and artistic principles to achieve his picturesque style. Participants will learn the progression of the Brucemore landscape from 1886 to present, the importance of the estate's architecture on the landscape, and hear the challenges facing the continuing preservation of the estate. Admission is $10/person and $7/Brucemore member.
What	At the Lead Mines
When	Saturday, May 30, 2009 From 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Where	Mathias Ham House historic site
Description
Long Description	Visit with historical demonstrators while they interpret the past and recreate the miners' search for lead during the pre-Civil War period in Victorian era Dubuque. Experience what the daily life of a lead miner was like through hands-on activities, food and fun! Contact Information: Web site: http://www.rivermuseum.com/features_historicsites_ham.cfm Phone: 563-557-9545
What	Featured Artist Talk: John Buck
When	Saturday, May 30, 2009 From 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Where	Cedar Rapids Museum of Art
Description	Join us for a special presentation by John Buck whose work is currently on display at the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art in the exhibition John Buck: Iconography.
Long Description	Join us for a special presentation by John Buck whose work is currently on display at the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art in the exhibition John Buck: Iconography. This exhibition is on display through August 16, 2009.
What	John Buck: Iconography
When	Saturday, May 30, 2009 - Sunday, August 16, 2009
Where	Cedar Rapids Museum of Art
Description	An overview of the Iowa-born, Montana-based, John Buck's 40-year career in printmaking and sculpture, the exhibit includes over 60 works including prints, large-scale sculpture, wooden constructions (shadow boxes) and glass and wood works created at Pilch
Long Description	An overview of the Iowa-born, Montana-based, John Buck's 40-year career in printmaking and sculpture, the exhibit includes over 60 works including prints, large-scale sculpture, wooden constructions (shadow boxes) and glass and wood works created at Pilchuck. The exhibit also features examples of the carved blocks for the prints, several prints in different states prior to completion, wood carvers and printmakers tools, and a photographic essay of the artist at work in his studio. Support for John Buck: Iconography, Work from the Collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and his family foundation has been made possible by the Jordan Schnitzer Family Foundation. Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, 410 Third Avenue SE, 319.366.7503, www.crma.org.; Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Thursday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sunday 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
What	CoHorts' Week Ice Cream Social
When	Sunday, May 31, 2009 From 1:00 PM to 4:30 PM
Where	Reiman Gardens, 1407 University Blvd, Ames
Description	Enjoy an afternoon at the Gardens complete with ice cream. Free for CoHorts' members; price of admission for general public.
What	Zither Concert
When	Sunday, May 31, 2009 From 2:00 PM to 11:01 AM
Where	Homestead Community Church Museum
Description
Long Description	Amana Heritage Society will host Davenport's German American Heritage Center Zither Ensemble for a unique concert of traditional German music. Join us at the Homestead Community Church Museum at 2:00pm for an afternoon of music that has a long tradition in the Amana Colonies. Free will donation. For more information call 319-622-3567 or visit our website at www.amanaheritage.org

Farmers Market Twice A Week

 Tuesday Farmers Markets begin on Tuesday, June 2, 2009, from 5-7 PM in Main Street Square.  Customers should expect to find onions, radishes, spinach, lettuce, asparagus, rhubarb, lots of baked goods and plants.  Peas and strawberries should be coming later in June.  One baked goods vendor is specializing in diabetic baked goods as an added attraction this summer.

  For a list of participating vendors and what they offer go to the extension web site at www.extension.iastate.edu  and click on the Franklin county site.   Vendors are on our Farmers Market site with phone numbers, addresses, and e-mails, if available.

 Remember, vendors will now be available on Tuesday night as well as Friday night.  Come early to the Tuesday night band concert to see what we have!  Announcements of new produce available will be made over the radio and in promotional articles throughout the season. Or customers may call Franklin County Extension, 456-4811 and ask for Barb to learn what is available or what vendors might be selling a product.

 We will have several special Saturday Markets this year beginning with Junket in June.  Some vendors will be on Main Street Square from 9:30 to 12:00 on Saturday June 20, 2009.  Saturday markets will continue with August 15, 2009 as part of Summer Fest and Saturday September 12, 2009 as part of the Fall Open House for the Specialty Shops.  We are considering an indoor market for November 7 and December 5 as part of down town activities associated with the Holidays.  

photo from flickr.com

Hampton Today made possible by sponsors like:
Michelle Hartman – Tupperware –641-373-8880 Denise Passehl – Watkins – 641-579-6227 Franklin County Farmers Market 641-456-4811 Patrick Palmer – The Computer Guy – 641-420-1234 Seven Stars Restaurant – 641-456-5378 Debra Brown – Melaleuca - 641-458-1114

Another Way To Volunteer

 Iowa Master Gardener Program Provides Education and Volunteer Service

Light is shining brightly on home gardening these days – both literally and figuratively. Literally speaking, spring is here; the days are ever longer; and the warm sunshine and explosion of growth brighten our days.

Home gardening is also in the proverbial spotlight. In particular, there's an increased interest in vegetable gardening with the decline in the economy,  People are exploring the possibility of saving money by growing some of their own food. Michele Obama’s garden is the trendiest item on the grounds of the White House – except maybe a Portuguese water dog named Bo. And in his new role as Agriculture Secretary, former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack has planted this year – with much publicity – a “People’s Garden” on the grounds of the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C.
 
The increased interest in producing food at home has brought a large number of novice or relatively inexperienced hopefuls out into the garden. Where shall they turn for help before investing time and money, or after a season or two of disappointing results? Libraries, bookstores, cable TV, and the Internet are replete with “how-to” items on gardening. These are valuable sources of information, but they do not necessarily address specific garden issues in Iowa.

For local, research-based information, the network of Iowa Master Gardeners and the Iowa Master Gardener Program is a great place to start. This program is an educational and volunteer service program of the Iowa State University College of Agriculture and ISU Extension. The program provides selected volunteers advanced training on many aspects of gardening. Since 1979, The Iowa Master Gardener program has trained more than 9,000 people. In exchange for training, Master Gardeners share their time and knowledge on approved projects in their local communities. Training consists of about 40 hours of Web-based broadcasting and face-to-face experiences at extension offices and on the ISU campus. After training, participants must complete a one-year internship consisting of 40 hours of volunteer service. Additional volunteer hours and ongoing training are required in subsequent years.

Master Gardeners are highly visible volunteers in their counties. You might see Master Gardeners working at local gardens, schools, nursing homes or other community beautification/education projects. You might hear Master Gardeners answering questions on the radio, giving presentations at a gardening seminar or discussing different plant species at a local plant sale. You might talk with Master Gardeners on the phone or via email or at booths at a local farmers' market, county fairs or home and garden shows. The Master Gardener program is unique for its community emphasis and because it directly utilizes the broad research-based resources of Iowa State University.

Please consider Master Gardeners when seeking credible information about home gardening in Iowa. If you are interested in becoming an Iowa Master Gardener, contact your county extension office to find out more information about training in your area. Below is a list of counties that will be conducting training this fall or winter. While the opportunity seems far away, it is this time of year that most gardening questions arise. Plan ahead while the challenges of the season are fresh on your mind! Visit www.extension.iastate.edu for phone numbers and e-mail addresses of your county extension office.

For more information on the Iowa Master Gardener Program see http://www.mastergardener.iastate.edu/becomemg.html.

Counties that will offer Master Gardener training in the fall *: Calhoun/Pocahontas/Sac, Cass, Cerro Gordo, Chickasaw, Clayton, Clinton, Crawford, Delaware, Grundy, Linn/Iowa/Benton/Johnson, Muscatine, Page, Polk, Scott, Story/Boone, Van Buren, Warren/Dallas/Madison, West Pottawattamie, and Woodbury

Counties that will offer Master Gardener training in the spring of 2010 *: Dubuque, Fayette, Howard, Jones, Lee, Mahaska/Monroe/Wapello, Polk, Union, Winneshiek, and Woodbury

* Don’t see your county on the list? Contact your local ISU Extension office and express your interest in Master Gardener training. There is plenty of time to add more counties to fall or spring training.

What's Up In The Garden?

 by Jackie Dohlman, Franklin County Master Gardener

Tips on Hackberries, Redbuds, and Drought-Tolerant Annuals

Why is my hackberry tree losing some of its new leaves?

The loss of leaves on hackberries in spring is an occasional phenomenon in Iowa and surrounding states. The exact cause has never been determined. In past years, no association was found between the leaf drop and insects or diseases. The most popular theory is that cold spring temperatures may have damaged the leaf buds or newly developing leaves, causing the leaf drop. It’s likely the loss of leaves in spring is temporary. In past years, affected hackberries quickly developed new leaves and recovered completely.

My five-year-old redbud tree is not leafing out this spring. What happened to it?

The redbud tree may have been severely damaged or destroyed by very cold temperatures this past winter.

The redbud (Cercis canadensis) is native to much of the eastern United States, including southern Iowa. It is widely planted in central and southern Iowa. Redbuds are usually grown from seeds. The hardiness of seed-grown redbuds varies somewhat based on the source of the seeds. Plants grown from seeds collected in Iowa and other northern seed sources are generally hardy to minus 25 to minus 30 F. Redbuds grown from southern seed sources are less hardy.

When purchasing a redbud, be sure to select one that was grown from a northern seed source. Redbuds perform best in moist, well-drained soils in partial shade to full sun. Whenever possible, select a sheltered location in central and northern Iowa.

What are some good drought tolerant annuals?

Many annual flowers perform best when they have a consistent supply of moisture throughout the growing season. However, some annuals tolerate dry conditions quite well. After they’ve been planted, drought tolerant annuals often need to be watered a few times until they’re established. Once established, drought tolerant annuals require little watering. Drought tolerant annuals include periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus), cockscomb (Celosia spp.), spider flower (Cleome hassleriana), cosmos (Cosmos spp.), globe amaranth (Gomphrena globosa), medallion flower (Melampodium paludosum), rose moss (Portulaca grandiflora), dusty miller (Senecio cineraria), dahlberg daisy (Thymophylla tenuiloba) and zinnia (Zinnia spp.).

Got gardening questions? Contact the Hortline at (515) 294-3108 (Monday - Friday; 10 a.m. -12 noon and 1 - 4:30 p.m.) or send an e-mail to hortline@iastate.edu. For more gardening information visit us at Yard and Garden Online at www.yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu

 You can read more about the redbud and see the pic above here.

Hampton Today made possible by sponsors like:
Michelle Hartman – Tupperware –641-373-8880 Denise Passehl – Watkins – 641-579-6227 Franklin County Farmers Market 641-456-4811 Patrick Palmer – The Computer Guy – 641-420-1234 Seven Stars Restaurant – 641-456-5378 Debra Brown – Melaleuca - 641-458-1114

BIG FUN!

What	A Bicycle Built for Art
When	Friday, May 29, 2009 From 6:00 PM to 8:00 AM
Where	Waterloo Center for the Arts
Description	Kids can turn their bikes into masterpieces with paper, streamers, clothespins, cards, and more. Kids and parents will work together as a family to create something fun and unique during this workshop.
Long Description	The workshop is $15/child (accompanying adults free) and includes artwork supplies, hot dogs, popcorn, and lemonade! Then, on Saturday May 30 at 9:30am, all participants are invited to represent the Waterloo Center for the Arts in the My Waterloo Days Parade! An adult must accompany their child to the workshop and walk in the parade with the bike rider.

4-H Updates

4-H/FFA Meat Goat & Sheep Project Meeting

 4-H as well as FFA members that want to learn more about how to get their goats and sheep ready to exhibit at the fair are invited to an informational meeting, Saturday, June 13 at the Franklin County Fairgrounds, Hampton, beginning at 10:00 a.m. 4-H Project Leaders will have animals on hand to demonstrate how to groom and show.  Members are encouraged to bring their own animals as well.  This workshop is open to youth in surrounding counties.  Lunch will be provided, so pre-registration is needed.  Contact the Franklin Extension Office at 641-456-4811, or e-mail jackied@iastate.edu if you plan to attend.

New Blog for Iowa 4-H Volunteers

AMES, Iowa – Iowans have a new way to talk about 4-H — through the Iowa 4-H Volunteer blog on the Iowa State University Extension Web site, http://blogs.extension.iastate.edu/Iowa4hvolunteer.

“We started the blog because we want to answer questions and address concerns that 4-H volunteers may have about ISU Extension’s restructuring and what it means for Iowa’s 4-H program,” said Judy Levings, 4-H volunteer development specialist.

On April 30, ISU Extension administration announced a restructuring plan that eliminates county and area extension education director positions and replaces them with 20 regional director positions. The restructuring plan also includes a merger of the administration of Families and 4-H Youth Development programs, and the Center for Industrial Research and Service (CIRAS) and Community and Economic Development programs.

Although the blog initially may focus on restructuring issues, volunteers, parents, 4-H’ers and others interested in 4-H youth development can add other comments, ask questions and make suggestions.

“That’s what this blog is about—increasing communication,” Levings said.

4-H is a community of 6 million young people across America learning leadership, citizenship and life skills. Nearly one in four Iowa school age youth participate in ISU Extension 4-H Youth Development programs. About 11,800 volunteers contribute their time, energy and expertise to help youth learn life skills through 4-H.

Contacts:

Judith Levings, 4-H Youth Development, (515) 294-4764, jlevings@iastate.edu

Laura Sternweis, Extension Communications and External Relations, (515) 294-0775, lsternwe@iastate.edu 

Hampton Today made possible by sponsors like:
Michelle Hartman – Tupperware –641-373-8880 Denise Passehl – Watkins – 641-579-6227 Franklin County Farmers Market 641-456-4811 Patrick Palmer – The Computer Guy – 641-420-1234 Seven Stars Restaurant – 641-456-5378 Debra Brown – Melaleuca - 641-458-1114

Insurance: Do You Really Need It?

Managing Tough Times – Insurance: Luxury or Necessity

When people are looking for ways to cut their spending, it may be tempting to slash insurance coverage.  Done without real thought, this could seriously endanger a family’s financial well-being.

 Insurance is not a luxury.  It is an essential part of securing your family’s safety and well-being.  Unless you are very wealthy, insurance is the only way to protect yourself and your family from financially disastrous events such as the death of a family provider, destruction of a home, or being responsible for an accident which causes serious injury to someone else.  The average person simply can’t save up enough money to be prepared for such events, so sharing the risk by purchasing insurance is the prudent way to go. 

That said, however, be sure to avoid spending more money than you need to on insurance.  Here are some tips for making sure you spend your insurance dollars wisely:

1)      Review your coverage regularly.  Insurance needs change over time. 
Example 1: Life insurance is very important for parents of young children who would need support if one or both parents die.  When the children become adults, however, it may be unnecessary. 
Example 2:   For an older, low-value vehicle, the cost of collision and comprehensive coverage is high compared to the relatively low benefit that would be received IF a claim was filed.  NOTE: never drop liability coverage, however – an old car can cause just as much damage as a new car, leading to potentially disastrous financial liability.
Example 3:  The dollar figure on your homeowner’s coverage needs review every 2-3 years; as building costs rise, even a policy with built-in inflation adjustment might not keep up with the cost of rebuilding a home.

2)      Follow the “large-loss principle.”  Focus your insurance coverage on the most serious disasters, rather than spending money on policies which would pay out for small losses. 
Example 1:  Small thefts or damages to our homes are not disastrous – most families could find a way to cover those costs.  On the other hand, theft or damage amounting to tens of thousands of dollars is truly disastrous.  With that in mind, consider policies with higher deductibles and therefore lower premiums. 
Example 2: Even death is not a major financial disaster when an individual has no dependents. Funeral costs can usually be managed.  That individual might choose to purchase life insurance to cover funeral costs or to leave an inheritance or charitable bequest, but that is much lower priority than having adequate levels of essential coverage.  For those without dependents, life insurance might be a place to cut costs when times are tight.

3)      Focus coverage on the loss, not the cause.   Policies which cover losses resulting from specific causes (such as an accident or cancer) will only pay for health care costs or death benefits IF the cause fits the policy.  However, when serious illness/injury or death occurs the financial need exists no matter what the cause.  Insurance dollars are better spent on policies which cover health care costs or pay death benefits regardless of cause. 

For more information on dealing with tough economic times, visit your local extension office or check out ISU Extensions Managing in Tough Times website- www.extension.iastate.edu/toughtimes or www.eXtension.org websites 24 hours a day 7 days a week.  The Iowa Concern Hotline offers 24 hour confidential assistance for those dealing with stress, financial concerns, and legal questions.  They can be reached by calling 1-800-447-1985. These resources can help you find reliable resources backed by research when you are forced to make hard choices during tough economic times.

 cool picture from flickr.com

Hampton Today made possible by sponsors like:
Michelle Hartman – Tupperware –641-373-8880 Denise Passehl – Watkins – 641-579-6227 Franklin County Farmers Market 641-456-4811 Patrick Palmer – The Computer Guy – 641-420-1234 Seven Stars Restaurant – 641-456-5378 Debra Brown – Melaleuca - 641-458-1114

Extension Family Files

by Beverly Peters, Franklin County Extension Education Director

 Beyond The Bran

Most of the attention to whole grains is focused on the fiber provided by the bran portion of grain.   Beyond bran, however, whole-grain foods contribute positively to the diet in many other ways as well.

 Whole grains also are important sources of several of the B vitamins, which break down protein, carbohydrates and fat for effective use by the body.  In fact, B-complex vitamins are necessary for almost every reaction in every cell of the body.

 Among minerals found in whole-grains is iron, well known for its role in helping to build and maintain healthy blood.  Trace minerals supplied by whole grains, such as zinc, copper and magnesium, also are essential for normal growth and health.

 Whole grains also provide proteins although they are considered incomplete proteins, which means that certain essential amino acids are missing.  However, when the proteins of whole grains and vegetables are combined, they become complete proteins comparable in quality to those from animal sources.

 Finally, whole grains do indeed provide fat, which is often a surprise to the label reader.  However, it is a small amount of fat and is primarily of the unsaturated types. 

picture of a whole grain crust on that pie is from flickr.com 

Hampton Today made possible by sponsors like:
Michelle Hartman – Tupperware –641-373-8880 Denise Passehl – Watkins – 641-579-6227 Franklin County Farmers Market 641-456-4811 Patrick Palmer – The Computer Guy – 641-420-1234 Seven Stars Restaurant – 641-456-5378 Debra Brown – Melaleuca - 641-458-1114

3 pm Moment of Remembrance

Decoration Day was conceived by a group of mothers following the Civil War.  They decided to decorate ALL the graves of fallen soldiers - Union and Confederate.  The first official Decoration Day was May 30, 1868.  

The National Moment of Remembrance happens at 3 p.m. on Memorial Day.  Please take a moment to remember the men and women who have died for our country.  

We decorated graves at Geneva Lindenwood Cemetery and had a public ceremony yesterday.  We closed with God Bless The USA by Lee Greenwood.

If tomorrow all the things were gone,
I’d worked for all my life.
And I had to start again,
with just my children and my wife.

I’d thank my lucky stars,
to be livin here today.
‘Cause the flag still stands for freedom,
and they can’t take that away.

And I’m proud to be an American,
where at least I know I’m free.
And I wont forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.

And I gladly stand up,
next to you and defend her still today.
‘Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA.

From the lakes of Minnesota,
to the hills of Tennessee.
Across the plains of Texas,
From sea to shining sea.

From Detroit down to Houston,
and New York to L.A.
Well there's pride in every American heart,
and its time we stand and say.

That I’m proud to be an American,
where at least I know I’m free.
And I wont forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.

And I gladly stand up,
next to you and defend her still today.
‘Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA.

And I’m proud to be and American,
where at least I know I’m free.
And I wont forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.

And I gladly stand up,
next to you and defend her still today.
‘Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA.