CSU Extension is Here to Help!

 

by Amy Lentz, CSU Horticulture Extension Agent, Weld County

CSU Extension has a TON of resources to help you with a variety of needs when it comes to anything ‘horticulture’ and sometimes it can be a bit overwhelming to know where to look. I thought it would be a nice touch to our CO-Horts Blog series to have an instructional article on how to utilize these many resources that your CSU Extension experts have created for you! You can be sure that the information you get from CSU Extension is based on sound research and good practices, even if it's in a fun style like the current blog site you are visiting.

So, here you go…this is a summary of the different types of resources you might want to check out for more information on anything you can think of about gardening, landscaping, lawns, trees, flowers, vegetables, fruit and so much more! Links are embedded in each summary below in case you want to visit these sites and bookmark them for future use:

Resources from CSU’s Planttalk website are brief articles to introduce you to a wide range of gardening
topics. The subject material is focused on the beginner and offers other resources for further researching. The Planttalk website is also home to a full library of short gardening tutorial videos for those that prefer visual learning. Find these resources, along with a form to ask your question directly to Extension experts, on the Planttalk website.

 

CSU Fact Sheets are scientifically written and detailed articles that often include growing and treatment recommendations for everything from insect issues to recommended trees and shrub lists. Fact Sheets are peer reviewed and written by CSU Extension specialists, agents and other experts. These are great if you have an issue for which you need research-based advice. Fact Sheets can be found on the main CSU Extension Website under Publications.

 

CMG GardenNotes are very detailed chapter-style resources that are great for those seeking textbook style learning. These are utilized during training for Master Gardener volunteers and others at our annual Green School. You can find out more about Green School and access the complete set of CMG GardenNotes on the Colorado Master Gardener website.

 

Grow & Give is a program recently created by CSU Extension that teaches you how to grow fruits and vegetables and connects you with local donation centers to donate your excess bounty. Visit the vast resources on the Grow & Give website.

 

The CO-Horts Gardening and Colorado Mountain Gardener blog postings are more casual and fun resources where agents and Master Gardeners across Colorado write about random topics surrounding horticulture. You can subscribe to these blogs to receive the articles right into your email inbox or you can just read online. 

The CO-Horts blog website also offers a list of recorded Gardening Webinars that have been taught across the state by CSU Extension agents.  

 

Finally, probably the best part about CSU Extension is that you can contact your Local CSU Extension Office and Colorado Master Gardener Volunteers to get personalized help with your gardening questions! CSU Extension offices also cover many other topics that are useful to Coloradoans.

A Blog about VLOGGING! by Yvette Henson

This past fall, when I was researching the speakers that were going to be at an event I was planning on attending, I discovered vlogging!  Several of the speakers scheduled at the event I went to are what are considered modern day ‘homesteaders’ and have YouTube Channels where they VLOG about what they are doing on their homesteads.  Some of them have 1000’s (or even 10's of thousands) of subscribers!  I watched a few VLOGS and a new world opened up.  Turns out vlogging is currently a popular thing!  

VLOGS may be ‘old news’ to you, or perhaps, like me, they are something new.  VLOGS are simply video blogs--videos that are posted regularly, usually to YouTube, but Facebook, personal websites, Twitter, or many other outlets can be used.  In addition, vloggers also use other social media to support what they are doing.  VLOGS can share snippets of information or tell a story over time.  The most popular ones share a story over time, allowing the viewer to participate in the vloggers life on a somewhat ‘personal’ level.  By vlogging one can build like-minded community with subscribers and other fellow VLOGGERS.   Another reason to VLOG is to promote a cause or small business.  I’m not sure exactly how this works but the more followers you have increases opportunities to make income.

Viewers can learn about gardening (or just about any topic) in different locations of the country and world.  Of interest to me are the VLOGS that share daily life on a farm or in a garden. Although I’ve marathon-watched a few channels that I subscribe to, I don’t have a lot of time to spend really delving into this interesting cultural trend -- there are SO MANY VLOGS out there!

At this point I want to say that the information you find on VLOGS is not always accurate.  However, you can still learn from others’ experience and/or you can comment to add your own knowledge-- politely of course-- you don't want to be a 'hater'!

So far, I haven’t found many VLOGS put out by Universities that focus on gardening.  (Perhaps this is an opportunity?!)  Most of the University YouTube Channels post short research-based informational videos but aren't truly VLOGS.  The advantage, of course, to university channels are that they are trusted sources of information which is very important in our world of easy access to information on the internet.  

Colorado State University Extension has a YouTube Channel and many of the professionals who write for this Blog also have videos posted on this channel. Following is one about identifying Austrian pine that has had a lot of views:

Watch CSUE's YouTube channel here: CSUExtension 

MIgardener is a very popular channel with short videos that cover a wide range of gardening topics.  They also sell $1 packets of seeds.  Everyone loves a harvest video.  Enjoy this one on radishes.

A major aspect of modern day homesteading is self-sufficiency, which includes growing one’s own food, so homesteader VLOGGERS post a lot about their gardens.  My favorite Homesteader VLOG is Roots and Refuge Farm, Jessica and Jeremiah Sowards.  The following video is the introduction to her channel.

The Hollar Homestead chronicles a families year-long sojourn across the county in search of their 'Forever Homestead'.

I hope this brief blog has peeked your interest to get on the internet and explore the wonderful world of VLOGS!  After you do, I would love to hear about your favorite VLOGS.