By Diane Hirsch, Extension Educator Food Safety A Good Idea, But Are They Safe? Is that reusable grocery bag really such a good idea? Many of us have finally been won over to the reusable grocery bag culture. But, as a food safety educator I have often wondered, how sanitary are these bags that are […]
Family
What Every CT Resident Needs to Understand About UConn Extension
I wish UConn Extension was not the best-kept secret in the state. It’s time everybody knew what a tremendous resource Extension is. Congress established the Cooperative Extension System as a national network in 1914 to tie university research to real life. UConn Extension programs have evolved over time, and as our state has changed, so […]
Using Water Wisely
By Faye Griffiths-Smith – Extension Educator Family Economics and Resource Management Did you know that the average person in the U.S. uses 100 gallons of water every day? Drinking, taking a shower, brushing your teeth, cooking, cleaning, doing the laundry, gardening and lawn care — with its many uses, water is essential to our lives […]
Get Your Money’s Worth in Food
By Sherry Gray – Extension Instructor Nutrition Educator, EFNEP Supervisor Foods & Nutrition In many urban and very rural communities, there are fewer supermarket choices making it even more difficult to buy nutritious foods at affordable prices. Food prices have been going up dramatically over the past few years, making it hard for anyone to […]
People Empowering People
UConn Extension People Empowering People (PEP) is offered in Correctional Institutions as well. Our volunteers now offer programs in York, MacDougal, Cheshire, Enfield, Radgowski and Garner Correctional Institutions in partnership with the Department of Corrections. The Program Coordinator is Peter Sage and he devotes an enormous amount of time to recruiting volunteers and visiting programs. […]
Eat Seasonally: Enjoy Nature’s “Fast Food”
Originally Posted by Danbury News Times Heather Peracchio of UConn Extension is a registered dietitian who lives in Brookfield. But she’s happy to travel if there’s a chance to spread the word about healthy eating. This past Monday she gave two nutrition/cooking lessons, one in Bridgeport and one in Norwalk. Among her messages — the importance of eating seasonally. […]
Inventing New Family Rituals
By Cheryl Czuba – Retired Extension Educator Community Development, Families This article was originally written around winter holidays, but we feel a lot of the ideas can be applied to any season. The holidays will soon be here and are full of special traditions. At this time of year we think about our own special […]
Making Fruit Jams at Home
By Diane Wright Hirsch, UConn Extension Educator, Food Safety One of the best things about June in Connecticut is strawberry season. And we have been waiting a long time for strawberry season this year in Connecticut! Most farmers will tell you that the cold spring and delayed picking as much as 2-3 weeks. Even now, the […]
Decisions, Decisions
By Faye Griffiths Smith – Extension Educator Family Economics and Resource Management Making decisions about how we live our lives can be challenging. With so many products and options to choose from making the best choices for our families is often a complex task. With the internet, there is often so much information available at […]
The Importance of Healthy Friendships
By Cheryl Czuba – Retired Extension Educator Community Development, Families Why are friendships important and how does this fit into sustainable living? Throughout life we have opportunities to develop friendships. In a healthy friendship each person works to meet the other’s needs and supports one another’s growth and development as unique individuals. We also need […]
Making Choices
By Diane Hirsch – Extension Educator Food Safety Local, Organic, Sustainable? How many of us really have the ability to grow all the fresh produce we need for a year? Just having a back-yard vegetable garden can be a luxury. Some of us don’t have the yard, the time or maybe even enough sunshine, to […]
Saving for a Rainy Day
By Faye Griffiths-Smith Extension Educator, Family Economics and Resource Management Though we can’t accurately predict the future in detail, we can anticipate that there will be events in our lives that will be challenging. The loss of a job, home repairs such as a leaky roof or the need to replace a furnace, major car […]
Wash Your Veggies (And Fruits)
By Diane Wright Hirsch, MPH, RD UConn Extension Educator/Food Safety In recent months I have been reminded again that there are still many eaters and handlers of fresh fruits and vegetables who still do not take the risk of foodborne illness from these foods very seriously. Despite the fact that produce accounts for nearly half […]
Eat locally grown, even in winter….
By Diane Wright Hirsch, MPH, RD UConn Extension Educator, Food Safety After a food-filled holiday season (including, I must confess, raspberries, grown somewhere in South America, in a fruit salad…), it is time that many of us resolve to eat healthier and, perhaps, to attempt to eat more locally grown foods. It sure can be difficult […]
Snow Removal Tips
Photo and Article: West Virginia Extension Stay safe from slips and strains by following these recommendations for safe and effective snow removal. Shovel all sidewalks adjacent to your property to the bare pavement. This includes any sidewalks outside your fence lines and to the sides/rear of your property. Clear a path at least 36 inches […]
Pantry Pests and Their Control
Pantry or kitchen pests infest dry or stored food products in the home. Most are either beetles or moths. Infestations occur when these insects are found in some products, but more commonly when the adults are seen crawling or flying about the kitchen or pantry. The insects live and breed best under warm, humid conditions […]
Watering Houseplants
By Dawn Pettinelli, Manager, Soil Nutrient Analysis Laboratory Watering seems like such a simple but many are surprised to know that improper watering is the main cause of houseplant demise. Excess water will drain away in outdoor garden soils. However, houseplants are confined to a container and excess water remains in the saucer or cachepot […]
Demystifying the Annual Rites of Turkey
Preparing a Thanksgiving turkey—whether it’s your very first or you are a (poultry) seasoned veteran—can be scary. There are so many ways to prepare a turkey. Brining and deep frying have become popular lately, but many still prefer a simple, old fashioned, golden roasted turkey. Buy/store your turkey Whether you buy a locally produced fresh […]
Financial Literacy and the Financial Facts of Life
It’s back to school season and across Connecticut, families are getting young people ready for school so that they can learn what they need to know to become productive, responsible and successful adults. In their late teens and twenties, young people face many important decisions – among them may be signing a lease on an […]