September Monthly Meeting

Posted on September 29, 2016January 15, 2017 by audrey

Our meeting for September was very interesting. The theme presented by our hospitality hostess, Anita McGee, was Africa, with decorations provided by Rose Utendahl and others. The refreshments were provided by many members and included breads, homemade biscuits, honey butter, and lots of jams, jellies, and preserves, and a fruit tray.
Our program was provided by Renee Thompson, Harvest for Health Outreach coordinator with Alabama Cooperative Extension System. Harvest for Health is a program for breast cancer survivors to encourage healthy lifestyle practices by planting a garden and growing their own food. This is a program started in 2010 between the Comprehensive Cancer Center of UAB and the Jefferson County Master Gardeners. It now also includes the Community Fund of Greater Birmingham, the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, and various groups of Master Gardeners around the state. The Master Gardener volunteers are needed to participate as mentors, while the Extension provides supplemental training and coordinates the seasonal supplies needed for a garden. Master Gardeners are required to contact their participant twice a month; once as a home visit and once by phone or email. But many spend much more time cultivating a friendship while gardening. Mrs. Thompson said that some of the survivors have come full circle, and are enrolling in the Master Gardener program to become Master Gardener themselves. The program has shown that gardening at home is beneficial because it allows participants to take ownership over producing fresh vegetables right outside their door. They are more likely to spend time outside and are more inclined to eat what they have grown. Dr. Sue Webb, Chilton County Master Gardener, shared highlights from a native plant conference she recently attended.

One of the members showing African decor — Rose Utendahl with some of her African décor.

V.P. with speaker Sue Webb — V.P. Sondra Henley with speaker Sue Webb

Home for the Holidays

Posted on September 14, 2016October 10, 2016 by audrey

Home for the Holidays can also be called Fun for the Holidays!

Tickets for the Home for the Holidays Fundraiser event go on sale September 15. Plan now to go and enjoy all the food, shopping, and drawings planned for the day! The tickets must be purchased prior to the event and are limited. They may be purchased at the Chilton County Extension Office at 504 1st Avenue N., Clanton. The tickets are $10 each. There will be door prizes, a tasting table, recipe booklet, and items available to purchase from various vendors and crafters. There will also be a Second Chance room.

Additional Information – Home for the Holidays Flyer

2016 Expo and Demo Garden Grand Opening

Posted on August 9, 2016February 11, 2017 by audrey

The Grand Opening of the Demo Garden was held August 6, 2016, just before the Farm, Home, and Wildlife Expo. On hand for the ceremony was Eagle Scout Clay Vinson, and Girl Scout Hannah Childress. Clay’s project for Eagle Scout was the Demo Garden’s Pergola and surrounding Butterfly Flowerbed. Hannah’s project for her Gold Badge was the Keyhole Garden. The Expo is always a big event that the Master Gardeners look forward to each year. Master Gardeners are in charge of the ice cream tasting, fruit tasting, corn on the cob hut, plant sale, and of course, the Demonstration Garden. Go to Smilebox to see a slideshow of photos from the Expo and Demo Garden.

Peach Apple Salsa Recipe

Posted on August 7, 2016November 9, 2016 by trisha

This unusual salsa was recently served at the Chilton Research and Extension Center’s annual Farm, Home and Wildlife Expo where it was well received. The recipe was adapted from the National Center for Food Preservation’s Peach Apple Salsa recipe.

6 c. chopped Roma tomatoes
2 1/2 c. diced yellow onions
2 c. chopped green bell peppers
10 c. chopped hard, unripe peaches
2 c. chopped Granny Smith apples
4 T. mixed pickling spice*
1 T. canning salt*
2 t. crushed red pepper flakes*
3 3/4 c packed light brown sugar
2 1/4 c. cider vinegar(5%)

* May substitute 2 T. Mrs Wages Spicy Pickle Mix
and 3 T. Mrs Wages Salsa Mix for the * ingredients.

Procedure:

Wash and rinse pint canning jars; keep hot until ready to use. Prepare lids according to manufacturer’s directions.
Place pickling spice on a clean, double-layered 6 inch square piece of cheesecloth. Bring corners together and tie with a clean string. (Or use a purchased muslin spice bag.)
Wash and peel tomatoes (place washed tomatoes in boiling water for 1 minute, immediately place in cold water, and slip off skins). Chop into 1/2 inch pieces. Peel, wash and dice onions into 1/4 inch pieces. Wash, core, and seed bell peppers; chop into 1/4 inch pieces. Combine chopped tomatoes, onions, and peppers in an 8 or 10 quart Dutch oven or saucepan.
Wash, peel and pit peaches; cut into halves and soak for 10 minutes in ascorbic acid solution. Wash, peel and core apples; cut into halves and soak 10 minutes in ascorbic acid solution. Quickly chop peaches and apples into 1/2 inch cubes to prevent browning. Add chopped peaches and apples to saucepan with the vegetables.
Add the pickling spice bag to the sauce pan; stir in the salt, red pepper flakes, brown sugar and vinegar. Bring to boiling, stirring gently to mix ingredients. Reduce heat and simmer 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove spice bag from pan and discard.
With a slotted spoon, dip salsa solids into hot, clean pint jars, leaving 1/1/4 inch headspace. Cover with cooking liquid, leaving 1/2 inch headspace.
Remove air bubbles and adjust headspace if needed. Wipe rims of jars with a dampened, clean paper towel; apply two piece metal canning lids.
Process in a boiling water canner according to the recommendations below. Let cool, undisturbed, 12 to 24 hours and check for seals.
Process time for hot pack pint jars by altitude: 0-1000 ft.– 15 minutes; 1001-6000 ft.-20 minutes; above 6000 ft.–25 minutes.

Source: National Center for Home Food Preservation, University of Georgia, Athens. Thanks to Christy Mendoza, Alabama Cooperative Extension Service, Regional Extension Agent for the spice substitutions.

Girl Scout Demo Garden Gold Project

Posted on August 6, 2016August 31, 2016 by trisha

Hannah Grace Childress, Jemison High School ninth grader, chose the Keyhole Garden installation as her Gold Project. Hannah, along with her team, installed the wall with the broken stones left over from the Demonstration Garden. A window constructed by MG, Lee Walters, was installed on the east side of the V cut out for education on root development. Hannah’s team constructed the wall, lined it with cardboard, shredded paper, pine cones, and soil. Hannah and her mother, Terri, planted the garden with Blue Lake Bush beans. Hannah will be on-hand August 6 at the EXPO to explain her project and how it works.

Pictured right: Hannah and her mother, Terri Childress, planting beans

Team pictured above, left to right: Colin Tillery, Andy Davison, Alex Davison, Hannah Grace Childress, Benji Childress and Kinsley Davison.

Turning Point Men’s Ministry graduates help in Demo Garden

Posted on July 18, 2016August 31, 2016 by audrey

Curtis Grace and Matthew Kemp, graduates of the Turning Point Men’s Ministry, kept the gravel coming as Chilton County Master Gardeners finished spreading and tamping the fines in all walk areas of the newly designed Demonstration Garden. The garden beds will receive fresh pine straw and weeding will continue as August 6 fast approaches. The Grand Opening of the Chilton County Master Gardeners Demonstration Garden will be at 11:30 on Saturday, August 6, 2016. Everyone is invited to attend and stay afterwards for the Farm, Home and Wildlife EXPO held annually at the Chilton Research and Extension Center, located on Highway 29, Clanton, AL.

Demo Garden Grand Opening

Posted on July 14, 2016August 31, 2016 by audrey

The Chilton County Master Gardeners Association’s newly designed Demonstration Garden will have its Grand Opening on August 6, 2016 at 11:30 at the Chilton Research and Extension Center off of Highway 29.

Afterwards the Farm, Home and Wildlife EXPO will start with free tastes of fruit, ice creams, peach salsa and other culinary delights. Many presentations are offered for home and farm, along with exhibits for all ages.
Everyone is invited to attend!

(Photos by Sondra Henley)

garden with rocks and low growing green plants

Knot Garden in Demo Garden green shrubs and white flowers

Peeling Peaches for Expo Ice Cream

Posted on July 12, 2016August 31, 2016 by audrey

Peeling peaches for the peach ice cream to be served at the annual EXPO at Chilton Research and Extension Center is always a project the master gardeners look forward to. This year’s Farm, Home, and Wildlife Expo will be August 6 from 12-5 p.m. Pictured left to right- Trisha Williams, Pat Farmer, Harriett Jackson, Alice Broome, Treasia Bennett, Margaret Ennis, Anita McGee, Wally Walters, Margaret Goolsby, and Sondra Henley

Sarah Saunders Wins Peach Cook Off

Posted on June 22, 2016August 31, 2016 by audrey

CCMGA member Sarah Saunders won 1st place this year in the Peach Festival Cook-Off with her peach upside-down Bundt cake. Congratulations, Sarah! The first time she entered, Sarah won 3rd place with a peach cake that wasn’t a Bundt style. Entries are judged on appearance, uniqueness, creativity, and taste. In fact, taste can count as many as 60 points. And of course, the recipe must include fresh Chilton County peaches! First, second, and third place winners receive $50, $35, and $25. Maybe we can talk Sarah into bringing one of these delicious cakes to our next monthly meeting!

Making Peach Salsa at CREC

Posted on June 6, 2016August 31, 2016 by audrey

Our very own Harriett Jackson was interviewed by WSFA channel 12 out of Montgomery VERY early this morning at the Chilton Research and Extension Center. Harriett demonstrated how to make Peach Salsa, which she and some other CCMGA members made last year for the EXPO. Sondra Henley and Treasia Bennett helped her chop the vegetables and fruit for the salsa. The recipe is also posted on the WSFA website. Thanks, Harriett for doing a great job of representing our association and Chilton County!