UACE Pinal Quarterly Newsletter May 2015

May 2015
Inside this issue:
Welcome Back!
1
Rhodes to Retire on July 1st
1
The Crop Rotator
1
A Summer Reading
Perspective
2
Summer Screening Dates!
2
60 Minutes of Play a Day
3
Project CENTRL in
Washington DC
3
Casa Grande Summer Meal
Program Dates & Locations
4
UACE Map
4
Incredible Edible Egg
5
Eggshell Planters
5
Water Festival Update
6
Tips on Preparing for
Kindergarten
6
Correct Irrigation of
Landscape and Garden
7-8
Pinal County 4-H Camp: July
5-9, 2015
9
Statewide 4-H Summer Camp 9
You may have seen UACE
Pinal here…
10
Preventing Teen Pregnancy
with LARC
11
Daffodils: Pretty But
Poisonous
12
Teens Hike the Grand
Canyon
13
UACE In the News
13
Upcoming Events
14
Find Us on Social Media
14
The ABCs of
Cooperative Extension
14
Volume , Issue
Welcome Back!
We’re pleased to share with
you the May issue of our Pinal
County Cooperative Extension
newsletter. As part of the
College of Agriculture and
Life Sciences at the University
of Arizona, our mission here
at Cooperative Extension is to
bring to you information that
is tried and tested for our
local conditions and
situations. There are many
websites that provide
information on different
topics, however, sometimes
the information may not be
completely right for the
conditions in Arizona. We
strive to make sure that what
we share with you here has
been tested locally so you
know it’ll work. We hope you
enjoy the timely and research
-based tips, the updates on
past and future events, and
the tidbits of news that are
shared in this
newsletter. Thank you for all
you do to support our
programs.
—Rick Gibson, County
Director
Rhodes to Retire on July 1st
Everett Rhodes has announced his retirement from UA Cooperative Extension effective on July 1,
2015. Everett’s lifelong career in agricultural education started in 1972 as an Ag Teacher and
FFA Advisor at Casa Grande Union High School. His 29 years of service with Pinal County
Extension began as a 4-H Youth Development Agent in 1986. Everett graduated from Project
CENTRL Class III in 1987 and became their Director in 1997, a position he held for 16 years.
Everett is currently serving as an Agriculture Agent in Pinal County.
“In many ways, my Extension career has made a full circle in life”, stated Everett. “My first date
with my high school sweetheart, Linda, was a trip to 11-Mile corner to show her my 4-H pig at the
Pinal County Fair. Linda and I both graduated from UA and have been married for 44 years.
As a past member of 4-H, FFA, and Project CENTRL, it has been most rewarding to be a
professional in all three organizations and to know firsthand the lasting legacy of leadership the
many graduates of these programs continue to give back to their community and to agriculture.
Since growing up on a farm near Coolidge, I’ve always enjoyed home gardening. With our
rapidly growing population, there is also an increasing demand for local fresh foods in Pinal
County. These past few years as an Agriculture Agent have brought me closer to my “roots” with
the opportunity to help develop school and community gardens and an emerging local fresh food
industry in Pinal County.”
“As I leave Extension, I extend my heartfelt appreciation to the many who have touched my life
and contributed to so many fond memories of my work in Pinal County.”
The Crop Rotator
Pinal County agriculture contributes
significantly to the regional economic base and
this year promises to be a productive
one! During the growing seasons, growers
receive a weekly newsletter, called “The Crop
Rotator”, containing temperature, rainfall, and
heat unit accumulation data, key information
for producers. In addition, timely articles help
producers stay up to date with new
research. Links for the newsletter, can be
found here for: Coolidge, Maricopa, Pinal
County, and click here for Cotton Advisories.
Volume , Issue
Page 2
A Hero Emerges: A Summer Reading Perspective
Masked vigilantes and caped crusaders will be in full force this summer as the Casa Grande Library celebrates their
annual summer reading program to encourage people of all ages to read. In effort to create more real-life superheroes,
the library hopes to boost self-confidence through reading and lifelong learning. Because, as we all know, “heroes are
not born, they’re created”. Through the completion of the quests and by overcoming obstacles, those participating in the
summer reading program will have a sense of accomplishment and belonging. Summer reading will lay the ground work
for young Bruce Waynes and Tony Starks of the world to pursue higher education and future employment.
The United States is the only free market country where the current generation is less well educated than the previous
one. To combat this fact, the library will offer various activities to beat the boredom and expand the mind. The Summer
Reading Program prevents the common student “brain drain” stigma many educators lament about at the beginning of
the school year. If children and adolescents continue to read during the summer months, not only will they be better able
to maintain the knowledge they acquired during the previous year, but they’ll also be quicker to pick up new material
when the new school year starts.
Everyone is encouraged to partake in the super hero theme fun for six weeks this summer. The library activity schedule
will be packed! Free books are given to the super heroes in the making at the end of the summer reading program.
Science books for the emerging Bruce Banners, foreign
diplomacy and international espionage for the Natasha
Romanovs, and hundreds of other non-fiction and fiction titles
for the Peter Parkers!
Holy Smokes Batman! Get to the Casa Grande Library and
sign up starting Saturday, May 30th at our Super Hero
Carnival! — Dee Dee Davis, Librarian
Get your child screened during the summer, to be on track for the fall!
Have you ever wondered if your child can see the whiteboard or the book you’re reading to him? Can they hear you
when you explain “Why the sky is blue”? Are you wondering if they are on track to be ready for school? Even if your
child seems years away from school, they are learning every minute. Don’t let them miss a minute of it, early intervention
is the key!
Summer is a great time to have your child screened for vision, hearing, and development. The Sensory and
Developmental Screening teams will be at these events to help you make sure your child is on track and ready for school.
Children between 2 months and 5 ½ years can have their vision, hearing and development screened at these events. If
you are unable to attend any of the listed events, please contact Jennie Treadway or Robyn Powers at (520) 836-4651
to schedule an appointment in Pinal County.
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May 26th, 9-1 Apache Junction Library Summer Reading Kick-Off
May 30th, 11-1 Casa Grande Main Library Summer Reading Kick-Off
May 30th, 10am-4pm Robson Ranch Health Fair
June 10th, 10:15am Coolidge Library Health Heroes Storytime
June 18th, 9:30am Casa Grande Vista Library Health Heroes Storytime
June 24th, 10:30am Casa Grande Vista Library Health Heroes Storytime
July 9th, 10am-12 noon Casa Grande Main Library Super Health Heroes Storytime
University of Arizona, Cooperative Extension, Pinal
Page 3
60 Minutes of Play a Day
Physical activity and movement are an important part of development, learning, and the growth of young
children. During the first six years of life, infants, toddlers, and preschoolers will develop gross motor skills (like
kicking and throwing) and learn healthy habits by participating in physical activities. Physical activity should
take place both indoors and outdoors, according to sun safety recommendations. Decreasing sedentary time is
important because it is associated with increased risk of obesity and related health problems.
Project CENTRL in Washington DC!
Project CENTRL Class
XXIII traveled to
Washington DC April 19
- 24, 2015 for Seminar 8
of the one year
leadership program.
It was a successful trip
including visits with
Senator Flake, Senator
McCain, Congressman
Schweikert,
Congresswoman Sinema,
and Congresswoman
Kirkpartick.
Agencies visited included
US Department of
Agriculture,
Environmental Protection
Agency, and American
Farm Bureau.
Class XXIV is selected
and waiting to start their
leadership journey on
June 26, 2015.
For more information about how
to protect against norovirus visit
CDC’s website. Find previous
CDC Food Safety
Announcements here.
Interested in having a teen
pregnancy prevention program at
your child’s middle or high school?
Talk to your principal about
partnering with UACE and email
[email protected]! And for
more information on adolescent
sexual health follow Pinal
County Teen Outreach
Program on facebook!
Volume , Issue
Page 4
Casa Grande’s Summer Meal Program is here!
Summer is back! And so is Casa Grande Elementary School District’s Summer Meal Program!
This program provides breakfast and lunch for all children, ages 1-18, all summer long. Find
out more information here. If you come eat on Thursdays, you’re in for a treat; we’ll be holding
nutritional demonstrations and providing a snack!
Interested in finding a program in your area?
Check out our map! It shows you where to find
our programs & who to contact if you have any
questions.
University of Arizona, Cooperative Extension, Pinal
Page 5
The Incredible Edible EGG!
While eggs are the perfect food all year round, they are
How to Cook the
especially popular in the spring and summertime when Perfect Hard-Boiled
celebrating special occasions. They can be used as a main
Egg
ingredient in cooking festive dishes, or hard-boiled, cooked 1. Wash hands with
over-easy, or scrambled with your favorite veggies for a
warm water and
healthy breakfast!
soap.
2. Lay the eggs in a
The Pinal County SNAP-Ed Program is “egg-cited” to share
single layer in a
with you why eggs, at less than 15 cents apiece, are
large saucepan.
considered one of the healthiest natural foods, packed with 3. Cover eggs with
important nutrients, and only containing 70 calories! Check
cold water by at
out the nutrition facts below:
least 1 inch.
4. Bring to a simmer
over low heat and
 Eggs are naturally high in protein.
cook for 1 minute.
 A large egg has less than 2 grams saturated fat.
5. Cover with a lid, turn off the heat and allow the eggs
 Eggs are a source of 11 vitamins and minerals. They
to sit for 15 minutes.
are a good source of vitamin B12 which may be lacking
6. Rinse with cold water.
in some vegetarian diets.
 Eggs are a source of Iron. Iron is best absorbed from
food when Vitamin C is also present so combine your
Did you know . . .
eggs with a glass of orange juice for even better
nutrition.
Egg Trivia: ‘World Egg Day” is celebrated every year
 Eating 2 eggs per day will not affect LDL (bad) blood
on the second Friday in October. The occasion recognizes
cholesterol for people with a normal blood cholesterol
the global appeal of the billions of nutritious eggs
level.
produced worldwide. Egg-producing countries all over the
 Eggs are included in the “Protein” section of MyPlate
and are a great alternative to meat.
world celebrate the event in different ways.
Eggshell Planters
Biodegradable eggshell planters are a
Turn upside down to drain. Let dry.
fun way to make seed starters. Once
(To make bleach water combine 1 quart
the plants begin to outgrow their shells,
of water with 1 teaspoon bleach.)
transplant them to soil—shell and all!
DYE or decorate eggshells as desired.
What You Need
Let dry.
Empty eggshells
PLACE cotton ball in the bottom of the
Bleach water
eggshell. TOP with planting soil.
Egg dye or acrylic craft paint
Cotton balls
SPRINKLE seeds over soil.
Planting soil
PLACE filled eggshell in egg carton.
Herb seeds
WATER seeds and place near sunlight
Empty egg carton
as recommended on seed package.
Instructions
RINSE the inside of the eggshell with
bleach water to make sure it is clean.
Extras: Make faces on the eggshells so
that when the herbs start to grow it'll
look like hair!
Volume , Issue
Page 6
Water Festival Update!
With a sizeable contribution from the local Nissan complex in
both funding and volunteers, this year’s Maricopa Water
Festival hopes to improve on last year’s success.
There are still many positions available and people needed, if
you’d like to volunteer at the Maricopa event. Training will be
provided, and lunch is always included for volunteers that work
the Water Festival. If you’d like to play a part in this
community event, contact Chuck Dugan, the Pinal County Water
Programs Coordinator by email at [email protected], or
call 520-836-5221 x210.
Building on the Florence Water Festival completed in November
2014, the new academic year is off to a great start for Pinal
County fourth graders! Following up on the 600 students that took
part in the Florence event, Casa Grande put up an even bigger
number… over 700 local fourth graders attended the annual
event held on February 19th at Mesquite Elementary. To support
these 28 classes, it took 40 volunteers and two festival sessions –
one in the morning, and one after lunch. Several UofA Extension
Office employees took part as volunteers, and with additional
support once again from the Casa Grande-based AmeriCorps
Team the 2015 CG Water Festival was a huge success.
Don’t miss this
chance to help our
local 4th graders
learn more about
water!
Next up is the Apache Junction Water Festival scheduled for April
23rd, and the second annual Maricopa Water Festival on May 7.
Summer is the Ideal Time to Prepare for Kindergarten Success!
For young kids entering kindergarten, summer is the ideal time to
instill the skills that are needed to make a smooth transition to
school.


First Things First has a list of simple things parents and caregivers
can do this summer to help kindergarteners prepare for their big 
day. Some tips include:

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Read to your child at least 30 minutes per day.
Talk to your child; make up stories or songs.
Play games about colors, numbers, and shapes of objects.
Point out letters and repeat them.
Encourage your child to draw on plain paper with crayons.
Make sure that all immunizations are current and have your
child visit the dentist.
Start talking to your child about the change that is coming
when they start school. Be positive.
Talk with your child and set an example of sharing and
putting things back where they belong.
Talk with your child about a typical school day. The more
your child knows, the less anxiety they’re likely to experience.
Do a test-run of the new routine, including laying out clothes
the night before, waking up with enough time to get ready,
and eating breakfast.
Give your child a family picture for their pocket or backpack;
reassure them about what time you will be back to pick them
up.
Most importantly, celebrate and enjoy this milestone with
your child!
Even if you don’t have kindergarteners this year, it’s never too
early to start helping kids prepare. Children who have positive
early childhood experiences tend to score higher on school
readiness assessments and are more likely to do well in school
and graduate.
By turning everyday moments into learning moments, we can send
our children to school with the skills – and the love of learning –
that will help them succeed in kindergarten and beyond!
Additional tips can be found at azftf.gov in the Parent Section
under Early Education.
Page 7
University of Arizona, Cooperative Extension, Pinal
Correct Irrigation of Landscape
and Garden Plants
Hot weather has arrived and irrigation is critical for the good
health and survival of our landscape plants. Let’s review the
basics.
Unlike many parts of the country where home yard irrigation is
simply a matter of waiting for the rain clouds to appear,
irrigation in the desert is a definite must-do task in order to
keep plants healthy and vigorous. In Southern Arizona, one
fact of weather is certain: sooner or later, it’s going to get
hot. The 100 plus temperatures will arrive! In order to keep
outdoor plants thriving in the heat, it is important to irrigate
each plant appropriately.
in two connected chambers. Okay, let me see if I can make
that a little easier. Consider a bottle of perfume. There are a
Summer weather in the desert starts out hot and dry, from late lot of little perfume molecules crammed inside a perfume
May to mid-July, or hot and humid, from mid-July to early
bottle, all in liquid form. If I take the lid off of the bottle and
September. When the weather is hot and dry, Arizona will
leave it off, the liquid inside begins to evaporate and exit the
experience high temperatures and this is when plants have the bottle. This process will continue until the number of molecules
highest potential for death, unless proper irrigation is
of perfume in the air of the room equal the number inside of
performed. Monsoon season brings higher humidity and the
the bottle. Since there is a lot of space in the room and only a
chance of late afternoon thunderstorms makes for muggy
tiny space inside the bottle, the process will usually go forward
weather, but it is much better for plants.
until the bottle is empty. In science, this is called the principle
of diffusion.
Here are two rules of thumb you will want to remember in
regards to weather and the relationship between plants: (1)
The same thing happens to water vapor in a leaf. The fewer
the hotter and dryer the weather, that is, the higher the
the number of water molecules in the exterior air around the
temperature and the lower the relative humidity, the more
leaf, the faster water inside of the leaf will try to exit to make
difficult it will be for plants to obtain sufficient water to keep equilibrium. Because there is a lot of space outside the leaf
themselves alive; (2) the higher the humidity, the easier it is on and only a tiny bit of space inside, the process of evaporation
all plants in hot weather.
and loss of water vapor from the leaf will continue until the
plant runs dry and dies.
Plants cool themselves through the process of transpiration;
water is absorbed by the roots, moved up through the roots to Because of this, the stresses experienced during the hot, dry
the stem, or trunk, and up the stem to the leaves. In the leaves period often cause severe, long-term health problems,
the water evaporates and exits the leaves through tiny holes
especially if the stresses are coupled with improper
called stomata. This exiting of water acts like an evaporative irrigation. Many of the dead limbs and stunted growth
cooler which tends to cool the leaves. If the plant is short of
problems that are currently seen in area landscapes can be
water the plant can overheat and die.
traced directly to improper irrigation techniques and habits. In
order to avoid water stress problems in all types of plants,
Humidity is important, because it determines how fast water
especially during times of drought, it is important to
vapor will exit the leaf. All gases like to be at equal amounts understand the proper principles and techniques of desert
irrigation.
First, it’s important to know soil conditions. The soil is a plant’s
moisture reservoir and the capacity of that reservoir is
dependent upon the depth and the particle size of the
soil. Soils underlain with a hard pan or caliche layer, and soils
of a sandy texture will hold less water than deep or finetextured soils. The smaller the holding capacity, the more
often plants must receive adequate irrigation.
Continued on page 8.
Volume , Issue
Page 8
Continued: Correct Irrigation of Landscape and Garden Plants
It is also important to know the depth and location of the plant’s
root system. Root systems will differ widely depending upon the
type of plant and the conditions of the soil. Turf grasses, for
example, have an effective rooting depth of about twenty-four
inches while tree roots, under good conditions, may descend down
to sixty inches or more into the ground. The average rooting
depth for other types of plants include eight inches for dichondra,
fifteen inches for flowers, and thirty-six inches for shrubs and small
trees.
Shallow soils or improper irrigation may prevent proper root
development that could cause problems like wind throw, salt burn,
stunting and root constriction later on. Plants with shallow root
systems should be watered frequently and lightly while larger
plants, like trees and shrubs, with deep roots may need more
water each irrigation, but less frequently.
Next, it is important to know the water requirement for the plants
that are located in the garden or landscape. Most, but not all,
plants will show signs of drought when they need
irrigation. Frequently, small areas of a lawn will show moisture
stress early and these signs can be used as a warning. Wilting,
change to a darker bluish-green or gray color, and slower growth
are “need-water” signs.
Timing of irrigations is best decided by watching the soil moisture
levels. If you have access to a soil probe, sample the soil at
varying depths of the root zone. If not, a good approximation
can be developed by digging down six inches into the soil with a
hand trowel or shovel. Test the soil moisture level by feeling the
soil sample with your hand and determining whether it feels wet
or dry. Form a ball of soil by firmly squeezing a handful of the
sample. Make a ribbon by pressing the soil between the thumb
and forefinger. Irrigate when the soil moisture fits the following
descriptions. For sandy or coarse soils, irrigate when the soil tends
to stick together slightly but will not form a ball when it is
squeezed in the hand. For silty soils, irrigate when a ball forms
but its strength is weak and its appearance is crumbly. For clay
soils, irrigate when the soil is pliable, will form a ball, but is too
dry to form a ribbon easily.
Leaf temperature is also a helpful tool. The process that plants
use to cool themselves is the process of transpiration and it works
automatically as the plant extracts water from the soil, moves it
up the plant, into the leaves, and out into the atmosphere. The
leaves of trees and shrubs will feel cool to the touch when there is
sufficient water available for the plant but will feel warm when
the plant cannot pull enough water to meet plant needs.
grass and shrubs will probably have to be flood irrigated with
the hose every five to ten days, flowers every three to six days,
trees every ten to fifteen days, and Dichondra every two to three
days. Mature citrus trees should be watered every seven to ten
days depending upon fruit load and temperature. Again, do not
overstress your plants for water because permanent damage
could occur if the plant gets too dry for too long. To be safe,
check the soil at a depth of six inches as previously described.
Just as it is essential not to under-water, it is also essential to not
over-water. In addition to the danger of leaching valuable
nitrogen fertilizers out of the root zone, certain soil conditions can
create severe health hazards for plants when the soil is kept moist
for too long.
Shallow soils with caliche underneath can cause harm to plants
when they are not correctly irrigated. Under these conditions,
plants tend to be extremely susceptible to iron chlorosis,
especially when roots are kept too wet for too long. Root rot, the
old nemesis of just about every plant, will thrive in this wet
environment.
Correct irrigation of landscape plants requires a knowledge of
soils and plant characteristics. A good knowledge of these basic
principles, coupled with a little experience, will allow anyone to
accurately walk the tightrope between over-irrigation and underirrigation in our warm, desert climate.
If you have questions, you can reach one of the Master Gardeners
at the Cooperative Extension office, 820 E. Cottonwood Lane,
There are exceptions. On windy days, the holes in the lower sides Building C, in Casa Grande. The telephone is (520) 836-5221,
of leaves which allow water vapor out and air in, the stomata, will ext 204.
close to prevent drying winds from pulling too much water too
quickly from the leaves. Because transpiration stops, the leaves
will begin to feel warm to the touch even though there may be
adequate water in the soil. If there is sufficient water in the soil, it
is not necessary to irrigate under these conditions.
During hot weather, depending upon soil depths and textures,
Page 9
Pinal County 4-H Camp:
July 5-9,2015
Let the Adventure Begin!
Pinal County offers a unique opportunity for 4-H
members. Pine Combs 4-H Camp is a residential camp
experience in an outdoor educational environment.
Located in the cool pines just east of Williams, AZ,
Pine Combs 4-H Camp is surrounded by a wooded
setting adjacent to the Kaibab National Forest. Boys
and girls can live and learn, grow and contribute,
while having fun and making new friends!
Youth ages 9-13 (as of January 1st) are eligible to
attend camp. The preliminary program for this year’s
camp includes arts and crafts, shooting sports,
canoeing, fishing, hiking the Grand Canyon, swimming,
bowling, and more.
For more information on camp and to get the
applications and necessary forms, visit the Pinal Co. 4H website at
http://extension.arizona.edu/4h/pinal (click on Forms,
then Programs).
Download and complete the following:
 Camp Registration Form
 Medical History Form
 Photo Release Form
Include a copy of your Health Insurance card and a
check payable to the Pinal County 4-H
April 20-June 15, 2015: Regular Registration - $150
June 16-July 1, 2015: Late Registration - $170
Due June 1, 2015: Counselor Application &
Scholarship Application w/Member Registration
For more information contact: Kimberly Gressley at
[email protected] or 520-836-5221 ext.
213
University of Arizona, Cooperative Extension, Pinal
Statewide 4-H Summer
Camp: July 17-21,2015
From Friday, July 17th through Tuesday, July 21st,
2015, camp will be held in the cool, tall pines of
Mingus Mountain near Prescott. 4-H Camp is open to
all 4-H members, ages 9 to 19. Camp applications
must be received by Friday, July 3, 2015 at the
County Extension Office, 101 E. Beale Street, Suite A,
Kingman, AZ 86401. Find out more information here.
Start Planning NOW! It’s going to be a GREAT
summer!!!! For more information contact Gerald Olson
at [email protected]
Volume , Issue
Page 10
You may have seen UACE Pinal here...
Connie Lorenz and
Everett Rhodes working
in a community garden
in Eloy, AZ.
Egg Extravaganza in San Tan on April 3, 2015
Pinal County Fair!
CHAT students helped to
clean up the fairgrounds
and 4-H was a huge
success! And we hope we
had an opportunity to
speak with you at our
booth!
Page 11
University of Arizona, Cooperative Extension, Pinal
Preventing Teen Pregnancy with Long-Acting Reversible Contraception
According to a recent CDC study the use of long-acting reversible
contraception (LARC), like intrauterine devices (IUDs) and implants,
by teens is still relatively low, despite their effectiveness, safety,
and ease of use. In fact, IUDs and implants, are the most effective
types of birth control for teens. With the use of LARC, less than
1% of users become pregnant during the first year of use, and
after insertion they require no effort and can prevent pregnancy
for 3 to 10 years.
Some of the reasons LARC usage remains low are that most teens
use birth control pills and/or condoms, both of which are less
effective methods of preventing pregnancy. In addition, teens and
their parents know very little about LARC and incorrectly assume
that teens cannot use LARC because of their age. However, with
increased education and decreased costs of LARC through Title X,
IUDs and implants can become more widely used among
teenagers.
Despite the effectiveness of LARC, a scant 7.1% of teens across
the country, aged 15-19, used LARC, with 2.8% using IUDs and
4.3% using implants. However, the use of LARC was higher among
teens aged 18-19 years (7.6%) versus 15–17 years (6.5%). And
the percentage of teens aged 15–19 years who used LARC
varied widely by state, from 0.7% (Mississippi) to 25.8%
(Colorado), with Arizona somewhere in the middle with 5.8%.
Parents: be sure to talk to your teenagers about sex. First and
foremost, encourage them not to have sex, but also encourage
them to use effective birth control methods, like LARC, to prevent
pregnancy, as well as condoms to protect against sexually
transmitted diseases.
For more information about LARC read the CDC report here or
visit CDC’s Vital Signs report.
Volume , Issue
Page 12
Daffodils: Pretty But Poisonous
Poisonous to: Cats, Dogs
Level of toxicity: Generally mild to moderate
Common signs to watch for:
 Drooling
 Nausea
 Vomiting
 Diarrhea
 Increased heart rate
 Abdominal pain
 Abnormal breathing
 Cardiac arrhythmias
drooling. Ingestion of the bulb, plant, or flower can cause
severe vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and even
possible cardiac arrhythmias or respiratory depression.
Daffodil ingestions can result in more severe symptoms so if
an exposure is witnessed or symptoms are seen, we
recommend seeking veterinary care for further supportive
care.
If you suspect your pet has
ingested daffodils
(particularly the bulbs),
contact your veterinarian or
Pet Poison Helpline for
treatment recommendations.
These flowers contain lycorine, an alkaloid with strong
emetic properties (something that triggers vomiting).
Crystals are found in the outer layer of the bulbs, similar to Find out more information about the Master Gardeners, visit
hyacinths, which cause severe tissue irritation and secondary their facebook page or the UACE Pinal County page.
University of Arizona, Cooperative Extension, Pinal
Page 13
Teens Hike the Grand Canyon!
Forty Healthy Living Teen Ambassadors and 13 adults experienced the magic of the Grand Canyon
the weekend of April 17 – 19. On Saturday, April 18 some of them walked 9 miles to Indian
Gardens, some walked 12 miles to Plateau Point overlooking the Colorado River and some trekked 17
miles to splash in its waters. These inspirational teens traveled from
Pima, Cochise, Santa Cruz, and Pinal Counties, but were one big
happy family by the end.
The Healthy Living Teen Ambassadors from Pinal County, also
known as CHAT, are volunteer students from Santa Cruz Valley
Union High School and have spent the last year educating youth
and the community the importance of healthy eating and
encouraging increased physical activity. The Youth Summit to the
Grand Canyon was a great adventure and experience for all.
UACE In the News
Bring in your garden harvest tastily and safely, in Maricopa the
Magazine, April, 10, 2015
U ni ver si t y o f A r i zo na Pi na l Co u nt y Co o p er a t i ve Ex t e ns i o n
Main Office
820 E. Cottonwood Lane, Bldg. C
Casa Grande AZ 85122
Phone: (520) 836-5221
Fax: (520) 836-1750
Upcoming Events:
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Satellite Office
120 E. 1st Street, Casa Grande AZ 85122
Phone: (520) 836-4651
Fax: (520) 836-4233
Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, acts of May 8
and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Jeffrey C. Silvertooth, Associate Dean & Director,
Economic Development & Extension, College of Agriculture and Life
Sciences, The University of Arizona.
The University of Arizona is an equal opportunity, affirmative action
institution. The University does not discriminate on the basis of race,
color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or
sexual orientation in its programs and activities.
Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation,
such as a sign language interpreter, by contacting (Cooperative
Extension, Pinal County, 820 East Cottonwood Lane, #C, Casa
Grande, AZ 85122, 520.836.5221). Requests should be made as
early as possible to allow time to arrange the accommodation.
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Project CENTRL Class XXIII Golf Tournament: May
1, 2015
Maricopa Water Festival: May 7, 2015
Strengthening Families Graduation: May 8, 2015
Sensory & Development Screenings: Various
Dates (see page 2)
Casa Grande Summer Meal Program: Various
Dates (see page 4)
Citizenship Washington Focus: June 20-27, 2015
Pinal County 4-H Camp: July 5-9, 2015
Brain Builders, Payson: July 11 and July 18
Statewide 4-H Camp: July 17-21, 2015
Brain Builders, San Tan Valley: October 17 and
October 24
Find Us on Social Media:
Facebook:
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Pinal County Garden and Landscape Program
Maricopa Master Gardeners
Pinal County 4-H
Pinal County Teen Outreach Program
Child Care Health Consultation for Pinal County, AZ
Twitter: @RickGibson4
Blog: ricksgardenspot.blogspot.com
The ABCs of Cooperative Extension
4-H provides educational opportunities for youth to become capable and contributing members of a global community. Children, ages 5-19, learn about
healthy lifestyles, animals, plant sciences, and leadership. 4-H Contact: Kimberly Gressley at (520) 836-5221, x.213 or [email protected]
Agronomic Field Crops uses research and education efforts to work to improve field crop productivity and global food and fiber supply, farm economic
viability, and protecting the environment. Contact: Rick Gibson at (520) 836-5221, x.227 or [email protected]
Brain Builders is a 16 hour training for child care providers and parents focusing on early brain and child development for children, ages 0-3. Brain
Builders Contact: Cathy Martinez at (520) 836-5221, x.203 or [email protected]
Child Care Health Consultations (CCHC) develops relationships with childcare facilities to provide training to staff that will improve their knowledge and
practice in the childcare setting. CCHC Contact: Jan Jepsen at (520) 836-4651 or [email protected]
Choose Health Action Teen (CHAT) is designed to recruit teens to teach younger children the benefits of healthy eating and active living. Teens also
participate in community service events. CHAT Contact: Esmeralda Castillo at (520) 836-5221 or [email protected]
Developmental Program reaches out to families with children, ages 0-5, to screen for early developmental milestones such as gross and fine motor skills,
communication, personal-social skills, and problem solving capacities. Developmental Contact: Esther Turner at (520) 836-5221, x.211 or
[email protected]
Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) is a nutrition education class designed to assist limited resource families in eating smart and
being active and in acquiring the knowledge, skills, and behavioral changes necessary to contribute to their personal development and the improvement
of the total family diet, nutritional and physical well-being. EFNEP Contact: Esmeralda Castillo at (520) 836-5221 or [email protected]
Master Gardener Program trains volunteers to provide up-tp-date, locally tested practical information to those desiring to improve the quality and
effectiveness of desert gardens and landscapes. Master Gardener Contact: Rick Gibson at (520) 836-5221, x.227 or [email protected]
Ms Hijos, My Kids Childcare Recruitment is designed to assist applicants in becoming DES certified to provide childcare in their home. Mis Hijos Contact:
Sally Peoples at (520) 836-5221, x.224 or [email protected]
Project CENTRL prepares highly motivated leaders to be more effective in meeting the growing challenges facing agriculture in rural Arizona. Project
CENTRL Contact: Karen Vanderheyden at (520) 316-0909 or [email protected]
Project WET (Water Education for Teachers) is a program designed to teach educators how to better integrate water education, water conservation, and
best management practices for water use into their curriculums. Project WET Contact: Chuck Dugan at (520) 836-5221, x.210 or [email protected]
Sensory Program provides free screenings of children, ages 0-5, for vision and hearing impairments that could affect their developmental growth.
Sensory Contact: Esther Turner at (520) 836-5221, x.211 or [email protected]
Soil Fertility Research and Education is a program that focuses on the development of research and education on soil testing, nutrient management, and
fertilizer and animal waste best management practices. Contact: Rick Gibson at (520) 836-5221, x.227 or [email protected]
Strengthening Families Program is a parenting and family strengthening program for families with children ages 3-5, that focuses on strengthening
parental bonds with their children and learning more effective parenting skills. SFP Contact: Esther Turner at (520) 836-5221, x.211 or
[email protected]
Teen Outreach Program (TOP) is an evidence-based youth development program that is designed for youth ages 12–17 and focuses on reducing rates
of school failure, school suspension, and teen pregnancy. TOP Contact: Victoria Bodanyi at (571)234-2445 or [email protected]
University of Arizona Nutrition Network (UANN) is a program designed to influence healthy eating and active living in a positive way that promotes
health and reduces disease among all people living in Arizona. UANN Contact: Jennifer Staples at (520) 836-5221, x.207 or [email protected]