Washington State University
Serving Mason County for more than 100 years
Washington State University Extension Mason County helps people put research-based knowledge to work, improving their lives, communities, and the environment.
To realize this mission, faculty and staff plan, conduct and evaluate research and experience-based educational programs to improve the lives of Mason County residents.
WSU Extension Mason County also employs the assistance of hundreds of volunteers and community partners and provides access to the resources available at Washington State University and the National Land Grant University Extension System.
Dan Teuteberg, County Director &
4-H Youth Development Specialist [email protected] 360-427-9670 Ext. 686
WSU Extension Mason County 303 N 4th Street, Shelton, WA 98584 360-427-9670 Ext. 680
http://extension.wsu.edu/mason
Facebook pages:
Mason County 4-H
Mason County Noxious Weeds Mason County Master Gardeners
Mason County and Washington State University have a long-standing partnership in providing educational programs and research-based information to residents throughout the county. This partnership ensures that resources are committed from Federal allocations and University funds to keep important educational programs available in Mason County.
Partnerships
United Way of Mason County
Early Learning Coalition
Shelton Timberland Library
Mason Conservation District
Mason County Health Department
The Salmon Center
Hood Canal Coordinating Council
School Districts—Shelton, Pioneer and Hood Canal
Community Services Offices
Saints Pantry Food Bank
Behavioral Health Resources
Mason General Hospital
Washington Conservation Corps Other Mason County partnerships include:
BY THE NUMBERS
2019/2020
1,602 youth engaged in 4-H Youth
Development activities
68 trained adult volunteers
14 trained youth volunteers
144 youth engaged in educational camping programs
146 families reached through community
outreach programs
QUOTES
“It’s really not about the experiment being successful, it’s about the
kids discovering their potential.”
Geary, 4-H Volunteer
Washington State University
4-H empowers youth to reach their full potential, working and learning in partnership
with caring adults.
4-H Coordinator Ext. 681 [email protected]
4-H FOR YOU – LEARNING AT HOME
As families continue to face challenges due to COVID-19 Mason County 4-H has focused on how we can continue to support 4-H learning at home with innovative learning kits. 4-H FOR YOU is a new monthly program designed for families to explore a fun new topic each month.
We provide detailed curriculum and basic supplies, while families get to set the pace as they work their way through a series of activities designed to spend time learning and playing together. The free kits are available by completing an online reservation form and contactless pick up is available at the Extension Office. Forty kits have been distributed to the community each month.
The September kit focused on
Emergency Preparedness and Surviving a Zombie Apocalypse. Families worked their way through a series of activities related to emergencies, first aid, natural disasters, and more! They learned how a survival bracelet can serve as excellent addition to their at home emergency kit. We included supplies to make a Paracord survival bracelet.
Continued from previous page…
The October edition was all about Crime and Spy Science. Families used the provided materials to reveal hidden messages,
dust for fingerprints, analyze mystery powder, learn DNA extraction and piece together evidence to solve a mystery! Families received their very own SPY KIT and loads of very scientific supplies to help them work their way through the activities. Youth were
encouraged to write their predictions about what they thought would happen during the experiments in their included spy notebook! A few additional basic supplies that families were likely to have on hand at home will also be necessary to complete the activities.
In November we are exploring the world of Kitchen Science by using common kitchen items and ingredients to grow crystals, make slime, clean pennies, squeeze an egg through a bottle opening, and make bouncy balls. The kits are filled with gadgets and ingredients to keep families discovering the wonderful world of science.
DASH OF 4-H
Who doesn’t love a pinch of this and a dash of that…welcome to DASH OF 4-H! These new at-home activity kits are bringing fun and learning to families. These free kits have been planned, assembled, and donated by 4-H volunteers who are excited to share their passions and talents with the community. Fifteen of each of the kits described below were
distributed to families through contactless pick up at the 4-H office.
Future kits in the planning stages include knot tying, crochet, and electronics.
The art of bread baking… youth were able to measure, mix, knead, punch, shape, bake, and discover the metamorphosis that happened to their dough! Their homes were filled with a glorious smell and they had two delicious loaves of bread to enjoy. The kit included a recipe, flour, yeast, and two bread pans.
QUOTES
“With so much screen time, these kits are a great activity
for our family.”
Jamie, community parent
“Awwwww shucks....
Seriously, I would be a raving lunatic if I didn't have my 4-H family right now...keeps me grounded. It's funny, Jim and I
were discussing this very thing this morning. Anyway, we have a great team working for the kids and I'm so grateful
to be part of it.”
Marilyn, 4-H volunteer
“Attending 4-H Office Hours is wonderful, and it gives me a
reason to shave.”
Michael B., 4-H volunteer
“ I PLEDGE my HEAD to clearer thinking, my HEART to greater loyalty, my HANDS to larger service and my HEALTH to better living for my club, my community, my country and my world. ”
Audrey with her prepared bread dough Bread baking kit
Continued from previous page…
Writing thank you notes is a valuable skill and puts an emphasis on gratitude. Nothing says
“I am grateful” like a hand written card or letter. This kit challenged youth to thank someone each day for a week, knowing that their genuine and authentic words will brighten
someone’s day! The kit included stamps, colored pencils, pen, pencil sharpener and six cards/notes.
Magnets are a bit of a mystery, but by building your own you will discover their secret! This kit walked youth through the process of how they could form an electromagnet with a few basic supplies….we can almost see the amazement in their eyes! The kit includes
instructions & most supplies necessary to complete the activity.
CELEBRATING 4-H ACHIEVEMENTS
Celebrating the completion of the 4-H year is an annual tradition at our 4-H Fall Fair and Ice Cream Social. With the restrictions of COVID-19 we were not able to celebrate face-to-face, so we reinvented our celebration and even included ice cream!
Typically the event provides an opportunity to recognize 4-H members and volunteers for their achievements, project completion, and length of service over the past year. This year each youth member received a letter congratulating them on their 4-H achievements, along with a stamped postcard that they were asked to complete and send back to the 4-H office. The postcards asked the members to tell us about their biggest 4-H accomplishment for the year and which 4-H activity that they missed the most during the year. Each member that returned their postcard received a 4-H Achievement Certificate, their 4-H Year End Completion pin, and a card to present at the Shelton Dairy Queen store where they will receive a free ice cream cone. We received forty completed postcards from 4-H members in October.
NATIONAL 4-H WEEK
October 1 marked the beginning of the new 4-H year with National 4-H Week running October 4-10. On September 22 the Mason County Board of Commissioners proclaimed October 4-10 to be National 4-H Week throughout Mason County recognizing the
significant impact that 4-H has made and continues to make by empowering youth with the skills they need to lead for a lifetime.
“ I PLEDGE my HEAD to clearer thinking, my HEART to greater loyalty, my HANDS to larger service and my HEALTH to better living for my club, my community, my country and my world. ”
QUOTES
“Thanks again for supporting the kids. Candice and I (though we are still the PTA president and VP) both had to
unenroll our kids from the school district because neither
of us have reliable enough internet so hands on activities
like this are greatly appreciated!”
Megan, community parent
“This is so great. People say there is nothing for kids to do in Shelton, but
this has been so fun.”
Keri D., community parent
“This is too fun! Miss Maddie and her creativity
are hard at work.”
Crystal, parent
A stack of postcards from members reflecting on their 4-H year
Continued from previous page…
During this time the Fall Paper Clover campaign was being held at the Tractor Supply store.
This semi-annual event is a major fundraiser for 4-H programs in Mason County. The new 4-H year is also a time when 4-H volunteers attend an annual volunteer education session where they brush up on their skills as they prepare for another fun and successful year mentoring 4-H youth. On October 2, Dan Teuteberg, 4-H Regional Specialist, was a guest on iFiber News Radio, promoting National 4-H Week and bringing awareness to the program.
4-H FOCUS – PROJECT BASED LEARNING
A series of web-based learning opportunities is underway for 4-H members. Each presentation will focus on a specific project area and will be presented virtually by 4-H volunteers via Zoom. The first in this series was presented on October 28, all in attendance created homemade horse treats for their equine friends. Additional presentations including photography, cats, dogs, and sewing are coming soon!
PUMPKIN DECORATING CHALLENGE
The first 4-H Pumpkin Decorating Challenge was held in October. Everyone was
encouraged to submit photos of their painted, carved, or decorated pumpkins. We received some very creative entries and families were thankful for the opportunity to win a “sweet”
prize!
STAYING CONNECTED WITH 4-H FAMILIES
As we continue to navigate the uncertainty of COVID-19, 4-H staff have adapted to a schedule that includes a blend of working both remotely and in the office, depending on the needs of the program. We continue to successfully host events and meetings in a virtual format. Regularly scheduled Office Hours and Council
meetings are well attended by both youth and adults via Zoom. We continue to share resources for families to stay connected and engaged in learning throughout this time.
These resources are available on our website and Facebook page to all families in our community.
“ I PLEDGE my HEAD to clearer thinking, my HEART to greater loyalty, my HANDS to larger service and my HEALTH to better living for my club, my community, my country and my world. ”
Dan Teuteberg shares 4-H news with the community via a radio guest spot
4-H members participate in a virtual horse treat
cooking session
4-H member Olivia’s creative take on Halloween 2020
BY THE NUMBERS 2020
Total Reached 445
15 youth series taught, 1st through 11th grades
Total youth reached: 425
1 adult series - 9 participants
Total adults reached: 20
Total reached annually CSO &
Food Bank: 1,553
2 adult single events:
Total contacts - 11 Indirect contacts through
online learning and resource sharing:
Schools: 2,832
Tribes: 1,170
Adults: (CSO, BHR, Food Bank, Senior Center): 1,810
Journal Article:
10,000
Washington State University
SNAP-Ed Nutrition Programs focus on providing dietary quality, physical activity and food resource management for adults and youth.
Coordinator Ext. 684 [email protected]
BACK-TO-SCHOOL RESOURCES
For most of fall quarter, SNAP-Ed efforts were focused on completing fiscal year 2020’s programming and preparing for the launch of a new three-year (FY2021-2023) SNAP-Ed grant. In September, with the pandemic continuing, local schools were provided electronic “Back-to-School” resources to share with staff, families, and students -- bolstering whole-family health, including nutritious eating and cooking at home, meal planning on a budget, food assistance resources, healthy celebrations, and staying active at home with physical distancing. Similarly, links to healthy living and educational materials were forwarded to community service partners to share with participants, such as videos demonstrating how to use SNAP EBT and receive Market Match incentives for free produce at farmers markets, Seasoned cooking e-newsletters for seniors, new food security resources promoted on the Washington SNAP-Ed Live Well website, and resource sheets for how to prepare meals and cook foods included in emergency food box distributions hosted by Shelton School District’s Student & Family Resource Center.
Quotes
“It’s a shame this year’s plant sale was canceled, but isn’t it great that families whom otherwise might not have been able to shop at the sale get to grow their own tomatoes this summer…we’re very pleased the plants are going to help feed hungry
families.” — WSU Extension – Mason County Master Gardener Volunteer
John Skans
“These are so wonderful! Our families
are going to be surprised. They’ll
love growing tomatoes. They’re so
good for you!” -- Ricardo del Bosque,
Bilingual Liaison &
Student Support Coordinator with Shelton School District’s Student &
Family Resource Center
Educator
Ext. 694 [email protected]
Continued from previous page…
Starting October, our focus shifted to onboarding our new SNAP-Ed grant. The new grant supports five interventions centered around community-based obesity prevention efforts and PSE (policy, systems, and environments) changes that promote healthy eating and active living amongst low-income audiences in Grays Harbor and Mason Counties. The Mason County work plan includes providing nutrition education for youth and adults, health promotions, PSE strategies, and indirect activities that support healthier living for low-income residents, while working towards achieving health equity and engaging the community in all aspects of programming, from development to implementation and evaluation. Staff have been participating in various trainings to prepare for the new work plans, with an emphasis on exploring how to best adapt programming delivery to virtual modes and engage SNAP-eligible audiences.
SENIOR FARMERS MARKET NUTRITION PROGRAM (SFMNP)
Right before the pandemic hit, WSU Extension Grays Harbor & Mason Counties SNAP-Ed Program, in collaboration with Senior Services for South Sound, Mason County Senior Nutrition Program, Mason County Senior Activities Association, and the Shelton Farmers Market, sought solutions to address the historically low redemption rate of Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) vouchers. Of the $12,000 SFMNP vouchers distributed in 2019 in Mason County, only $612 were redeemed at the Shelton Farmers Market.
SNAP-Ed’s goal is to help facilitate an increased voucher redemption rate, resulting in getting more fresh fruits and vegetables in local seniors’ diets.
After learning from the Senior Nutrition Program Manager that transportation was the main issue affecting seniors’ ability to use their SFMNP vouchers, SNAP-Ed proposed several solutions and collected initial agency staff input. SNAP-Ed designed a survey to gain feedback from SFMNP participants on the possible solutions in order to identify which option(s) would best meet our seniors’ needs and interests. Participant input will then be used to guide development of the feasible option(s), with the aim of having them in place for the upcoming 2021 farmers market season.
BY THE NUMBERS 2020
15 new contacts since August 15th.
Washington State University
Working with Mason County community to foster profitable family farms, land and water
stewardship, and access to healthy food
Kendall Carman Coordinator
Ext. 682
HOME HORTICULTURE TRAINING 2021
Learn to be a better home gardener and steward of the environment with Washington State University Extension’s new online Home Horticulture Training program. This statewide training opportunity is partnering with local county Extension offices and Master Gardener Programs. Training focuses on a wide range of horticulture topics taught online by WSU faculty, staff, Master Gardeners, and other regional experts on Saturday mornings from 9 a.m.
to noon starting January 9th and continuing weekly through April 24th.
Homework for each topic is expected to average 3-5 hours a week in addition to the Saturday online class. Homework will include reading assignments, presentations, videos, and exercises all presented online through WSU’s Global Campus. Those wishing to earn a Home Horticulture Training Certificate of Completion will need to attend most classes, take weekly online quizzes and a final, all of which are open book. You are not expected to memorize anything. For registration details go to:
http://mastergardener.wsu.edu/home-horticulture-training/
https://extension.wsu.edu/
mason/
CULTIVATING SUCCESS™:
WHOLE FARM PLANNING MARKETING SERIES
The Mason County WSU Small Farms Program is currently partnering with the WSU Food Systems and WSU Grays Harbor Small Farms Program to provide the “Cultivating Success:
Whole Farm Planning Marketing Series” to both Mason and Grays Harbor county residents.
This statewide series started October 17th and will be entering its 5th week. With about 15 participants in the Mason and Grays Harbor local collective, we have brought in speakers from the local Conservation Districts, Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) and a local farmer from Mason County. Participants have been engaging and eager to learn coming from many different backgrounds. Some folks have established farms, animals, crops or both, and looking for new ways to engage with marketing or better practices. We have a few new farmers who want to understand what to look for when planning their operation on newly bought land. We also have some folks who have dormant fields and timber who need some innovative ideas on how to help reclaim their land into a working condition. Once this 9 week course wraps up, all the participants will have made a farm plan that they will present at the final meeting.
ONSITE SEPTIC SYSTEM WORKSHOP VIA ZOOM
Working with both Mason County Public Health and WSU Extension Water Resource Specialist Robert Simmons, we are pleased to announce a free opportunity for Mason County residents to attend a Zoom workshop about Septic Systems and Maintenance. This
workshop will be held on Thursday December 10th from 6 p.m.-7 p.m. Contact Kendall Carman at
[email protected] for more information or to sign up.
Key Exercises for Whole Farm Planning Course:
Sustainability Concepts
Whole Farm Planning
Evaluating Resources
Enterprise Assessment
Marketing Strategies
Farming Practices
Ecological Soil Management
Integrated Pest Management
Livestock & Grazing Management
Equipment & Facilities
Enterprise Budgets https://extension.wsu.edu/
mason/agriculture/
HTTP://EXTENSION.WSU.EDU/MASON/AGRICULTURE
303 N 4th St., Shelton WA 98584 (360) 427-9670 Ext. 682
Extension programs and employment are available to all without discrimination.
Evidence of noncompliance may be reportedthrough your local Extension office.
BY THE NUMBERS 2020
43 active Master Gardener Volunteers
224 community members educated at Through the Garden Gate workshops in 2020
3,367 pounds of Fresh Organic Produce donated to Saint’s Pantry Food Bank
Washington State University
Kendall Carman Small Farms Coordinator
Ext. 682
CLINIC
Our procedure for handling clinic questions during the Covid-19 restrictions—with volunteers answering questions via email working from home—has been very successful.
The Master Gardener Clinic will be on hiatus from November 17 through January 17, 2021.
Beginning January 18, questions received at [email protected] will be answered weekly following the above Covid-19 protocols until restrictions are lifted. At that time, we will go back to staffing the Extension Office Master Gardener desk on Mondays from noon to 3 pm.
TRAINING CLASSES
Although face-to-face classes were discontinued in March, the training program restarted in September using Zoom (a virtual meeting format). Four of the original trainees were able to complete the classes and graduate to Master Gardener Intern status. They are well on their way to meeting their volunteer hour commitments necessary for certification. We have already received requests for a training class in 2021 and have started the necessary
planning for what we hope will be a classroom-type training program next fall (although we continue to plan for a virtual program if that is still necessary). The training program
normally consists of twelve 6-hour in-class work sessions as well as an online Washington State University program consisting of Gardening Basics, Crops and Plant Materials, Plant Health Care, and Horticulture Practices. Anyone interested in information on the training classes can email [email protected] or contact the Extension Office.
Pumpkin harvest at Catalyst Park Food Bank
Garden
CATALYST PARK
Since we were granted essential status for the food bank garden at Catalyst, we were able to plant and harvest crops for Saints’ Pantry in Shelton throughout the summer. Although only a limited number of gardeners were allowed in the park, they worked tirelessly and reached a record high of 3,367 pounds of produce donated to the food bank. The food bank portion of
Catalyst has been put to bed for the winter.
The “upper garden” at Catalyst was
restructured as a Native/Perennial Nursery to overwinter the many plants we were unable to sell at our cancelled annual plant sale. This year’s pumpkin sale was a great success even though we were unable to open the sale to the public. Our mantra for
fundraising is “we are our own best customers.”
FOUNDATION MEMBERSHIP
Even though physical participation has been curtailed, the Foundation continues to meet on a monthly basis via Zoom to address MG Program involvement at Catalyst Park and to develop ongoing educational programs that will be presented face-to-face, when restrictions are removed, as well as virtually through our Facebook account. The
Foundation is currently in the process of electing the 2021 Board officers. Membership in the Foundation is open to all members of the community. The fee for non-MG’s is $5 per year. A registration form can be requested through [email protected].
Catalyst Park
M a s t e r G a r d e n e r O f f i c e C l i n i c E ve r y M o n d a y 1 2 - 3 p . m . E x t . 6 8 7 E - m a i l : m a s o n m a s t e r g a r d e n e r @ w s u . e d u
Master Gardener Sherry Clemmens, Catalyst guru
FACEBOOK OUTREACH
Volunteers are covering short educational topics twice a month on our Facebook account.
Facebook has become an excellent outreach tool. We have over 800 followers and are growing every day. Three volunteers are working hard to keep the posts up-to-date and to answer questions as they come in.
PLANNING FOR for 2021
In a normal year, our six annual workshops—Through the Garden Gate—are held January through March. A team of volunteers has begun work on developing a virtual program that we will be able to present early next year. A wide variety of themes are currently being considered.
THROUGH THE GARDEN GATE JOURNAL
The 2nd edition of our sought-after “Through the Garden Gate: My Two Year Garden Journal” was revised and reissued this year. Anyone interested in purchasing the journal for $25 can email [email protected] to make arrangements.
Catalyst Park
M a s t e r G a r d e n e r O f f i c e C l i n i c E ve r y M o n d a y 1 2 - 3 p . m . E x t . 6 8 7 E - m a i l : m a s o n m a s t e r g a r d e n e r @ w s u . e d u
Pumpkin sale
BY THE NUMBERS 2020
49 site visits
75 Knotweed control-property owners assisted
96 Knotweed control - parcels treated
1 private rock source inspected
220 USDA Forest Service acres surveyed
174 USDA Forest Service acres treated
Washington State University
Responsible for identifying noxious weeds that are impacting our county resources, including agriculture, forestry, fisheries, recreation and native habitats.
Coordinator Ext. 592
KNOTWEED CONTROL
Favorable fall weather facilitated knotweed control efforts well into October for Mason County Noxious Weed Control. Supplemental funding from the Washington State Department of Agriculture’s knotweed program supported targeted efforts along Finch, Sherwood, Anderson, Stimson, Mission, and Coulter Creeks and in the North Bay/Allyn area. Knotweed treatments took place on 96 parcels for 75 property owners. Public lands, including those administered by Mason County Parks, Washington State Department of Natural Resources, and Washington State Department of Fish & Wildlife were included in the nearly 50 infested acres treated.
Knotweed pre-treatment at Allyn RV Park Allyn RV Park - Knotweed post treatment
OLYMPIC NATIONAL FOREST PARTNERSHIP
Since 2005, Title II of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act has supported the accomplishment of noxious weed
control work on Olympic National Forest land within Mason County. This year, staff surveyed nearly 220 acres for the presence of noxious weeds and
controlled invasive plant species on 174 acres within the National Forest.
On August 21, the USDA Forest Service announced that sections of Forest Service Roads 24 and 2451 that provide public access to Lake
Cushman, several trails, day-use sites, and the Staircase entrance of the Olympic National Park would close to vehicles and pedestrians beginning August 22, 2020. This closure, in response to unprecedented overcrowding in the area, was implemented for the safety and health of the public, employees, and volunteers. The closure created an opportunity to undertake noxious weed control work along the lake that had been nearly impossible in months prior due to high visitor use. Working within COVID-19 guidelines, MCNWC coordinated a cooperative effort by our staff, Olympic National Forest Invasives staff and a Washington Conservation Corps crew to reduce the infestation of Scotch broom and other noxious weeds on nearly 20 acres of shoreline surrounding Lake Cushman.
On November 04, 2020, the Olympic National Forest’s Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) met virtually to review FY2018 and FY2019 project proposals for Title II of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act. The RAC made the following
recommendations for funding noxious weed control by the Mason County Noxious Weed Control Board, $15,000 in FY2018 and $15,000 in FY2019. Kelly Lawrence, Olympic National Forest Supervisor, approved these recommendations in a November 19, 2020 letter.
Quotes
“I appreciate you answering my questions and giving me a
course of action to take if I have any future
concerns.” JW
“We lost a lot of leaves, I have great hope of them all dying. I will send pictures this evening. I
want to thank you so much. I owe you a day of
free labor let me know.”
MK
We are available to help landowners and land
managers with information, services, and resources to deal with invasive, non-native plant species.
The “rock” at Lake Cushman on a peaceful, public closure day.
Tansy ragwort control along FS Rd 2300
EARLY DETECTION, RAPID RESPONSE
An educated and engaged public continues to be an ally in our efforts to locate and control noxious weeds. Recent examples include:
A frequent walker at Lake Isabella reported a class B-designate noxious weed, meadow knapweed, growing in several remote areas of the park. Building on work accomplished by the DNR funded Aquatics crew earlier in the year, MCNWC staff were able to take advantage of a perfect fall day to complete an initial treatment on this newly discovered infestation.
From social media, “At the end of K Street next to the Shopper looks like it might have meadow
knapweed.” A site visit confirmed identification and two property owners received letters advising them of the presence of this class B –designate noxious weed and requirements under State law. We worked with the property owners to develop a plan and assisted with an initial treatment.
Social media continues to be an effective tool for outreach, education and receiving
reports of noxious weeds. Many citizens were aware of the construction project underway at Highway 101 to improve fish habitat. One observant passerby recognized knotweed growing adjacent to the site and notified MCNWC. Permission was received from two owners to treat the two small patches and treatment was completed within the week.
A staff member from Community Development recently requested
identification confirmation of a plant found at a proposed project site. We welcomed the opportunity to work with the property owner to identify the extent of the infestation, develop a control plan and undertake an initial treatment.
Quotes
“Thank you so much for coming out the other day.
I so enjoyed your knowledge!!”
KJ
We are available to help landowners and land
managers with information, services, and resources to deal with invasive, non-native plant species.
Early detection and rapid response to knapweed found
on F.S. Rd. 2300-000
Knapweed visible from Highway 101 and reported via social media
Site of new passage construction with knotweed in the foreground
NEW EMPLOYEE
Kela Hall-Wieckert has joined the Noxious Weed Control team filling our Assistant position.
Her first day was November 12, just in time for the reporting season. Kela is a graduate of the Evergreen State College and
an agroecologist. She previously worked at the Pierce
Conservation District and with WSDOT’s Wetland Monitoring program. In her spare time, Kela enjoys gardening and hiking.
Please join me in welcoming Kela!
Mason County continues to assist property owners with control of noxious weeds as time and resources allow. This year, nearly 180 acres were treated in the county. Knotweed, poison hemlock and the knapweeds were the most common species treated. Additional species treated include giant hogweed, bindweed, tansy ragwort, butterfly bush, herb Robert, yellow flag iris, and Himalayan blackberry.
Working relationships with others are essential to the success of the Mason County Noxious Weed Control program. Partnerships with the Olympic National Forest, Washington State Department of Agriculture, Hood Canal Coordinating Council, Great Peninsula Conservancy, Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group, Green Diamond Resource Company, Washington State Department of Natural Resources, Washington State Parks and numerous private property owners have contributed to our accomplishments this year.
HTTP://EXTENSION.WSU.EDU/MASON/NOXIOUS-WEED-PROGRAM/
303 N 4th St., Shelton WA 98584 (360) 427-9670 Ext. 592 Extension programs and employment are available to all without discrimination.
Evidence of noncompliance may be reportedthrough your local Extension office.
Reduced Herb Robert in the Lena Lake Campground
Noxious Weed control during Pandemic
FOOD SAFETY &
FOOD PRESERVATION
Lisa DeWall, Food Safety &
Preservation Information Assistant
Check pressure gauges by appointment.
Available to answered calls regarding food preservation and food safety.
Food Safety in a Minute - Podcasts/
Videos
Washington State University
HTTP://EXTENSION.MASON.WSU.EDU
303 N 4th St., Shelton WA 98584 (360) 427-9670 Ext. 680 Extension programs and employment are available to all without discrimination.
Evidence of noncompliance may be reportedthrough your local Extension office.
FREE BOOK PROGRAM
WSU Extension Mason County is excited to partner with South Sound Reading Foundation as a pick-up site for the Free Bag O’ Books Program.
Beginning December 2nd, the free books for children, teens, and adults will be available for pick-up at the WSU Extension office,
Monday-Thursday from 10-4. South Sound Reading Foundation was in need of a good location for residents to pick-up books, so it was
determined that the WSU Extension office location and hours would be a great central site. The hope is that with the new downtown
location more residents will be able to participate in this wonderful opportunity for free books.
https://extension.
wsu.edu/mason/2020/
04/food-safety-in-a- minute-podcasts-videos/
