Laura Young ECB Publishing, Inc. When my lavender seed packs arrived in the mail, I was surprised to learn that they require light to germinate. What? Usually seed planting instructions tell not…
Category: Farm & Outdoors
Celestial events in September
Hailey Heseltine ECB Publishing, Inc. For those of you who like to keep eyes on the skies, September is bringing some astronomical events for you to enjoy. -Throughout September, Venus, Jupiter, Uranus,…
The American Relief Act of 2025 assists farmers and producers affected by natural disasters
Jason Futch ECB Publishing, Inc. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins has announced that agricultural producers who suffered eligible crop losses due to natural disasters in 2023 and 2024 can now…
Florida welcomes license-free saltwater fishing day on Sept. 6
Jason Futch ECB Publishing, Inc. On Saturday, Sept. 6, Florida is opening its waters to free saltwater fishing for everyone, even if one does not possess a fishing license. License-free fishing days…
Agricultural games are learning tools
Kathy Egan ECB Publishing, Inc. It sometimes feels as if we are constantly battling to get our kids away from screens. Oftentimes, it seems like we are losing the battle. One time…
Training for pesticide applicator license to be offered
Laura Young ECB Publishing, Inc. Farmers in Jefferson County are invited to participate in the Big Bend Pesticide Series Training to be held over four days, Sept. 8-11, hosted by UF/IFAS Extension…
Snook season opens Sept. 1
Kathy Egan ECB Publishing, Inc. The recreational harvest season for snook starts Sept. 1 in most of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation’s (FWC) west coast regions, including both the Panhandle and…
Great native plants to use
Jennifer Mason Contributor As the summer simmers down, I would like to highlight a very showy, evergreen, native shrub: the Southern bayberry or wax myrtle, Morella cerifera. This amazing plant provides a…
FWC okays bear hunt for 2025 hunting season
Lazaro Aleman ECB Publishing, Inc. Not surprisingly, judging from its preliminary vote in May, the Board of Commissioners of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) recently voted to approve a…
Arborist Consultation Information
UF/IFAS Contributor Homeowners are generally unaware of many of the various circumstances that can make their trees hazardous. If time is taken to look, most people can see obvious structural problems as…
“Cool as a cucumber” and other veggie-inspired comparisons
Laura Young ECB Publishing, Inc. Without a doubt this has turned into a cucumber summer. Since we are right now smack dab in the middle of the two hottest months of the…
Regenerative agriculture makes for happier soil
Kathy Egan ECB Publishing, Inc. Jefferson is an agriculturally-focused county, and as such, many of us are blessed to be able to get eggs fresh from the chickens, enjoy watermelon not only…
Leaves & limestone
Jennifer Mason Contributor These two things are essential for growing any kind of plant that you want to place in the wild world. Leaves, as they decompose, build the soil and add…
The berry best month of the year is here
Christian Peterson ECB Publishing, Inc. July is most famous for one reason: the celebration of Independence Day. However, for the agriculture community, there is another reason to celebrate. July is the height…
Palmetto Pioneers launches Monticello walking tour
Story Submitted Palmetto Pioneers Prose and the Monticello Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce are pleased to announce the launch of the first-of-its-kind self-guided walking tour of Monticello. The VoiceMap tour is designed…
How to make bathrooms safer for seniors
Metro Media Maintaining a sense of independence throughout retirement can inspire seniors to live their golden years to the fullest. For many seniors, nothing is more emblematic of their ability to stay…
Small renovations that make a big impact
Metro Media Homeowners may think they have to tear down walls or build room extensions to transform their homes with renovation projects. But small projects can yield impressive results, and that’s something…
Pruning for flowering shrubs and trees
Ed Duke and Sam Hand Florida A&M University As a general rule, pruning is best done on small growth, except for the purpose of plant restoration. Mutilating a tree, such as crepe…
4-H Wildlife Camp offers outdoor experiences
Hailey Heseltine ECB Publishing, Inc. On June 2 through 6, 57 participating youth and nine teen counselors from Jefferson and Leon counties met at the Jefferson County UF/IFAS Extension for the 4-H…
What is lurking in your dirt?
Kathy Egan ECB Publishing, Inc. Whether you have the privilege of operating a 1000-acre farm or simply want the prettiest backyard garden you can create, resources are available at the Jefferson County…