820 East Grand River Avenue
Howell, MI 48843-2432 /
P: 517-546-3950 F: 517-546-5154
/ E-mail:or
July 2008
Residents enjoy “Taste” of LivingstonCounty Extension during community open houseLivingston County MSU Extension participated in a community open house on June 19. The open house was held from 2-7 p.m., and offered county agency and organization representatives, local government officials, 4-H members, and the general public the opportunity to meet MSUE staff, ask questions about MSU Extension programs and services, and tour the MSU extension offices. Visitors enjoyed a “Taste of Extension,” which included samples of local food products.
They received information and saw demonstrations about the horticulture, 4-H, agriculture and family and consumer science programs. Visitors learned about eggs from 4-H’er Rachel Wylie, composting from Master Gardeners, Better Kid Care, Car Seat Safety Checks and upcoming programs in agriculture.
Grace Mutua, the Livingston County Extension director, Van Varner, farm management educator, and Matt Shane, Extension livestock educator, answered questions and greeted visitors. Other MSUExtension staff members were also on hand to meet residents.
Visitors alsotasted MSU Dairy Store cheese and an ice cream flavor created in honor of Michigan 4-H’s 100th birthday. /
MSU Extension and BetterKid Care offer summer programs
Livingston County MSU Extension provides Better Kid Care training to licensed childcare providers and those who want to become licensed.
This summer, programs will be offered during July and August, 2008 at the Howell office. Participants can take part in classes in first aid, CPR and introducing children to mathematics.
Through Michigan Better Kid Care, participants receive free and accessible training. In addition to childcare providers, programs are also open to parents, relatives,guardians or others who care for children.
Grand Equestrians ride again
LivingstonCounty’stherapeutic horseback riding program is in full swing with two instructors and two classes with three sessions each on Tuesday and Thursday evenings atthe Wylie farm near Fowlerville, Michigan.
Some of the riders take part in a group called the Grand Equestrian Drill Team. They practice guiding their mounts through maneuvers and will be featured at the Fowlerville Fair. Fourteen riders from the program have also entered special riding classes and will be part of the English Horse Show during the fair, the week of July 12 – July 19, 2008.
/ Michigan State University Extension helps people improve their lives through an educational process that applies knowledge to critical issues, needs and opportunities. Offices in counties across the state link the research of the land-grant university, MSU, to challenges facingcommunities. Citizens serving on countyExtension councils regularly help select focus areas for programming. MSU Extension is funded jointly by county boards of commissioners,the state through MichiganStateUniversity and federally through the US Department of Agriculture. /
Facing a summer drought? Try xeriscaping instead of landscaping
Homeowners who want to minimize the amount of water they use on their yards to save money or conserve water use can use a technique called xeriscaping to make their yards attractive.
Xeriscaping is also called drought gardening or low water gardening. It involves choosing plants that are tolerant of dry conditions.
Livingston County MSU Extensionrecently received a Sierra Club grant to support an educational project developed by Master Gardeners and Junior Master Gardeners. It involves using xeriscaping an area in the County’s West Complex.
Master Gardeners researched native and commonly used perennials to define a list of possible plants. Two Master Gardeners designed an installation for a parking lot island that will receive no irrigation other than rain.
Each Junior Master Gardener will work with an adult Master Gardener to follow design and install the plants properly. Plants will be watered and mulched to establish them correctly.
Summer Gardening Series
Summer brings Michigan residents outdoors and brings their attention to the possibilities for growing flowers and other plants, vegetables, landscape plants and trees.
To help Livingston residents learn to get their gardens, flowerpots, yards and containers growing, MSU Extension offers a series of educational programs.
The five-part series began with a plant exchange in late May and is continuing through the summer. Topics include rhododendrons, landscaping with native plants, plant diagnostics, ergonomic landscaping and the basics of beekeeping. / 4-H’ers partner with Pheasants Foreverin wildlife conservation
4-H’ers and members of the Livingston County chapter of Pheasants Forever are teaming up for the third year provide food and habitat plots for pheasants and other wildlife.
The project results in more food and habitat for the area pheasant population and important lessons in wildlife conservation, natural resource management, biology and animal science for the 4-H’ers.
Through the partnership, 4-H members hatch, raising and releasing pheasants and planting and maintaining food and habitat plots.
Pheasants Forever members meet with the 4-H members and explain the importance of releasing the birds in areas that provide them food, water and cover. 4-H Pheasant Coordinator, Jim MacCaughan, answered questions about hatching and raising pheasants.
The Livingston County Chapter of Pheasants Forever helps the members locate pheasant chicks and eggs and provides the seed and supplies for planting the food and habitat plots. In return the 4-H members agree to display a pheasant project at the fair and support Pheasant Forever activities across the county.
MSU Extension – Livingston County
Grace Mutua – County Extension DirectorRoxanne Turner – 4-H Youth Development Educator
Carrie Shrier – Family & Consumer Science Educator
Gretchen Voyle – Horticulture Educator
Dean Ross – Dairy Educator
Teena Munsell – 4-H Program Associate
Sharon Fogarty – Administrative Aide
Fay Hicks – Office Assistant
Kim White – Administrative Specialist
Eva Poole – Better Kid Care Educator
Daniel Hudson – Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator
MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status.