Extension Plants Seeds That Bloom for Communities

Bringing Knowledge to Life! / Partner Report /
Houghton-Keweenaw County
1500 Birch Street
Hancock, Michigan49930-1062
Phone: 906-482-5830 / E-mail:
Fax: 906-487-5960
Web: msue.msu.edu/houghton
February 2009

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. Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Thomas G. Coon, Director, MSU Extension, East Lansing,MI48824. This information is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned.

Extension plants seeds that bloom for communities

Just as the seeds of farmers’ plants germinate and become productive, so do Extension educational efforts. Twolocal Master Gardener volunteers offer good examples of how people use MSU Extension education for the betterment of their communities.

Sarah Cheney of Houghtonis the primary organizer of the Pewabic Street Community Garden, a volunteer project providing a beautiful, peaceful and friendly garden space in central Houghton for people to gather, garden and grow. The garden site is made available by the county andthe city provides water.

Cheney’s group began in 2007 witha demonstration plot that producedvegetables for local food banks and cut flowers forarea senior citizen housing complexes.

Last yearthe project expanded and garden space was made available for rent to anyone interested in establishing a garden plot.

Learn more about the Pewabic Street Garden by visiting

In a separate effort, Master Gardener Lynn Watson of Atlantic Mine has initiated a monthlygarden program series at the local library. She has also opened a home consulting business assisting homeowners and business in landscaping and interior plant décor.

Master Gardener course offered

Copper Country residents again have the opportunity to be involved in one of the most intensive and up-to-date horticulture education programs in the nation.

The 10-week, Master Gardener Volunteer Program class will be offered at the MSU Extension Office, starting March and continuing each consecutive Monday evening through May 18.

The Michigan Master Gardener Program includes 30 hours of instruction in plant and soil Sciences, floriculture, indoor plants, plant health care, lawn care, small and tree fruit, vegetable gardening, woody ornamentals,household pests and wildlife. Along with instruction, participants receive a 500-page resource notebook.
Contact:Mike Schira, County Extension Director

4-H council invests in the future

The 4-H program is aimed at improving the future by providing young people with positive experiences that enable them to envision future success.

The Houghton-Keweenaw 4-H Council decided to invest in the future by establishing a $10,000 endowment in the Michigan 4-H Foundation.

The endowment was initiated as part of festivities during Michigan 4-H’s 100thbirthday as a gift to future 4-H’ers. The Houghton-Keweenaw 4-H Council hosted a kick-off celebration gala at the Michigan Technology UniversityRosza Center on Nov. 6.

A goal was set to build the fund to $50,000 in five years.Thanks to the 4-H leader organizers, Carol Saari, Lynn Gierke, and Mary Gardner, the event

4-H endowment--continued

brought out more than 100 people from former 4-H staff members, to 4-H members and alumni.

4-H teens, dressed in usher jackets from the Rosza Center, were trained to meet and greet guests. 4-H leaders shared their interests and knowledge about the endowment with guests.

The highlight of the evening was a performance by the 4-H Keweenaw Area Jazz Band. Proudly representing their school and 4-H, 30 youths from several local high schools performed a variety of jazz music under the direction of Nick Enz and Patrick Valencia.

The five-year-old 4-H jazz band has performed at local festivals and traveled to competitions in Marquette, Michigan and Eau Claire, Wis. Nearly 40 youths are now involved in the program. 4-H leaderEnz works with the Copper Country Intermediate School District, Houghton-Keweenaw 4-H Council, and Copper Country Community Art Center for funding and grants, which support this program.

Proceeds from thegala increased the endowment by more than 25 percent. Several businesses andindividuals donated a variety of items for the silent auction.

Carol Kreher, 4-H Program Associate III

Food Groupies discover the value of starting the day with breakfast

Between October 2008 and January 2009 the MSU Extension Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Nutrition Education (SNAP-Ed) program associate has been work with four elementary schools during a breakfast program developed seven years ago.

Debby L’Heureux has worked with students atLake Linden, Chassell, Houghton, and Dollar Bay elementaryschools. All four of these schools are involved with the National School Breakfast Program, which offers free or reduced-price morning meals. In all, she’s visited19 classrooms involving 365 students

L’Heureux shared the Food Groupie Program, a four-weekseries that teaches the importance of eating breakfast. An average of 10 percent of studentsat the four schools does not eat breakfast even though it is offeredthrough the National School Breakfast Program.

The reasons they give for not eating breakfast range from, "Mom didn’t get me up on time,"to "I was too tired," or "I don't like to eat breakfast."

During Food Groupies, students were asked who ate breakfast that day. After each session L’Heureux asked if they remembered any of the Food Groupies, and waited for responses.

Theytalked about the food that they saw duringeach session’s video. They learnedabout characters like Olivia Orange,Bonnie Broccoli, Bernie Bread and Paulie Peanut.

The children learned that by eating breakfast, they could do better in school, be less hungry, get along with others and avoid feeling tired. They were able to identify what foods go in what food group.

By the end of the four-week series, all 100 percent of the students were eating breakfast.

Debby L'Heureux, SNAP-Ed Program

Upcoming 4-H Events

March 2, 9, 16 – NEFE Teen Financial Program
March 12 – 4-H Council Meeting 7:00 PM
March 18 – 4-H Family Swim @ MTU
March 21, 28 – 4-H “Clover Buddies”
April 3-4 – U.P. Leadermete
April 9 – 4-H Council Meeting 7:00 PM
April 15 – 4-H Family Swim @ MTU
April 25 – Spring Discovery
May 14 – 4-H Council Meeting 7:00 PM
June 22-26 – Exploration Days
July 13-15 – 4-H Camp @ Ford Forestry