Jefferson, Clallam Extension offices celebrate centennial

Published 12:01 am Sunday, September 28, 2014

Gardening tips and plant clinics, 4-H clubs, help for farmers and tours of farms, waste reduction and other environmental programs — these are some of the ongoing activities of the Washington State University Extension offices as the system marks its centennial.

The Clallam and Jefferson County Extension services are celebrating this year the 100th anniversary of the federal Smith-Lever Act, which codified and provided funding for outreach programs at the land-grant universities founded in 1862.

The Clallam County Extension will host an open house from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday at the office at the county courthouse, 223 E. Fourth St.

Birthday cake will be served and information provided about the office’s services, said Director Cleo Rome.

Individual county Extension offices were founded within one or two years of the passage of the act, said Rome, adding that she did not know the year the Clallam office opened.

Jefferson County

Jefferson County’s Extension office has been operating since 1915, said Laura Lewis, director of the agency housed in the Cupola House in Point Hudson at 380 Jefferson St., Port Townsend.

An open house will be scheduled at a later date, perhaps next year during the Jefferson County office’s centennial, she said.

In the meantime, a historical perspective is on the office’s website at http://ext100.wsu.edu/jefferson, and this fall, a display case of memorabilia is planned at the Jefferson Museum of Art & History, operated by the county historical society at 540 Water St. in Port Townsend.

Food & Farm Guide

Both county offices recently published the North Olympic Food & Farm Guide, which has more than 130 descriptive listings of family farms, area food restaurants and supporting businesses and organizations throughout the Peninsula.

The free guide can be found at visitor centers, participating farms and businesses, and the Extension service offices.

Master Gardeners

A popular program offered in both counties is the Master Gardeners, trained volunteers who offer educational programs, weekly plant clinics, demonstration gardens, brown-bag gardening tip programs and lectures, and who encourage rain gardens.

Master Gardeners receive 100 hours of training from WSU faculty and scientists in return for 100 hours of volunteer work over two years in the program that began in 1973.

Clallam County Master Gardeners worked with Volunteers in Medicine of the Olympics, First Step Family Support Center and Port Angeles Community Gardens on the 15-week Growing Healthy program, which ended Aug. 15.

A paper on the results of the project — designed to help low-income people with diabetes or who were at risk of developing the disease eat healthier and get more exercise — was read last week at the 2014 International Master Gardener Conference in South Korea.

4-H programs

Extension offices oversee 4-H programs in which youngsters learn science, math, social skills and animal husbandry.

The 15 4-H clubs in Clallam County have more than 400 youth members and 90 adults leaders.

In Jefferson County, the 4-H program involves more than 200 young people with some 75 adult leaders.

Extension offices also work with citizens and businesses on rural recycling and waste reduction.

They provide classes and advice to farmers to foster sustainable farming systems and help family farms be successful, both directors said.

“Cultivating Success,” business classes for small farms, will begin Oct. 8 in Jefferson County.

Clallam County participates in Food $ense, a program administered by a registered dietitian, to teach healthy eating, and its Food Safety and Preservation Program provides information on canning and harvest preservation techniques.

Residents can schedule an appointment to have their pressure canning gauges tested for accuracy by calling the office at 360-417-2279.

Beach Watchers

Volunteers with Beach Watcher programs count bird populations, check water quality and remove debris from shorelines.

Extension offices also work in rural development. The Jefferson County Extension recently worked with the Makah, Quileute and Hoh tribes on a feasibility study to bring broadband to remote areas, Lewis said.

Extension offices organize self-guided farm tours each year.

Jefferson County’s 12th annual Jefferson County Farm and Fiber Tour was Sept. 13-14.

Clallam County’s annual Farm Tour will be this coming Saturday.

For more information on the Clallam office, phone 360-417-2279, drop by the office or visit http://ext100.wsu.edu/clallam.

For more on the Jefferson County office, phone 360-379-5610, ext. 200, drop by the office or visit http://ext100.wsu.edu/jefferson.