Family and Consumer Sciences

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Ohio State University Extension

family activities

Winter Sowing

Have you ever wanted to garden during the winter? Winter Sowing is an easy and resourceful way to grow seedlings! You only need a few supplies and a small space outdoors. Supplies: Clear container(s) – reused plastic containers such as milk or water jugs (without lids), to-go containers from restaurants, or even deep aluminum pans […]

WRITTEN BY: Danae Losey, AmeriCorps Member, Extension Public Health AmeriCorps, OSU Extension, Lucas County and Patrice Powers-Barker, Family and Consumer Sciences

REVIEWED BY: Amy Stone, OSU Extension Lucas County, Agriculture and Natural Resources

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • Danae Losey
  • Patrice Powers-Barker

SOURCES:

  • Hernandez, Lori. (2023). Winter Sowing. Three Acre Farm. https://www.threeacrefarm.net/blog/2019/1/21/winter-sowing
  • Maupin, Kelly. (2022). Jump Start Your 2023 Garden with Winter Sowing. Washington State University, Skagit County Extension Master Gardener Program. https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/2073/2023/02/Winter-Sowing-Jump-Start-1.pdf
  • Moore, Molly, and Smith, Marlene. All the Dirt on Winter Sowing. University of Maryland Extension, Charles County Master Gardener. https://extension.umd.edu/sites/extension.umd.edu/files/2021-12/All%20the%20Dirt%20on%20Winter%20Sowing%20Power%20Point.pdf
  • Native Seeds of Fortitude: Winter Seed Sowing. Cornell Cooperative Extension. Putnam County. https://cceputnamcounty.org/resources/native-seeds-of-fortitude-winter-seed-sowing
  • Ohio Victory Gardens https://u.osu.edu/ohiovictorygardens/sowing-the-seeds/
  • Voll-Wallace, Lori. (2021). Starting Seeds in Winter. Penn State Extension, Master Gardener. https://extension.psu.edu/starting-seeds-in-winter
  • Winter Seed Sowing. (2019). University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. College of Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences. Illinois Extension. https://extension.illinois.edu/news-releases/winter-seed-sowing
  • Winter sowing method. NAL Agricultural Thesaurus. U.S. Department of Agriculture. https://agclass.nal.usda.gov/vocabularies/nalt/concept?uri=https://lod.nal.usda.gov/nalt/69779
  • Winter sowing, to fend off the winter blues! Ohio State University Extension. https://u.osu.edu/ohiovictorygardens/2024/01/09/winter-sowing-to-fend-off-the-winter-blues/

Summer Safety

Summer is here! It’s the season for enjoying nature, family, delicious summer foods, and outdoor activities! While we’re having summer fun, we still need to be mindful of safety. Stay safe and prepare for these activities. Food Safety Grilled and picnic foods are some of the best things about summer. To keep your loved ones […]

WRITTEN BY: Caitlin Mathews-Smith, OSU Extension, Guernsey County, Family and Consumer Sciences

REVIEWED BY: Amanda Bohlen, OSU Extension, Washington County, Family and Consumer Sciences

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • Pixabay

REFERENCES:

  • 10 Open Water Safety Tips. National Drowning Prevention Alliance (NDPA). https://ndpa.org/10-open-water-safety-tips/
  • Summer Safety Tips. American Red Cross. https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/summer-safety.html#:~:text=Summer%20is%20a%20great%20time,vegetables%2C%20cheeses%2C%20and%20desserts.
  • (2023, April 18). Sun Safety. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/skin/basic_info/sun-safety.htm
  • Zoonotic Disease Program-Ohio Department of Health. https://odh.ohio.gov/know-our-programs/zoonotic-disease-program

National Nutrition Month

Did you know March is National Nutrition Month? As defined by Merriam-Webster, nutrition is the act or process of nourishing or being nourished. We can nourish ourselves by eating fresh fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, dairy, and whole grains. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), a healthy balanced diet includes making half of […]

WRITTEN BY: Caitlin Mathews-Smith, OSU Extension, Guernsey County, Family and Consumer Sciences

REVIEWED BY: Jenny Lobb, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, OSU Extension Franklin County

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • "MyPlate Servings". Gleaners Nutrition Hub, http://www.gleanersnutritionhub.org/blog/archives/12-2020.
  • Photo taken by Caitlin Mathews-Smith

REFERENCES:

  • MyPlate | U.S. Department of Agriculture. (n.d.). MyPlate | U.S. Department of Agriculture. https://www.myplate.gov/
  • Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. National Nutrition Month. https://www.eatright.org/national-nutrition-month-2023

How to “buy” happiness and better health

My husband and I took my 15 year old daughter to see Hamilton a couple nights ago. Her birthday was January 29th, the same day that Hamilton opened in Columbus. She told me last summer that she would like to go to the show for her birthday. I informed her that I would try to […]

WRITTEN BY: Misty Harmon, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Perry County, harmon.417@osu.edu

REVIEWED BY: Shannon Carter, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Fairfield County

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • https://pixabay.com/en/african-african-american-american-3741972/
  • https://pixabay.com/en/couple-happy-old-grandfather-858694/

SOURCES:

  • Consumer Federation of America, (2018). 54 Ways to Save Money, America Saves. Retrieved from: https://americasaves.org/for-savers/make-a-plan-how-to-save-money/54-ways-to-save-money
  • Newman, K. (2016). Six Ways to Get More Happiness for Your Money. Greater Good Magazine. Found here: https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/six_ways_to_get_more_happiness_for_your_money
  • Santi, J. (2015). Nine Tips to Make Your Giving Feel Good. Greater Good Magazine. Retrieved from: https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/nine_tips_to_make_your_giving_feel_good
  • Wilblin, R. (2016). Everything you need to know about whether money makes you happy. 80,000 hours. Retrieved from: https://80000hours.org/articles/money-and-happiness/
  • University of Minnesota, (2016). How Can You Improve Your Relationship with Money? Taking Charge of Your Health and Wellbeing. Found here: https://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/how-can-you-improve-your-relationship-money

REFERENCES:

  • Bea, S. (2016). Wanna Give? This Is Your Brain on a ‘Helper’s High’. Cleveland Clinic. Found here: https://health.clevelandclinic.org/why-giving-is-good-for-your-health/

Time 4 Fun

The weekend is almost here and it’s time for fun to begin. We need to make sure we take time to have fun! Making time for fun gives us the opportunity to forget about commitments and our daily work life. It gives us a chance to be social and creative. By focusing on the actual […]

WRITTEN BY: Amanda Bohlen, Extension Educator, Family & Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Washington County bohlen.19@osu.edu

REVIEWED BY: Marilyn Rabe, Extension Educator, Family & Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Franklin County rabe.9@osu.edu

SOURCES:

  • http://www.helpguide.org/articles/emotional-health/benefits-of-play-for-adults.htm
  • http://health.usnews.com/health-news/family-health/childrens-health/articles/2009/03/09/10-reasons-play-can-make-you-healthy-happy-and-more-productive

Say “Yes” to a Family Dog

A little over a year ago our beloved family dog, Avery, died.  After about 6 months, my children wanted me to get a new pet and they launched a creative campaign of letters, and PowerPoints complete with links to dogs they liked at nearby shelters.  They provided me with the following reasons why a dog […]

WRITTEN BY: Marcy Payne-Lavigne, MS, Office Administrative Assistant, Family and Consumer Sciences

REVIEWED BY: Terri Worthington, Ohio State University Extension, Geauga County.

SOURCES:

  • Burns, M. E. & Mechanic, O. J. (2012). Pet Therapy. Retrieved from: http://www.themondaylife.org/pet-therapy?gclid=CLfo74zlys0CFY-DaQoddyoJRQ
  • Friedmann, E. & Thomas, S. (1985). Health Benefits of Pets and Families. Marriage & Family Review, 8(3), 191-203, doi: 10.1300/j002V08N03_14
  • Jennings, L. B. (1997). Potential benefits of pet ownership in health promotion. Journal of Holistic Nursing, 15(4), 358-372. doi: 10.1177/089801019701500404
  • Thorpe, Jr., R. J., Christian, H. E., & Bauman, A. (2014). Dog walking as physical activity for older adults. In A. M. Beck, R. A. Johnson, & S. McCune (), Health Benefits of Dog Walking for People and Pets: Evidence and Case Studies (75-88). West Lafayette, IN: Purdue University Press

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