Author – The Durango Herald

La Plata County’s best kept secret

If you’re reading this column, you’re either familiar with La Plata County Extension Office or the headline was just too catchy to skip. For regulars, what may not be familiar is...

DATE: Apr 12, 2019 | CATEGORY: From the Extension Office

How to prune your fruit trees so they will thrive

People get scared when it comes to pruning, and I’m not sure why. I’ve done some pruning one-on-one with homeowners. I tell them to take about 30 percent of the live wood out of ...

DATE: Apr 4, 2019 | CATEGORY: From the Extension Office

As spring arrives, La Plata County 4-H is bursting with activities

Winter weather has us optimistic for greener pastures this year. The month of March brings great excitement for many local 4-H members. Youths have and will participate in a vari...

DATE: Mar 15, 2019 | CATEGORY: From the Extension Office

How to assess tree damage after our heavy snow

February was a bit snowy. My Facebook page is inundated with photos of “Snowpocalypse” and “Snowmageddon” – kids jumping off roofs, walls of the white stuff bracketing the driveway, dogs get...

DATE: Mar 4, 2019 | CATEGORY: From the Extension Office

My three favorite tools for the garden

We all have our favorites – favorite pet, favorite car, and heck, even favorite child (don’t worry kids, I love all of you. Most of the time …). In the kitchen, I would be hard-p...

DATE: Feb 1, 2019 | CATEGORY: From the Extension Office

Through dialogue, we can understand one another

In the words of Martin Luther King Jr., “People fail to get along because they fear each other; they fear each other because they don’t know each other; they don’t know each other because th...

DATE: Jan 18, 2019 | CATEGORY: From the Extension Office

Our recent snow is ideal for plants, soil

The snow finally fell. My shoulders are sore from shoveling, the downstairs mudroom smells like wet coats and hats and boots, and my gloves have the odor of gasoline from refilli...

DATE: Jan 7, 2019 | CATEGORY: From the Extension Office

I’m preparing to begin a new chapter in my life: Retirement

Along with many others, I too have chosen retirement this year. Feb. 2 will be my last day employed by Colorado State University as family and consumer science extension agent in...

DATE: Jan 4, 2019 | CATEGORY: From the Extension Office

Work of 4-H Ambassadors team builds crucial life skills

The 2018-19 La Plata County 4-H Council Ambassadors team is excited for the year ahead. This team will represent our 4-H program at local, regional and national events. The team consists of ...

DATE: Dec 14, 2018 | CATEGORY: From the Extension Office

Don’t let our altitude foil your favorite holiday recipe

At this time of year, many people are baking more than usual. People are often frustrated to find that a recipe that works at sea level is a disaster at this altitude. Whether you...

DATE: Dec 14, 2018 | CATEGORY: From the Extension Office

Cutting your own Christmas tree offers memories for a lifetime

Over the past 10 years, I’ve written a couple of articles about Christmas trees and the role they play in the Parmenter family. Yes, there were years when we left our tree up wel...

DATE: Dec 2, 2018 | CATEGORY: From the Extension Office

4-H partnership brings gardening classes to elementary schools

Community partners are an essential factor in delivering quality programming through your local Colorado State University Extension Office. As educators, we strive to build soli...

DATE: Nov 16, 2018 | CATEGORY: From the Extension Office