Southwest Life


Nicole Clark
Position: La Plata County Extension Office

Micro and nano plastics, an invisible ingredient in our food and beverages

Love it or hate it, almost everyone uses plastic in one way or another. This cheap, durable synthetic polymer is the (almost) perfect material for making water bottles, containers, cutting b...

Caring for a garden includes self care

I know it is the time of year when we become nostalgic for hot cider, hayrides, pumpkins, holiday gatherings and the changing leaves (which, to be fair, are gorgeous already). This is also t...

If you must justify making dessert ...

If there’s ever a time to justify dessert, it’s now. No need to conjure up justifications on your own. This month, I’m treating you to a handful of high-quality retorts for the dessert naysa...

Get to know CSU Extension’s Heather Houk

Hello everyone, my name is Heather Houk (pronounced how-k). I know you are used to seeing Darrin’s big ol’ beard in this column every month, but there have been a few changes around here. Do...

Being an entrepreneur is risky and rewarding business

It’s that time of year. Pop-up lemonade stands hosted by enthusiastic children dwindle with the start of school. Cottage Foods producers, artists and farmers continue to fill booths at summe...

Small rewards push us to the top, big rewards keep us climbing

Not a cloud in the sky. The mountain air delivered a gentle, but cool breeze to counter the midsummer heat enveloping everything and everyone at lower elevations. You couldn’t ask for a bett...

Routines enhance well-being, including routine fun

We’ve slipped into the first week of June and school’s officially out for summer. Sleepovers, lazy mornings, lemonade stands and a summer tan are all that matter now. For a moment, I ride th...

Date marking on food is misleading, but the nose knows

There comes a time in every kitchen when you’re faced with the question, “Does this smell bad?” Without hesitation, I feel my yuck face take shape and a strange combination of dread and curi...

Celebrate food to nourish the mind, body and soul

While it doesn’t get the attention of holidays like St. Patrick’s Day, Halloween or April Fool’s Day, March is National Nutrition Month. How could this special occasion go unnoticed when we ...

A fond farewell after 17 years

I never dreamed of being a horticulturist and I’m not sure I knew what Extension was until graduate school. But somehow those two worlds collided and I found myself sitting in a back desk at...

Steps to follow in a case of stolen identity

True story. Last week, I received a debit card in the mail, which was odd because I hadn’t applied for credit. First red flag. At first, I wondered if it was related to recent insurance chan...

Old school vs new school - raised beds

I wonder if ‘old school’ gardeners are anything like ‘old school’ skiers, or bikers, or even students. You know, they start every sentence off with “when I was (enter hobby/profession/age), ...