Re: OT:Cooperative Extension Service
- Subject: Re: [iris-talk] OT:Cooperative Extension Service
- From: D* E*
- Date: Tue, 30 Jul 2002 12:55:14 -0600
----- Original Message -----
From: wmoores <wmoores@watervalley.net>
To: <iris-talk@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, July 30, 2002 9:07 AM
Subject: [iris-talk] OT:Cooperative Extension Service
Regarding Extension Services/Master Gardeners. . a few words on both.
When I lived in Fayetteville, AR, our extension service was great! They had
knowledgeable people who actually could give you answers; they did free soil
sampling every year, and always had trial corn seed FOR FREE. Their Master
Gardeners, those I knew personally, were hard working and very conscientious
people who offered organic methods as well as those sanctioned by the
chemical companies.
Then I moved to El Paso . . .I had a lot of questions about converting
this sand pit of a yard into soil. I got out all my books and read, learning
everything I could. After several months I contacted the local Extension
service for a list of vegetables that did well in this climate as well as
asking them about soil building. . .the list was OLD. . many varieties were
not even available any longer and their comments regarding soil building
were vague and a feeble attempt to cover their own lack of knowledge.
Later I was absolutely invaded by colonies (thousands upon thousands) of
gray aphids. After reading and reading, I called them again and had the good
fortune to get a good old boy who just loved the sound of his voice! He
talked to me like I just fell off the turnip truck and 15 minutes later, all
I had learned was that he was a buffoon. He guffawed, chortled, and called
me "little lady." He finally told me to mix water, soap and oil and spray
them when it was dark. . .Having used this mixture before with minimal
success on a very minor infestation of aphids, I decided that perhaps these
gray Texas aphids were different and this just might work. . Well, it didn't
work worth a damn!
That was my last encounter with the local ES here. And about the aphids.
. .I've decided that this was an "aphid year" and hopefully, I won't get hit
so hard again. They rendered my broccoli inedible. . didn't mind eating a
few aphids but unless the broccoli was doused in cheese sauce (yuk), the
aphids gave it a bitter taste. Since my husband LOVES cheese sauce, the
broccoli that was kept didn't go to waste!! *grin
Doris Elevier
USDA zone 7b Sunset 11
El Paso, TX
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