Video of the Week:
Low Light Indoors? No Problem!
Upcoming Events:
Great Plains Growers Conference

St. Joseph, MO
The Great Plains Growers Conference (GPGC) is a combination of two great conferences: Great Plains Vegetable Conference and Mid-America Fruit Conference. The three-day conference features presentations by knowledgeable speakers from throughout the nation. The conference showcases educational information from all five states: Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and South Dakota, along with vegetable specialists and growers from those states.
Some of the topics covered this year include: Greenhouse and hydroponic production; honey bees, scaling up worskhop, soil health & management , tree fruits, mushrooms, beginning organic, vegetable IPM, technology, equipment, irrigation, small fruit, advanced organic, cut flower, food safety/GAPS and market ready workshop.
The trade show consists of more than 50 exhibitors with the latest seeds, supplies, equipment, and grower information. There will be ample opportunities to visit with other growers, exhibitors, and speakers.
For more information, http://www.greatplainsgrowersconference.org
Final Newsletter of the Season
Your current subscription for the newsletter will continue as is, so nothing will be necessary on your part to continue receiving it. Please tell anyone you know who might be interested in subscribing that they are encouraged and welcome to do so by sending an e-mail to Ward Upham at wupham@ksu.edu requesting a subscription.
We have included a very short survey asking for feedback on the newsletter. This will help us fine-tune our articles to better meet the needs of our subscribers.
On behalf of all of us at K-State we wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. (Ward Upham)
Ornamentals:
Maybe One More Holly
What to Do With the Christmas Tree After Christmas

An old Christmas tree can be used to benefit birds, fish, and the landscape by placing it in a corner of your deck, and spreading some birdseed nearby, or tying it to a deciduous tree or post near a bird feeder. The birds benefit from having escape cover nearby when hawks or cats threaten, and the dense boughs reduce the wind chill on a cold night.
Sinking your Christmas tree in a pond is an easy way to improve fish habitat and fishing. The tree serves as little coral reef, in that the branches provide substrate for water plants to grow, and cover for minnows and other forms of small aquatic life. Larger fish are drawn by the shade and the presence of prey.
How do you sink a tree? Tie the base to a cinder block with a short, stout rope, and toss it in. Just be sure to get permission from the pond owner first! Using the little tree around the landscape requires clipping off all of the branches. Use the boughs to add extra insulation around semi-hardy perennials or to trees and shrubs that were recently planted. The leftover trunk may be used as a garden stake next spring.
Or cut and let it dry for a few weeks, and you will have some easy lighting firewood. Just beware that most conifer species tend to spark and pop more than hardwoods, as resin pockets in the wood make tiny explosions. This can delight the youngsters, but for safety's sake, keep an eye on the fire when burning Christmas tree logs! (Charlie Barden)
Miscellaneous:
Care of Gift Fruit Baskets

Storing Pecans and Other Nuts

Contributors: Charlie Barden, State Extension Forester; Ward Upham, Extension Associate