Nov. 19, 2009

AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES

Get the most from your wood-burning dollars

FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCE

Think green this holiday season

4-H YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

Save the date: Feb. 11-13for the 2010 Kentucky 4-H Volunteer Forum

Get the most from your wood-burning dollars

Source: Doug McLaren, extension forester

Wood may rarely be used as a primary heat source today, but many homeowners continue to use fireplaces and wood-burning stoves to help reduce their use of other energy sources.

Wood can provide an economical and enjoyable way to heat your home, and it pays to know a thing or two about purchasing and using this natural resource.

The first question often asked is what kind of wood to buy. Knowing if a species is a high or low density wood can have a big impact on the amount needed. Low density woods such as yellow poplar, silver and red maples, and buckeye, contain a greater amount of air between the cell walls. High density species such as oak, black locust, hickory, ash and beech produce more heat per unit volume because they contain more wood and less air in their cellular structures. Moisture contents being equal, the more economical purchase will be high-density woods that generate more heat.

Another important factor to evaluate is how well the wood was seasoned. Wood comes from living plants which means they contain water. The moisture in unseasoned wood can account for up to 50 percent of its weight. Energy generated from burning wet wood goes toward evaporating the moisture within the wood itself and can greatly diminish its heat producing capacity. Seasoned wood has been allowed to air dry for six to 12 months which removes the largest percentage of water. Well-seasoned firewood is gray in color. It has splits in the ends of the logs and looks weathered. Round logs split into smaller sections yield more surface area and speed the drying process.

Knowledge of how firewood is measured is a third important piece of information to learn in order to get the most from your wood-burning dollars. Terms used for describing a volume of wood include cord, face cord, fireplace cord and rick. The size and shape of individual logs and how carefully they are stacked influences the actual volume regardless of the weight purchased. These terms are open for interpretation, and the best buy is a mutual agreement between the consumer and the seller. The purchase price also may include splitting, delivery and stacking.

Finally, if you plan to transport your purchased firewood, you need to estimate the weight of the load. Common high density species used for fuel wood, such as oak and hickory are extremely heavy per unit volume. Weights equaling 4,500 pounds can be quickly reached without using the full capacity of the truck or trailer used to transport the load.

The best firewood produces the greatest heat value at the lowest cost. For more information about firewood and fireplace and heating stove safety, contact the (COUNTY NAME) Cooperative Extension Service.

Educational programs of the Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, sex, religion, disability or national origin.

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Think green this holiday season

Source: Ashley Osborne, extension associate for environmental and natural resource issues

During the five weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year's, Americans produce an extra one million tons of trash per week compared to any other time of the year. Thinking green this holiday season can include more than just boughs of holly. Whether it is shopping, choosing a gift or entertaining, small changes in your holiday habits can make big differences. Here are a few ideas and suggestions on how to have a wonderful, gift-giving holiday season and still be earth friendly.

Green Gift Ideas

  • Consider nonmaterial gifts. Tickets to a sporting event, movie, play, or concert are a real treat, or make a charitable donation in someone's name.
  • Make a photo album, scrapbook, or frame a favorite picture.
  • Everyone appreciates a home-cooked meal or baked goodies. Fill a basket with homemade jellies, muffins and cookies. Include the recipe. Dried fruits, drink mixes and roasted nuts are always appreciated. Package gifts from your kitchen in reusable tins, baskets or jars.
  • Shop locally. Give honey from a local beekeeper, a painting by a local artist, or handcrafted gifts from other merchants in your community.
  • Think durable. Consider how long an item will last before you make a purchase. Often a cheaper item will wear out long before its more durable equivalent.

Eco-friendly Entertaining

  • Host a create-your-own-decorations party. Invite family and friends to create and use holiday decorations such as popcorn and cranberry garlands, ornaments made from old greeting cards or cookie dough, wreaths made from artificial greens and flowers, and potpourri made from kitchen spices such as cinnamon and cloves.
  • Make gift-giving occasions festive by preparing punch and serving it in beautiful bowls and pitchers rather than using beverages in cans or plastic bottles.
  • Use your best china, glassware and cloth napkins for entertaining. It requires a little more work but reduces waste from paper plates, napkins and disposable utensils.

Reduce, Reuse and Recycle

  • Thousands of paper and plastic shopping bags end up in landfills every year. Reduce the number of bags thrown out by bringing reusable cloth bags for holiday gift shopping. Tell store clerks you don't need a bag for small or oversized purchases.
  • Wrap gifts in recycled holiday paper or funny papers. Use old Christmas cards for tags and hand deliver whenever possible to save energy. Remember to save and recycle used wrapping paper and ribbons from gifts received.
  • Approximately 33 million live Christmas trees are sold in North America every year. After the holidays, look for ways to recycle your tree instead of sending it to a landfill. Check with your county solid waste coordinatorto find out if they collect and mulch trees. Your town might be able to use chippings from mulched trees for community landscaping projects or hiking trails.
  • Remember always to look for items made with recycled content. When buying gifts, check product labels to determine an item's recyclability and whether it is made from recycled materials. Buying recycled encourages manufacturers to make more recycled-content products available.

For more information about how to enjoy an environmentally friendly and festive holiday contact the (COUNTY NAME) Cooperative Extension Service.

Educational programs of the Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, sex, religion, disability or national origin.

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Save the date: Feb. 11-13for the 2010 Kentucky 4-H Volunteer Forum

Source: Willie Howard, Jefferson County extension agent for 4-H youth development

Kentucky 4-H’s annual volunteer leadership forum and recognition banquet is set for Feb. 11-13at the Hyatt Regency in Lexington. The forum is open to all 4-H volunteer leaders across Kentucky. The theme for the event is “Kentucky Volunteers are the Heart of 4-H.”

The 2010 forum promisesan exciting conference with new, innovative programming ideas and a recharging of enthusiasm for volunteers. More than 100 hours of educational workshops are scheduled offering information about all 4-H youth development programs, activities and curricula. Preconference workshops begin at 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 11. Educational workshops begin at 9:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 12 and continue through Saturday, Feb. 13. A Bluegrass Tour spotlighting Kentucky as the “Horse Capital of the World” departs from the front doors of the Hyatt at 8 a.m. Friday. Participants will get a behind-the-scenes tour of Keeneland, a visit to Old Friends thoroughbred retirement farm and a tour of the Darley thoroughbred breeding farm.The field trip is scheduled to end at 11 a.m. leaving tour goers plenty of time to prepare for the opening session.

Louisville native Bob Farmer is the featured keynote speaker for the opening session which kicks off at 12:45 p.m. Friday. Farmer is a nationally-renowned entertainer, educator and motivator. A member of the International Society of Storytellers, Farmer was sponsored by Zig Ziglar for membership in the prestigious National Speakers Association more than 20 years ago.

Awards to be presented at the forum are: Certified Livestock Volunteers, Certified Shooting Sports Volunteers, Community Service Award for Adults and Youth, Conrad Feltner Award for Adult and Teen, Innovative, Creative, Enthusiastic (I.C.E.) Award, Together Everyone Accomplishes More (T.E.A. M.) Award, Leadership Development Award, Partners in Progress Awardand Lifetime Achievement Award.

To learn more about the 2010 Kentucky Volunteer Forum, visit our Website at The deadline to register is Jan. 15, and registration may be completed online. Don’t delay. Get your registration in right away. For more information, contact the (COUNTY NAME) Cooperative Extension Service.

Educational programs of the Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, sex, religion, disability or national origin.

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