Extension Calling: advice for the farm, garden, and home

Extension Calling: advice for the farm, garden, and home

Author: Karen Cox and Dan Lima Language: English Episodes: 100
For anyone with dirt under their nails or a curiosity about where their food comes from, Extension Calling: advice for the farm, garden, and home is a practical companion. Hosts Karen Cox and Dan Lima channel the deep, research-backed knowledge of their Extension work into conversations that feel like getting trusted advice from a neighbor who really knows their stuff. This podcast translates university-level science into actionable steps for your backyard plot, small farm, or kitchen table. Each episode is a compact, under-thirty-minute session designed to fit into a busy day, offering clarity on everything from soil health and plant selection to food preservation and sustainable practices. You'll hear straightforward explanations and thoughtful discussions that cut through the noise of gardening trends and agricultural jargon. It’s for the lifelong learner, the new homesteader, or anyone wanting to make more informed choices about their food and land. Tune in for these digestible mini-trainings that empower you to cultivate not just plants, but a deeper understanding of the entire system that feeds us.
Episodes
Principles of Pesticide Safety [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:41
As the season of outdoors comes closer, it's important to review some basics of pesticide safety. Whether they are organic or synthetic, all pesticides can be dangerous. So wear your PPE and keep them out of reach of chi…
Energy and forethought needed to keep warm [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:04
Being out in cold temperatures is often necessary. But, there are a few things you can do to improve your comfort and safety. We cover how to layer your clothes, travel safely, and how to help livestock stay warm and hea…
A Salty Situation [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:34
Learn about the differences in sidewalk salt and their effects on the ice, environment, and the sidewalk itself. We also remind our poultry owners about biosecurity tacticts to protect their birds from avian influenza
Winter Garden Activities for IPM [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:02
What to do in the garden or on the farm during winter to reduce disease and make life easier next year.
Feral Swine: Unseen Threats and How to Combat Them [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:48
Explore the history and dangers of feral swine, their diseases, hunting regulations, and safe cooking tips to protect yourself and our food system.
Sifting through the bubbles surrounding Insecticidal Soaps [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:24
Using soap to kill insects isn't as simple as it seems. Today we go through the ins and outs of what makes soap an appropriate insecticide and what to avoid. References: Fundamentals of Using Soaps as Insecticides by Dr.…
Battling the Hemlock Wooly Adelgid [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:10
Join us as we explore the impact of the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid on our forests, uncovering its origins, spread, and the ecological consequences of its control. Learn about hope for management and what you can do to protec…
Zombies are REAL [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:37
Belive it or not, zombies really do exist. There are many examples in nature and cordiceps do play a role. However, for the most part, zombieism is restricted to insects.
Cow - Calf Health and Stressors [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:37
We have a special guest this week as part of the WVU Extension Drought Series coordinated by Alex Straight. Dr. Lowell Midla, is a Doctor of Vetrinary Medicine and is joining us from Merk Animal Health. Learn the differe…
Apples are a Great Fall Flavor [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:50
Nothing against pumpkin spice, but when we think fall we're all on board for apples. We have such a wide variety of apples we encourage you to reach out to a local orchard and try something new. Some varieties of apples…