Fire Wise

Fire Wise

Author: Karen Cox and Dan Lima August 6, 2023 Duration: 28:19

Fire is beautiful and sometimes magical, but it is not joke. Fire losses and expenditures total nearly $330 billion annually in the USA. There are many things you can do to reduce the danger of fires. Follow local burning guidelines, always extinguish fires completely, and use fire wise landscaping principles. Note: in the show we wrongly used firewise.org as the web address, it has been updated to https://nfpa.org. 


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.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Extension Calling: advice for the farm, garden, and home
Podcast Episodes
Farm Loan Discrimination and Funding for New Practices [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:15
Funding a farm is no small feat and taking out a farm loan is a big deal. Sometimes collateral needs are overbearing, and interest rates are unfairly burdensome. If you applied for a farm loan prior to 2021 you may be el…
Ag Lime isn't a fruit [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:00
We often talk about the imporatnce of lime in agriculture. Today we dive a little deeper to why soils are acidic and how to properly manage the pH to have healthy, productive crops. Our website has more great resources o…
Winter woes and ALT tick safety [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:27
Many believe ticks aren't a danger in the winter. Unfortunately, they are wrong. Ticks do slow down in colder temperatures, but they are still active. Take precautions whenever you are in tick habitats like brush and woo…
Sweet Potatoes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:50
Sweet potato casserole is one of Karen's favorite Thanksgiving dishes. But, are sweet potatoes potatoes that are sweet, or are they yams? Actually, they are neither. They are a tasty root from the morning glory family. W…
What is a pest and what do I do about it? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:10
What makes something a pest is a question not often asked but it is important to help identify when and how to take action. You need to identify what the problem is, what the potential impact of the problem is, what your…
Trees with Friends [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:26
Paw Paws, urban orchards, and general tree care all get air time in today's show as we host guests from West Virginia State University Extension, Liz Moss and Eden Clymyer-Stern. What can we say, when you have three tree…
Controlling Erosion, big and small things you can do [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:50
Erosion is one of the most challenging issues for farmers, gardeners, foresters, builders, and well, pretty much anyone. Erosion not only removes valuable topsoil and reduces our ability to grow things, but soil in water…
Fall leaves and Fireflies [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:50
Many fond memories come from catching and releasing fireflies. Yet, their numbers are fading. Our destruction and disposal of fall leaves is a large part of the cause. Unfortunately for our gardens, a lack of firefly lar…
Spotted Lanternfly [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:06
If you hate the 17 year cicada, I'm sorry to tell you about the spotted lanternfly that's coming soon to a town near you. This insect is not a fly, but a leafhopper. It sucks the juices out of trees and plants using its…
Pawpaws: Starting and Transplanting [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:04
Do you want to help build the pawpaw industry by growing trees or fruit? Tune in as we discuss propagation, planting, and transplanting pawpaws. They may be hardy, but they're fickle to get started. They need rich, well…