GARRETT COUNTY

Each October, 4-H members, families, volunteers, alumni, and supporters across the country come together to celebrate National 4-H Week.🍀 This special occasion recognizes the lasting impact of 4-H in our communities and celebrates the young people who are learning, leading, and making a difference every day.

We’re looking forward to “Coloring Garrett County Green for 4-H” with several celebrations planned throughout the week. Be sure to stop by the Ruth Enlow Library (Main Branch) to check out the special 4-H window display, created to honor this milestone anniversary. A huge thank you goes to Garrett County Government for lighting up the court house green and the Town of Oakland for illuminating the fountain green on Monday, October 5th. Additionally, the Garrett County Commissioners will issue a proclamation for National 4-H Week.💚

4-H is about much more than ribbons, livestock, and projects. Through meaningful, hands-on experiences, members develop valuable skills that will serve them throughout their lives. They learn to set goals, solve problems, communicate effectively, collaborate with others, and step confidently into leadership roles.

Whether raising an animal, exploring STEM, learning to cook, delivering a presentation, creating art, discovering the outdoors, or volunteering in the community, every 4-H experience offers an opportunity to learn, grow, and succeed.

Miss fresh garden vegetables during winter? Discover the fun of indoor gardening with this beginner-friendly hydroponics course—no soil or backyard required.

Participants will:

• Learn how soil-free, water-based growing works
• Explore simple hydroponic setups for the home
• Identify essential supplies and how to use them
• Manage nutrients for healthy plant growth
• Set up and maintain a personal hydroponic system
• Take their system home for continued growing success

This class will be held at Garrett College (CEWD) on November 5, 2026 beginning at 5:30 pm. Registration is required by clicking this link.

Join us on November 9, 2026, at Garrett College, Northern Outreach Center, for a plant propagation class designed for beginners and plant enthusiasts. Learn how to make more plants through division, cuttings, and winter sowing. Each participant will leave the session with plants/seeds to grow at home!

By completing this form you are registering for this free workshop!

Now is the time to begin planning for the 2027 growing season. Following the fall harvest is an ideal opportunity to update soil samples from your fields. Soil sample results are valid for up to three years, while manure sample results may be used for up to two years.

The Extension Office can provide the required forms and instructions for submitting your samples. Please also remember to record your crop yields throughout the harvest season.

Watch for documents arriving by mail this fall that will outline the information needed to update your plan. To request a 2027 Nutrient Management Plan update or discuss your plan’s requirements, call 301-334-6965 or email Andrea at auphold@umd.edu.

The Garrett Soil Conservation District Fruit Tree and Bush sale is now open. Order now through April 1, 2027 for pick up mid April. Tree varieties available include apple, cherry, pear, northern peach, and plum. Bushes include: blueberry, elderberry, red raspberry, black raspberry, and Aronia berry. There are a number of heirloom varieties being offered including: Baldwin, Yellow Transparent, Wolf River, Smokehouse, and Summer Rambo. New this year is a focus on blueberry history and the offering of three varieties with closer lineage to the native American wild blueberry.

Order information: https://garrettsoilconservation.org

Join the Garrett Soil Conservation District for its annual Cooperator’s Dinner on Thursday, October 29, at Bittinger Mennonite Gymnasium. Doors open at 6 p.m.; dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. Please call 301-501-5886 for more information or visit garrettsoilconservation.org No tickets sold at the door.

A beautiful August day set the stage for the 2026 Tomato Festival, held in conjunction with the Deep Creek Farmers Market. This year, 21 participants showcased their skills in the judging contest with a total of 42 entries. Master Gardeners dedicated their day to assisting with the judging, answering questions, sharing delicious recipes, and inviting attendees to select their favorite tomato during the tasting portion.

The festival offers a vibrant, interactive opportunity for the University of Maryland Extension faculty, staff, and volunteers to engage with the community in Garrett County. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who supports, promotes, attends, or enters the tomato competition. We’re already looking forward to next year's festivities!

Have you been to the Extension Office lately? We are excited to share some updates on the pollinator garden and share a gentle reminder that the purpose of the garden is to provide habitat, bring in new plant and wildlife species, and create a source of native seeds that can be shared in our seed library for years to come!

1. Of course, the garden should be aesthetically pleasing, but also provide habitat, which means that some dead leaves and stems are vital for providing nesting sites, cover, and protection for eggs, larva, and resting stages of insect friends.

2. Wild landscapes may not fit the mold of traditional landscapes, but there is a lot happening once you look a little deeper. Seeds provide food for animals or for us to save seeds for future gardens. Don’t be too hasty to clean up the flower heads, as they will also provide 4 seasons of interest and help your garden space be 3 dimensional and provide visual interest in winter.

A few favorite plants in bloom in September in the garden:

Blue Sage— It isn’t very often that we see native blue flowers in our landscapes. This is the first year that it has bloomed in our demonstration area and it is stunning! It is a host for some species of sphinx moths!

Twenty-three local youth represented Garrett County well at the Maryland State Fair exhibiting beef, sheep, swine, goats, and rabbits as well as participating in the 4-H/FFA Tractor Operators and Livestock Judging contests. Avilton 4-H Club entered their club booth as well. Congratulations!

In celebration of National 4-H Week, Garrett County 4-H proudly donated a copy of More 4-H Stories from the Heart edited by Pamela Bloch to the Ruth Enlow Library of Garrett County. This inspiring book features heartfelt stories from 4-H members, volunteers, and staff that will amuse, inspire, and bring back fond memories of the program's impact over the years.

For over a century, 4-H has grown from its rural roots as a program designed to develop life skills in youth across the nation to become the world’s largest youth development program. This success is thanks to the dedication of countless members, parents, volunteers, and 4-H professionals who have worked tirelessly to shape the program’s legacy. More 4-H Stories from the Heart is a sequel to the original 4-H Stories from the Heart.

Garrett County 4-H is proud to share this touching collection with the Ruth Enlow Library, ensuring the stories of 4-H’s impact continue to inspire future generations.

The USDA Farm to School grant secured by the Appalachian Farm and Food Alliance (AFFA) has launched in Garrett County Public Schools. Through “Maryland Mondays,” a locally produced Maryland food will be featured on school menus each week.

For the kickoff, ALL Produce of Oakland supplied 300 pounds of green beans, which were served to approximately 1,200 students. Although the grant does not pay for food, it helped offset preparation costs. Nutrition educator Kenzi Mousch provided teachers with materials encouraging students to eat more fruits and vegetables, while agricultural educator Willie Lantz coordinated production planning with Garrett Growers Cooperative farmers and the school system.

A kickoff event was held at Yough Glades Elementary School during three lunch shifts. Students learned about trying new foods and joined Kenzi’s “Two Bite Club.” Levi Lantz, a former Yough Glades student, discussed farming and shared facts about green beans. Students also rated the beans by placing stickers on a chart—and the response was enthusiastic!

Thank you to Food Services Director Scott Germain, Chief Academic Officer Donna Ashby, Community School Specialist Megan Knepp, and everyone who helped make the event possible.

Next week’s “Maryland Monday” vegetable is roasted zucchini, and we hope to bring the program to another school.

AFFA is a nonprofit organization formed in 2024 to support agriculture and food programs in Western Maryland and surrounding states. Melissa Bolyard, Garrett County Ag Business Specialist with Garrett County Economic Development and Willie wrote and are managing the grant through AFFA.

University of Maryland Extension Educators have again started the Garrett College and Me Program series, including Ashley Bodkins, Lacie Ashby and Karen Wood. For the third year, they will present at the College and Me Program at Garrett College which takes place from September 2026 through May 2027. Their session entitled “Exploring Insects through 3D Printing” aims to engage all fifth graders in Garrett County by helping them to understand the significance of insects while allowing them to create their own 3D models to take home.

The program inspires young minds through a blend of hands-on activities and technology. By incorporating 3D printing into entomology lessons, students are introduced to the potential of modern tools and imagine future applications inspiring them to think beyond traditional career paths and consider new possibilities in science and technology.

Dr. Jesse Ketterman partnered with the Pathways to Success program at Allegany College of Maryland to play financial jeopardy. Using games provides an engaging opportunity to promote financial wellness. On other occasions he talks about balancing student loans in relation to your choice of major. He developed a budgeting template for college students which can be found here.

Dr. Ketterman represented Extension at an annual Capitol Hill event hosted by Jump$tart and NEFE to promote K–12 financial literacy. Through an informational display, Dr. Ketterman highlighted Extension’s financial literacy programs and raised awareness of available educational resources.

Check out the 2025 Annual Report highlighting the statewide impact of the University of Maryland Extension’s Home and Garden Information Center and Maryland Master Gardener Program! The report showcases the many ways these programs educate residents, support local communities, promote sustainable gardening practices, and protect Maryland’s natural resources. We are especially excited that several photographs from Garrett County are featured throughout the report, highlighting our local programs, volunteers, and community involvement. Take a look and see how Garrett County contributes to the incredible work happening across Maryland!

Are you receiving our monthly AG Newsletter? If not, please click here to update your contact information and to stay updated on everything agriculture-related in Garrett County and the tri-state area.

We are here to serve you in person, by phone, email, or by Zoom. If you have questions, contact one of our experts to provide solutions.

Email: rcvetnic@umd.edu

Website: https://extension.umd.edu/locations/garrett-county

Location: 1916 Maryland Hwy., Suite A, Mt. Lake Park, MD 21550

Phone: 301-334-6960

Office Hours: M-F 8:00 am-4:30 pm excluding holidays
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/4HGarrettCoMD

University programs, activities, and facilities are available to all without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, age, national origin, political affiliation, physical or mental disability, religion, protected veteran status, genetic information, personal appearance, or any other legally protected class. If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in any event or activity, please contact us at least two weeks prior to the event at (301) 334-6960.