4-H at Home
Camaryn Byrum, 4-H Agent
Exploring Nature Scavenger Hunt
What comes to mind when you think of being outside? Taking a hike? Swimming in the river? Playing in a treehouse? Research has shown that spending time outdoors can enhance physical health and improve overall mood. According to the CDC, youth ages 6 to 17 should be getting at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day. Going on a nature scavenger hunt is a fun way to explore the great outdoors while also working toward meeting the 60-minute physical activity goal. Here is a nature scavenger hunt for the Cloverbuds (5-7 years old) in your home. Print this document, take it outside, and see how many items you can find in your backyard or neighborhood.

Download Scavenger-Hunt Here.pdf

Family and Consumer Sciences at Home
Mary Morris, Family and Consumer Sciences Agent 
Start a Family Tradition – Homemade Ice Cream
Making your own ice cream is one of those family traditions that you can carry on or start new with your own family. You can pick up an electric ice cream maker at your local hardware store for about $20 or use a hand crank old fashion style. If you have a kitchen aid there is also an attachment you can buy to make ice cream. Or you can try a no churn style recipe like the one in this article.

Nutritional content of ice cream is not all bad. The following nutrition information is provided by the USDA for a 1/2 cup serving (66g) of vanilla ice cream.

• Calories: 137
• Fat: 7.3g
• Sodium: 53mg
• Carbohydrates: 16g
• Fiber: 0.5g
• Sugars: 14g
• Protein: 2.3g

Ice cream is delicious, but it is a high-calorie, high fat food. Most nutritionists would describe ice cream calories as “empty calories.” So, does that mean you can’t eat ice cream at all? Of course not. But you should enjoy the treat in moderation and be mindful of the fat and calories in ice cream when you indulge. Keep portion size in mind. Why? Because the calories in a bowl of ice cream might be very different than what is indicated on the label. A serving of ice cream is about 1/2 cup or 100 grams. Most of us heap more than that into a bowl. You can use small bowls rather than large ones to keep your portions in check.

Dairy is included in a healthy diet according to the US Dairy Council.

Did you know that real cow’s milk contains a powerful punch of nutrients? Milk contains essential nutrients like high-quality protein, calcium, vitamin D, and more. These nutrients help our bodies thrive. For example:

• Protein helps build and repair muscle tissue.
• Calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D help build and maintain strong bones and teeth.
• Vitamin A helps keep skin and eyes healthy.

Milk also contains B vitamins, which can help your body convert food into fuel. Eat ice cream in moderation, keep your portions in check and enjoy this summertime family tradition.

Cottage Cheese and Fruit Blender Ice Cream

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups frozen fruit such as berries or mango chunks
• 1/2 cup frozen banana (about 1 small banana), diced
• 1 cup cottage cheese (fat level of choice)
• 1 tablespoons honey
• 2-3 leaves fresh basil or mint (optional)

 Instructions

1. Combine frozen fruit in a food processor or high-speed blender and process until the mixture resembles a thick puree.
2. Add the cottage cheese, honey, and herbs (if using) and continue to puree until the mixture is thick and smooth.
3. For soft-serve-style ice cream, serve immediately with an additional sprig of fresh herbs, if desired. Alternately, the ice cream can be frozen into a loaf pan for hard-scoop ice cream or frozen into molds for popsicles.

* Tip: For perfectly scoopable ice cream, allow loaf pan to thaw in the refrigerator for 2 hours before serving.

Cottage Cheese and Fruit Blender Ice Cream Recipe

Horticulture at Home
Katy Shook, Area Horticulture Agent
What Not to Compost
For centuries, gardeners have made compost and used it to improve their garden soil. Compost incorporated into the soil increases the organic matter content, improves the physical properties of the soil, helps roots penetrate more easily, holds moisture, provides aeration to plant roots, suppresses some diseases, and supplies some essential nutrients.

While many organic materials are suitable for composting, some may pose a health hazard or create a nuisance and therefore should not be used to make compost. Below are types of organic materials that should NOT go into compost piles:

• Dog or cat feces and litter, and dirty diapers (may contain parasites and pathogens)
• Meat, fish, bones, fats, grease, lard, oils, eggs, or dairy products such as butter, milk, yogurt, and sour cream (may create odors, attract rodents and flies)
• Yard trimmings treated with chemical pesticides (might kill beneficial composting organisms or not break down in the composting process and affect plants where compost is placed)
• Diseased or insect-infested plants (diseases and insects may survive and be transferred to other plants)
• Black walnut tree leaves or twigs (release substances that might harm plants)
• Weeds that have gone to seed
• Weeds with invasive roots, such as Dock weed, Alligator weed, or Bermuda grass
• Used facial or toilet tissue (may contain pathogens)
• Pressure-treated lumber, pressed wood, plywood (contain toxic chemicals)
• Heavily-coated paper (magazines, catalogs, wrapping paper, greeting cards with metallic inks, photographs)

In addition to the items above, gardeners should also keep in mind that some herbicides may persist during the composting process and harm plants grown in compost-amended soils. The source of herbicides in most home composting piles is usually lawn clippings. However, animal manure may contain composting-resistant herbicides.

For more information about composting, visit the Composting website or call the Ask A Master Gardener Helpline at (252) 482-6585.