Hansen REC

Last month, the Thelma Hansen Fund hosted a three-day series to inform about climate change and the science behind it.

Nearly two tons of fruit and vegetables grown at UC's Hansen Agricultural Research and Extension Center (HAREC) in Santa Paula have been donated to Food Forward and the Ventura Unified School District (VUSD), destined for children and families.

Having a small garden in our backyard can be fun, rewarding, and healthy. Not only does it help us consume more fruits and vegetables, it gets us more active and involved in the backyard while allowing the backyard to flourish with produce we grew ourselves.

Day 5-Water Why is water important? Where does water go when you flush it down the toilet? What can you do to conserve water? We end the week with a very important topic-water! How much clean water do we have on earth to share with humans, animals, agriculture...

Day 4- Food What is local food? Why buy local food? What is a food mile? Today we explore where our food comes from and delve into our complex global and local food system....How far does a pineapple or a cashew travel before it gets to your plate? Does it travel by boat....train...

Day 3-Energy What is the difference between renewable and non-renewable energy? Why is energy important? How can we conserve energy?

Day 2-Land The day begins with journaling and a farm nature walk. Along the way, campers encounter evidence or indicators that animals use and call the farm home. Today is about understanding the importance of open space, natural resources and waste management.

UC HAREC began hosting 4-H Sustainable You! Summer Camp in 2014. Since then, the education staff has trained other UC Research and Extension Center (RECS) staff to deliver this curriculum created by Dr. Roslyn Brain of Utah State University.

The term climate smart agriculture is a term from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization that refers to the management of agricultural systems to develop resiliency to climate change with a nutrient rich top soil.

Cooking is one of my greatest joys. So, when Master Gardener lead, Susan Carter asked me to teach a Cooking with Herbs class for fellow gardeners last year, I jumped at the chance. I was even more thrilled to be invited back for a command performance.