The Teen Horticulture Program is a partnership established between Harris County Juvenile Probation Services and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. The program provides the opportunity for students who are on parole and working on their GED to learn and develop skills for potential employment in the horticulture industry. These skills will empower them to improve their lives and achieve personal and professional fulfillment. It is a 12-week program that covers many areas of horticulture from basic botany and propagation to greenhouse and vegetable production.
The students have a garden at 6500 Chimney Rock Road in Houston, where they are growing collards, swiss chard, and other herbs and seasonal vegetables. They learn how to maintain the garden by properly watering, controlling weeds, and scouting for pests and diseases.
On March 29th the students visited the Harris County Extension office. Agent Paul Winski provided a guided tour of the greenhouse and test garden. The students brought collard greens that they harvested from their school garden and learned how to pick, clean, and cook the greens. The students shared how they have observed family members prepare greens and Agents Fralonda Aubrey, Urban & Youth Development, and Dr. Sonja Davis, Family & Consumer Sciences, taught them a healthier recipe for preparing greens by using smoked turkey instead of ham hocks. The students enjoyed learning how to prepare the greens and were anxious to take the cooked greens home to share with their family members.
TEEN HORTICULTURE PROGRAM
Rachel Figgs, Program Assistant, mentors the students weekly and provides 10 hours of instruction on horticulture, career exploration, and life skills.
Agriculture/Natural Resources & Horticulture
Composting Workshop.
Date/Time: Saturday, May 6th, 10 a.m. to 12 noon.
Location: Friendswood Public Library; 416 S. Friendswood Drive; Friendswood, TX 77546
Contact: Horticulture Agent Skip Richter at 713.274.0958 or email [email protected].
Master Gardener Course.
Date/Time: Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. June 7th to August 23.
Location: Harris County Extension Office, 3033 Bear Creek Dr., Houston, TX 77084.
Contact: Horticulture Agent Skip Richter at 71.274.0958 or email [email protected].
4-H & Youth Development
Veterinary Science Project Orientation. Feb. 2nd from 6:30pm-8pm. Trini Mendenhall Sosa Community Center, 1414 Wirt Rd., Houston, TX 77055. Contact Agent Ashley Pellerin at 713.274.0950.
Houston 4-H CEO Enterprise. Feb. 18th from 9am-12pm. Harris County Extension Office, 3033 Bear Creek Dr., Houston, TX 77084. Houston 4-H CEO Enterprise Web Ex. Feb. 16th and 19th. Contact Agent Sheryl Nolen at 713.274.0978.
Harris County 4-H Round Up. County Level Project Competition for 4-H members. Feb. 25th from 9am-4pm. Harris County Extension Office, 3033 Bear Creek Dr., Houston, TX 77084. Contact Agent 4-H Ashley Pellerin at 713.274.0950.
NASA Downlink. Hartsfield Elementary students have an opportunity to speak with NASA Astronaunt Peggy Whitson. Hartsfield will be the first HISD school to host a Downlink in seven years. Mar. 3rd. Time to be determined. Hartsfield Elementary, 5001 Perry St., Houston, TX 77021. Contact Hermethia Haynes at [email protected].
4-H Project Runway Fashion Review. Mar. 30th from 6:30pm-8:30pm. Harris County Extension Office. 3033 Bear Creek Dr., Houston, TX 77084. Contact 4-H Agent Sheryl Nolen at 713.274.0978.
Family & Consumer Sciences (FCS)
Walk Across Texas Celebration.
Date/Time: Saturday, June 10th, 10 am – 12 pm
Location: Bear Creek Park
Contact: FCS Agent Dr. Sonja Stueart-Davis at 713.274.0969 or email [email protected]
Master Wellness Volunteer Training.
Date/Time: June 15th, 29th, and (July 13th, conducted in Galveston County)
Location: Harris County Extension Office, 3033 Bear Creek Dr., Houston, TX 77084.
Contact: FCS Agent Dr. Sonja Stueart-Davis at 713.274.0969 or email [email protected]
Wisdom, Power, Control 7 Week Series.
Date/Time: Tuesdays (July 11th, 18th, 25th and August 1st,15th, 22th, 29th) 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Location: El Franco Lee Community Center, 9500 Hall Road, Houston, TX 77089
Contact: Family & Consumer Sciences Agent Dr. Sonja Stueart-Davis at 713.274.0969 or email [email protected]
Better Living for Texans (BLT)
Eat Smart, Live Strong - A Nutrition Education Series for Senior Adults.
Date/Time: Wednesdays, May 3, 10, 17, 24, 10:30-11:30 am
Location: Flukinger Community Center, 16003 Lorenzo, Channelview, TX 77530
Contact Person’s info: Debra Casey (281) 457-1810
Eat Smart, Live Strong – A Nutrition Education Series for Senior Adults.
Date/Time: Wednesdays, June 7, 14, 21, 28, 10:00-11:00am
Location: Leon Grayson Community Center, 13828 Corpus Christi St, Houston, TX 77015
Contact: Cindy Miller 713-455-3660