The Balancing Act
Help for you to Balance Home, Family and Work
Oregon State University Extension Service Family and Community Health Newsletter
Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson Counties
541-548-6088
Be a lifelong learner – see our website for events and classes:
http://extension.oregonstate.edu/deschutes/
Spring 2011
New Dietary Guidelines Released
Once every five years the USDA and the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services reviews and publishes Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The Dietary
Guidelines are meant to serve as a guide for healthy eating practices for all
Americans ages 2 years and older.
Many chronic diseases are associated with overweight and obesity. When citizens
are dealing with the health concerns of obesity and chronic disease they are unable
to be productive citizens. Proper diet and an increase in physical activity are the
most important factors in combating obesity and a good first step in combating
chronic disease.
The 2010 Dietary Guidelines make four major recommendations:
1. Balance calories to manage weight: Total calorie intake must be controlled to prevent
overweight and obesity. Physical activity plays an important role in maintaining a healthy
weight. It is important to maintain this calorie balance from childhood to older age.
2. Reduce certain foods: Saturated fat should be no more than 10% of total calories. Trans fats
should be limited as much as possible, and cholesterol consumption should be no more than 300
milligrams per day. It is recommended that refined grains be limited, especially the refined
grains that contain solid fats, added sugars and sodium (e.g., cookies). Sodium is another thing
on the list to reduce.
3. Increase certain foods: Foods to increase include fruits and vegetables, followed by whole
grains, low-fat or fat-free milk and quality sources of protein like seafood.
4. Build healthy eating patterns: Nutrient needs can be met by establishing healthy eating
patterns at an appropriate calorie level. Additionally, these foods need to be prepared to assure
food safety.
Another article on this topic is available at http://missourifamilies.org/features/nutritionarticles/nut389.htm
Source: Tammy Roberts, Nutrition and Health Education Specialist, Barton County, University of Missouri Extension
Oregon State University Extension Service offers educational programs, activities, and materials without discrimination based
on age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or
veteran’s status. Oregon State University Extension Service is an Equal Opportunity Employer. This publication will be made
available in accessible formats upon request, contact the Tillamook County Extension office at 503.842.3433.
1
Use Spring Cleaning to Air Out Your Finances
With spring approaching, many
people engage in spring cleaning,
when they clean out the clutter that
has accumulated during the winter
months. This is a good time to air out
your finances as well. If you have had
some major life events since the last
time you examined your financial life, you might
discover some dusty financial accounts that you had
forgotten about.
amend your return with the complicated
and costly 1040X. The $25 interest may
cost you upwards of $150 in additional
tax preparation fees. Second, you may
be charged inactivity fees if your
account shows no activity. These fees,
from $5 to $10 monthly, may slowly eat
away at your account balance, until your account
turns negative. Thirdly, it may cause headaches for
your heirs. If you have a hard time keeping track of
your accounts, imagine what your heirs will feel as
they try to untangle your financial situation.
As people age, checking and savings accounts may
accumulate. One of the first tasks involved with
moving to a new location is to set up accounts with
local financial institutions; however, people often
forget to close down the accounts at the place they
moved from. Similarly, married couples often open
new joint checking and savings accounts, but may
leave old accounts from their single years open.
Savers interested in the highest interest rates move
their money around as they chase after the highest
yielding accounts. They may also leave their old
accounts open either due to neglect or on the chance
that the account may again be an interest rate leader.
So, what to do: As the earth renews itself this
spring, take some time to shake out the dust and
breathe new life into your financial plans. Step back
and examine your entire financial situation.
 Are you meeting the goals you’ve set for
yourself financially? If you haven’t set any
goals, now might be a good time to set some
after you’ve organized your financial life.
 If you have multiple old checking and saving
accounts, decide if you really need them and
close the unneeded accounts. Consolidate your
accounts so that your financial situation
becomes less stressful and easier to manage.
 If you have multiple retirement accounts, you
might want to consider rolling them into your
current employer’s retirement plan or into your
own retirement account at an independent
financial institution.
 Take some time to review your will and other
end-of-life documents. If situations have
changed since the last time you updated the
documents, draft and sign new documents
reflecting your current situation.
The accumulation of dusty accounts happens with
retirement accounts as well. Employees will change
jobs and often leave their 401(k) or 403(b) with
their former employer. Employees may find
themselves with several retirement accounts, each
having different rules and investment options.
Keeping tabs on each of these accounts and
maintaining an overall picture can be daunting.
What are some of the problems with leaving
accounts open? First, it makes recordkeeping much
more complicated. Receiving multiple statements in
the mail at the end of each quarter or month can
strain simple recordkeeping systems, especially if
the accounts hold negligible amounts of money.
Furthermore, multiple accounts can cause
headaches at tax time. If you receive an interest
statement showing that you earned $25 in interest
after you’ve filed your tax return, you will have to
Taking care of these details now will likely make
the financial aspect of your life less stressful for you
throughout the year.
Source: Andrew Zumwalt, M.S., associate state specialist,
Personal Financial Planning, University of Missouri
Extension
This newsletter prepared by: Nancy Kershaw, OSU Extension Agent Tillamook & Clatsop County Family and
Community Health & Tillamook County 4-H Youth Development and edited for Central Oregon by Glenda Hyde, OSU
Extension Home Economist, Crook/Deschutes/Jefferson Counties Family and Community Health
Layout & Design: Nancy Kershaw, OSU Extension Agent, Sherry Vick, Office Specialist
2
Spring Cleaning With Young Children
Spring Cleaning – In The Freezer
Spring is the time of year for
cleaning. Your young children
can help with cleaning tasks,
especially when they are
members of a team that works
together. Such activities help
children focus on a task, talk
about what needs to be done,
and follow through until completion and usually
involve physical activity, problem solving and
communication for planning. These experiences
can promote a sense of competence and show
children that everyone benefits from teamwork.
Children experience personal satisfaction by
taking charge of themselves and the world around
them.
With spring upon us, this is a good time for spring
cleaning - in the freezer that is.

If a freezer does not automatically defrost, it is
a good idea to defrost it occasionally. Defrost
manual models at least once each year or more
often if the frost is 1/4-inch thick or more.
Although it is most efficient to operate a
freezer full or near full, the best time to
defrost is when the freezer is somewhat
empty. For food safety reasons, be sure the
process takes two hours or less with food
sitting out of the freezer.

Unplug the freezer for this process. Place
frozen food in insulated coolers or in
newspaper-lined cardboard boxes to keep food
cold. Remove frost by following the
manufacturer’s instructions. A plastic spatula
or wooden spoon can be used to scrape out
ice. And a towel in the bottom of the freezer
can help catch water and frost as things melt.

When the freezer is frost free, wipe it out with
a solution of one tablespoon baking soda per
quart of water to clean and freshen the
interior. Sponge clean with water only and dry
with a towel or cloth.

Turn the freezer back on and close the door to
let it cool down again. After about 15 to 30
minutes, when chilled, replace the frozen
food. Since these items have been out of the
freezer, mark them for first use. The freezer
should be operated at 0° F or colder.

While food is out, this is a good time to cull
out items that need to be used sooner rather
than later. Storing Food for Safety & Quality,
PNW 612 has charts with recommended
freezer storage times. If food has been in the
freezer longer, quality concerns may be an
issue. Anything unidentifiable may just need
to be tossed/composted to get ready for
summer harvesting when new items need to be
stored.
Here are some ideas for indoor and outdoor big
jobs for kids. With the right tools (small buckets,
sponges, rags, child-size shovels and rakes) and
adult supervision, children can work together to
complete big jobs.

Try on summer clothes and donate items
that are too small.

Sort through toys and books and decide
which ones can be donated.

Vacuum and sweep closets, dust toy
shelves.

Sort items for recycling, such as
newspapers, cardboard, plastic milk jugs
and metal cans.

Sweep patios and porches.

Wash tricycles and other outdoor toys.

Pick up sticks and leaves from the yard.

Spread new mulch on flowerbeds.

Turn over dirt in the garden area.

Spread grass seed and hay over bare areas
in the yard, then water newly seeded areas.

Fill a birdbath with clean water.
Source: Janet Hackert, regional nutrition and health
education specialist, Harrison County, University of
Missouri Extension
Source: Sara Gable, Ph.D., state specialist and associate
professor, Human Development and Family Studies,
University of Missouri Extension
3
Sleep is Important
Sleep is important. Yet, the National Sleep
Foundation indicates that a majority of
Americans (71%) do not get the
recommended 8 hours of sleep. Sleep
deprivation affects you both physically and
mentally. It can be characterized by the following:





not affect your sleep. Always talk with your
doctor before taking over-the-counter sleep aids.
Poor decision making & judgment, and
increased risk taking
Poor performance in school, at work, in sports
and other physical activities, and while driving
Increased risk of developing health problems,
including obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure,
and heart disease
Impaired memory, concentration, and ability to
learn
Problems with emotions (including anxiety and
depression) and relationships

Embrace bedtime rituals. Bedtime rituals tell
your body that it is time to slow down and
prepare for sleep. Like a regular sleep schedule,
your body will do best if you establish a certain
bedtime routine that includes rituals. Rituals
may include listening to soft music, taking a
warm bath, reading for pleasure, meditating, and
doing relaxation or breathing exercises.

Eat right for you. A full stomach and / or
indigestion from a large, heavy meal can disturb
sleep. However, hunger can also affect your
sleep. Try to eat dinner at least 2 hours before
going to bed to prevent a large, heavy meal from
disturbing your sleep. High protein, caffeine and
high sugar foods can keep you awake.
Conversely, if you are hungry at bedtime,
include a light bedtime snack. What about
liquids? Drinking liquids before bed may also
interrupt sleep. Steer clear of drinking fluids at
least 2 to 3 hours before bedtime to avoid
needing to use the bathroom during the night.

Write down worries. Worry and anxiety excite
the nervous system and make it harder for to
sleep. Write down your worries and possible
solutions before going to bed to avoid thinking
about them all night. A journal or task list aids
you in letting go of concerns until the next day.

Limit naps. Experts in the field of sleep
suggest limiting an adult nap to less than 45
minutes and taking it before 4 p.m.

Exercise earlier in the day. Generally people
find they need to complete the exercise 3 to 6
hours before trying to go to sleep.
While there are many possible reasons for not
getting adequate sleep, one may be poor sleep
habits. Getting a better night's sleep may be as easy
as making some simple lifestyle changes. Here are a
few tips for sleeping better:



Keep a regular sleep schedule. This includes
going to bed and waking up at about the same
time every day, even on weekends and holidays.
A regular sleep schedule helps your body to
expect sleep at the same time every day. Even if
you have a poor night's sleep, it is best to still
stick to your sleep schedule so you don't make it
harder to have a good rest the next night.
Consider room conditions. Usually people
sleep best in a dark, cool, quiet room. Window
covering, fans and noise blockers can be used to
achieve these requirements when needed.
Avoid over-the-counter sleep aids. There is
little scientific evidence that supplements and
other over-the-counter sleep aids are effective.
In some cases, there are safety concerns. For
example, antihistamine sleep aids tend to stay in
your system and may cause daytime drowsiness.
Make sure that your prescribed medications do
Feeling well rested is the reward for good sleep
habits. If you have problems sleeping and these
suggestions don’t help to improve the quality of
your sleep, it may be time to schedule and
appointment with your family doctor to examine
other options for getting the rest you need.
Source: Marnie Spencer and Laura Sant, (ID), NEAFCS Professional Development Subcommittee & National Sleep Foundation,
http://www.sleepfoundation.org/
4
National Turn Off The TV Week is April 19–24, 2011
Play more, watch less
Did you know?

Average number of TVs per household: 3

Number of TV murders elementary-aged
children see: 8,000

Households with no TV rules: 53%

Kids who have a TV in their bedroom: 68%

How much more likely these kids are to smoke
cigarettes than kids who don’t have a TV in
their bedroom: 3.5 times
National Turn It Off Week, April 19–24, 2011, is a
good time to take a look at your family’s viewing
habits. How many hours are spent in front of a TV
or computer screen compared to other activities?
Love it or hate it, TV is part of American family
life. Americans watch three to four hours of TV
daily. This time includes watching prerecorded
movies, playing video games and surfing the
Internet, sometimes simultaneously.

Instead of turning on the TV and plopping down
on the couch, gather the family and come up
with a list of alternate activities (see suggestions
below). Jot down lots of ideas and post them on
the refrigerator.

Make changes gradually. Set limits. Experts
recommend no more than two hours a day of
recreational TV, computers, video games and
DVDs for kids.

Going “cold turkey” can backfire. We crave
what we can’t have.

Know what your children, at any age, are
watching — whether it's cartoons, sitcoms,
sports, news or educational programs. Talk to
them about what they’re seeing. Ask openended questions.

Take TVs out of bedrooms. Sleeping with the
TV on, even with the sound off, can disrupt
sleep patterns and contribute to fatigue. Kids
who have TV sets in their bedrooms also score
lower in math, reading and language arts than
kids who don’t.

Turn off the TV during meals. Use the time to
talk about everyone’s day.
We undeniably enjoy these activities, which can be
relaxing, entertaining and educational. Like too
much of any good thing, however, research suggests
that the amount of time we spend in front of the
screen can have negative consequences:

We are more likely to snack on high-calorie
foods while watching TV and less likely to be
physically active.

No other waking activity burns fewer calories
than watching TV — not even other sedentary
activities like playing video games, reading and
talking on the phone.

Adults who watch three hours of TV a day are
far more likely to be obese than adults who
watch less than one hour. The same goes for
children. The risk for becoming and remaining
overweight before the age of 9 increases with
the amount of TV time.
Source: Sara Gable, Ph.D., state specialist & associate professor, Human Development & Family Studies,
University of Missouri Extension
5
Many Options Available For Choosing Elder Care
It may be overwhelming to think about care for
yourself or an elderly loved one. There are many
long-term care options for the elderly (e.g., in-home
services or different types of facilities).
nursing homes. Go online to
http://www.medicare.gov/NHCompare/ and
search by name, city, county, state or ZIP code.
Talk with your family,
doctor or a social worker
to help you decide what
kind of care is needed.
Choices for elder care:

Community services such as adult day care,
Meals on Wheels or senior centers will help to
meet daily living needs so that a person can
continue living at home or in a low-care facility.

Home care is nursing or attendant care at home.

Subsidized senior housing is for those with
low to moderate income. Rent payments are
usually a percentage of your income.

Group homes are for people who can’t live
alone, but do not need nursing home services or
help with daily living activities.

Assisted living facilities help with daily living
activities, meals and distribution of medicine.
Residents live in their own room or apartment
with shared common areas.


Ask people you trust like friends, neighbors,
family or clergy.

If you are in a hospital, ask the social worker for
a list of nursing homes or facilities with
available beds.

Contact your local Area Agency on Aging for a
list of long-term care choices. The toll free
number is 1-800-392-8771.
2. Compare the quality of the nursing home or
elder care facility. Look at health inspection
and fire safety reports, nursing home staffing
rates, and quality ratings. Find out how many
stars the facility you are interested in received
on their quality rating.
3. Visit the nursing homes or care facilities to
see the facility and ask questions of the residents
and staff. Before visiting the facility, consider
what is important to you:


Continued care retirement communities offer
more than one kind of housing and different
levels of care. There may be individual homes
or apartments, assisted living facility and
nursing home care. These communities may
require a large payment and monthly fees.




Can you participate in social, recreational,
religious or cultural activities?
Do you get to choose what time to get up, go to
sleep and bathe?
Is transportation provided?
Can you keep your doctor?
Is it close to family and friends?
Can you bring your pet?

Hospice is a special way of caring for people
who are terminally ill and for the families. Care
is provided at home, in a hospital or in the
nursing home.
4. Choose the facility that meets your needs.
Moving is difficult, but do not stay in a facility
that is not right for you.

Nursing homes provide care for frail elderly.
For more information, go to Guide to Choosing a
Nursing Home by Centers for Medicare and
Medicaid Services, online at
Follow these steps to find the elder care facility or
nursing home that is best for you:
http://medicare.gov/publications/pubs/pdf/02174.pdf.
1. Find elder care facilities in your area.

Source: Mary Gosche, Human Development Specialist, Cape
Girardeau County & Southeast Region, University of Missouri
Extension
Medicare’s Nursing Home Compare Web tool
has information to help you find and compare
6
Some household tasks can be done as a family
activity, which can help create a sense of closeness.
Children can help sort unused clothing and toys for
a family fund raiser or yard sale. Perhaps the
proceeds can be used for family fun. These
activities might even become new family traditions.
Working together as a family to accomplish
household tasks helps everything get done, creates a
sense of family togetherness, and teaches children
responsibility.
Managing a Home When Everyone
Works
We all work hard today! With commuting and
demands of the job, nobody has time or energy for
housework. Many couples who share a home have a
hard time sharing the tasks required to keep a home
running smoothly. Many parents aren’t sure what
chores are appropriate for children or how to get
children to help out around the house.
Source: Jinny Hopp, former human development specialist,
Jasper County, University of Missouri Extension
Children benefit from helping with household
chores. They learn responsibility and work habits.
However, it is also important for kids to have plenty
of time to be kids. If children have excessive
household responsibilities, they don’t have time to
play and spend time with friends. These activities
may not seem as important as chores, but playtime
actually helps children develop their talents and
learn important skills, such as self-direction and
how to interact with others. The key is to give
children age-appropriate tasks that do not interfere
too much with their other activities.
Puzzled by Text Lingo?
If you have a teenager, you
may have a lot of text-ing
going on at your house.
Abbreviations abound in the
world of electronic messaging
as one way to keep messages
short. However, text acronyms
also serve to keep adults clueless about what kids
are saying to each other.
Getting everyone to help with household chores can
be a challenge. Having a family meeting can help.
Schedule a meeting with all of those who can take
responsibility for tasks. Decide what tasks must be
done and how often they have to be accomplished.
Decide who can do which jobs. Be sure to allow
each family member to have input and listen to each
person’s ideas. Some families make a chart to rotate
jobs. Some family members have favorite jobs.
Many jobs have required standards – use this as an
opportunity to teach quality control. A large
calendar is an easy way to track who has
responsibility for what. After trying out the plan for
a week or two, have another family meeting to talk
about how well it is working. Make any changes
that are needed at that time.
As parents, you may want to know more about the
messages your children are sending. Here are just a
few common text abbreviations:
DOC: Drug of choice
KPC: Keeping parents clueless
LMIRL: Let’s meet in real life
PIR: Parent in room
RUO18: Are you over 18?
Want to know more? The Idaho Attorney General
has compiled an “Internet Lingo Dictionary” with
more than 40 pages of codes common in electronic
communication, available at:
http://www2.state.id.us/ag/protecteens/InternetLing
oDictionary.pdf
Source: Idaho State website: http://www2.state.id.
OSU Extension Service Master Gardener Volunteers are available to answer YOUR gardening questions
April through October
Check this website after April 1 for Master Gardener Office Hours in each office:
http://extension.oregonstate.edu/deschutes/horticulture
Bring your questions and samples to the
OSU Extension Service in Crook, Deschutes or Jefferson County
7
Follow Safety Rules When Preparing Easter Eggs
If you’re planning on dyeing and hunting Easter
eggs this year, it’s important to follow food safety
rules to prevent illness.


The American Egg Board has a recommendation for
cooking tender eggs with no green ring:
Keep fresh eggs refrigerated in the original
carton until it's time to cook them. Eggs are
a high protein food and are prone to rapid
growth of the disease-causing bacteria,
salmonella.
Hard-cooked eggs can spoil faster than fresh
ones — eggs are porous and bacteria can
penetrate the shell. A protective coating that
is added when eggs are washed at the plant
washes away during boiling, which makes it
easier for bacteria to enter the shell.
Therefore, it is important to refrigerate hardcooked eggs within two hours of cooking.

Do not handle eggs excessively. Wash your
hands thoroughly when you do handle them.

Don't hide the same eggs you plan to eat.
Plan to hide plastic eggs and decorate hardboiled eggs for eating only.

Don't eat cracked eggs or eggs that have
been out of the refrigerator longer than two
hours.

A green ring around an egg yolk may look
unappetizing, but don’t worry — the egg is
still safe and will taste fine. The green ring
is a result of sulfur and iron compounds
reacting on the surface of the yolk. This can
occur when eggs are overcooked or when
there is a high amount of iron in the cooking
water.

In a saucepan, place the eggs in a single
layer. Add enough water to cover the eggs
by 1 inch. Cover and quickly bring to a boil.

Remove from heat and leave the pan
covered. Let sit for 15 minutes for large
eggs, 13 minutes for medium eggs and 10
minutes for small eggs. Immediately run
cold water over eggs until they are
completely cooled. Boiled eggs should be
refrigerated and eaten within a week.
If you don’t want to worry about the safety of the
egg, empty eggshells can be dyed and kept
indefinitely.

First, wash and dry the egg. Next, using a
long needle, make a small hole at the small
end of the egg and a larger hole at the large
end of the egg. Stick the needle deep into the
egg to break the yolk.

Then, either shake the egg, large end down,
over a bowl or use a baster to pull out the
contents. The contents can be
used in any thoroughly
cooked recipe that calls for
mixed yolks and whites.
Carefully rinse the shell and
stand it on end to dry.
Source: Tammy Roberts, MS, RD, LD, nutrition and health
education specialist, Barton County, University of Missouri
Extension
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
OSU Extension Service 2011
Master Gardener’s Spring Seminar
Saturday APRIL 16TH
Open to the Public!
Great seminars and trade show to help the
Central Oregon Gardener.
Check this website after April 1 to find out how to register:
http://extension.oregonstate.edu/deschutes/horticulture
8
Begin Spring on an Active Foot
How often are you physically active? According to
the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 25% of
Americans were not active last month. If you are
that one person out of four who was not physically
active last month, what kept you from being active?
With spring arriving, now is a great time to get
outside and explore. Try visiting a local/state park maybe you’ll find you’re a natural camper. Want to
get the whole family involved? Then plan an
outdoor family vacation and bring comfortable
clothes. Try a game of catch or take your pet on an
adventure to a new part of the neighborhood.
Whatever you enjoy, get outside and do it!
If the thought of spending hours at the gym or on
the treadmill bores you, then think outside the gym.
You don’t have to pump iron or sweat to the voice
of your aerobics instructor.
As you begin to increase your physical activity, be
sure to fuel your body for your new activities. This
includes drinking plenty of fluids, especially as the
weather gets warmer. For short durations, water is
best. For longer periods of time, or during hot
conditions, you may need to drink a sports drink in
addition to water. And don’t forget snacks! For
eating on the go, try a granola bar or other easy-topack snack. For longer trips, fruit, veggies and
sandwiches are great.
Physical activity is defined as any movement that
burns energy. Using your muscles – including your
brain – uses energy. Ways to be physically active
include walking the dog, gardening, mowing the
lawn, vacuuming, playing catch or doing chores.
Even reading burns more energy than watching TV.
The Dietary Guidelines provide diet and exercise
information to help prevent chronic diseases, such
as heart disease and diabetes. The guidelines
encourage people to be physically active at least 30
minutes most days of the week. If you’re looking to
maintain your weight, engage in physical activity 60
minutes most days. Do you want to lose weight?
Then you’ll have to increase your physical activity
to 90 minutes or more on most days. The more
intense your workout, the more energy you’ll burn.
Being active helps lower blood sugar, cholesterol
and blood pressure. It also improves mood and
helps keep your bones strong. Most of all, it’s fun.
So start moving today!
Source: Jessica Kovarik, RD, LD, extension
associate, Nutrition and Exercise Physiology,
University of Missouri Extension
Food Preservation Public Workshops to be Announced Soon
Public Workshops for the 2011 food preservation season are being
planned for you. Classes and dates will be announced on April 1 at
this website: http://extension.oregonstate.edu/deschutes/foodpreservation
All sessions will have interesting information, recipes, a hands-on lab, and samples of
products. Classes will be led by OSU Extension Master Food Preservers and OSU
Extension Home Economist, Glenda Hyde. All Public Workshops have a $15.00 lab fee.
Reservations will be taken as soon as the news release is distributed by email. These will
be sent out about 3 weeks prior to each Public Workshop. If you would like to get on the
OSU Extension Food Preservation and Food Safety distribution list, send your email
address to Glenda.hyde@oregonstate.edu. In the Subject line write: Food Pres Public
Workshops.
9
OSU Extension Seeks Master Food Preservers – Apply by March 30, 2011
If you’d like to learn safe food handling and preservation techniques and share your knowledge with others,
consider becoming a Master Food Preserver volunteer. The Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson county offices
of the Oregon State University Extension Service are recruiting volunteers to participate in 48 hours of indepth food safety and preservation training on Wednesdays, April 13 – June 1. The training sessions will be
at the OSU/Deschutes County Extension office at the Fairgrounds in Redmond.
Volunteers will receive an extensive resource notebook with the latest and most reliable
methods for preserving food at home. “Hands on” practice in the kitchen will help them
learn the skills. The cost of the program is $50.00.
Master Food Preservers help home food preservers avoid serious illness and avert food
waste. Volunteers agree to spend at least 48 hours helping county residents handle and
preserve food safely. Volunteer activities will include conducting workshops, testing pressure canner
gauges, and staffing exhibit booths at county fairs.
The program benefits volunteers, who find it rewarding to learn more about food safety and food
preservation, make new friends, get work experience, and gain self-confidence. By volunteering, they’re
able to help others, use their skills in a meaningful way, and receive reliable, up-to-date information, which
is based on US Department of Agriculture research.
Persons interested in volunteering for the Master Food Preserver program should contact the Deschutes
county Extension office for an application form and detailed information at
http://extension.oregonstate.edu/deschutes/food-preservation, 548-6088 or glenda.hyde@oregonstate.edu.
Application deadline is March 30.
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