MARCH 2007
14625 CR 672, Wimauma,FL 33598
(813) 634-0000

Why is the man who invests all your money called a broker?...

3/1...Corn & Soybean Extension tour;  1:00 - 3:00 PM
3/5...FL Blueberry Growers meeting; auditorium 2:00 - 5:00 PM
3/6...FL Blueberry Growers Assoc. Annual meeting; 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
3/13...Candidate for Director, Mid-FL REC, Dr. Ashok Alva; 9:30 - 10:30 AM

3/11...Sunday - Daylight Savings! MOVE YOUR CLOCKS FORWARD

3/15...FL Rural Water Assoc.; "2007 Focus on Change" training course; 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
3/20...Soil & Water In-Service training; Auditorium (all day)
3/22...Faculty Senate Meeting; polycom - Conference Rm. 4-6 PM
3/26...Seafood Safety - Extension Service polycom for Hillsborough and Manatee counties; 12 - 5:00 PM; west conference room

GCREC Hosts Big Brothers/Big Sisters...

On Saturday, February 17th, the Gulf Coast REC hosted an educational event for the Big Brothers/Big Sisters organization.  A very special thanks to all the employees who gave of their time on a Saturday to organize and interact with the group.  Several faculty set up stations of educational opportunity in the auditorium where the kids (and adults) had the opportunity to experience agricultural research from growth, to pathology, to entomology. The kids thoroughly enjoyed getting their hands dirty potting tomato plants. Special interest was given to Steve Johnson's 'friend', Penelope, the snake. In spite of the cold weather, they thoroughly enjoyed the berry-picking time in the field. Many thanks to everyone who made this special event a success and especially to Christine Cooley for her dedication and organizational skills that made this happen.

This may be the month of the Irish green, but in Florida we're still pick'n strawberries!
Did you know that the strawberry is a member of the rose family and is unique in that it is the only fruit with seeds on the outside?  Many medicinal uses are claimed for the wild strawberry, leaves and root.

American Indians were actually cultivating strawberries in 1643. They crushed the berries into a mortar, mixing them with meal to make a strawberry bread.