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Extension CentralA publication of Central State University ExtensionVolume III, Issue IEXTENSION Aquaponics showcasesvegetable and fishproduction for beginning,small, or commercial growersInside this Issue: Aquaponics fish filletprogram draws local crowd Residents learn to growbackyard mushrooms CSU Extension hosts FarmScience Review visitors CSU Extension programsheld throughout Ohio Stroll through the CSUSeed to Bloom gardens New beginning farmerprograms held across OhioCentral State University is an 1890 Land-Grant Institution.

CSU-Extension Update.with CSU Associate Director of Extension Siddhartha Dasgupta., Ph.D.Central State University, located inWilberforce, Ohio, is a regionallyaccredited 1890 Land-GrantUniversity with a 135-year traditionof preparing students from diversebackgrounds and experiences forleadership, research and service. TheUniversity, which has been namedHBCU of the Year by HBCU Digest,fosters academic excellence within anurturing environment and providesa strong liberal arts foundation andSTEM-Ag curriculum leading toprofessional careers and advancedstudies globally.EEO Statement: Central StateUniversity, an 1890 Land-GrantInstitution, is committed to the fullinclusion of all people, and does notdiscriminate on the basis of race, age,ancestry, color, disability, genderidentity or expression, geneticinformation, HIV/AIDS status,marital or family status, militarystatus, national origin, political beliefs,religion, sex, sexual orientation, orveteran status. If reasonable accommodations are needed, please contactthe Department of Human Resourcesat 937-376-6540. Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Institution.Central State University Land-Grantprograms are sponsored in part byfunding from the USDA-NIFA.www.CentralState.eduCentral State University1400 Brush Row RoadWilberforce, OH 45384937.376.6677Follow us on:Facebook @centralstateextensionInstagram @csuextensioncestaYou Tube teuniversityextensionOhio farmers are getting older. According to the OhioEcological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA), theaverage age of Ohio farmers rose from 54.6 in 2012 to55.8 in 2017. As more and more farmers retire due toage, many are realizing that their family members are nottaking over their farming operations. This is creating avital need for Extension to train the next generation offarmers.The CESTA/1890 Land-Grant Extension Service atCentral State University is committed to increasing thenumber of successful beginning farmers in Ohio. We CSU Associate Director of ExtensionSiddhartha Dasgupta, Ph.D.focus on developing small and limited-resource farms,urban farms, and specialty crop growers. Programs arefunded by three external grants and USDA formulafunds. The external grants include a USDA 1890 Capacity Building Grant, aUSDA NIFA Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program Grant, andan USDA Office of Partnership and Public Engagement (OPPE) 2501 grant.USDA formula funds support Extension demonstrations related to aquaponics,edible mushroom culture, agribusiness training, and value-added food manufacturing programs.The beginning farmer training that we offer is very hands-on and is based on cooperation with multiple external partners. Often, we train people with almost noprior experience in growing crops. Our trainee farmers work closely with our Agriculture and Natural Resource educators and use time-honored “get your handsin the soil” methods to learn how to grow crops. Programs are held at at severalincubator farms scattered across Ohio. Program participants in our BeginningFarm Programs also receive marketing training through— attendance at annualconferences on direct marketing, direct sales on social media, and regional fooddistribution with our partner Agraria at Yellow Springs, Ohio. In addition, we alsocollaborate with external partners to train farmers in farm risk management, farmsafety, and USDA programs. These programs assist beginning famers succeedthrough low-interest loans and cost share opportunities.The USDA OPPE 2501 grant focuses on helping historically disadvantaged andunderrepresented and military veteran farmers, who have been farming for at leastthree years, improve their farming plans, improve land access, understand how tofarm using heir’s properties, and increase diversification of crops and markets. Inaddition, we will engage high school age students in agricultural production andmarketing training in Cincinnati and Toledo through the 2501 program.Please contact our Regional Extension Associates for more information aboutour beginning farmer programs: Kelly Beers for Northeast Ohio at kbeers@centralstate.edu, Crystal Duckett for Southern Ohio at cduckett@centralstate.edu,Leslie Horner for Southeast Ohio at lhorner@centralstate.edu, Lindsey Fergusonfor Northwest Ohio at lferguson@centralstate.edu, and Seth Swallow for Southwest Ohio at sswallow@centralstate.edu.

Hands-on workshopOffered fish filleting lesson.and chanceto take home freshly-harvested tilapiaArea residents learned how to safely fillet fish during aninteractive demonstration that took place at the Central StateUniversity Extension Aquaponics Workshop held recently atthe CSU-Extension Aquaponics Demonstration Facility.The demonstration facility is located next to the CSUWater Tower on US 42 E, Wilberforce on the CSU Agriculture Research and Demonstration Farm.Speakers included Dr. Robert Korir, assistant professor, Food Science, Central State University, and Don Jones,Kingdom Fish, Rushsylvania, as well as CSU-ExtensionAgriculture/Natural Resources Program Leader Dr. CindyFolck and CSU-Extension Agriculture/Natural ResourcesEducator Marc Amante.Participants were able to take freshly-harvested tilapiaraised in the CSU Aquaponics Demonstration Facility homefor their own use.The CSU Aquaponics Demonstration Facility offersseveral demonstrations throughout the year of differentgrowing systems and produces both tilapia as well as a widevariety of greens, herbs and small vegetables during thegrowing season.“Aquaponics is a closed loop system that combines conventional aquaculture (the raising of aquatic animals such assnails, fish, crayfish or prawns in tanks) with hydroponics ina mutually symbiotic environment. The aquaponics systemutilizes the waste of one element for the benefit of anotherother. In this case, the waste produced by the fish benefits thegrowing plants,” says Dr. Folck.The field day was free to all participants and funded by aUSDA/NIFA grant.For moreinformation aboutaquaponics, contact Dr. Folck atafolck@CentralState.edu orcall Dr. Folck at(937) 376-6101.Participants---such asCSU employee Broderick Tolbert, right,---were able to takehome freshly harvested tilapia for theirown consumption.Left: Don Jones of Kingdom Fish in Rushylvania shared about hiscommercial operation as well as demonstrated how to safely fillet tilapia.Above: The CSU Extension Mobile Kitchen made its public debut.

Working throughout the State of OhioCSU-Extension offers programming throughout OhioNortheast Ohio Familyand Consumer ScienceEducator Stacey Stangel,far right, shares the bestmethods to grow and cookwith garlic.Northwest Ohio Community and Economic Development Educator Eric Smith, far right,partners with Alan Mitchell, Housing and Community Development Manager, North EndCommunity Improvement Collaborative, Mansfield. Also shown are Xavier Huddleston ofHidden Gems Pageant, and Debra Weaver of Woven Opportunities, LLC.Southwest Ohio Community and Economic Development Educator Amber Twitty sharesprogram information with residents within her community.Youth in northeast Ohiohad the opportunity toparticipate in classroomgardening activities.Northeast Ohio Agriculure and Natural ResourcesEducator Logan Walter works with the GreenMovement to demonstrate irrigation methods.www.CentralState.edu/csuextension

HYPE Hamilton featured RegionalExtension Educator James Keysleads CSU Extension programs.CSU Extension Program Site Coordinator Janet Corneyenjoys the Incubator Harvest Celebration in Trotwood.Southeast Ohio Agriculture and Natural Resources EducatorsDenise Natoli Brooks and Phil Hollingshead, left to right, hosted aprogram featuring hayfield management in southeast Ohio.Northwest Ohio Agriculture/Natural Resources Educator MichelleWallace, below, leads programs throughout her region.A high-tunnel workshop was held in the South Region of CSU Extension and hostedby Agriculture/Natural Resources Educators.Southeast Ohio CSU ExtensionFamily and Consumer Science EducatorMelody McCleese leads a program at theMEGA Sports Camp at Violet BaptistChurch.

Growing mushrooms in backyardfeatured in CSU- Extension programArea residents learned how to grow their own mushrooms at therecent Central State University Extension “Hands-On BackyardMushrooms Workshop,” at the CSU Seed to Bloom Botanical andCommunity Garden, Wilberforce.In this free workshop, CSU-Extension Agriculture andNatural Resources Educator Marc Amante (far right) demonstrated how to create mulched beds to grow wine cap mushrooms,how to build totem stacks of larger logs for oyster mushroomproduction, and how to inoculate small logs with shiitake andoyster mushrooms.All participants were able to take home one or two logsfor their personal use. Information was provided on creating acommercial outdoor growing operation --- how and where to setup a laying yard, growing to ensure consistent harvests, managingpest control and more.For more information on agriculture or natural resource programs hosted by Central State University Extension, visit www.CentralState.edu/csuextension or contact CSUE Agriculture and NaturalResources Program Leader Dr. Alcinda Folck at afolck@CentralState.edu.Above: CSUE Vegetable and Small Fruit Technician Brian Kampmaninnoculates logs.

Taking it on the road:Central State University Extension/Research/Academicshost educational display at 2021 Farm Science ReviewHighlighting Central State University Ex-tension, Central State University agriculturalresearch and CSU agricultural academics, theuniversity’s display at the 2021 Farm Science Review (FSR) was held within its own independentfacility for the first time. Educational displays aswell as presentations were held throughout thepremier agricultural trade show. Central StateUniversity Extension professionals were alsofeatured during the FSR’s schedule of agricultural experts on a variety of topics. For moreinformation about extension programs, agricultural research or agricultural academics, visitwww.CentralState.edu.Shown, left to right, are CSU Associate Director of Research Subramania Sritharan, Ph.D.; CSUE RegionalProgram Assistant Danielle Soroczak; CSUE ANREducator Marc Amante; CSUE FCS Educator StaceyStacey Stangel; and CSUE ANR Program LeaderAlcinda Folck, Ph.D.Join CSU-Extension’s Community and EconomicDevelopment Program “CED Office Hour Live”Business owners and community development leaders can benefit from CSU-Extension’s Signature program CED OfficeHour Live!, a live, virtual, open discussion with Central State University Extension's Community & Economic Development(CED) team. Participants learn key information on how to grow and improve their businesses, community organizations, andsmall farm operations.The CED Office Hour Live program broadcast, live, every Thursday from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., via TEAMS.Past topics for the roundtable have included the role of CED in Ohio’s progress; who are CED professionals; what signature programs CSU Extension provides; and how CED programs can support your success. Participants can drop in to askquestions, share comments, and join in on informative discussions with CED staff and topical experts from around Ohio. Tolearn more or to register, visit ce-hour.php.Shown, left to right are,CSU-Extension Community/Economic Development EducatorsAmbrose Moses III; Amber Twitty;and Eric Smith.