April 2008 eNewsletter

Welcome to OurOhio.org

Dining Out With Local Flavor
Ten years ago, Emeril Lagasse proclaimed food in this country to be “more exciting than anywhere else in the world.”

“It’s cool to be a farmer and it’s cool to be chef,” he said. Bam!

It’s a label that flatters farmers such as Doug Raubenolt of Tea Hills Poultry in Loudonville and chefs such as Michael Mariola of South Market Bistro in Wooster along with a growing number of their Ohio colleagues who partner to bring homegrown flavors into restaurant kitchens.

Farmer and chef collaborations are becoming increasingly popular. Click here for a list of restaurants that feature locally grown foods in their menu selections.

Chefs in the City
If you are in the Central Ohio viewing area, tune in to WOSU on April 24 at 8pm. Our Ohio is an underwriter for this year's broadcast. The "Chefs in the City" program will highlight several high-end chefs from area restaurants who will offer valuable cooking tips and tricks. The program will also feature a live television auction which will include fine dining gift certificates, cookware, cookbooks, and other dining related items. The broadcast will also include highlights from the Our Ohio TV series, which airs Sundays at 11 a.m. on WOSU. All proceeds from Chefs in the City will benefit WOSU Public Media.

Free Ticket Giveaway

Call for Teachers
Ohio Farm Bureau is looking for teachers to attend its summer workshops. Help spread the word. If you know a 5th through 8th grade teacher who might be interested in attending a summer professional development workshop about food, agriculture and the environment, then nominate him or her.

Send your contact information as well as the teacher's name, school and address or e-mail address to info@ourohio.org by May 1 and you'll receive two free tickets to COSI Columbus.

Limit two free tickets per person; tickets will be given to the first 25 respondents.

Help For Dealing With
Wildlife

Whether it’s moles in the lawn, squirrels in the attic, or coyotes terrorizing a neighborhood, a new online resource gives consumers instant access to research-based solutions for helping humans and wildlife coexist.

The eXtension Wildlife Damage Management Web site puts a wealth of information directly on consumers’ computer screens. It’s a useful resource for anyone needing information about managing wildlife problems that links people who need information with the experts who have it.

The eXtension Wildlife Damage Management Web site has been developed through the collaboration of nationally recognized wildlife biologists, nuisance wildlife control operators, educators and people interested in the field of human-wildlife relations.

For more information click here.

Ohio Travel Highlight

Ride the Rails
Founded in 1972, the Hocking Valley Scenic Railway is Ohio’s top nonprofit scenic railway. According to the group’s Web site, the organization is dedicated to the preservation, restoration and operation of historic railroad equipment for education and entertainment. The railway’s route runs between Nelsonville and Logan in southeast Ohio and offers diesel-powered rides.

In addition to regular runs each Saturday and Sunday April through November at 12 p.m. and 2:30 p.m., the railway is especially known for its innovative specialty trains.

The preseason train rides start this weekend. Click here for details and to learn more about the specialty train rides.

Gardening Tips For Spring

Barbara Arnold, horticultural designer at Franklin Park Conservatory in Columbus, has been answering reader gardening questions online at OurOhio.org and contributes regular gardening columns to the Web site. Her expertise and user-friendly advice have helped numerous gardeners across the state.

As spring fever spreads, Our Ohio would like to share some of Arnold’s timely gardening advice. These questions are posted online, as are all of her garden columns.

Q: I was wondering when would be a good time to start planting my garden; should I use seeds or bulbs and does it have to be in a sunny or shady area?

Click here to see Barbara's response.

To have your gardening questions answered, email them to info@ourohio.org.

Pucker Up For Rhubarb

Rhubarb’s pucker-power is what makes it a favorite plant. To winter-weary gardeners, rhubarb is especially appreciated because it's one of the first edibles to appear in the spring garden. Rhubarb is often mistaken to be a fruit; it is actually a close relative of garden sorrel, and is therefore a member of the vegetable family.

To find out other vegetables that will be in season soon, click here.

Recipe Highlight - Rhubarb Cake

Click here for list of ingredients.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine flour, sugar, salt and baking powder. Cut in margarine until crumbly. Add egg and milk and mix well. Pour batter into a greased 9 x 13-inch baking dish. Spoon rhubarb evenly over the batter and sprinkle with dry gelatin and topping mixture. Bake 45 minutes or until lightly browned and bubbly.

Click here for some other delicious rhubarb dessert recipes.

Test drive a Farm Bureau membership today!

Ohio Farm Bureau is offering an introductory membership for new members. For $35, new members can experience Farm Bureau and all its member benefits for 2008. To join, visit www.GrowWithFB.org or call 888-GrowWithFB (888-476-9948).