Denny's Soapbox

Each new gardening season brings homeowners renewed enthusiasm for a green and colorful landscape. This same enthusiasm is carried by all of us in the green industry as we set out each season to bring you the newest in plant varieties and current information on all aspects of trees, shrubs, lawns and flowers.

Most of this information is provided to the green industry by the Ohio State University Extension. Our extension branch here in Hamilton County provides our local green industry with weekly updates on such issues as the Emerald Ash Borer and other harmful insects, giving us the latest techniques in treating these bad guys. These updates are done through a weekly newsletter that is provided to our entire industry. This information also includes specifics on current plant diseases, timely lawn information, and any other topics which keep all of us in the green industry updated. This weekly information is gathered from various county extension specialists from Lake County in the north to Hamilton County to the south. Ohio State University specialists from Columbus also provide updated info on the best trees, shrubs, and lawns for our ever changing climate. They also keep us informed about the best products to use, which ones are the safest and which ones produce the best results for their intended purpose.

Hamilton County Extension answers many home gardeners’ questions. They are also responsible for teaching and training individuals in their Master Gardener program, teaching hundreds of homeowners to be informed and trained horticulturist volunteering their time and expertise beautifying communities, the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical garden, as well as other public locations.

Hamilton County Extension also currently trains 4700 kids in Hamilton County teaching them leadership skills and first-hand experience with community involvement. 4H grows responsible adults.

I bring all of this to your attention because our Hamilton County Commissioners want to make Hamilton County the only county in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana that will not offer all of this gardening information and service to our youth and homeowners. My Christmas wish is for you to E-mail a county commissioner and tell them to find another way to save $271,094 from the 2008 budget. If the county keeps Extension, the U.S. Dept of Agriculture and Ohio State University will match the county’s funds. If there are no Hamilton County funds, there will be no matching funds. Please help to make my wish and the wishes of the green industry in Hamilton County to keep the Extension Service.

Todd Portune: todd.portune@hamilton-co.org

David Pepper: david.pepper@hamilton-co.org

Pat Dewine: Pat.Dewine@hamilton-co.org