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Stories and Events in the WPSU Community

The opinions expressed in these blogs are solely those of the people who wrote them, and do not represent the views of WPSU or Penn State University.

Local Food Journey

Five tips for gardening success in late spring/early summer

Posted by Jamie Oberdick on 05/31 at 08:56 AM

Gardening season is off to a little bit of a rocky start. Cool temperatures in May have put a damper on planting, as soil temperatures have hovered in the 40s to mid-50s, too low for germination and growth for many plants. A very wet month has also caused its own set of issues (State College has set a record for most days with rain in a spring).

Regardless of the weather, many of us have kicked off the summer gardening season and have plants in the ground. This early stage, when the plant is small, is vital for later gardening success. You need to protect the plant as much as possible, and keep in mind some things that will help ensure your garden is bountiful later this summer. Here’s five tips for early season gardening success.

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Local Food Journey

Five local food items for your Memorial Day Weekend cookout table

Posted by Jamie Oberdick on 05/25 at 09:56 AM

Memorial Day is the kickoff for summer, and many of us will be hosting or attending cookouts. Our local food bounty deserves a place at your cookout table, and here’s five items you can find at our regional Friday and Saturday farmers markets. Seek them out, and support your local food community.

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Local Food Journey

WPSU brings new tasting fest to the Park

Posted by Jamie Oberdick on 05/19 at 07:32 AM

Make plans on Saturday, May 20 for an afternoon of food and fun at the first ever “A Taste of Innovation” presented by WPSU Penn State. The event will take place from noon to 4:00 p.m. on the grounds surrounding the Outreach Building.
This family-friendly, festival-style gathering will offer tastings of a wide variety of local foods, wines and craft beverages as well as live entertainment, all benefiting WPSU-FM.

Guests will enjoy food samples from some of the area’s local chefs and food vendors, including Otto’s Pub and Brewery, World’s Fare Catering and DelGrosso Foods. Wine, craft beer and hard cider tastings will also be available to anyone 21 or older with valid identification.

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Local Food Journey

Local Food Notes for May 12

Posted by Jamie Oberdick on 05/12 at 10:56 AM

Lots of things to enjoy this Mother’s Day weekend that has to do with local food. Read on…

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Local Food Journey

Some of what you need to know about rhubarb but didn’t think to ask

Posted by James Eisenstein on 05/10 at 07:44 AM

When I was just a lad, I arranged a field trip for my environmental politics class to visit Tait Farm. I’ll never forget one young lass’s amazement upon learning that carrots do not appear magically at the supermarket, the product of spontaneous generation in a cellophane bag. She learned that they grow in the ground! You can even pull them up, brush off the soil, and eat them.
So it’s no wonder I am curious about how much some of our farmers market customers know about where rhubarb comes from. Obviously, it must be from our farm, and it sure looks like a stalk. What might not be so clear is what goes into growing it. So I’ll show you thanks to the magic of pictures.

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Local Food Journey

Clan Stewart Farm hit hard by Monday’s storms; how you can help them recover

Posted by Jamie Oberdick on 05/05 at 10:10 AM

In just 15 minutes, one of Central Pennsylvania’s oldest working farms took the hardest blow from nature it has ever felt in its history. And they need our help to recover.

The more than 200-year-old, 8th-generation Clan Stewart Farm, located roughly between Huntingdon and State College in Huntingdon County, was one of the victims of Monday’s severe weather that spawned a confirmed tornado near Rebersburg and brought down trees and wires throughout the county. Straight-line winds were likely what hit the Clan Stewart Farm, and they did plenty of damage.

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