Walker County Extension Office

Alabama Extension Agents Buoyed So Far by Crop Planting Conditions

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The Walker County Extension Office Needs Your Input!!!

To ensure that our office continues to develope and deliver programs that meet your needs we need to hear from you. Please take a minute or two to complete this survey by clicking on the provided link. We will use this information in our program planning process. Thank you in advance for your input. COMPLETE THE SURVEY.

 

Spring Gardening Information

Spring gardening season is definitely here in full force.  The Walker County Extension Office is a great source for up-to-date gardening information.  If spring gardening is "your thing" then check out the following information on our Home Gardening Website. We also have information on Home Landscapes, Home Fruit and Vegetable Production, and Turf grass in Your Home Lawn.

Soil Testing is the best place to start for fall, spring, or summer gardening prior to planting your crops is a great time to have your soil tested.  The Walker County Extension Office also offers free soil test kits that you can pick up at our office on Airport Road in Jasper.  A minimal $7 lab fee will cover the cost of getting your soil's nutrient content and pH analized as well as a fertilizer and liming recommendation for the crop or plants that you are trying to grow. 

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PROBLEMS WITH FIRE ANTS?

Check out the latest information on controlling imported fire ants in the home landscape, pastures and hayfields, and other locations.

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Growing Herb Gardens

Spring of 2009 has certainly brought about a renewed interest in growing your own fruits, vegetables, and herbs of all descriptions.  No matter if you are interested in herbs for their medicinal, culinary, aroma, or ornamental value; they are quite interesting and for the most part easy to grow.  Here are a few links to information on growing your own home herb garden....

Growing Herbs

Growing Herbs in Containers

Container Gardening

Herbs in the Southern Garden -- University of Georgia

Marketing Herbs

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About Walker County

Walker County was formed in 1824 from parts of Marion and Tuscaloosa counties. It was named after John Walker, who represented Alabama in the U.S. Senate from 1819 until 1822. Jasper is the county seat and was named after Sgt. William Jasper, a Revolutionary War hero.

The county's population is 71,866 with 7 percent black and 92 percent white. Fifty-six percent of adults have completed high school. The county has 18 elementary schools, 15 middle schools, seven high schools, two technical schools and one two-year college.

Attractions include Lewis Smith Lake, Old York USA, the Old Harbin Hotel, and the Alabama Mining Museum, which traces the history of mining in the state from 1890 until 1940. Principal agricultural products in Walker County include poultry, forestry products, livestock and forage crops. Major employers include retail and service companies, Walker Baptist Medical Center and the Walker County Board of Education.

The local Extension staff consists of two full-time and three part-time employees. In addition to locally housed staff, Walker County Extension programs are also supported by 11 subject matter Regional Agents. Active programs include Master Gardener, Master Cattle Producers, Nutrition Education Program (NEP), Today's Mom, and youth judging teams in wildlife, horses and livestock. The 4-H program includes 1,200 young people.  Our newest 4-H club is a community-based club for ATV safety.