Darrin Parmenter
Position: La Plata County Extension Office

Who’s at the table is as important for health as what’s on it

Have you noticed September brings about a shift in scheduling? Parents, your kids are back in school and possibly involved in evening activities. Kid-free households, you’re stil...

Find a cool location to store your garden’s bounty

I gave a talk recently called “You Grew it. Now What?” that seemed to bring out the frustrations in gardeners. And mind you, I didn’t title it “I Grew It” because my tomatoes, my...

Make the most of the season’s best produce by preserving or donating

Treasure this moment, for it won’t be long until local gardens halt production, and the variety of produce at the grocer diminishes. Should you be fortunate enough to have an exce...

Hop on your bike and enjoy a tour of local farms

I am constantly amazed by the quality and skill of the young bike riders that are continually pumping out of the Durango area. Just this past week, we had two teens win their res...

La Plata County Fair to feature 4-H members’ bright futures

“Proud of the past, poised for the future” is this year’s theme for the La Plata County Fair. The fair will be held Aug. 7-11, with pre-fair events Aug. 3-4. All activities will t...

Want to eat more fruits, vegetables? Try these strategies

Eating fruits and vegetables comes with undeniable health benefits. Dietary guidelines suggest 2½ cups of vegetables and 2 cups of fruit per day for adults. How does your intake m...

A wet, cool year isn’t all good news for gardens

If you’ve read my articles over the years, you may have noticed that our climate and/or environment tend to be pretty common topics. But really, as gardeners, or farmers, or land...

Day camp builds friendships, practical skills

The month of June is an exciting one for the La Plata County 4-H program, and it is filled with experiences that can positively shape our members’ lives into the future. Currently...

Preventive health care you can apply year-round

I’ll be the first to admit, religious sunscreen use is not one of my well-established habits. As is often the case with health, we know we should – but we don’t. This act of self-...

Raise your garden beds to get plants growing

I’ve been stuck in a predicament. All this moisture is such a godsend after months of dryness in 2017 and 2018, and when you live (and try to grow things) in a high elevation des...

You can participate in the La Plata County Fair as a judge

La Plata County 4-H is seeking livestock project interview judges for the county fair in August. Interview judging is based on a set of criteria and questions that will be asked ...

How to prevent the stomach flu: A recipe for success

The emergence of flip-flops, wind and milk chocolate-colored rivers are sure signs of spring in Southwest Colorado. With Memorial Day weekend on the horizon, we’ll soon break fre...