NEWS

> Higher grocery prices are putting the pinch on consumers. Cooperative Extension Service Home Economist Leslie Shallcross offers ideas on stretching the food budget in a news story produced by KTUU-TV. Stay tuned for more money-saving ideas in the weekly series that will air on Wednesdays. Extension publications also will help trim grocery bills. FNH-00060 Make Your Own Mix provides a variety of recipes that use a homemade mix as a basis for a variety of cakes, cookies and breads. And if you're cleaning out your freezer for this year's catch, consider using two recent DVDs, FNH-1281 Canning Meat in Cans and FNH-1282 Canning Meat and Fish in Cans, which also can be ordered online or from the Extension office in your area.

> Home owners challenged by rising energy bills can get help from Extension. The newly revised Tips on Insulating an Existing Home provides a checklist of energy-saving recommendations on insulation, home mechanical systems, lighting and electrical. The checklist ranges from low-cost strategies to more expensive measures. The Insulation Factsheet compares the thermal properties and qualities of different types of insulation and Comparative Unit Fuel Costs for Equivalent Dollar Net Heat Output analyzes costs between different heating sources, such as natural gas, fuel oil, electricity, propane and wood. Each fuel cost is indexed to the cost of fuel oil.

> It's almost gardening season. Downloadable Extension publications include Raised Bed Gardening in Alaska, the popular 16 Easy Steps to Gardening in Alaska, Seed Starting or Transplanting, as well as a list of recommended vegetable and fruit varieties for Southcentral and the Interior. Happy gardening.

> Extension News and Announcements Archive

> CSREES Review and Recommendations