Desert Messenger

36 www.DesertMessenger.com December 17, 2014 Sunday, January 18 thru Saturday, January 24th, 2015 Quartzfest* is a Ham Radio gather- ing in Quartzsite AZ during the RV show in January. 2015 NEW YEARS EVE DANCE Join us at the QIA Quartzsite Improvement Assoc. 235 E. Ironwood Dec. 31st • 7pm – 10pm Bring in the New Year (New York Time) $4 Hams plan Quartzfest 2015 800-656-HOPE DEADLINE : WED. DEC. 31 ST for JAN. 7 th edition Desert Messenger Email: editor@DesertMessenger.com 928-916-4235 www.DesertMessenger.com Poinsettia ~ The Christmas plant Special to Desert Messenger By Lyle Browning ~ University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Service During the weeks preceding Christ- mas there is always a profusion of these plants. The poinsettia is native to Mexico and some areas in Central America, and comes from a genus of plants called Euphorbia. This genus of plants contain about two thousand varieties and all are toxic is some form. The poinsettia has a milky substance in the stem that can irritate skin in sensitive people, but is otherwise harmless. Colorful parts of the plant are actu- ally bracts. The fl owers are in the center and are much smaller and inconspicuous. While this plant is perennial in frost free areas it will become leggy. In order to get the plant to produce the colorful bracts the plants must be kept in a dark- ened area for at least fourteen hours a day for several weeks, so it is pos- sible to make the plant bloom an- nually, but it is a chore most people don't want or have time to do. One of our La Paz County Master Gardeners actually brought a plant a full cycle and got another bloom cycle, but indicated no interest in doing it again. While most of the poinsettias we see have red bracts, there are white, yellow, pink or marbled varieties. To care for this holiday plant, keep it in a sunny window and provide water when the soil is dry to the touch. Avoid over watering as root rot can occur easily in pots. So, plunk down a few dollars and enjoy this colorful plant each year at Christmas time. If you would like more information about this or other plants, please feel free to contact our offi ce. We are located at 2524 Mutahar (just off Shea road) and our telephone number is 928 669-9843. Quartzfest is a 7 day event full of seminars and workshops on Ham Radio and operational techniques, Alternative Energy (mainly solar) and RV'ing…and to my knowledge is the only event of its kind in the world. Included in our schedule are seminars and classes (crafts, etc.) for those who attend but are not interested in gaining technical knowledge. We strive to provide as many live demonstrations and "Hands On" seminars and workshops during the week as is possible. Quartz- fest is held on BLM Land about 6 miles south of Quartzsite AZ at the "short term BLM" Road Run- ner area, right off of US 95. There are no utilities (power, water or sewer) and as such, folks attending for the 8 days have to already be pretty well self-suffi cient. We have attendees who show up in trailers, motorhomes, tents, vans and one a couple years ago, in a tractor/trail- er rig. The BLM will not allow any commercial activity on their land but welcomes our presentation of as much knowledge as possible. Likewise, BLM rules don't allow us to make one penny more than actual expenses incurred in plan- ning and organizing and is FREE of charge for ALL to attend. We're able to operate solely on donations from attendees. This said, we are not a Club or Organization and have no offi - cers, members or dues. Quartzfest is put on solely by its volunteer Organizer(s). As Quartzfest gen- erates no money, our speakers and presenters for seminars and workshops all donate their time and expertise as well. Raffl e gifts given away in our free daily raffl e drawings are provided to us, as donations by radio and accessory manufacturers. Our goal for Quartzfest every year is to teach as much as is possible in a short amount of time, not only Amateur Radio Operations, but also techniques to sustain indi- viduals existence in the event of emergencies or disasters. To do this, during Quartzfest, we hold a number of Seminars and multiple session Workshops. To be a part of all the fun, make sure you put Quartzfest* 2015 on your calendar now 'cause you defi - nitely don't want to miss it! Kristyn and Angel KR1SS & KG7ASN Quartzfest Organizers organizer@quartzfest.org www.quartzfest.org Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Jeffrey Silvertooth, Director, Coopera- tive Extension, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, The University of Arizona. The University of Arizona is an equal opportunity, affi rmative action institution. The University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, dis- ability, veteran status, or sexual orien- tation in its programs and activities.

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