Choosing Varities, Zones and Seeds

Before you start your vegetable garden, it’s important to know which vegetables you want to grow. This will help you plan your layout and avoid over-planting.

Vegetables need a combination of air, water, sun and nutrients. Choose a site that has easy access to your home; healthy, rock- and weed-free soil (add compost if needed); and a minimum of eight hours of sunlight in the summer and six in the winter.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The online Remote Work Certificate course will be offered May 1-26. The course is designed to equip workers with the tools and skills they need to transition from on-site work into a virtual career. It combines independent online work with four interactive workshops.

This professional certificate requires 24-30 hours to complete. There are nine modules delivered in a self-paced, online format. The program includes four live, interactive workshops, providing an opportunity for students to discuss career goals and review content from the modules in a virtual environment that mimics a real remote team.

Cost is $199 and includes coaching. The coach will help guide you through the course, and provide mentoring and resources to help you successfully prepare for remote work and freelancing.

Register at https://tinyurl.com/muk8v8ja.

There are a limited number of grant-funded seats for individuals from rural, non-metropolitan areas in Indiana. Find out how to take the course for free by contacting Emily Del Real at edelreal@purdue.edu.

Garden Club

MOLINE, Ill. — The Floreciente Garden Club meets 10 to 11:30 a.m. April 29 at the Esperanza Center Garden, 335 5th Ave., Moline.

This club is a great opportunity for youth ages 8 to 18 to learn all about vegetable gardening, from seed to harvest. Learn more and register at go.illinois.edu/4-HGardenClub.

MOLINE, Ill. — The Floreciente Neighboorhood Community Garden kick-off event will be 10 am. to noon April 29 at the Esperanza Center Garden, 335 5th Ave., Moline.

Volunteers of all ages are invited to help assemble raised beds, fill and plant them with a variety of seeds and vegetable starts for the new garden that will serve the needs of the Floreciente neighborhood.

Garden tools and refreshments will be available. RSVP to Mitchell Walker at mcwalker@illinois.edu or call 309-756-9978.

Dairy Workshop

AUBURN, Ind. — The DeKalb County 4-H Dairy Workshop will be 1 to 2 p.m. ET April 29 at the DeKalb County Fairgrounds Show Barn, 708 S. Union St., Auburn.

The DeKalb County Goat Workshop will be 2 to 3:30 p.m. April 30 at the fairgrounds Exhibit Hall.

The Poultry Workshop will be 10 to 11 a.m. May 6 at the fairgrounds.

Achievement Night

AUBURN, Ind. — “Racing to Achieve” is the theme of the DeKalb County Extension Homemakers Achievement Night, 5 p.m. ET May 1 at the DeKalb County Fairgrounds Exhibit Hall, 708 S. Union St., Auburn.

The catered dinner will include chicken breast, salisbury steak, salad, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, assorted pies, coffee, lemonade, and water.

RSVP by calling 260-925-0617.

Walk and Talk

INDIANAPOLIS — Purdue Extension Marion County ‘s Walk and Talk will be 6 to 7 p.m. ET May 1 at Richard G. Lugar Plaza, 200 E. Washington St., Indianapolis.

This free event will be held the first Monday of the month through September. The walking series along the Indianapolis Cultural Trail will include a variety of topics. May’s topic will be One Health, an approach that recognizes the interconnection between people, animals, plants, and their shared environment.

For more information, contact Kevin Davis at 317-275-9255, or davi1044@purdue.edu.

Make and Take

ST. CHARLES, Ill. — The Make and Take: Spring Planter Workshop will be 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. May 2 at the Kane County Extension office, 535 S. Randall Road, St. Charles.

Youth ages 8 to 18 will practice design elements and get to know more about seasonal plants while creating a spring planter.

Cost is $35. Register at https://tinyurl.com/3brup77u.

TAYLORVILLE, Ill. — Cooking for One or Two will be 5 to 7 p.m. May 2 at Taylorville Memorial Hospital, 201 E. Pleasant St., Taylorville.

Cooking by yourself or with one other person can feel overwhelming, especially when it comes to meal planning. Learn techniques for cooking on a smaller scale and simplifying meals without them getting boring. Learn how to shop, prepare, and modify recipes for one or two people.

Register at https://tinyurl.com/5n8xm8vc.

Gut Health

ROBINSON, Ill. — Gateway to Gut Health will be 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. May 3 at the Robinson Public Library, 606 N. Jefferson St., Robinson.

Did you know that there are approximately 10 trillion microbes in the gut? That’s 3 1/2 pounds of bacteria. That’s not necessarily bad, as the gut plays a major role in everyday health. This lesson will describe the gut microbiome’s role in health and disease. You’ll explore various digestive diseases, such as irritable bowel syndrome, lactose intolerance, and diverticulosis, while focusing on healthy lifestyle habits, such as minimizing stress and including a diet full of prebiotics, probiotics, and dietary fiber. You’ll also receive healthy recipes to keep your gut running smoothly.

No registration is required.

Nuisance Plants

ELIZABETH, Ill. — Spring Invasive and Nuisance Plants will be 6 to 7 p.m. May 3 at the Jo Daviess County Extension office, 204 N. Vine St., Elizabeth.

With warmer weather on the horizon, things are starting to green up. Our landscapes are coming back to life with showy displays of new plant growth and flower. But, are all of those plants you expected and want? Are there plants taking over your yard and landscape? If you have unwanted plants, now might be the best time to manage them before they become problematic.

The primary focus of this spring workshop will be on vegetative plants easily identified and controlled prior to developing seeds. Many of these are spotted by their prolific, early-season growth. Garlic mustard, cow parsnip, wild parsnip, Pokeweed, hemlock, some ground covers, and vines are a few examples.

The workshop will delve into identification, management strategies, and safety precautions. Cow parsnip, wild parsnip, and hemlock can be harmful or even deadly if handled improperly.

Spring can also be a good time to identify many of the woody invasive plants like honeysuckle and multiflora rose.

Cost is $5. Register at https://tinyurl.com/3phmzutm.

Tree Physiology

URBANA, Ill. — The online program Introduction to Tree Physiology will be 2 to 3 p.m. May 3. This workshop will discuss how a tree grows, the different parts of the tree and how they function to support it, how water moves in a tree, and how trees deal with wounds.

Register for this free Forestry Spring Webinar Series program by visiting https://tinyurl.com/y828wbys.

Nights in the Garden

CARMI, Ill. — Community Nights in the Garden will be 6 to 7 p.m. May 4 at the White County GIFT Garden, 603 E. Main St., Carmi.

Learn about the White County GIFT Garden and how you can have a successful container garden at home. There will be information booths and activities for all ages.

Goat Workshop

CORYDON, Ind. — The Goat Showmanship Workshop will be at 6 p.m. ET May 4 in the Small Animal Pavilion at the Harrison County Fairgrounds, 341 S. Capitol Ave., Corydon.

The workshop for 4-H meat and dairy goat participants will be led by Terry Burks.

The event coincides with Livestock ID Day, which will be from 4 to 7 p.m. May 4 at the fairgrounds.

Container Gardens

CLINTON, Ill. — Container Gardens with DeWitt and Piatt County Master Gardeners will be noon to 1 p.m. May 5 at the DeWitt County Extension office, 8425 Katie Drive, Clinton.

Learn about the advantages of gardening in containers and tips for creating a beautiful flower container garden. Learn about containers, soil, plant selection, and proper care procedures. Participants will create a small table top flower container garden to take home and enjoy.

Cost is $10. Register at https://tinyurl.com/44eaz7c6.

Container Gardening

JERSEYVILLE, Ill. — Youth ages 8 to 18 will learn about horticulture and how to create a container garden at this hands-on workshop from 3:30 to 5 p.m. May 5 at the Jersey County Extension office, 201 W. Exchange St., Jerseyville.

Cost is $5. Register at https://tinyurl.com/mpe4a49h.

Plant Sale

HILLSBORO, Ill. — The Montgomery County Master Gardeners Plant Sale will be at 9 a.m. May 5 at Mt. Moriah Lodge 51, 903 S. Main St., Hillsboro.

Included will be 10-inch premium hanging baskets, assorted colors and assorted sun and shade varieties.

Proceeds to benefit the Montgomery County Farmers Institute.

Walk for Hunger

ROCK FALLS, Ill. — The Whiteside County Walk for Hunger will be 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 6 at Centennial Park, 508 E. 11th St., Rock Falls.

To participate in the walk, bring one healthy, shelf-stable food item to be donated to Sauk Valley Food Bank to distribute to local food pantries; no registration is required.

For more information, contact Extension Program Coordinator Marcia Cruse at 815-632-3611.

Soap Workshop

OGLESBY, Ill. — The Handmade Soap Workshop for youth ages 8 to 18 will be 10 to 11:30 a.m. May 6 at Illinois Valley Community College, Room CTC 125, 815 N. Orlando Smith St., Oglesby.

Participants will make their own soap to take home. Register at https://tinyurl.com/ykrzwxe4.

Plant Sale

TAYLORVILLE, Ill. — The Christian County Master Gardeners Plant Sale will be 9 a.m. to noon May 6 at the Christian County Extension office, 1120 N. Webster St., Taylorville.

Shop a wide variety of perennials, native plants, houseplants, trees, and shrubs. Master gardeners will be available for consultations about which plantd would work best for your needs.

Plant Sale

DECATUR, Ill. — The Macon County Master Gardeners Plant Sale will be 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 6 at the Macon County Fairgrounds, 3700 N. Westlawn Ave., Decatur.

Shop a wide variety of annuals, perennials, native plants, houseplants, succulents, hanging baskets, vegetables, and tomatoes. Master gardeners and master naturalists will be available for consultations. Don’t miss the bargain shed for new-to-you supplies and tools.

For more information, visit https://tinyurl.com/3v3f9u86.

Plant Sale

CORYDON, Ind. — The Harrison County Master Gardeners Pop-up Plant Sale will be at 9 a.m. ET May 6 at the Harrison County Extension office, 247 Atwood St., Corydon.

There will be a variety of herbs, vegetables, flowers and houseplants available. All plants have been grown by the master gardeners in the greenhouse at the Extension office.

Source: agrinews-pubs.com