COLUMN: Local programs offered through Purdue Extension

I am pleased that my wife and I took the brunt of January weather and survived. Hopefully, February weather will be relatively tame, and clients can get out of their driveways and participate in some of the programs Purdue Extension-Owen County offers.

The coming month offers activities that address farm management, soil health, homesteading, gardening and more. As always feel free to contact the Purdue Extension-Owen County office at 812-829-5020.

If bad weather rears its ugly head in February, check our Facebook page for the latest in needed schedule changes.

Soil Health Workshop

Purdue Extension offices in Clay, Owen and Greene counties will partner to offer a two-part workshop, Feb. 11 and Feb. 18, on understanding soil health.

The first session will be held at the Greene County Extension office. The second session will take place in the community room of First Financial Bank in Clay City.

Program times are both 9 a.m. until noon. The program fee is $20 per person. Topics will include soil characteristics, evaluation of soil properties, hands-on soil structure testing, role of biologicals and ways to improve soil health.

Registration is easy! Contact the Purdue Extension-Owen County office, 812-529-5020, to reserve a seat. Payment can be made at the office.

Owen County Homesteaders

After a robust start to the new year, the Owen County Homesteaders will meet on Wednesday, Feb. 19 at the Owen County Public Library.

The program time is 4 to 6 p.m. We had 18 join us last month for great discussions regarding water sourcing, local educational events, tips and tricks and local resources.

There is no registration, just show up!

Farm Outlook and Analysis

Michael Langemeier, Director of the Purdue Center for Commercial Agriculture, will make a visit to the community room of First Financial Bank in Clay City on Wednesday, Feb. 26.

The program is from 10 a.m. until noon. Langemeier will address current economic drivers impacting crop markets, the overall farm economy and provide insights into benchmarks of farm financial performance.

Advanced registration will help me plan refreshments and handouts.

Lunch and Learn

The gardening season is getting closer! Come to the Purdue Extension-Owen County office for a lunch and learn session on Friday, Feb. 28, from noon until 1 p.m.

Tips and tricks, new garden crops, updates and plain old information sharing will take place. No boring lectures! This is client-driven, and we had a robust discussion at our January event.

Registration is not required.

Indiana Master Naturalist Program

Mark your calendar for each Tuesday, starting April 1 and completing May 20. The Indiana Master Naturalist (IMN) program will be held from 9 a.m. until noon.

Many expressed an interest in the program last fall but did not fancy evening sessions.

Each session will focus on natural resource topics such as bird migration, pollinators, forestry, water quality, geology, wildlife and current natural resource topics.

The course fee is $60 per person. I only have room for 15 participants, so first-come, first-served. Contact the Purdue Extension-Owen County office at 812-829-5020 to save your seat for this energetic, fun program.

This is a program for adults aged 18 and over.

Home Vegetable Gardening Series

Some clients expressed interest in a shorter program series for gardening than afforded by the Purdue Extension Master Gardener Program. Here you go!

Three sessions will be held in April with a program fee of $30 for all sessions. All sessions will be held in the Purdue Extension-Owen County meeting room.

Sessions will be held Tuesday evenings, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., April 8 through April 22. Registration is required at: https://cvent.me/Mmy7XQ.