Calendar: Trimming the pain from gardening

Join Champaign County master gardeners at 7 p.m. May 25 via Zoom for the program Trimming the Pain from Gardening.

Marcus Ruff, doctor of physical therapy and orthopedic certified specialist, will discuss body mechanics and practices including stretches and exercises that will improve flexibility and strengthen gardeners’ bodies. He also will suggest tools and products to help gardeners prevent pain and injury. In addition, he will discuss ways to cope with aches and pains the gardener may develop.

In this presentation you will learn:

Body mechanics and position modifications.
Stretches and exercises that benefit gardeners.
Tools and products to use.
Ways to cope with aches and pains.

Register by visiting tinyurl.com/2zbr4juw. This presentation will be recorded and, once edited, made available on our YouTube channel, go.illinois.edu/ccmgYouTube.

Public presentation and food demonstration contests

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. —Champaign, Ford, Iroquois, and Vermilion County 4-H’ers will participate in the unit-wide Public Presentation and Food Demonstration Contests beginning at 9 a.m. May 22.

The events will be held in the main Auditorium of the Champaign County Extension office, 801 N. Country Fair Drive, Champaign.

For more information, visit tinyurl.com/9upwc6uc. If you have additional questions, contact Magdalena Casper-Shipp at mcaspe2@illinois.edu or 217-244-5355.

Community compost collection

MAYWOOD, Ill. — University of Illinois Extension in Cook County, Maywood Park District, Quinn Center, and Real Foods Collective have teamed up to keep compostables out of landfills.

Bring yard, garden and kitchen waste to be composted and pick up a bucket of finished compost for your garden from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 22 at the Maywood Park District, 921 S. Ninth Ave., Maywood. The goal is to collect 5 tons of compostable material during the one-day event.

Bring your grass clippings, leaves, landscape waste, and kitchen scraps: eggshells, vegetable skins, and stems are welcome. Do not bring products containing oil, dressings, dairy, meat, or bones. No branches over 2 inches in diameter.

This event is BYOB — bring your own bucket (up to 5 gallons) — to take home finished compost. Finished compost is first-come, first-served.

Social distancing and face coverings required to participate in this free event.

If you have questions, contact Gemini Bhalsod at gbhalsod@illinois.edu or 847-201-4176.

Grow a salsa garden

BEMENT, Ill. — Grow a Salsa Garden will be at 1 p.m. May 26 at the Bement Library, 349 S. Macon St., Bement. The program is designed for students who will be in third through 12th grade next school year. The goal is to encourage and inspire them to grow their own food and make salsa

Each family will receive two 5-gallon buckets filled with soil, with holes drilled in the bottom to grow their tomato transplant, cilantro seeds and onion bulbs. They also will receive gardening resources.

Participants will be offered an opportunity to “showcase” their vegetables at the DeWitt, Macon & Piatt 4-H Show in July.

Learn about the seed library

MARSHALL, Ill. — Gardeners can now use their Marshall Public Library card to “borrow” seeds from the library at planting time. At the end of the growing season, save seeds from the mature plants and return them to the library for others to use.

Learn more about the seed library and how you can grow heirloom tomatoes or ornamental flowers at 2 p.m. May 27 at the Marshall Public Library, 612 Archer Ave., Marshall.

Why use a seed library?

Grab a book on gardening from the library after you pick out your seeds.
Experiment with new seeds without much investment.
Localized knowledge and seeds specific to your region.
Preservation of heirloom varieties.

For more information, visit tinyurl.com/4f6442xv.