MOUNT VERNON, Ill. — Join master gardeners for a tour of the Lavender Falls U-Pick Farm, 14074 N 2 Mile Creek Lane, Mount Vernon, at 6 p.m. June 13. Learn how to grow lavender in southern Illinois as well as what varieties do best in your area. Participants also will learn about steam distillation for essential oils.

Perry County Fair

PINCKNEYVILLE, Ill. — Perry County Fair, June 11-18, 1041 Secretary Road, Pinckneyville, Ill.; www.perrycoilfair.com; info@perrycoilfair.com; 618-790-4868.

Martinsville Agricultural Fair

MARTISVILLE, Ill. — Martinsville Agricultural Fair, June 12-18, 620 S. York St., Martinsville, Ill.; www.martinsvilleagfair.com; info@martinsvilleagfair.com; 217-382-5512.

Ford County Fair

MELVIN, Ill. — Ford County Fair, June 12-18, 329 E. Third St., Melvin, Ill.; www.fordcountyfair.org; fordcofair@hotmail.com; 217-388-2815.

Harrison County 4-H Fair

CORYDON, Ind. — Harrison County 4-H Fair, June 13-18, 341 S. Capitol Ave., Corydon; www.harrisoncountyfair.com; harrisoncofair@gmail.com; 812-267-7471.

Shelby County Fair

SHELBYVILLE, Ind. — Shelby County Fair, June 13-18, 500 Frank St., Shelbyville; www.facebook.com/shelbycountyindianafairgrounds; 317-392-1612.

For the Love of Food and Family

MARSHALL, Ill. — The program For the Love of Food and Family will be from 1 to 3:30 p.m. June 13 at the Clark County Extension office, 15493 N State Hwy 1, Marshall.

For the Love of Food and Family is a workshop for grandparents or parents and the children in their lives. Participants will bake bread from scratch and participate in intergenerational activities on heritage and family dreams while the bread is rising. Homework will involve a family recipe made at home together and shared via social media.

Cost is $5. Register at tinyurl.com/3she64tc.

Cover Crops

Explore the agronomic benefits of taking a systems approach to improving soil health using cover crops at an online Risk Management Conference webinar from 1 to 2:30 p.m. June 13. How nutrients cycle in a biologically active soil will be discussed, followed by two field examples on how the use of soil health systems have changed farmers’ agronomic approach to nutrient management and weed control.

The 2022 Risk Management Conference, hosted by the the Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership, is a free, three-part webinar series debunking popular myths that keep some farmers from adopting soil health and conservation drainage practices. The series will look beyond the environmental benefits of conservation practices to highlight the production and economic benefits producers can gain by transitioning to a soil health system.

The series aims to increase the knowledge of farmers, landowners and advisers, bringing the agriculture industry together to highlight how conservation practices go beyond the environmental benefits and build resiliency for Illinois farms.

This series continues June 21 and June 27 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Continuing education credits will be offered. Register at tinyurl.com/4wky3v42.

Exploring 4-H

NOBLESVILLE, Ind. — Exploring 4-H Day Camp for youth in grades K-2 will be 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. ET June 14-15 at the Hamilton County 4-H Fairgrounds, 2003 Pleasant St., Noblesville.

Participants will learn about many different topics all related to 4-H. Classes and activities from past camps have included model rocket launch, outdoor cooking, cookie decorating, character education, wildlife, magic of nature, care of small animals, group recreation, and much more.

Cost is $35. Register by visiting tinyurl.com/3ykf99mw.

For more information about Mini 4-H, visit tinyurl.com/bdzzvz2w.

Pressure Canner Dial Testing Clinic

FREEPORT, Ill. — A Pressure Canner Dial Testing Clinic will be from 1 to 3 p.m. June 14 at the Stephenson County Extension office, 2998 W. Pearl City Road, Freeport. Register at tinyurl.com/3sx5yth3.

Before using your pressure canner, have your dial gauge tested for accuracy. Testing will ensure your pressure canner reaches the appropriate pressure needed to process low-acid foods, such as vegetables and meats, safely. Over time, a pressure canner’s dial gauge will become inaccurate, resulting in either reading too high or too low. If the pressure gauge reads too high, it will lead to under-processing resulting in unsafe foods. This is because the high temperature needed to destroy harmful microorganisms, such as the botulism toxin, can only be reached under pressure. If the dial gauge reads too low, your product will lose quality due to over-processing, and foods may become mushy.

If the dial gauge reads up to two pounds high or low, slight pressure adjustments can be made without replacing the dial gauge. However, if it differs by more than two pounds, the gauge must be replaced.

The only way to know if your pressure gauge is accurate is to have it tested. Bring in your pressure canner lid with the gauge attached. Staff will inspect the lid, gasket, and gauge for accuracy and provide you with an assessment.

Brown/Schuyler County 4-H Fair

RUSHVILLE, Ill. — Brown/Schuyler County 4-H Fair, June 15-17, 200 E. Scripps St., Rushville, Ill.; tinyurl.com/3ut5udyu.

Junior Chefs

SPENCER, Ind. — Purdue Extension and the Owen County Public Library will present the Junior Chefs program for children ages 9-12 at 1 p.m. ET June 15 at the Owen County Public Library, 10 S. Montgomery St., Spencer. The featured recipe will be homemade pizza.

Rainwater Management

ROCKFORD, Ill. — The free program Rainwater Management in the Landscape will be from 6 to 7:30 p.m. June 15 at the Winnebago County Extension office, 1040 N. Second St., Rockford.

Learn about options to put rainwater diverted from the hardscapes in your yard to use instead of lost as runoff. University of Illinois Extension Educator Jay Solomon will discuss how rain gardens, bio swales, and other structures can be designed into your landscape to retain this valuable resource.

The program is part of the Connecting with Nature series. Register at tinyurl.com/yuxam382.

Sangamon County Fair

NEW BERLIN, Ill. — Sangamon County Fair, June 15-19, 318 W. Birch St., New Berlin, Ill.; www.sangcofair.com; info@sangcofair.com; 217-488-2685.

Henry County Fair

CAMBRIDGE, Ill. — Henry County Fair, June 15-19, 311 E. North St., Cambridge, Ill.; www.henrycountyfairillinois.com; 309-937-3391.

Superfoods to the Rescue

FREEPORT, Ill. — The program Superfoods to the Rescue will be from 1 to 3 p.m. June 16 at the Stephenson County Farm Bureau, 210 W. Spring St., Freeport.

Healthy eating has always been a cornerstone for health and wellness. However, with the overabundance of information in today’s world, the concept of healthy eating may seem a bit of a mystery. The workshop will help to demystify some of the information.

Cost is $5. Register at tinyurl.com/4sz33rch.

The program will be offered virtually from 1 to 3 p.m. June 15. Register at tinyurl.com/4223h7ha.

For more information, call 815-235-4125.

Diet Plans

GREENCASTLE, Ind. — The program What’s the Deal with Diets will be at at 5 p.m. ET June 16 at the Putnam County Fairgrounds, 191 US-231, Greencastle.

Learn how to sort through many diet options that are available, and how to find a healthy eating pattern that works for you.

Piatt County Jr. Fair

CERRO GORDO, Ill. — Piatt County Jr. Fair, June 16-19, 523 S. Jefferson St., Cerro Gordo, Ill.; piattcountyfair.blogspot.com; fair@piattcountyfair.com; 217-763-6313.

Master Gardener Help Desk

TAYLORVILLE, Ill. — Problems with your yard or garden? Are pests or weeds concerning you? Get answers to your gardening questions at the Master Gardener Help Desk from 9 to 11 a.m. June 16 at the Christian County Extension office, 1120 N .Webster St., Taylorville.

Bring your questions and samples. Samples should be enclosed in a plastic bag or container and should be fresh to obtain a good diagnosis.

If questions arise at a time the help desk is not open, call the Extension office at 217-287-7246 and leave a message for the master gardeners. They will return your call as soon as possible.

Pork Dinner Fundraiser

YORKVILLE, Ill. — Join the Friends of Extension and Kendall County 4-H Foundation for their annual Drive-Thru Pork Dinner Fundraiser from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. June 16 at the Kendall County Extension office, 7775-B IL-47, Yorkville.

Each meal includes choice of pork, plus applesauce, coleslaw, baked beans, dinner roll, and cookie. Ticket options include two-chop dinner for $14; one-chop dinner for $12; two-porkburger dinner for $10; and one-porkburger dinner for $8.

To learn more or get your tickets, stop by the Extension office between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, or call 630-553-5823. A limited number will be available at the door for an extra dollar charge per ticket.

The event helps support University of Illinois Extension, master gardener, and 4-H programs in Kendall County.

Hancock County 4-H Fair

GREENFIELD, Ind. — Hancock County 4-H Fair, June 17-24, 620 N. Apple St., Greenfield; www.yourhancockfairgrounds.com; 317-462-1469.

Veterinary Camp

RISING Sun, Ind. — Veterinary Science Camp for youths who just completed grades 5-9 will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. ET June 17 at Rising Sun Veterinary Clinic, 1417 Barbour Way, Rising Sun.

Cost is $20; lunch will be provide. Register by calling the Ohio County Extension office at 812-438-3656.

Garden Walk

URBANA, Ill. — Champaign County Master Gardener’s Garden Walk will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 18 around the south and west sides of Champaign and south Urbana.

This year’s event features six home gardens and two public gardens, the Idea Garden and Illinois Prairie Hosta Society’s National Display Garden on the south Arboretum grounds off Lincoln Avenue in Urbana.

The private homes have fun landscaped themes such as “New Orleans Remembered” and “Serenity on the Lake”.

The Garden Marketplace will be open throughout the day at the Idea Garden, 2001 S. Lincoln Ave., Urbana. All are invited to stop by and browse their unique offerings. There also will be demonstrations at the Idea Garden throughout the day including how to prepare a plant sample for the Plant Clinic, plant pollinator relationships, how to read a plant label, identifying good bugs versus bad bugs, pruning for design, and learn what plants do the best in our area based on our trials program.

Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 on the day of the event. Children 12 and under are free. Advance tickets are sold at Country Arbors Nursery, Danville Gardens, Prairie Gardens, Ropp’s Flower Factory in Gibson City, Schuren Nursery, and the Extension office at 217-333-7672. Online sales are available at go.illinois.edu/gwtickets.

Proceeds from ticket sales benefit Champaign County Master Gardener community projects, including Champaign County Juvenile Detention Center, Crisis Nursery, Idea Garden, Senior Grow Boxes, and YingYing’s Garden.

Idea Garden Open House

ST. CHARLES, Ill. — The Kane County Master Gardener Idea Garden Open House will be from 9 to 11 a.m. June 18 at the Idea Garden, 3480 IL-38, St. Charles.

The mission of the Idea Garden is to showcase gardening methods or designs that are easy to replicate at home. This year’s features include:

• A Black Swallowtail butterfly host plant garden.

• A tomato patch planted from seeds that have been in space.

• Native plant plots for both sun and shade conditions.

• Fruit patches of goji berries, seaberries, rhubarb, and raspberries.

• Theme gardens: tea, Victorian, and English cottage.

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/KaneMGIdeaGarden.

47th Ward EcoFest

CHICAGO — The inaugural 47th Ward EcoFest will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 18 at Welles Park, 2333 W. Sunnyside Ave., Chicago.

This event will bring together small businesses, non-profits and other vendors from across the city for a day of learning, activities, and fun focused on a sustainable future.

Stop by the Chicago Master Gardeners booth to pick up a packet of Bee Feed Seed Mix and information to keep your garden and home landscape healthy.

For more information, visit www.aldermanmartin.com/ecofest.

Vermillion County Fair

CAYUGA, Ind. — Vermillion County Fair, June 18-25, Fairgrounds Road, Cayuga; www.vermillioncountyfairboard.com; 812-249-2026.

Wayne County 4-H Fair

RICHMOND, Ind. — Wayne County 4-H Fair, June 18-25,: 861 N. Salisbury Road, Richmond; www.wayneco4hfair.com; sandyhouse1@yahoo.com; 765-489-5559.

Calendar: Lavender Falls U-Pick Farm Tour