Calendar: Wild orchids in Indiana

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The online program Wild Orchids in Indiana will be from 7 to 8 p.m. ET Jan. 11. Orchids occur on all continents save for Antarctica, and the orchid family is considered by many to have the greatest number of species of all plant families in the world. There are 45 naturally occurring species in Indiana. This presentation will look at a selection of them and discuss their floral characteristics as well as range, habitat, and blooming seasons.

Presenter Michael Homoya served as botanist/plant ecologist for the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Nature Preserves, for 37 years before retiring in 2019. He has written over 75 scientific papers, popular articles, and books about Indiana’s natural features. He is a Fellow and former president of the Indiana Academy of Science and the Indiana Native Plant Society.

4-H Poultry Workshop

EFFINGHAM, Ill. — The 4-H Poultry Workshop will be 10 to 11:30 a.m. Jan. 7 at the Effingham Extension office, 1209 N. Wenthe Drive, Effingham,

Poultry topics will include selecting your birds, proper care and health, preparation for show day, and showmanship.

Pesticide Applicator Testing

TAYLORVILLE, Ill. — Pesticide Applicator/Operator Testing will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 9 at the Christian County Extension office, 1120 N. Webster St., Taylorville.

Register at https://tinyurl.com/438zmuh9. Call 800-641-3934 for other in-person, test-only sessions hosted by the Illinois Department of Agriculture.

Holistic Health

URBANA, Ill. — University of Illinois Extension has a great opportunity to help you reset your health journey in all areas of your life for the New Year.

The at-home program Holistic Health Reset will be offered Mondays, Jan. 9 to Feb. 27. Participants will receive an email with a new dimension of wellness to explore, a menu of activities to engage with, and a link to submit your completed activities.

At the end of the series, participants will receive a prize to help them continue their health journey.

Weathering the Storm

MURPHYSBORO, Ill. — The program Weathering the Storm in Agriculture will be from 8:30 to 10 a.m. Jan. 10 at the Jackson County Extension office, 402 Ava Road, Murphysboro.

Farming can be stressful. Many face financial problems, price and marketing uncertainties, farm transfer issues, production challenges and more. Farmers may struggle with stress, anxiety, depression, burnout, indecision or suicidal thoughts. Help is.available.

Illinois Extension is partnering with local Farm Bureaus to offer free programs to help local farmers and their families. Enjoy a free breakfast with fellow farmers and leave with an understanding of the signs and symptoms of chronic stress. Participants will also receive resources on how to handle stress for a more productive mindset on the farm.

The program also will be offered from 8:30 to 10 a.m. Jan. 19 at the Williamson County Extension office, 1301 Enterprise Way, Suite 60, Marion; Jan. 25 at the Perry County Extension office, 203 N. Walnut St.,, Pinckneyville; Jan. 26 at the Randolph County Extension office, 1403 N. Hillcrest Drive, Sparta; and Jan. 27 at the Franklin County Extension office, 1212 Route 14 West, Benton.

All programs are free, but registration is required. Reserve a spot at go.illinois.edu/WeatheringTheStorm.

Make Maple Syrup

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. — Learn how to make delicious maple syrup by tapping trees in your own backyard at 10 a.m. Jan. 10 at the Kankakee County Extension office, 1650 Commerce Drive, Bourbonnais.

Join Kankakee Master Gardener Program Coordinator Holly Froning for this GROW at Home series workshop.

Cost is $10 and includes instruction and supplies. Register at https://tinyurl.com/2wnv888p.

Economic Summit

MT. VERNON, Ill. — The Illinois Farm Economic Summit will be 8 a.m. to noon Jan. 10 at the DoubleTree, 222 Potomac Blvd., Mt. Vernon.

The University of Illinois farmdoc team will share their predictions for this year’s economic outlook.

The program will be repeated Jan. 11 at Par-A-Dice, 21 Blackjack Blvd., East Peoria; and Jan. 12 at Faranda’s, 302 Grove St., DeKalb.

Costs is $80. Register at https://tinyurl.com/4wzt4h5j.

Home Hydroponics

TAYLORVILLE, ill. — The program Home Hydroponics will be from 2 to 3 p.m. Jan. 10 at the Christian County Extension office, 1120 N. Webster St., Taylorville.

Learn about creating your own hydroponic system for growing vegetables or other plants. Andrew Holsinger, University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator, will discuss the basics for starting a soilless growing system.

PSEP Testing

OTTAWA, Ill. — The University of Illinois Extension will offer private applicator testing for its Pesticide Safety Education Program from 9 a.m to noon Jan. 11 at the La Salle County Extension office, 1689 N. 31st Road, Ottawa.

Farm Winter School

ROCHESTER, Ind. — The Fulton County Farm Winter School will be from 7 to 9 p.m. ET Jan. 11 at the Rochester High School auditorium, 1645 S. Park Road, Rochester.

Daniel Quinn, Purdue Extension corn specialist, will talk about the research that Purdue is doing in the area of corn management.

PARP program will include information on private applicator recordkeeping presented by Mark Kepler, Extension educator, ANR of Fulton County.

Cost is $10 for those needing PARP credit. For more information, contact Kepler at 574-223-3397 or mkepler@purdue.edu.

Modern Homesteading

MURPHYSBORO, Ill. — The program Introduction to Homesteading will be from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. Jan. 12 at the Jackson County Extension office, 402 Ava Road, Murphysboro.

Gain the knowledge and hands-on guidance to help further hone your skills in the art of growing, raising, and preserving your own food.

Other topics in the series include Fruit Trees and Small Fruits for the Home Grower, Jan. 24; Goats and Sheep, Feb. 16; Backyard Poultry, March 9; Composting, March 28; Organic Gardening, April 6; Seed Saving, May 9; Live Animal Demo, May 11; Tools for the Homestead, June 6; Growing Flowers and Herbs, June 15; Weathering the Storm, June 22; Canning, July 11; Common Noxious Weed Identification, Aug. 1; Harvest Dinner, Sept. 21; and Beekeeping, Oct. 24.

Maple Syrup

URBANA, Ill. — The online program Maple Syrup: From History to Harvest will be from 1 to 2 p.m. Jan. 12.

Maple syrup season begins when temperatures are above freezing during the day and drop below freezing at night. This is a limited and precious time for those who love real maple syrup. Explore the history and lore of maple syrup, learn how to tap your own trees, and discover best practices of DIY syrup making.