Calendar: Cake Decorating Workshop

FAIRFIELD, Ill. — The Cake Decorating Workshop will be 10 a.m. to noon Jan. 28 at the Wayne County Extension office, 2B Frontier Drive, Fairfield.

This workshop will teach you beginner skills on how to decorate a cake. Participants will taste-test samples.

Let it Dough

OGLESBY, Ill. — The Let it Dough Bread-making Workshop will be 9 a.m. to noon Jan. 28 at Illinois Valley Community College, 815 N. Orlando Smith St., Oglesby.

Join Illinois Extension Nutrition and Wellness Educator Susan Glassman and learn the steps to making bread in this hands-on workshop. Featured will be braided challah and rosemary breadsticks. Taste samples and take some bread home to enjoy with family and friends.

Cost is $15. Register at https://tinyurl.com/2xzjxdxy. For more information, call 815-224-0889.

Trails and Tales

PECATONICA, Ill. — Winter Trails and Naturalist Tales will be 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Jan. 28 at Torstenson’s Education Center, 13735 Cook Road, Pecatonica.

The event features three “naturalist tales” from keynote speakers, and a “winter trails” bird-watching hike.

Naturalist tales will focus on the art of observing wildlife, bird-watching for beginners, and the association between plants and insects.

Cost is $20. Register at https://tinyurl.com/az4a8ht7.

Pruning Shade Trees

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — The program Pruning Shade Trees will be 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Jan. 31 at the McLean County Extension office, 1615 Commerce Pkwy., Bloomington.

Proper pruning ensures that long-lived woody plants remain healthy and structurally safe in the home landscape. Learn basic pruning cuts, the all-important practice of young tree pruning, and how to care for and prune mature trees.

Houseplant and Seed Swap

MONTICELLO, Ill. — The Houseplant and Seed Swap hosted by the Piatt County master gardeners will be 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Jan. 31 at the Piatt County Extension office, 210 S. Market St., Monticello.

Bring your plants, cuttings and seeds to share; take home new plants and seeds; learn about the Little Free Seed Library and the Monticello Area Community Garden; and discover Illinois Extension resources for gardening, houseplants, and seed saving.

It’s not necessary to bring plants and seeds to participate.

For more information, visit https://tinyurl.com/558vhfjy.

All about Herbs

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. — Join the University of Illinois Extension for the workshop All about Herbs at 10 a.m. Jan. 31 at the Kankakee County Extension office, 1650 Commerce Drive, Bourbonnais.

If you like adding a little spice to your meals, or if herbal tea is your thing, this class is for you. Cost is $10 and includes plant starts.

Farming Together

CHRISNEY, Ind. — The program Farming Together: Cultivating Relationships and Having the Cash to Bring in the Next Generation will be 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. CT Feb. 1 at the Spencer County Youth & Community Center, 1101 E CR 800 N, Chrisney.

Where do you begin if you’re looking to transfer your farm to the next generation? Before starting with a legal entity, it’s important to come together and establish common goals and a direction for where you picture your operation moving in the future.

The Farming Together workshop will help you begin discussions to lead you to a successful transition.

In a day-long workshop, you’ll learn about how and when to start those crucial conversations related to succession, you’ll hear from a lawyer about the legal aspects of farm transfer, then finish up with learning about strategies to fund the transition of the farm to the next generation.

Cost is $30 and includes lunch. Register at https://tinyurl.com/mwjzscyr.

Plant Propagation

CARLIVILLE, Ill. — The program Plant Propagation Basics will be 2 to 3 p.m. Feb. 1 at the Macoupin County Extension office, 60 Carlinville Plaza, Carlinville.

Participants will take home two plants they propagate during the workshop.

Be Heart Smart

COLUMBUS, Ind. — Learn how to monitor your risk for heart disease and make simple changes to your daily routine that will improve your heart health at the Be Heart Smart program.

The four-part program will be offered:

• 2 to 3 p.m. Feb. 1, Feb. 8, Feb. 15 and Feb. 22 at Mill Race Center, 900 Lindsey St., Columbus.

.• 6 to 7 p.m. Feb. 7, Feb. 14, Feb. 21 and Feb. 28 at Second Baptist Church, 1325 10th St., Columbus.

Cost is $3. Register by calling 812-376-9241 or 812-379-1665.

Inflammation and Arthritis

ROBINSON, Ill. — The program Inflammation and Arthritis will be 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Feb. 1 at the Robinson Public Library, 606 N. Jefferson St., Robinson.

The workshop will provide an overview of the three most common types of arthritis and how a healthy lifestyle can help improve joint health.

For more information, visit https://tinyurl.com/452nuzsd.

Guide to Grant Writing

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. — The two-day Beginner’s Guide to Grant Writing workshop will be 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET Feb. 2 and March 2 Wabash Valley Community Foundation, 200 S. Eighth St., Terre Haute.

Whether your project is big or small, this workshop will give you the information you need to submit proposals confidently.

Cost is $195, which includes all materials and lunch on both days. Register by visiting https://cvent.me/V1o5YM. For more information, contact Wendy Cuiksa at 812-462-3371 or wcuiksa@purdue.edu; or Kym Schwinkendorf at 219-386-5232 or kschwink@purdue.edu.

Gathering of the Gardeners

HILLSBORO, Ill. — The ninth annual Gathering of the Gardeners for master gardeners from Christian, Jersey, Macoupin and Montgomery counties will be 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Feb. 4 at the Montgomery County Extension office, 1 Industrial Park Drive, Hillsboro.

“Plants that Changed the Course of History” will be presented by Carol Gravens, a St. Louis master gardener and master naturalist.

Maple Syrup Production

SIMPSON, Ill. — The seventh annual Backyard Maple Syrup Production Workshop will be 10 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Feb. 4 at the Dixon Springs Agricultural Center, 354 State Highway 145 N, Simpson.

The free workshop will cover the basics of maple syrup production and allow attendees to see firsthand the entire process of backyard maple syrup production.

Before the workshop, a 4-H pancake breakfast fundraiser will begin at 8:30 a.m. at the site.