Calendar: Slowing the spread of Asian jumping worms

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The online Lunch and Learn program Asian Jumping Worms: Slowing the Spread will be noon to 1 p.m. ET Sept. 22.

Learn about effective strategies in managing this invasive species.

Pollinators at the Park

CLINTON, Ill. — Pollinators at the Park will be 10 to 11 a.m. Sept. 16 at Weldon Springs State Park, School House, 4734 Weldon Springs Road, Clinton.

Learn how to support native bees in your garden, and how to build a mason bee home using recycled and natural materials.

Nature Trails Day

HUDSON, Ill. — Nature Trails Day will be 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 16 at Comlara Park, 13001 Recreation Area Drive, Hudson.

Children’s activities will be 10 a.m. to noon. Other activities will include geocaching at 10:15 a.m., guided hikes at 10:30 a.m., and live animal encounters.

For more information, visit http://tinyurl.com/2hf3canw.

Outdoor Skills

MANTENO, Ill. — An outdoor skills program and overnight camping will begin at noon Sept. 16 at Camp Shaw, 6641 6000 W, Manteno.

Youth age 12-18 (or younger with guardian attendance and assistance) can participate in a fun and engaging outdoor skills program and overnight camp. Come for part or all of the event.

Cost is $25. Register at http://tinyurl.com/bd55hvxv.

Legal Training

URBANA, Ill. — Legal training for Illinois farmers will be 7 to 8 p.m. Sept. 18. The online program will address steps farmers can take control legal risks.

The webinar will be presented by Eva Moss, education program director, Farm Commons. Register at http://tinyurl.com/yr8uj7zy.

Horse Workshop

STERLING, Ill. — Explore the basics of horse behavior, breeds, and safety around horses through various activities during 4-H’s Giddy Up and Go event from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sept. 18 at the Sterling Public Library, 102 W. 3rd St., Sterling.

During this free program, participants will engage in hands-on activities delivered by University of Illinois Extension 4-H staff. Register by calling the library at 815-625-1370.

Charcuterie Board

OHIO, Ill. — Learn how to build your own healthy charcuterie board from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Sept. 18 at the Ohio Public Library, 112 N. Main St., Ohio. Enjoy a taste of charcuterie board foods and take home resources and recipes.

Sew Day

AUBURN, ind. — DeKalb County Extension Homemakers Sew Day will be 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. ET Sept. 19 at the DeKalb County Office Building, 215 E. 9th St., Auburn.

Help Extension Homemakers make baby blankets for the hospital. There will be five sewing machines you can use, so you don’t have to bring your own. In addition to sewing, there’s cutting, pressing, and hand stitching to help with. Bring a dish to share.

Preserve It Now

CROWN POINT, Ind. — The program Preserve It Now, Enjoy It Later will be 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. CT Sept. 19 at the Lake County Extension office, 2291 N. Main St., Crown Point.

Learn the basics of pressure canning at this hands-on workshop. Participants will prepare and process a recipe to take home.

Register at https://cvent.me/319y9Z. For more information and a listing of other food preservation workshops through Purdue Extension, go to https://bit.ly/393hmty.

Sustainable Landscaping

HAVANA, Ill. — The Sustainable Landscaping Workshop will be 12:30 to 3 p.m. Sept. 19 at Vic’s Place, 117 W. Main St., Havana.

Participants will learn about the sustainable landscaping on Havana’s Main Street. Amy Wilson, Farnsworth Group senior project landscape architect, will lead a stroll along Main Street.

For more information, email Tara Heath at tsheath@illinois.edu.

Preserving Safely

MONTICELLO, Ill. — The program Preserving Safely: Freezing, Drying, Fermenting will be 9 to 10:30 a.m. Sept. 19 at Kirby Medical Center, 1000 Medical Center Drive, Monticello.

With the right equipment and proper education, anyone can enjoy garden-fresh foods all year long by preserving at home.

The program also will be offered 6 to 7 p.m. Sept. 20 at the Macon County Extension office, 3351 N. President Howard Brown Blvd., Decatur; and 2 to 3:30 p.m. Sept. 21 at the DeWitt County Extension office, 8425 Katie Drive, Clinton.

Seed Saving

PERU, Ill. — The Seed Saving Workshop will be 6 to 7 p.m. Sept. 19 at the Peru Public Library, 1409 11th St., Peru.

By planning your garden for seed saving, you can get high-quality seeds for the future. Learn important concepts and techniques for seed saving such as open pollination and variety isolation to get the best quality seeds for your garden. Also discussed will be harvesting and seed storage.

Fall Centerpieces

SAVANNA, Ill. — Join Carroll County master gardeners at 5 p.m. Sept. 19 to learn how to make fall arrangements with natural and store-bought décor.

The event will be held at the Savanna Library, 326 3rd St., Savanna. Bring your favorite fall decorations to adorn your take-home piece.

Fresh Herbs

STERLING, Ill. — Using Fresh Herbs will be the topic of the Growing Horticulture in Northwest Illinois program, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sept. 20 at the Whiteside County Extension office, 12923 Lawrence Road, Sterling.

Learn about harvesting and preserving your herbs to enjoy in recipes year-round.

Using an Air Fryer

OLNEY, Ill. — The program Learn to Use an Air Fryer will be 5 to 6:30 p.m. Sept. 20 at the Richland County Extension office, 306 S. Fair St., Olney.

Extension Educator Mary Liz Wright will discuss how to use an air fryer and the possible health benefits to using this appliance. Participants will receive recipes and tips on purchasing and cleaning the air fryer.

Dragonfly Discussion

KANKAKEE, Ill. — Dragonflies will be the topic of the online Wilderness Wednesdays program, 6 p.m. Sept. 20.

Diabetes Clinic

EUREKA, Ill. — Join Jenna Smith,, Extension nutrition and wellness educator and registered dietitian, to learn about some of the newer innovations for diabetes management, including one of the best tools you may already have: your cell phone.

The class will meet from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Sept. 21 at the Eureka United Methodist Church, 208 N. Callender St., Eureka. There is no cost to attend this program and no registration is necessary.

Using Fresh Herbs

LANARK, Ill. — Using Fresh Herbs will be the topic of the Learning in Lawn Chairs program, 3 to 4:30 p.m. Sept. 21 at the Lanark Community Garden, 26549 US-52, Lanark.

Learn about harvesting and preserving herbs. Carroll County master gardeners will be on hand to answer questions. No registration is required; don’t forget to bring your lawn chairs. The program will be held rain or shine, and tents and water will be available.

State Conference

MAKANDA, Ill. — The State Master Naturalist Conference will be Sept. 21 and Sept. 22 at Touch of Nature, 1206 Touch of Nature Road, Makanda.

The event is hosted by Extension master naturalist volunteers and staff serving the southernmost counties of the state.

A combination of indoor and outdoor sessions will begin at 9 a.m. both days. There will be presentations by local speakers and experts, vendors, exhibitor booths and field trips.

Conference costs, lunch selections, and optional T-shirt add-ons are available at the registration link: https://tinyurl.com/y67tn842.

Nuisance Plants

ELIZABETH, Ill. — The program Fall Invasive and Nuisance Plants in the Landscape will be 6:30 to 8 p.m. Sept. 21 at the Jo Daviess County Extension office, 204 N. Vine St., Elizabeth.

You may have been noticing that some plant types seem to be overtaking your landscape. This could be the time to exercise some control to get ahead for next year, whether it be as part of fall cleanup of flower beds or a more deliberate removal of undesirable plants.

Fall Felting

YORKVILLE, Ill. — The workshop Fall Felting: Pumpkin Mug Rug will be 4 to 6:30 p.m. Sept. 21 at the Kendall County Extension office, 7775 B IL-47, Yorkville.

Youth ages 10-18 will create a practical, decorative mug rug or candle mat for fall using a needle, thread and felted wool.

Cost is $15. Register at https://tinyurl.com/dvm3vkv5.

Beaded Corn

TAYLORVILLE, Ill. — Youth ages 8 to 18 will make a beaded corn fall-themed craft from 5 to 6 p.m. Sept. 21 at the Christian County Extension office, 1120 N. Webster St., Taylorville.

Cost is $5. Register at https://tinyurl.com/y7aj8bzb.

Forestry Tour

COLUMBIA CITY, Ind. — Forestry professionals will conduct a forestry tour Sept. 23 at the Purdue Harrold Property in Whitley County.

The event will be from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. ET at the site, 5000 West 750 N-92, Columbia City.

Activities and topics to be covered include a walking tour of tree plantings from 1992 and 2006-2007, red oak enrichment areas, 20-year-old clear-cut and group selection areas, a talk about enriching habitat for songbirds, storm damage management, and information on butternut. The day will conclude with remarks from Natural Resources Conservation Service personnel regarding federal cost-share programs available, and from Indiana Department of Natural Resources personnel on the Classified Forest and Wildlands program.

Lunch is included in the $10 registration cost. Register at http://tinyurl.com/h4xwxa4f.

This event is hosted by Purdue Forestry & Natural Resources Department, Purdue Extension, Indiana DNR Division of Forestry, and Indiana Forestry & Woodland Owners Association. Organizers plan to sponsor other forestry tours in northeast Indiana in the coming years.