Calendar: Selling food made in your home kitchen

CARLINVILLE, Ill. — The program Selling Food Made in Your Home Kitchen: Illinois Cottage Food Law will be 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. June 11 at the Macoupin County Extension office, 60 Carlinville Plaza, Carlinville.

Have you considered selling food made in your home kitchen? There are basic guidelines that growers and vendors must observe in preparation for sales under the Illinois Cottage Food Law. This timely class is designed for growers and vendors who wish to explore the possibilities of selling their homemade food at farmers markets and beyond. Participants will learn about the latest legislation related to the Illinois Cottage Food Law, which governs the sale of homemade food products. The class will cover essential safety standards and compliance requirements.

Upcoming County Fairs

June 8-15 – Perry County Fair, 1041 Secretary Road, Pinckneyville, Ill.; https://www.facebook.com/perrycounty.fair.5; info@perrycoilfair.com; 618-790-4868.

June 10-15 — Brown County Fair, 802 Memorial Drive, Nashville, Ind.; 812-988-5495.

June 10-15 — Jennings County Fair, 4920 N State Hwy 3, North Vernon, Ind.; https://jenningscountyfair.com; jencofairboard@gmail.com; 812-346-3056.

June 10-15 — Shelby County Fair, 500 Frank St., Shelbyville, Ind.; https://www.facebook.com/shelbycountyindianafairgrounds; 317-392-1612.

June 12-16 – Sangamon County Fair, 318 W. Birch St., New Berlin, Ill.; www.sangcofair.com; info@sangcofair.com; 217-488-2685.

June 13-16 – Piatt County Jr. Fair, 523 S. Jefferson St., Cerro Gordo, Ill.; piattcountyfair.blogspot.com; fair@piattcountyfair.com; 217-763-6313.

June 14-23 — Hamilton County Fair, Route 14 West, McLeansboro, Ill.; facebook.com/HamiltonCountyIllinoisFair; hamiltoncoilfair@gmail.com; 618-926-1813.

June 15-22 — Vermillion County Fair, Fairgrounds Road, Cayuga, Ind.; www.vermillioncountyfairboard.com; 812-249-2026.

Gardening Program

DECATUR, Ill. — A three-day gardening program for children will be 10 to 11:30 a.m. June 10-12 at Decatur Public LIbrary Children’s Auditorium, 130 N. Franklin St., Decatur.

Participants will learn about the plants, insects and wildlife you might find in a garden. They will have an opportunity to plant flowers and care for them over the three days with the help of master gardeners. Parents are invited to stay.

For more information, visit https://tinyurl.com/2vmwxn5f, or contact Whitney Allison at wallison@illinois.edu or 217-877-6042.

Tree ID Hike

GRAFTON, Ill. — The Jersey County Tree ID Hike will be 10 a.m. to noon June 10 at Pere Marquette State Park, 13112 Visitors Center Lane, Grafton.

Andrew Holsinger, Extension horticulture educator, will discuss tree identification and native trees of Illinois during a tour of the park.

The free program is open to children ages 5 to 18 and their families. Participants should wear suitable clothing and shoes for walking off paths.

For more information, visit https://tinyurl.com/99mavhah.

Green Thumbs

LINCOLN, Ill. — Green Thumbs Adventure: 4-H Gardening and Nature Camp will be 9 to 3 p.m. June 10 at the Logan County Extension office, 980 N. Postville Drive, Lincoln.

Through hands-on activities and experiments, participants ages 8 to 18 will learn how seeds sprout, why flowers bloom and the vital role insects play in pollination. Participants will bring their own sack lunch and wear closed-toe shoes.

For more information, visit https://tinyurl.com/2wfv5hsx.

Cultivating Care

MARION,Ill. — Cultivating Care Garden Stewardship Days will be 8 to 10 a.m. June 10 at First Presbyterian Church, 1200 S. Carbon St., Marion.

Learn how to water, weed and harvest produce, which will be weighed and delivered to the Salvation Army of Southern Illinois in Marion.

Future dates are June 24, July 8, July 22, Aug. 5, Aug. 19, Sept. 16, Sept. 30, Oct. 14 and Oct. 29. Register at https://tinyurl.com/y4va3t86.

Livestock Show

PINCKNEYVILLE, Ill. — The Perry and Randolph County 4-H Livestock Show will be 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 10 at the Perry County Fairgrounds, 1041 Secretary Road, Pinckneyville.

Those participating must be registered 4-H youth enrolled in the appropriate fair project areas. Guidelines and policies can be found in the Perry County 4-H Handbook or Randolph County 4-H Handbook.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information, call 618-357-2126.

Splash into Ag

CARTHAGE, Ill. — Splash into Agriculture: Summer Ag Academy for Teachers will be 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. June 11-12 at the Hancock County Farm Bureau, 544 Wabash Ave., Carthage.

Participants will learn more about the area’s water and agriculture opportunities, including Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom, Quincy Water and Wastewater Treatment Facility, Lock and Dam 19 and Keokuk Hydroelectric Plant.

Cost is $30. Register by visiting https://tinyurl.com/4p8mnwz7.

Farm Safety Day

LEWISTOWN, Ill. — Farm Safety Day will be 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 11 at the Fulton County Fairgrounds, 1377 S. Main St., Lewistown.

Participants 6 and older will learn a variety of important safety lessons about fire, livestock, ATVs, weather, poisonous plants and electricity.

This free program is a partnership with Fulton and Mason Farm Bureaus, University of Illinois Extension, and 4-H. For more information, visit https://tinyurl.com/5ez5wzvp or call 309-547-3711.

Day Camp

NOBLESVILLE, Ind. — Hamilton County Exploring 4-H Day Camp for children in grades kindergarten through second will be 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. ET June 11-12 at the Hamilton County 4-H Fairgrounds, 2003 Pleasant St., Noblesville.

Camp 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 and group recreation.

Food Preservation

VINCENNES, Ind. — The four-day Mastering Home Food Preservation class will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET June 11-14 at the Vincennes University Shircliff Humanities Building, 130 E. Harrison St., Vincennes.

Topics covered will include food safety, boiling water canning, pressure canning, pickling and fermenting, freezing and dehydrating, and jams and jellies. There will be interactive discussions, hands-on practice and take-home products.

Beneficial Beetles

URBANA, Ill. — The online program Garden Guardians: Understanding and Supporting Lady Beetles in Illinois will be 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. June 11.

Native beetle populations have been declining across North America for a number of reasons. Learn about lady beetles in Illinois and ways to help the population thrive.

For more information about the Four Seasons Gardening Webinar Series, visit https://tinyurl.com/4889bv4y.

Tree Care

DECATUR, Ill. — Community Tree Care: Managing Tree Pests and Diseases. will be 9 to 11 a.m. June 12 at the Macon County Extension office, 3351 N. President Howard Brown Blvd., Decatur.

The program is designed to equip arborists, landscapers and tree enthusiasts with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively manage tree pests and diseases. Participants will learn to identify, treat and prevent common tree ailments through integrated pest management practices.

Cost is $20. For more information, visit https://tinyurl.com/jjyk6dt6, or contact Sarah Vogel at 217-877-6042, sarahv@illinois.edu.

Tree ID Walk

MURPHYSBORO, Ill. — The Tree Identification Walk with Master Gardeners will be 10 to 11:30 a.m. June 12 at Riverside Park, 2610 W. Riverside Park Road, Murphysboro.

Learn about 14 different tree species planted at Riverside Park, key identification characteristics, how to use a dichotomous key to identify trees, diseases and pests associated with these tree species and how to protect your backyard trees.

Heart and Sole

FREEPORT, Ill. — What You Eat Matters will be the topic of the Heart and Sole Walking Club, 10 to 10:30 a.m. June 12 at the Freeport Public Library, 100 E. Douglas St., Freeport.

The class, led by Nutrition and Wellness Educator Diane Reinhold, will walk for about 20 minutes.

AG Day

CRYSTAL LAKE, Ill. — Ag Day for middle school students will be 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. June 12 at the Center for Agrarian Learning, McHenry County College, 8900 US-14, Crystal Lake.

Activities will include:

• MCC Student Farm tour

• Sessions led by MCC instructors

• Farm tool demonstrations

• Greenhouse plant propagation

• Hands-on floral design workshop

• Soil testing samples

• Culinary demonstration

• Session on careers in agriculture

• Tour of McHenry County College (time permitting)

Cost is $15. Lunch will be provided. Register at https://tinyurl.com/4768n7rv.

Nuisance Wildlife

COLUMBIA CITY, Ind. — The Purdue Extension’s Nuisance Wildlife Management Workshop will be 6 to 8 p.m. ET June 12 at the Whitley County Ag Museum on the Whitley County 4-H Fairgrounds, 680 W. Squawbuck Road, Columbia City.

Jeff Burbrink, Extension educator in LaGrange County, will discuss management and control of deer, geese, squirrels, coyotes, moles and voles.

Invasive Species Conference

NASHVILLE, Ind. — The Indiana Invasive Species Conference will be 8:15 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET June 13 at Abe Martin Lodge at Brown County State Park, 1405 IN-46 West, Nashville.

Morning sessions will be indoors, and outdoor field events will be in the afternoon. Bring your water bottle and comfortable shoes for the field sessions, as well as bug spray and a hat.

For more information visit www.sicim.info/invasivespeciesconference.

Rainscaping Education

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The Purdue Rainscaping Education Program will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET June 13-14 at the Marion County Extension office, Discovery Hall, 1202 E. 38th St., Suite 201, Indianapolis.

Rainscaping is a combination of sustainable landscape design and management practices that prevent polluted runoff from reaching water bodies, directing stormwater to be absorbed by plants and soils. The program will provide training and resources on rainscaping practices that can be installed in residential settings or small-scale public space projects

The program provides advanced training in rain garden planning, installation and maintenance for Purdue Extension master gardeners, conservation agencies and organizations, stormwater professionals, landscape companies and consultants, and anyone interested in applying rainscaping in their yard or their community.

Participants are encouraged to attend as a community team to support the implementation of public education programs and provide technical assistance to homeowners upon completion of the training.

Cost is $95. Register by visiting https://tinyurl.com/yrumtemb.

Plastic Pollution

URBANA, Ill. — The online program Microplastic Pollution: The Big Problem with Tiny Plastic will be 1 to 2 p.m. June 13.

Plastic is the most common debris found in oceans and lakes. Microplastics are smaller than a grain of rice, and scientists don’t fully understand their impact on aquatic ecosystems, especially in the Great Lakes. Researchers are exploring the scope of the problem, as well as what potential impacts microplastics might have on human and environmental health.

Explore where microplastics come from, what we know about the consequences of microplastic pollution and steps anyone can take to help solve this complex plastic problem.

Homesteading Field Trip

MILLSTADT, Ill. — The Homesteading Field Trip will be 10 a.m. to noon June 14 Fresh Pasture Farms, 1931 Kropp Road, Millstadt.

Fresh Pasture Farms is a family-owned farm offering local access to pasture raised poultry, eggs, pork and 100% grass-fed and finished beef. Participants will tour the farm store and the farm chicken processing area.

The Sutter family will discuss:

• Brooder and chick care management (from chick to pasture)

• Portable field shelters for layers, broilers, ducks, and turkeys

• An overview of pasture pork

• Woodland management with goats

• Pasture management with 100% grass-fed and finished cattle

Plant Sale

ST. CHARLES, Ill. — The Kane County Master Gardener Plant Sale and Garden Tour will be 9 a.m. to noon June 15 at the Kane County Master Gardener Idea Garden, 3480 IL-38, St. Charles.

See garden ideas, pick up plants for your own garden and get free advice from trained master gardener volunteers. Sale includes plants the master gardeners have grown from bare roots, division and winter sowing. Proceeds support local community garden projects and other Extension programs.

For questions, contact the master gardeners at 630-584-6166 or uiemg-kane@illinois.edu, or program coordinator Danielle Stojan at stojand@illinois.edu.

Garden Walk

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The Champaign County Garden Walk will be 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 15.

The self-guided tour will include five private gardens and two public gardens. Master gardeners will be on hand at each location to answer your questions, share their expertise and offer insights into creating your own garden.

Proceeds from ticket sales benefit Champaign County master gardener-sponsored community projects, including gardens at the Champaign County Crisis Nursery, the Idea Garden and Ying Ying’s Garden.

Tickets are $10 and free for children 10 and under. Advance tickets are available at Country Arbors Nursery, 1742 CR 1400 N, Urbana; and Prairie Gardens, 3000 W. Springfield Ave., Champaign. For more information, call 217-333-7672 or visit https://tinyurl.com/yc33s66m.