Calendar: Explore peach production at field day

BELLEVILLE, Ill. — Peach Production Field Day will be 10 a.m. to noon Aug. 20 at Eckert’s Belleville Farm, 951 S. Green Mt. Road, Belleville.

University of Illinois Extension, in partnership with Eckert’s Belleville Farm, invites commercial growers and those exploring peach production to a free, in-field educational event highlighting current research and production systems in the peach industry.

Attendees will explore:

• A SARE-supported research project evaluating planar (two-dimensional) training systems across various rootstocks.

• A small peach rootstock trial block featuring MP-29, Controller 6, and Krymsk 86.

• A demonstration of the California-style leader system for tree training and management.

This event is ideal for both established growers and those considering adding peaches to their farm or orchard. Lunch will be provided.

Canning Class

OGLESBY, Ill. — Fill Your Pantry, a make-and-take canning class, will be 9 a.m. to noon Aug. 9 at Illinois Valley Community College, 815 N. Orlando Smith Road, Oglesby.

Savor the season by preserving and taking home a jar of dilly beans and homemade apple marmalade that you make yourself.

Cost is $15. Register at https://tinyurl.com/ys6svyun.

Native Pollinators

DECATUR, Ill. — Native Pollinators will be the topic Crossing Garden Education Series, 9 to 10 a.m. Aug. 9 at the Crossing Healthcare Garden, 320 Central Ave., Decatur.

The Crossing Garden Education series is a free monthly program focusing on a variety of topics during the 2025 growing season.

Other topics will be Spiders, Drought and Weeds, Aug. 12; Let’s Put the Garden to Bed, Sept. 9; and How Did Your Garden Grow?, Oct. 14.

Cut Flowers

MONTICELLO, Ill. — The Growing Cut Flowers Garden Open House will be 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 11 at the Monticello Area Community Garden, 1000 Medical Center Drive, Monticello.

Drop in anytime between 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to learn about the master gardener cut flower garden and make a mini flower bouquet.

Herb Series

LEWISTOWN, Ill. — Herb Salt will be the topic of the Herbs Make-and-Take Herb Series, 1 to 3 p.m. Aug. 11 at the Fulton County Extension office, 15411 IL-100, Lewistown.

Get hands-on with herbs in this fun, flavorful class series. Each session focuses on a different herbal creation. Participants will learn how to grow, harvest, and use herbs in simple, creative ways, and take home their own custom creation.

Other topics in the series will be Drying Herbs and Herb Syrup, Sept. 8; Herb Oils and Butters, Oct. 13; and Herb Garden Tea Party, Nov. 10.

Cost is $10 and all supplies will be provided. Participants are encouraged to bring their favorite herbs — fresh or dried — to each session.

Giving Flowers

MURPHYSBORO, Ill. — Giving the Gift of Flowers will be 5:30 to 7 p.m. Aug. 12 at the Jackson County Extension office, 402 Ava Road, Murphysboro.

Flowers can offer many benefits to us aesthetically, as food, and as an added value item to your farm stand.

Extension Horticulture Educator Chris Lueking will discuss growing cut flowers, bed preparation, fertilizer, weed management, and flower varieties.

Homegrown Harvest

DECATUR, Ill. — Homegrown Harvest: Soils, Composting, and Fall Seed Sowing will be 9 to 10:30 a.m. Aug. 13 at the Southside Hill Community Garden, East Lawrence Street and South Maffit Street, Decatur.

Homegrown Harvest is a series of free, family-friendly vegetable garden workshops designed to support beginning gardeners through the growing season.

Workshop materials will be provided; bring your own gloves and tools. Due to the nature of outdoor programs, sessions may be canceled for safety during inclement weather.

Gluten Free

PANA, Ill. — The program Is Gluten Free Right for Me? will be 10:30 a.m. to noon Aug. 14 at Pana Community Hospital, 101 E. 9th St., Pana.

Dive into the world of gluten with this hands-on, research-driven class. Uncover what gluten really is, explore its pros and cons in the diet, and learn to identify hidden gluten in everyday foods.

Tick Topics

CARMI, Ill. — Ticks will be the topic of a program from 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 14 at the White County Extension office, 1715 College Ave., Carmi.

Have you been seeing more ticks lately? Ticks might be increasing in number and new species might be moving in.

Learn about tick research being conducted by Teresa Steckler, Extension specialist, commercial agriculture, and find out how you can get involved as a citizen scientist.

Sourdough Bread and Jam

MILAN, Ill. — The Gluten-Free Sourdough Bread and Jam Making Workshop will be 1 to 3 p.m. Aug. 14 at the University of Illinois Extension office, 321 2nd Ave. W, Milan.

Explore the tasty world of fermentation and preservation in this hands-on workshop led by Kristin Bogdonas, nutrition and wellness educator. Learn how to make gluten-free sourdough bread from scratch and tips for keeping your starter happy and healthy. Then, roll up your sleeves to create a jar of homemade jam to take home. Perfect for beginners and food lovers alike, this workshop blends tangy and sweet into one delicious experience.

Cost is $10. Register at https://tinyurl.com/4awumvfd.

Flower Farm

SUMNER, Ill. — U-Pick Flower Farm Production will be the topic of the Summer Twilight Series, 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 18 at Wild Child Flower Farm, 12186 Union Chapel Road, Sumner.

Wild Child Flower Farm is locally owned and operated by the Weiss family. What started as a u-pick in 2020 has quickly turned into more. In the spring, they offer a variety of tulips and daffodils. During the summer, their 20 rows are filled with beautiful summer blooms, including zinnias, celosia, and sunflowers. Customers can come experience the field of flowers and pick their own bouquet.

Wild Child Flower Farm also has an on-farm pop-up vendor fair. Participants considering this type of growing venture will learn the process, liability, and management of a u-pick operation.

Landscaping with Native Plants

MAKANDA, Ill. — Landscaping with Native Plants Garden Tour will be 7 to 8:30 p.m. Aug. 18 at Touch of Nature, 1206 Touch of Nature Road, Makanda.

Gardening with native plants can be a satisfying journey. Take a walking tour of three gardens at Touch of Nature with Master Naturalist Lyle White to learn why he made the switch to improving the site’s landscaping with native plants. Each garden has origins linked to unique goals, including education demonstration, erosion control and reduction of mowing, historical ethnobotany, and preserving rare flora of southern Illinois.

Kimberly Rohling, Extension horticulture educator, has been an adviser at this garden site and will be available at the program to assist with answering questions along the way.

Home Landscape Grasses

MONTICELLO, Ill. — Grasses for the Home Landscape will be noon to 1 p.m. Aug. 19 at the Piatt County Extension office, 210 S. Market St., Monticello.

Learn about using native grasses in your home landscape. Also covered will be the role of grasses in a pollinator garden and highlight four easy grasses to use and how to plant and maintain them.

Unity Garden Workshops

NORMAL, Ill. — Ginger, Cover Crops, and Vegetable Production Workshops will be 9 to 10 a.m. and 5 to 6 p.m. Aug. 19 at the Unity Community Center, 632 Orlando Ave., Normal.

Take a morning or afternoon tour of the Unity Community Center Demonstration Garden, where you will see and hear about ginger cultivation, summer cover crops use, and best practices of vegetable production. Discussed will be the techniques and practices implemented to produce food for the local community, reduce weed pressure, and increase soil health. Also discussed will be the ongoing ginger production research happening at the site.

At the end of the tour, there will be time for questions for Unity Garden staff and Nick Frillman, local food systems/small farms educator.

Garden to Table

DANVILLE, Ill. — The Vermilion County master gardeners will present their annual Garden to Table event, 6 to 7:30 p.m. Aug. 19 at the Bunker Hill Historic Area, Kennekuk County Park, 22296 Henning Road, Danville.

The master gardeners will reflect on the 2025 growing season and share what thrived, what struggled, and how they managed common garden challenges. Discover new vegetable, fruit, herb, and flower varieties to try next year, along with practical tips for using and preserving your harvest. This event wraps up with a tasting of locally grown produce.

Organic Field Day

CHICAGO — Organic Certification Field Day will be 5 to 7 p.m. Aug. 20 at Growing Home Urban Farm, 5814 S. Wood St., Chicago.

Extension educators, along with Urban Farm Director Ezra Lee and Organic Crop Inspector Tracy Noel, will discuss organic farming practices at Growing Home. Joseph Bridges and Alicia Lozano, the USDA NRCS soil conservationists for Cook County, will be on-site to meet farmers and answer your questions about applying for reimbursement programs. Reimbursable conservation practices that are available to small scale urban growers and the Organic Certification Cost Share program will also be discussed.

PARP event

MILLERSBURG, Ind. — Private Applicator Recertification Program will be 9 a.m. to noon ET Aug. 20 at the Crop Tech Customer Appreciation Event, 66808 County Road 37, Millersburg.

PARP fees are sponsored by Indiana Corn Marketing Council and Indiana Soybean Alliance.

Don’t miss this opportunity to earn recertification credits and connect with others in the ag community.

RSVP by calling Purdue Extension Elkhart County at 574-533-0554. For more information, visit https://tinyurl.com/2xtk8x48.

Farm to Field

LIGONIER, Ind. — The program Manure: Farm to Field will be 3 to 5:30 p.m. ET Aug. 20 at Ligonier Public Library, 300 S. Main St., Ligonier.

David Beard, owner of a manure application business, will discuss steps and key decisions for applying livestock manure, including essential recordkeeping practices.

Register by contacting Kathryn Jennings at 574-533-0554, jennin30@purdue.edu. For more information, visit https://tinyurl.com/4emsuaz7.

Sleep on It

GOSHEN, Ind. — The program Sleep on It will be 1 to 2 p.m. ET Aug. 21 at the Elkhart County Extension office, 17746 County Road 34, Goshen.

Millions of Americans are failing to get the sleep that their body needs. Adults typically need about seven to nine hours of regular sleep, but the Centers for Disease Control reports that 28% of adults get six hours or less. What can you do to sleep well and be well? Learn about healthy sleep basics, then make healthy sleep one of your top priorities.

This free program will be presented by Shannon Shepherd, Purdue University Extension educator in health & human sciences in Kosciusko County.

Learning in Lawn Chairs

LANARK, Ill. — Taming the August Garden will be the topic of the Learning in Lawn Chairs series, 3:30 to 5 p.m. Aug. 21 at Lanark Community Garden, 26549 US-52, Lanark.

Whether you’re dealing with unruly vines or battling summer weeds, this session will provide valuable tips to help you maintain order and beauty in your garden as we approach the fall season.

For more information about this free program, call 815-632-3611 or visit https://tinyurl.com/469mz3tw.

Honey and Health

FREEPORT, Ill. — Honey and Health: Nature’s Sweet Treat will be 1 to 3 p.m. Aug. 21 at Senior Resource Center, 206 E. Stephenson St., Freeport.

With over 300 varieties, each boasting unique colors, aromas, and flavors, honey’s appeal continues to grow for its taste, nutritional, and therapeutic benefits.

This program will explore the basics of honey, its sensory attributes, common terminology, and many uses. Participants will receive easy and delicious honey-infused recipes to make at home. Whether you’re a honey enthusiast or just curious to learn more, this session will be a sweet experience.

Invasive Species

DUBOIS, Ind. — Invasive Species Landowner Training will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Aug. 23, at the Southern Indiana Purdue Ag Center, 11371 E. Purdue Farm Road, Dubois.

Presenting the program will be Extension Forester Ron Rathfon, and the Invasive Species Awareness Coalition of Dubois County.

For more information, contact the ISACDC at 812-482-1171, ext. 3, info@isacdc.org; or Ron Rathfon, 812-678-5049, ronr@purdue.edu.

Visit https://tinyurl.com/mr2nrph3.

Community Coaching

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The online Community Coaching Learning Circle will be 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. ET Aug. 25.

Purdue Extension Community Development is offering a professional development opportunity for individuals interested in honing their community coaching skills.

Through participating in this learning community, participants will:

• Increase their knowledge of the principles and practices of community coaching.

• Reflect on and increase their self-awareness of their role in different groups.

• Identify their community coaching style and personal philosophy.

• Deepen their capacity to coach community groups in a variety of situations.

• Build a network of colleagues to support continued learning and practice.

Meetings will continue every other Monday, through Nov. 3.

A prerequisite to the Community Coaching Learning Circle is experience working with community groups/teams, in particular guiding these groups/teams through the process of achieving their goals.

For more information and to register, visit https://tinyurl.com/5s2b749b.

Leadership Workshop

PLAINFIELD, Ind. — The three-day Facilitative Leadership Workshop will be 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET Aug. 26, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 27, and 8 a.m. to .3:30 p.m. Aug. 28 at MADE@Plainfield, 1610 Reeves Road, Plainfield.

The class focuses on creating a culture of collaborative learning in teams, communities, and organizations. It is for new and experienced leaders, managers, facilitators, and graduate students who would like to develop or improve their facilitation skills.

For questions, contact Kym Schwinkendorf at 219-386-5232, kschwink@purdue.edu.

Field Day

FERDINAND, Ind. — Greener Pastures Field Day will be 6 to 8:40 p.m. ET Aug. 28 at Weyer Farms, 10683 South 475 East, Ferdinand.

A variety of livestock, forage and grazing topics will be presented at the event which is held every three years and is presented by Soil and Water Conservation Districts and Purdue Extension offices of Dubois, Perry and Spencer counties.

Topics and speakers include:

• Biochar & Gypsum Utilizations, Yichau Rui, Purdue Agronomy.

• Paddock Systems, Jason Tower, Southern Indiana Purdue Ag Center

• Alternative Nitrogen/Legumes, by Travis Walters, Natural Resources Conservation Service.

• Native Warm Season Grass Use in Pastures, Pat Keyser, University of Tennessee.

A catered meal will be provided by Arnie’s Catering of St. Anthony.

Cost is $10. Register at https://tinyurl.com/336mzuw7.