Calendar: Beginners’ guide to raising chickens

KOUTS, Ind. — The program “So You Want to Raise Chickens” will be 5 to 7 p.m. CT March 10 at Cornerstone Community Church, 605 Maple St., Kouts.

Learn about starting a flock and considerations throughout the year. This free workshop, featuring Sara Cloft, Purdue poultry specialist, is cosponsored by Purdue Extension and Jake’s Feed and Garden.

Native Landscape

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Native Landscape Design Workshops will be 1 to 3 p.m. March 9 at Champaign County Extension, 801 N Country Fair Drive, Champaign; 6 to 8 p.m. March 23 at Vermilion County Extension, 3164 N. Vermilion St., Danville; and 1 to 3 p.m. April 6 at Vermilion County Extension.

Transform your garden into a pollinator-friendly, sustainable haven. This program will guide participants in redesigning a defined garden area in their own yards using native plants. Learn how to create a beautiful, eco-friendly space that supports local pollinators and promotes environmental sustainability.

Grow Together

MANSFIELD, Ill. — The program Grow Together: Microgreens will be 6 to 7 p.m. March 11 at Blue Ridge Township Public Library, 116 Oliver St., Mansfield.

Discover how to grow nutrient-packed microgreens and plant microgreens to take home and enjoy.

Cultivating Wellness

OTTAWA, Ill. — Cultivating Wellness: Health and Well-Being for the Ag Community will be 10 a.m. to noon March 12 at La Salle County Farm Bureau, 1691 N. 31st Road, Ottawa.

Farming is demanding — physically and mentally. This free session is designed to help participants manage stress and make healthy choices during busy seasons. Learn practical strategies to reduce stress, recognize warning signs, and discover simple tips for eating well on-the-go.

This session is designed for both farmers and their loved ones, and will be led by local Extension Nutrition and Wellness Educator Susan Glassman and University of Illinois Farm and Ranch Stress Project Coordinator Stephanie Acevedo.

Kitchen Safety

CLINTON, Ill. — Kitchen Safety Check-up will be 10 to 11 a.m. March 12 at Warner Wellness Center, 418 W. South St., Clinton.

Discuss ways home cooks can be more food safe in their kitchens — from cleaning, to cooking, to leftovers. Learn what practices might increase the risk of foodborne illness.

4-H Family Fun Night

DECATUR, Ill. — 4-H Family Fun Night will be 5 to 7 p.m. March 13 at Macon County Extension, 3351 N. President Howard Brown Blvd., Decatur.

Drop-in any time between 5 and 7 p.m. for an evening of activities, food, and fun to learn about 4-H. Current 4-H families and non-members are invited.

Register by calling 217-877-6042, or email haleyj@illinois.edu. For more information, visit https://tinyurl.com/2hazz2fk.

Gardeners’ Day

CUBA, Ill. — Gardeners’ BIG Day 2026 will be 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 14 at Cuba High School, 20325 N. State Rte. 97, Cuba.

Gardeners, naturalists, and anyone interested in conservation are invited to Gardeners’ BIG Day. Sessions are appropriate for attendees of all skill levels. The day includes educational sessions, snacks, door prizes, and vendors.

Speaker topics will include:

• Grow Great Gourds and More!

• Creature Comforts: Attracting Wildlife to Your Yard

• Brewing Botanicals: Enhancing Tea with the Power of Plants

• Shade Gardens

• The Forest’s Best Kept Secret: Spring Ephemerals

• Urban Pollinator Pockets

• Soils: Micro & Macro Nutrients

• Pesticide Labels: New Guidance on Endangered Species

• Nature as a Classroom

Workshops will include:

• Watercolor — Botanical Workshop

• Let Them Make Cake! — Floral Design Workshop

• Rockin’ Your Garden Art — Painting Workshop

Cost is $25, with extra fees for workshops. For more information, visit https://tinyurl.com/y7apptme.

Gardener’s Palette

QUINCY, Ill. — The 30th annual Gardener’s Palette will be 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 14 at John Wood Community College, Paul Heath Center, 1301 S. 48th St., Quincy.

Participants will enjoy a full day of gardening education, including educational workshops, printed class materials, a boxed lunch, access to vendors, and the opportunity to win door prizes. Gardener’s Palette brings together gardeners and nature enthusiasts from across the region to learn, connect, and grow.

Cost is $40. Register at https://tinyurl.com/39wfmynw.

Gardening Conference

CHARLESTON,Ill. — The 16th annual Spring Into Gardening Conference will be 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 14 at Wesley United Methodist Church, 2206 4th St., Charleston.

Connect with experts, explore new gardening methods, and gather practical tips for the upcoming growing season. Participants can attend breakout sessions led by Extension horticulture educators, bid in a silent auction, browse items at the sales booth, and enjoy refreshments.

Expert-led sessions:

• Soil Health

• Composting at Home

• Pollinator Gardening

• Vegetable Gardening

• Community Gardens

• Debunking DIY Gardening Products

Hands-on activities:

• Creating a Nesting Ball

• Flower Arranging 101

• Plant Propagation

Cost is $25, with an additional $15 fee for activities. Register by calling 217-345-7034 or visit https://tinyurl.com/3e6pkf65.

Food, Flowers & Fun

ROCKFORD, Ill. — Gardening for Food, Flowers & Fun will be 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 14 at NIU Rockford Conference Center, 8500 E. State St., Rockford.

Gardening for Food, Flowers & Fun is an educational venture presenting fresh horticultural ideas, insights, and techniques.

Session topics will include:

• Gardening in a Changing World: Planning Now for Your Garden’s Future

• Beyond the Bees: An Up-close Look at Many of the Other Important Creatures Involved in Pollination

• Vegetable Gardening in Raised Beds and Containers

• Myth Busting Nature 2.0

• The Joy of Growing Your Own Food

• Inside the Moonlight Garden at Midway Village

• Happy Houseplants 101: Make and Take

Blood Drive

TIPTON, Ind. — A community blood drive will be 3 to 7 p.m. ET March 16 at Tipton County Fairgrounds, Lilly Hall, 1200 S. Main St., Tipton.

This March, turn compassion into lifesaving action. Blood donations go directly to patients in the community.

For more information and to register, visit https://tinyurl.com/3jwrpd39.

YQCA Training

FRANCESVILLE, Ind. — In-person Youth for the Quality Care of Animals training will be 6 p.m. ET March 16 at Francesville Fire Station, 122 E. Montgomery St., Francesville, and 6:30 p.m. ET April 28 at the Extension office, 125 S. Riverside Drive, Winamac.

Youths planning to exhibit livestock at the 2026 Pulaski County 4-H & Community Fair and/or the Indiana State Fair must complete YQCA training by June 1.

For more information and to register, visit https://tinyurl.com/4zs36y94.

Online YQCA training is available at www.yqcaprogram.org.

Seed Swap

NORMAL, Ill. — The McLean County Seed Swap will be 6 to 7:30 p.m. March 16 at Normal Public Library, 206 W. College Ave., Normal.

This will be a come-and-go event to swap vegetable seeds, scion (fruit tree) wood, native seeds, network with other plant and garden enthusiasts, and dream of what’s possible this growing season. Materials on how to start seeds will be provided.

Seeds brought to trade should be in clear plastic bags or resealable paper envelopes, and should be labeled clearly.

Master gardener volunteers and Extension staff will be available to answer seed-starting questions. There also will be an informal seed-starting equipment demo station.

For more information about this free event, visit https://tinyurl.com/muwkhmzw.

Gatekeeper Training

TIPTON, Ind. — Question, Persuade, Refer Gatekeeper Training will be 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. ET March 16 at Tipton County Fairgrounds and Event Center, 1200 S. Main St., Tipton.

Participants will learn:

• Warning signs of suicide

• Common causes of suicidal behavior

• Skills to question, persuade, and refer someone to help

QPR is an evidence-based suicide prevention training program created by the QPR Institute. Register at https://tinyurl.com/42keu9ju.

Charcuterie 101

ELKHART, Ind. — Charcuterie 101 will be 9:30 to 11 a.m. ET March 17 at Elkhart Public Library , 300 S. Second St., Elkhart.

Discover the secrets of crafting exquisite charcuterie boards that are as visually stunning as they are delicious. This hands-on class will elevate participants’ entertaining game to new heights.

The free program will be led by Viviana Guzman, Extension health and human sciences educator.

Spotlight on Conservation

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ill. — Women and the Land: Spotlight on Conservation will be 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 17 at Farm Credit Illinois, 2401 W. Haven Road, Lawrenceville.

This program will focus on how good conservation practices benefit the environment and improve the value of the farming operation. Attendees will learn how to conduct a basic financial analysis using a few simple documents from their farm.

Topics will include:

• Overview of the Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy

• Conservation practices that can save your nutrients

• A walk-through of applying for cost-share programs

• The cost of conservation

• Using farm financial documents to make tough decisions

• Illinois Extension and Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership resources

This event is a collaboration between University of Illinois Extension and the Lawrence County Soil and Water Conservation District. Women and the Land: Spotlight on Conservation is an Annie’s Project-inspired event.

Houseplant Propagation

MONTICELLO, Ill. — Houseplant Propagation, a Growing Community Program with DeWitt and Piatt county master gardeners, will be noon to 1 p.m. March 17 at Piatt County Extension, 210 S. Market St., Monticello.

This program will demonstrate how to propagate houseplants using a number of different techniques, including leaf or stem cuttings, division, and air layering. This will be a hands-on session, and everyone attending will take home a new plant.

Digital Skills

FORT WAYNE, Ind. — Digital Skills Lessons: Introduction to Email will be 4 to 5 p.m. ET March 17 at Allen County Extension, 4001 Crescent Ave., Fort Wayne.

This workshop is designed for the individual who would like to learn about the advantages of having a personal email address. The workshop will include key features participants should look for in an email provider, how to create an address, perform basic and advanced actions to get the most out of an email address, along with how to maintain safety when using an email address.

The workshop will be led by Allen County Purdue Extension’s Community Development Educator Cheyanne Geideman.

Bull BSE Clinic

SALEM, Ind. — The Washington County Bull Breeding Soundness Evaluation Clinic will be 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET March 18 at DC Cattle, 1025 S. Orchard Road, Salem.

The BSE includes an evaluation of structural soundness, evaluation of the reproductive anatomy and, evaluation of semen quality.

The evaluation charge is $55 per bull. Bulls must be at least one year old and weigh at least 900 pounds.

For reservations or more information, contact Danielle Walker at 812-883-4601 or dhowellw@purdue.edu. Visit https://tinyurl.com/2n4xz6nn.

OSHA Basics 101

LEWISTOWN, Ill. — OSHA Basics 101 will be 9 a.m. to noon March 18 at Fulton County Extension, 15411 IL-100, Lewistown.

Brian Bothast, OSHA safety and occupational health specialist, is presenting this free workshop geared to help small business owners learn to better prepare for and navigate any potential Occupational Safety and Health Administration inquiries.

Topics covered include:

• 2025 National and Regional Emphasis Programs

• What to look for in an audit

• Avoid fines

• Recordkeeping requirements

• Hazard communication

Native Plants

CROWN POINT, Ind. — Native Plants in the Landscape will be 2 to 4 p.m. CT March 18 at Crown Point Community Library, 122 N. Main St., Crown Point.

To register, visit https://tinyurl.com/269nu3wc or call the library at 219-663-0270.

Animal Invaders

URBANA, Ill. — The online program Wily and Wild Animal Invaders in Illinois will be 1 to 2 p.m. March 19.

Across the U.S., including Illinois, many non-native wildlife species have found their way into new environments where they can be a threat. Explore the history of these animal invasions and the tug-of-war between the biology of animals, including humans, and efforts to protect our native natural resources and economic interests. Species covered will include feral swine, nutria, Norway rats, starlings, and other invasive wildlife in Illinois.

Songbird Habitat

ROCKVILLE, Ind. — Improving Songbird Habitat with Forest Management will be the topic of the Woodland Owners Winter Webinar Series, 7 to 8 p.m. ET March 19.