While university offices remain closed, Cooperative Extension continues its outreach with distance-delivery programs, and we’re available to answer questions you have, on processing fish, planting the garden, raising chickens and many other topics.

A list of free upcoming workshops and activities for the next two weeks includes:

Gardening and agriculture

Pink peony in full bloom.Bob VanVeldhuizen will host Stump the Chump: Peony Growers Q&A at 6 p.m. May 26. The Zoom is for new or established peony growers or just folks who want information about growing beautiful flowers. He will offer information on fertilizer and lime applications, irrigation and fertigation. Register here.

In the Virtual Garden with Cooperative Extension meets every Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. with 30 minutes of gardening information hosted by the Anchorage Outreach Center. May programs emphasize flowers. The May 27 event is Intro to Fabulous Flower Garden Design, and on June 3, it’s Terrific Tomatoes. Register at https://bit.ly/AOC_ITVGCES.

DeShana York and Art Nash will join the AgrAbility project’s nonprofit partner, Assistive Technologies of Alaska (ATLA), for a “Coffee Chat” on accessible gardening.  The topics are resources, modified tool options and planning for accessible spaces. The discussion will take place from 11 a.m.-noon Thursday, May 28. Register here.

Kenai Peninsula agent Casey Matney is leading a spring series on lawn and garden topics from 5:30-7 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Dates have changed on the upcoming classes, which are currently full, but they will be posted on the Kenai Ag-Hort YouTube channel. They are Lawn Management for Your Home, May 28; Preparing Your Garden Soil for Planting and Warming Your Soil, June 2; and Direct Seeding and Transplanting into the Garden, June 4.

Photo of five chickens

What came first, the chicken or the disease? Join two veterinarians at 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 2, as they talk about basic diseases of the backyard layer and how to maintain their health. Hosted by the Matanuska Experiment Farm and Extension Center. Register in advance for the meeting.

Food Preservation and foods

Southeast agent Sarah Lewis will teach All About the Basil: Preserving Herbs, from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Saturday, May 30. Register here.

Photo of basil leaves

She is also leading a class on Canning Soups and Sauces from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, June 6.  Registration is available here.

Health

The Anchorage Movement Culture will meet via Zoom every Wednesday in May from 3-3:30 p.m. The featured activity for May is Dynamic Stretch, a family-friendly program that is great for people of all ages and fitness levels. These gentle movements are fun and will increase mobility, decrease pain, and will invigorate. Register at https://AnchorageMovementClub for the link and information on how to join.

Other Workshops

Image of UAF Walkabout Wednesdays flier

Ann Biddle and Jodie Anderson of the Matanuska Experiment Farm and Extension Center will host Walkabout Wednesdays: Citizen Science Opportunities from Home at 2:15 p.m. Wednesdays during May. Join them May 27 on Facebook Live from the farm’s page. They promise “nerdy science tidbits you can take part in from home.”

Steve Brown, Mat-Su agriculture agent and mountain climber, is leading a four-week Mountain Madness series on mountain climbing tips and his climbs, which continues with Aconcagua at 6 p.m. May 27. Register for the Zoom. He will talk about Kilamanjaro June 3 at 6 p.m., the final session. Here’s the registration.
And, if you are a knitter or want to be, consider Anchorage Extension’s Warm Up Virtual Knit-along Fridays from 10:30-11 a.m., through May 29. Each class session will include a brief review of the basics and time for hands-on instruction. Log in at https://alaska.zoom.us/j/448560894.

Publications

Although our offices aren’t open, hundreds of our publications are free and remain available online. If you’d like to establish or spruce up your lawn this year, two publications can help: “Establishing and Maintaining a Lawn in Southcentral and Interior Alaska,” “Establishing and Maintaining a Lawn in Southeast Alaska.” Got moss? Try our “Moss Control in Lawns.” Search our publications database for other topics.
We also have over 100 educational videos on our YouTube channel. Topics include gardening, money management, food preservation and more!

Kids Activities

"Learn by doing" At Home series - Water Experiments Test out some fun water experiments, pick your favorite and put on a fun "magic" show for your family. See if they can explain how each experiment works!

Try your hand at some fun water experiments through the 4-H group’s Learn By Doing at Home Series. Bend water and defy gravity with these experiments. Other activities include yoga, letter writing and watercolor painting.
Learn the FUNdamentals of Zumba fitness Thursdays at 2 p.m. on Zoom, through May 28. Zumba instructor Reina Hasting will lead these family-friendly sessions. Register in advance here.
UAF Summer Sessions and Lifelong Learning is offering fun virtual camps. Study
archaeology, butterfly yoga or gardening. Scholarships are available.
The Alaska 4-H Facebook page is highlighting activities from 4-H youth around the state.

 

Follow Extension’s Facebook page for announcements of upcoming events.

Faculty and staff are still working, so don’t hesitate to contact them with questions. Emails are best since many of us are working from home. Look up contact information on our directory or use the Ask an Expert form to get your questions answered!