While University of Alaska offices are closed, Cooperative Extension will offer a variety of distance-delivery programs, including several upcoming sessions on gardening.
Our offices are closed through April 30, but we’re still working and answering questions you have. A list of upcoming workshops and activities for the next two weeks includes:
Gardening and agriculture
Kenai Peninsula agent Casey Matney is hosting a series of Zoom webinars on various agricultural topics. Part two of a pasture and hay workshop is at 5:30 p.m. April 21, on seeding, harvesting and grazing. These webinars are free, but please register on the district website. Connection details will be sent by email after registration.
In the Virtual Garden with Cooperative Extension: The Anchorage Outreach Center and Gina Dionne will host a weekly 30-minute session filled with tips and tricks for successful home gardening in Alaska. The series will meet Wednesdays at 12:30 p.m., through April 29 by Facebook Live and Zoom. Please register at https://bit.ly/AOC_ITVGCES.
Mat-Su agent Steve Brown will present Fundamentals of Alaskan Gardening at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 16, as part of the Matanuska Experiment Farm and Extension Center’s Third Thursday series. Here’s the Zoom link: https://alaska.zoom.us/j/635747646.
The 2020 Southeast Alaska Gardener Conference will meet by video, Wednesdays and Fridays from 6-8 p.m., starting April 15 and continuing through May 8. See details on the subjects, presenters and registration. The conference is free. Topics will include high tunnels and greenhouse experiences, climate trends, growing produce, integrated pest management, pollinators, etc.
Heidi Rader and Nancy Fresco will present Gardening in the Arctic as part of the International Arctic Research Center’s IARC Salon by Zoom from 2-3 p.m. April 23. Fresco is a research professor who developed the Garden Helper Tool to explore Alaska growing conditions under a changing climate and Rader is a tribes Extension educator who directs the vegetable variety trials in Fairbanks. Join at https://uaf-iarc.org/event/gardening-in-the-arctic.
Food preservation and foods
Juneau agent Sarah Lewis will host a Zoom session, Canning 101: Science and Safety from 11 a.m. -12:30 p.m. Saturday, April 18. Register at https://bit.ly/canning101ss to get the Zoom link.
Sarah Lewis will also teach Starting a Cottage Foods Business in Alaska class from 2-3:30 p.m. April 25 via Zoom. Register here.
Other workshops
The Anchorage Movement Culture will meet via Zoom on Wednesdays in April from 3- 3:30 p.m. The featured activity for April, taught by Birgit Hagerdorn, is a family-friendly tai chi class. It’s available at https://alaska.zoom.us/j/414289537.
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. Each class session will include a brief review of the basics and time for hands-on instruction. A 90-minute session on April 24 will include instruction on the seed stitch. Log in 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. While there is still snow on the ground, many Alaskans are thinking about gardening. Two of our most popular publications are “16 Easy Steps to Gardening in Alaska” and “Raised Bed Gardening in Alaska.” Want to get started on composting this year? We have three publications, “Composting with Worms”, “The Compost Heap: Basic Composting in Alaska” and “Composting in Alaska.” Search our publications database for topics.
We also have over 100 educational videos on our YouTube channel. Topics include gardening, money management, food preservation and more!
Kids activities
Our 4-H group has also put together ideas for kids’ activities, our Learn By Doing at Home Series with great ideas for kids activities including, yoga, letter writing and watercolor painting.
They’ve also put together a list of 4-H and youth resources from around the country, including at-home activities, online challenges and ideas for staying connected while so many people remain isolated due to the pandemic.
The Tanana District 4-H Program will host two small animal Zoom workshops this weekend that are open to all. Cavy Connections with Fairbanks breeder and showman Beth Norman will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 18. A rabbit clinic on judging, health and first aid and breeding begins at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 19. That event will be with American Rabbit Breeders Association judge Steve Roush. Email Marla Lowder at mklowder@alaska.edu to get the Zoom meeting numbers for either or both events.
The Alaska 4-H Facebook page is highlighting activities from 4-H youth around the state.
