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 next the few 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 will be held Thursday, April 23, at 5:30 p.m. and will focus 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. This week, Jodie Anderson will talk about soil management. Please register at https://bit.ly/AOC_ITVGCES.
The 2020 Southeast Alaska Gardener Conference will meet by video, Wednesdays and Fridays from 6-8 p.m. 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. Register here to receive the Zoom link.
Food preservation and foods
Juneau agent Sarah Lewis will teach Starting a Cottage Foods Business in Alaska class from 2-3:30 p.m. April 25 via Zoom. Register here.
Sarah will also host Canning Dry Beans on May 9 from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. via Zoom. Register here.
Health
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.
Extension in Palmer and Fairbanks will offer the six-week Diabetes Self-Management Program, beginning May 5. The class will meet by Zoom at 1:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays. The weekly Zoom classes will cover controlling blood sugar levels, meal planning, exercise and other issues with individuals managing diabetes. The session is free but participants must preregister to get materials beforehand. For more information, contact Leslie Shallcross at lashallcross@alaska.edu.
Other workshops
Extension in Mat-Su will host Chicken University from 6-7 p.m. April 30. Learn about the fundamentals of raising a backyard flock in Alaska. Register in advance for the Zoom.
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. Publications that may be of interest to new gardeners include, “Raising Vegetables in Mini Gardens” as well as the recommended variety lists for Interior, Southcentral and Southeastern Alaska. Birch sap is flowing in Fairbanks, so check out “Backyard Birch Tapping & Syrup Basics.” 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
Our 4-H group has 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 Alaska 4-H Facebook page is highlighting activities from 4-H youth around the state.
