U of I Extension announces upcoming programs

[August 15, 2013]  Below is information about upcoming University of Illinois Extension programs:

Yes! You Can: Preserving Safely

Wouldn't it be nice to enjoy garden or farmers market produce all year long? Whether just starting out or updating your food preservation knowledge, you can join University of Illinois Extension nutrition and wellness educator Caitlin Huth for this timely seasonal program.

Topics covered include basic food preservation, the most current methods for preserving food safely and updated guidelines for home canning. Bring your pressure canner gauge and have it tested for accuracy (just bring your canner lid).

"Yes! You Can" will be presented Aug. 19 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Sangamon County Extension office, 700 S. Airport Drive in Springfield. Cost of the program is $5.

Register by calling the Sangamon County office at 2127-782-4617 or online at https://webs.extension.uiuc.edu/
registration/?RegistrationID=8653 by Aug. 19. Space is limited, so enroll now.

Growing Vegetables Year-Round -- A Small Farms Webinar

An Extension webinar will provide information to market vegetable growers on how to grow crops year-round. The time to think about production is now. Greens, roots and other crops can all be grown and harvested through the winter in this climate.

The basics of vegetable variety selection, planting considerations, watering and harvest will all be covered. Attend this Web program and find the knowledge and inspiration you'll need to eat, grow and sell more produce throughout the year.

The program is presented by Nathan Johanning and Dr. Kyle Cecil, University of Illinois Extension educators on local foods and small farms.

The webinar will be on Aug. 30 from noon until 1:30 p.m. You can attend from home via your personal computer.

To register, visit https://webs.extension.uiuc.edu/
registration/?RegistrationID=8698. For more information, contact Deborah Cavanaugh-Grant, University of Illinois Extension, at [e-mail], 217-782-4617.

Pumpkin Field Day

There will be a field day in Hancock County to learn about pumpkin variety selection and many other topics. There can be no substitute for firsthand experience with what varieties do well at your own farm and market, but variety trial reports can be of help by allowing you to see many different varieties grown under similar conditions. This way, growers can compare varieties and decide which may work for their particular market.

Speakers will be Dr. Mohammad Babadoost and Dr. Richard Weinzierl of the University of Illinois Department of Crop Sciences and Vince Lawson of Iowa State University.

The field day will be on Sept. 6, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Galesburg.

To register, visit https://webs.extension.uiuc.edu/
registration/?RegistrationID=8690. For more information, contact Deborah Cavanaugh-Grant, University of Illinois Extension, at [e-mail] or 217-782-4617.

[Text from file received from University of Illinois Extension]