Marriottsville/ Sykesville /Woodstock

Some of us who do not hike may choose to interact with nature in another way – gardening. The economic downturn has spurred an interest in kitchen gardens, which are currently producing a bountiful harvest across our state. If you have run out of interesting tomato recipes, or your neighbors hide when they see you coming with more zucchini, or you would just like to enjoy your efforts for months to come, the Maryland Cooperative Extension offers a food preservation workshop entitled, “From Your Garden to Your Pantry.”

This workshop covers information about freezing and canning and costs $15. The fee includes a copy of “The Ball Blue Book of Preservation,” plus a take-home sample from class.

Classes are limited to 15 participants and take place at the Montgomery County Extension Office (18510 Muncaster Road, in Derwood) on July 21 from 5:30-7:30 p.m., and again on July 25 from 10 a.m. – noon. Participants must pre-register; call Rebecca Davis at 301-590-2816 or e-mail rdavis3@umd.edu for more information.

Howard County 4-H invites youth ages 8-13 to participate in a Progressive Agricultural Safety Day at the Howard County Fairgrounds on June 29 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. The event, which costs $5, covers such topics as fire, water, sun, and road safety, and it includes snacks, lunch, a T-shirt, and a take-home bag of safety materials.

To print a registration form, go to www.howard4-h.org. Space is limited to the first 50 applicants.

Contact Howard County 4-H Extension Educator Sheryl Bennett at 410-313-1912 or sherylb@umd.edu for more information.

The Howard County office of the Maryland Cooperative Extension welcomes Amanda Rockler as its new Regional Watershed Restoration Specialist for Western Maryland. Rockler comes to the position from the City of Rockville, where she served as Watershed Protection Specialist.

Only two RWRS positions exist in Maryland – the other is based on the Eastern Shore – and both arose out of the new Watershed Assistance Collaborative between the Department of Natural Resources Chesapeake and Coastal Program, the Chesapeake Bay Trust, and the University of Maryland Cooperative Extension Sea Grant Program. The Collaborative aims to further protect and restore the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.

Christine Lothen-Kline, Howard County Extension Coordinator, explains that “One of the major waterways targeted for this program is the Patuxent, and given that, the central location of Howard County, and the priority that County Executive Ulman has given the environment, makes this an ideal location to base this position.”

To reach Amanda Rockler, call 410-313-2708 or e-mail arockler@umd.edu.

Coming in March, the Howard County Extension Office will offer its popular short course series, Beginning a Successful Small Farm Operation, Part I. (Part II will take place in Frederick County beginning in April.)

This award-winning program, which is taught nationwide, helps participants gain an understanding of agriculture, gives them the resources to better define their goals, and offers an opportunity to network with like-minded individuals.

Class topics include Finding the Perfect Farm Enterprise/Marketing What You Produce, Basics of Soil and Plant Fertility, Review of Pasture Weeds, Cover Crops/Field and Forage Crops on Small Farms, Developing a Pasture System, and Pasture System Management/Hay Evaluation.

Classes will take place on Thursdays, from 7-9 p.m., March 5 through April 16, at the Howard County Extension Office. The address is 3525-L Ellicott Mills Drive in Ellicott City. Registration is free, and the course fills quickly. For more information, call either the Howard County Extension Office at 410-313-2707 or Terry Poole at 301-600-3577.

Have you ever dreamed of establishing a small farm? The Maryland Cooperative Extension can help you realize your goal through its two-part short course series,
“Beginning a Successful Small Farm Operation. ” The program has earned national recognition for its innovation and effectiveness and now appears for the first time in Howard County.

Part I of the series, a six-week, 12-hour course, begins this fall. (Part II takes place in the spring.) Topics include Finding the Perfect Farm Enterprise/Marketing What You Produce, Basics of Soil and Plant Fertility, Review of Pasture Weeds, Cover Crops/Field and Forage Crops on Small Farms, Developing a Pasture System, and Pasture System Management/Hay Evaluation. The program not only teaches the basics of farming, it also provides a means of networking with others who share similar interests.

Instructor Terry Poole will teach the course from Nov. 6, 19 and 25 and Dec. 4, 11 and 18 from 7 to 9 p.m. All sessions will take place at the Howard County Extension Office, located at 3525-L Ellicott Mills Drive, Ellicott City, MD 21043. Registration is free, and space is limited. For more information, call either the Howard County Extension Office at 410-313-2707 or Poole at 301-600-3577.