Shelby County, Alabama Extension Office

Our Master Gardeners had such a great turn out for their first Lunch and Learn in May that they are planning another one! On August 19th you can bring your lunch and hear all about cool weather vegetable gardening from our own Master Gardener President, Elizabeth York. The cost is $5 and can be paid when you come. To Register please call our office at (205) 669-6763 or email Jessica at [email protected].

It's happening again!!! Angela will be teaching another Cottage Food class with certification in August. These classes fill up quickly so register soon! You do not want to miss it. You can register at www.aces.edu/go/cottagefood. If you have any questions please reach out to our office at (205) 669-6763 or directly to Angela at (205) 410-3696.

Food Preservation Camps are about to start up! That means lots of supplies have been delivered to the office, so of course we made the most of unpacking and preparing it all. With all the packing materials and big boxes we had some good laughs. We love getting to know, help, and share educational opportunities with all of you, but we also like to have fun! If you come in and see us being silly feel free to join in!

We always have soil sample kits in our office. These kits can aid in making sure your soil is amended correctly before growing seasons, but they are also good to help with lawn problems and more. We are happy to assist you in making sure your soil samples are filled out and done correctly. We also will help you understand the results and what is need once you get them back from Auburn's Soil Lab. Stop by anytime to pick up your kit!

An Alabama growers permit is a marketing expansion tool that allows Alabama growers to sell directly to consumers without having to pay licensing fees or sales tax for raw agricultural commodities that they raise. These include fresh fruits, vegetables, and eggs. It also covers the sale of vegetable transplants and ornamental plants, if the producer has raised the plants for more than two weeks. You can get your growers permit right here at our office for free!

Hey Seniors, You do not want to miss this free, fun event! Our Master Gardeners will be there having a plant sale and some of our Shelby County Extension staff will be there to get to know you and answer any question too! Please call (205) 991-5742 to register so they can get a count for lunch. See you there Thursday!

This course is designed for growers, consultants, scouts, and agri-fieldmen to discuss pest identification, thresholds, and management strategies in cotton and soybean. We also hope to have an afternoon in-field training session on insect and w**d identification and PGR use. All are welcome to join.

Join us for a 2-day food preservation camp hosted by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System this summer! Learn from regional Extension agents about pressure canning, water bath canning, fermentation, steam juicing, jams and jellies, and pickling. Get hands-on experience and take home your creations to enjoy. Plus, receive a free copy of So Easy to Preserve! Spots are limited, so register soon! Camp fee covers both days and spots are limited to 20 people per camp. Go to www.aces.edu/go/preservationcamp24

Alabama Extension to offer course on state cottage food law in Columbiana - Shelby County Reporter Those interested in starting small-scale cottage food operations will soon have another opportunity to attend a class presented by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System that seeks to provide necessary education related to Alabama’s cottage food production law.

It has been so popular that we are adding another one!! Get signed up for your Cottage Food Safety Training Class with Angela today! Theses classes have all reach capacity quickly so you do not want to miss out!

Don't forget to sign up for the Lunch & Learn on growing tomatoes hosted by our Shelby County Master Gardeners. You can register by calling our office at (205) 669-6763 or emailing [email protected]

Don't miss out on this amazing webinar series! sign up today!

April Showers Bring May Flowers!
The month of May on Alabama Smart Yards Webinar will be a busy one.
What's Blooming in North Alabama?
There is a huge difference in climates from North Alabama to South Alabama. Residents from North Alabama sent in their observations of what is blooming in North Alabama landscapes.

Wednesday, May 8
1:00 - 1:30 pm

Register here:
www.aces.edu/go/asywebinars

Do you plan to sell your products at a farmers’ market in Alabama? Join us to learn about how to complete assessments of your business and market, how to price for profit, tips for running your booth, and creating a marketing plan. You will have the opportunity to meet the regional extension agents from the farm and agribusiness management team and ask questions you need answers to ensure your success. You must register at https://www.aces.edu/go/4199 to receive the meeting link.

Want to join our team? The posting for the 4-H Agent Assistant position closes tomorrow. You must be a highschool graduate and able to drive. Get those applications in! Or call us with any questions.

You do not have to be a Master Gardener to attend the educational part of their meetings! Anyone can attend. Make plans to be there next friday for information on growing a square foot vegetable garden.

Don't forget to give us a call at (205) 669-6763 tok sign up for our Shelby County Master Gardeners' Lunch & Learn that will be on May 21st!

Join our team! We are looking for a 4-H Agent Assistant to join us in our Shelby County office. The position is open until May 7th. You can apply online. If you have any questions please reach out to our office.

https://www.auemployment.com/postings/45013

#4-HShelbyCounty

Bring your lunch and join our Master Gardeners for a Lunch & Learn on May 21 from 12-2! Master Gardener, Larry Kronk, will be presenting all you need to know about planting and growing tomatoes! The cost is $5 and you can register by calling the office at (205) 669-6763 or emailing [email protected].

We cannot wait to celebrate our senior population at the 2024 Shelby County Senior Picnic. Registration for our residents aged 55 and up is open at picnic.shelbyal.com. Join us for food, music, and fun at the Shelby County Exhibition Center on April 24th.

Want to learn all about container gardening? Join our Shelby County Master Gardeners for their monthly meeting next Friday, April 12 at 10AM. You are guaranteed to learn tons and have a load of fun!

So many ways to support the children in our community, but this is an excellent one! Wear blue for Child Abuse Prevention month.

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month! Follow along as we highlight all things prevention and education for the next 30 days. There are some opportunities for you to get involved in our mission, including our event, Rhythm & Brews, on April 13 at Siluria Brewing Company! Owens House is also partnering with Columbiana, Calera and Montevallo Main Streets to Paint the Town Blue. 💙

Food safety for all your egg hunt fun for the weekend!

Join us as we prioritize Food Safety this Easter season! 🐣 🍽️ 🥚

Here are some essential tips to ensure safety during your egg hunts this holiday.

🥚 Don't let eggs sit at room temperature for more than two hours.
🥚 Keep hard-cooked eggs in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
🥚 Use a food-grade dye if you plan on eating the decorative eggs.
🥚 Hide the eggs in places that are protected from dirt, pets and other potential sources of bacteria.
🥚 Hard-boiled eggs are only safe to eat for one week after cooking.

For more food safety tips for Easter and Passover, please visit https://www.fightbac.org/egg-stra-care-for-spring-celebrations/

This Saturday, March 30 is the first free landfill day of 2024 for Shelby County residents.

Shelby County sets date for 2024 free landfill days - Shelby County Reporter Shelby County residents who wish to get rid of excess items and trash will have an opportunity to do so without charge during Shelby County’s two free landfill days.

We would love for you to join our ACES team!

Click the link to learn more and apply for the Financial Resource Management Educator (Regional Extension Agent) for central Alabama.

www.auemployment.com

You having been asking and we finally have it! Cottage Food Safety Training and Certification classes are BACK! Join Angela as she leads this class for Shelby and Bibb counties on April 26th. The link to sign up is on the flyer below.

It’s the first day of spring! Do you know what that means? Strawberries are coming! It’s also time to get jamming with Angela! You do not want to miss this food preservation class where you will get to take home your own canned jam. go to the link on the picture to register today.

Join us next Tuesday, March 19 from 10 - 12 for a Cotton production meeting. It is free and lunch will be provided. Contact our office or Blake Lanton at (256) 214-9630.

There is still time to register for the Private Pesticide Applicator Training and Testing happening at our office on Wednesday. If you would like to sign up give us a call at (205) 669-6763.