Monday, June 29, 2015

Backyard Basics Fall Series

Backyard Basics, offered by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in Travis County, will provide consumers, backyard gardeners, homemakers, educators and farmers a "do-it-yourself" learning opportunity on raising chickens for home egg production, implementing integrated pest management principles, starting new plants from cuttings, and growing edible plants with ornamental potential.

The monthly programs will be held from 10 a.m. to noon at the AgriLife Extension office in southeast Austin, located at 1600-B Smith Road.  Space is limited so register on-line early to reserve your seat!


August 6 – Backyard Chickens
Are you ready for the fun and rewarding experience of keeping your own backyard chickens?  Learn about the various breeds, caring for chicks, ideas to beat boredom, diets for delicious eggs and keeping the coop clean. Master Gardener Ally Stresing will help you get started with this informative talk on raising the home flock. Ally is an accomplished vegetable gardener who decided that no backyard garden is complete without chickens.

Cost: $10 thru 7/27, $15 starting 7/28 and onsite, No cash accepted-checks & credit cards only.
Register: https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/TravisCounty
Register by Phone: 979-845-2604
Contact: Sue Carrasco, 512-854-9610 or sacarrasco@ag.tamu.edu


September 10 – Natural Pest Control
Come learn how to tell pests from other insects found in your backyard. We will focus on integrated pest management (IPM) to avoid many problem pests you may experience. Learn a combination of practices to prevent or avoid pest problems rather than treating them once they occur. Stabilize your landscape so that conditions are more favorable for plants than for pests. Wizzie Brown serves as Program Specialist – IPM in the Austin metroplex encompassing Travis County and surrounding counties. Visit her blog at http://urban-ipm.blogspot.com/

Cost: $10 thru 8/31, $15 starting 09/01 and onsite, No cash accepted-checks & credit cards only.
Register: https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/TravisCounty
Register by Phone: 979-845-2604
Contact: Sue Carrasco, 512-854-9610 or sacarrasco@ag.tamu.edu


October 8 – Plant Propagation
Learn how to make new plants for your yard through propagation methods such as rooting slips and cuttings. In this workshop you will assemble a self-watering propagator and select cuttings to grow new plants. All supplies, instructions, and cuttings will be provided for each participant. Master Gardener Sue King, a Plant Propagation Specialist, is a retired school librarian, an avid soup-maker, and a life-long gardener. Master Gardener Carolyn Turman found propagating plants using cuttings as an easy and inexpensive way to add wonderful additions to her landscape.

Space is limited to 25 - register on-line. No on-site registration available.
Cost: $25 thru 9/28, $30 starting 9/29.  No cash accepted-checks & credit cards only.
Register: https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/TravisCounty
Register by Phone: 979-845-2604
Contact: Sue Carrasco, 512-854-9610 or sacarrasco@ag.tamu.edu


November 12 - Bold and Beautiful Edibles
Come join us to learn about edible plants with ornamental potential for Central Texas landscapes. We're talking artichokes, asparagus, rhubarb, strawberries, herbs and more. Some are perennials, some are annuals, but all will beautify your landscape and satisfy your appetite. Master Gardener Patty Leander is a writer for Texas Gardener magazine and grows vegetables year round in her Oak Hill garden.

Cost: $10 thru 11/02, $15 starting 11/03 & onsite, No cash accepted-checks & credit cards only.


Register: https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/TravisCounty
Register by Phone: 979-845-2604
Contact: Sue Carrasco, 512-854-9610 or sacarrasco@ag.tamu.edu

Thursday, June 25, 2015

Pond Basics - the Big, Bad and Beautiful

Saturday, July 18,  10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Zilker Botanical Garden
2220 Barton Springs Road, Austin, 78746


Come learn about the steps of building a pond in your backyard and the best tips for success.

Jeannie Farrier, Austin Pond Society Board Member and 2014 President, and also a retired teacher, has had ponds for over a decade. Her most recent pond holds 10,000 gallons.  

Seminar is free

Zilker park entrance fee is $2 per adult, $1 per child (ages 3-12) or seniors (age 62 & over),
$3 for non-Austin Residents. Cash or check accepted.

For more information contact: Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service – Travis County, 512-854-9600

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/travis/local-extension-resources/calendar-2/

Friday, June 12, 2015

Best Culinary Herbs for Austin

Saturday, June 20th, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Zilker Botanical Garden
2220 Barton Springs Road, Austin, 78746
 
Make meals more flavorful by growing your own herbs. Mild or savory herbs are delicate while pungent herbs add zest. Master Gardener Judith Craft will talk about the best herbs to grow in the Austin area. If time allows, she will lead a walk through the herb garden at Zilker.

Judith became a Master Gardener after retiring and has been the primary volunteer in the herb garden at Zilker Botanical Garden for the past 10 years and a member of the Austin Herb Society for 25 years.
 
Seminar is free

Zilker park entrance fee is $2 per adult, $1 per child (ages 3-12) or seniors (age 62 & over), $3 for non-Austin Residents.
Cash or check accepted.

For more information contact: Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service – Travis County, 512-854-9600

Friday, June 5, 2015

Preparing for the Fall Garden

Early registration ends soon -  $10 thru 6/07, $15 starting 6/08 and onsite
Register Online: https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/TravisCounty

June 11, 2015 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Office
1600 B Smith Rd, Austin, 78721


Imagine gardening without sweat dripping from your brow or mosquitos buzzing in your ears or having to water every day. Those are just a few of the many benefits of the cool season vegetable garden. Join us as we discuss vegetable selection, soil preparation and the importance of timing for the fall and winter garden.

Master Gardener Patty Leander is a writer for Texas Gardener magazine and grows vegetables year round in her Oak Hill garden.

Space is limited, register to reserve your seat!

Contact: Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service – Travis County, 512-854-9600,  Sue Carrasco, sacarrasco@ag.tamu.edu