Friday, September 23, 2016

Using Water Wisely – Demonstration Field Day


Saturday, November 5, 2016
9 am to 1 pm
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service-Travis County
1600-B Smith Road, Austin, 78721


Learn about the entire spectrum of water saving solutions from high tech to no tech at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Office Demonstration Field Day in Austin. You determine the best answer for your situation and pocket book.
Travis County Master Gardeners and Horticulturist Daphne Richards will be available to demonstrate and answer your questions on a one-on-one basis.

Discover various rain water catchment methods. See examples of various watering methods from a wicking bed to drip irrigation. Understand the importance of compost for water conservation and plant health. Gain knowledge about the importance of selecting the right plant for the right place. Look at ways to control heat (summer and winter) to increase vegetable garden production.

Come stroll the diverse garden and ask questions. Enjoy watching the butterflies, bees, blooming flowers, and growing vegetables. Take home lettuce seeds and how-to knowledge to accomplish your next project.

Demonstration Field Day is free and open to the public – No RSVP is required.

For more information, contact Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service – Travis County, 512-854-9600 or visit the Central Texas Horticulture.

Friday, September 16, 2016

Chickens in Your Backyard

October 13
10 am - 12 noon

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service-Travis County
1600-B Smith Road, Austin, 78721


Are you ready for the fun and rewarding experience of keeping your own backyard chickens?

Learn about planning your coop, breed selection, caring for chicks, ideas to beat boredom, diets for delicious eggs and keeping the coop clean. Master Gardener Laura Wills raises all sorts of fowl - chickens, ducks, turkeys, guinea fowl and quail and will help you get started with this informative talk on raising the home flock.

Cost: $10 thru 10/3, $15 starting 10/4 and onsite
Register: https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/TravisCounty
Register by Phone: 979-845-2604
Contact: Sue Carrasco, 512-854-9610 or sacarrasco@ag.tamu.edu






Thursday, September 15, 2016

Great Upcoming FREE Program: Market Ready


Our upcoming FREE workshop, Market Ready, will discuss some of the best practices involved in marketing and selling your home-grown products locally. It's perfect for small-acreage producers, but even backyard growers who want to explore selling produce, herbs, eggs, honey, etc. locally, will benefit. Please join us! Press release below.
The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in Travis County will present a marketing workshop to help small-scale agricultural producers sell their produce to area restaurants and grocery stores.

The free workshop, “Market Ready Training: Selling to Restaurants for Local Growers,” will be held from 9 a.m.-noon Sept. 26 at the AgriLife Extension office, 1600-B Smith Road in Austin.

“The program is designed for local farmers and small-acreage growers, as well as potential buyers,” explained Dr. Daniel Chavez, AgriLife Extension economist, College Station

Chavez, who will present the program the workshop, said topics will include restaurant sales, product marketing, the Young Farmer Grant Program and the Texas Department of Agriculture’s GO TEXAN program.

“The Market Ready program is value-added, best practices course that covers the nuts and bolts of making your product market ready for sale to local restaurants, smaller grocery stores, small grocery chains and others,” he said.

Chavez said workshop specifics would include relationship building, product packaging, labeling and pricing, delivery and storage, along with invoicing, quality assurance and insurance requirements. There also will be information on the financial assistance programs available to small-scale producers.

“At this workshop, attendees will get to know what the potential buyers want and how to effectively market their produce,” he said.  

For more information, contact Chavez at 979-587-4492 
To RSVP, contact Daphne Richards at drichards@ag.tamu.edu