Upcoming seminar: Fall-Winter Vegetable Gardening

Fall-Winter Vegetable Gardening
Thursday, August 8, 2013, 10am-12pm
Travis County AgriLife Extension Office
1600 B Smith Rd., Austin TX  78721

It may be hotter than blazes right now but it’s time for a second round of warm season veggies and to plan for those wonderful cool season veggies we can grow from late summer through winter.  There’s nothing like “home grown”. Master Gardener Vegetable Garden Specialist Tommie Clayton will teach which vegetables we can grow, how to get them off to a good start and how to care for them right up to harvest!  Session is excellent for new and experienced gardeners.  Register at https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/TravisCounty or by phone 979-845-2604.  Class is limited to 40 people. $10 preregister or $15 on site.

This seminar is presented by the Travis County Master Gardeners, a volunteer arm of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in Travis County.  www.tcmastergardeners.org.  Call (512) 854-9600 for more information.

Reminder: You Can Still Participate in STRONG STARTS: Urban Farming 101

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in Travis County offers its Strong Starts program for small-scale agricultural producers wanting practical information and instruction on for-profit farming.  The program will be helpful for both home and small-plot producers, including producers who grow for farmers markets or are involved in sustainable foods efforts or community gardens.

AgriLife Extension specialists join community experts and local growers to teach and advise Strong Starts participants during this program.  Each day of instruction over the five-week period will examine an important aspect of successful for-profit farming, and will offer a robust set of information, resources, and hands-on learning opportunities.

Classes Remaining Include:

· July 23: Cultivation and Methods in Central Texas - Everything you need to know to start your vegetable operation or orchard - learn from Extension Specialists.  Includes on-farm training at Boggy Creek Farm.

· Aug. 6: Local Food System and Farmers’ Resources Showcase - Will show participants how to become informed, inspired and connected through presentations by food system insiders. Presentations by the USDA's NRCS, FARFA, Web Soil Survey, City of Austin, and much more!

· Aug. 13: Sales and Marketing - Sell your harvest at local schools, grocers, and farmers markets - this day will be full of useful tools and information! Explore Texas Market Maker and learn basic social media use for farmers.

Pricing is $65 per day for 1 - 3 days.

To register, call 979-845-2604 or see the full agenda and register online at to the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Conference Services website:  https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/index.cfm/productDetails/productid/1299/.

New event announcement: Water Wise Practices and Demonstration Garden Open House

Want to do better at being water wise in your landscape? 

Water Wise Open House

Saturday, October 5, 2013, 9am-1pm

Travis County AgriLife Extension Office

1600 B Smith Rd., Austin TX  78721

Come learn water wise practices for your home landscape at the Texas A&M Travis County AgriLife Extension Office Open House!  Travis County Master Gardeners are available for one-on-one discussion on installing drip irrigation, composting, vegetable gardening, raising chickens, and identifying good/bad bugs.   Free event for the entire family with hands-on kid’s activities.  Stroll the demonstration garden and ask questions.  Great gardening publications available.   This event is presented by the Travis County Master Gardeners, a volunteer arm of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in Travis County.  www.tcmastergardeners.org.  Call (512) 854-9600 for more information.

Gardening in the Drought--Drip Irrigation seminar this Saturday

Setting Up and Using Drip Irrigation Saturday, July 13, 2013, 10am-12pm Zilker Botanical Garden, Garden Center 2220 Barton Springs Rd. Austin TX 78746 Did you know that drip irrigation is one of the most effective and efficient ways to water your garden and landscape beds, trees, vines and bushes?  Drip irrigation is exempt from Austin’s stage one, two and three water restriction schedules, due to its increased efficiency. The City of Austin has been under Stage Two Water Restrictions since September 2012, so take advantage of drip irrigation to help your landscape survive Central Texas’ current and forecast drought conditions.  This class will show you how to plan a system, where to buy supplies, and how to maintain your drip irrigation system to get the most out of it.  Find out how a traditional water sprinkler system can be converted into a drip irrigation system to reduce consumption – and lower your water bill. The event is free to the public. It is presented by the Travis County Master Gardeners, a volunteer arm of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in Travis County. www.tcmastergardeners.org. For information, call (512) 854-9600.

Upcoming seminar: Learn about adding daylilies to your garden!

Loveable Daylilies

Thursday, July 11, 2013, 10am-12pm

Travis County AgriLife Extension Office

1600 B Smith Rd., Austin TX  78721

Daylilies are rugged, adaptable, vigorous perennials that endure in a garden for many years with little or no care.  They can add soft or powerful splashes of color to the garden.  Velia Sanchez-Ruiz will cover daylily planting topics including  planting, fertilizer, controlling pest, and propagation.  Learn about evergreen and dormant varieties and repeat bloomers.  This talk is free to the public and presented by the Travis County Master Gardeners, a volunteer arm of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in Travis County.  www.tcmastergardeners.org.  Call (512) 854-9600 for more information.

Yes, it will get cool again!

Fall-Winter Vegetable Gardening

Thursday, August 8, 2013, 10am-12pm

Travis County AgriLife Extension Office

1600 B Smith Rd., Austin TX  78721

It may be hotter than blazes right now but it’s time for a second round of warm season veggies and to plan for those wonderful cool season veggies we can grow from late summer through winter.  There’s nothing like “home grown”. Master Gardener Vegetable Garden Specialist Tommie Clayton will teach which vegetables we can grow, how to get them off to a good start and how to care for them right up to harvest!  Session is excellent for new and experienced gardeners.  Register at https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/TravisCounty or by phone 979-845-2604.  Class is limited to 40 people. $10 preregister or $15 on site.

This seminar is presented by the Travis County Master Gardeners, a volunteer arm of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in Travis County.  www.tcmastergardeners.org.  Call (512) 854-9600 for more information.