COLUMN: Purdue Extension: March: Farm and garden time

We made it through winter!

Looking ahead, the third week of March is observed as National Agriculture Week. Why celebrate our ability to feed ourselves and many around the world? Well, all you have to do is look at recent years and the negative impact of food insecurity around the world and we realize what a blessing our food supply truly is. We have an abundant and safe food supply in the United States and should think about how important that is to a stable economy and society. We are all involved in agriculture because we all eat three meals a day, every day. Let’s take a moment during National Agriculture Week to count our blessings and recognize the farmers and agribusiness families that provide abundant and wholesome food, as well as provide fiber and fuel from our farms.

Purdue Extension-Clay County is hosting a garden expo on Saturday, March 29, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Clay County Fairgrounds. I am currently soliciting vendors for this event, which is an area event. My intent is for the expo to showcase businesses that provide garden plants, supplies and services. Vendor space is $50 for the table space, and two tables can be reserved for $90. There will be gardening talks each hour, on the hour, and a youth activity center will be available. We are getting decent feedback about the event, and I think the crummy winter is helping everyone yearn for warmer weather. Vendors: email me at luzar@purdue.edu if you would like to participate in the event. Gardeners: make note of the March 29 date and plan to attend.

Our upcoming Home Vegetable Gardening Series offers vegetable growers the opportunity to learn more and increase the success and quality of vegetable production in their gardens. The series is three evening sessions: April 8, 15 and 22 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Sessions will be held at the Purdue Extension-Owen County office meeting room. Purdue specialists will discuss garden preparation, pest management, organic pest control and timely topics. The program fee is $30 for all three sessions. Register by March 28 at https://cvent.me/Mm7XQ. Purdue presenters will conduct the training across the state via Zoom. I will serve as the local host and facilitator. Let me know if you have any questions.

Due to logistics, we have moved the Owen County Homesteaders program to the Purdue Extension-Owen County office meeting room. Program date is set for Thursday, March 20. Program time is 4 to 6 p.m. If the weather is nice, we have the attached carport to look at the items homesteaders may present. I have been asked if this program is only open to Owen residents? No, it is open to all area residents.

Owen Soil and Water Conservation District is sponsoring the March 28 Lunch and Learn. The session is to be held in the Purdue Extension-Owen County office meeting room from noon until 1 p.m. Come join the program for a roundtable on garden soil issues, vegetable gardening topics and whatever topics clients bring. Last month, we discussed fruit tree care, soil amendments and soil health issues. This is an informal session that features topics you are interested in.

We have eight exciting sessions planned for the Indiana Master Naturalist program in Owen County. Sessions will be held from 9 a.m. to noon on Tuesdays starting in April. Sessions will cover wildlife, settlement of Owen County, geology, forestry, water quality and much more. Program fee is $60 and Owen SWCD is sponsoring five scholarships. Classes will be based out of the Purdue Extension-Owen County office. Call us at 812-529-5020 for questions.

Extension Educator Dave Osborne from Ripley County will lead a fun program at the Purdue Extension-Owen County office from 6 to 8 p.m. on April 10.

Osborne is an avid fisherman and will be discussing water quality issues, fish health and fish preparation. A fish fry will be featured from Osborne’’s catch of the day. Come learn about fish preparation, concerns with fishing wild and to have any questions answered that you may have about fishing in Indiana. Seriously, Osborne has fished all over! Again, contact the Purdue Extension-Owen County office for questions.