University Of Missouri Extension Programs Pack Fall Calendar

SPRINGFIELD — The fall calendar is filling up with educational programs being offered in Greene County by University of Missouri Extension specialists. This list of programming is an indication of aggressive efforts by local staff to providing local programming.

Upcoming fall programs range from a new leadership development program to the popular garlic festival and salute to Century Farms.

Gardener Field Day

Join the University of Missouri Extension for a fun and educational gardening field day at the Botanical Center in Springfield on Aug. 19. Master Gardeners that attend will receive five hours of advanced training.

Topics include tips on growing, digging and dividing hostas, a tour of the Springfield Botanical Gardens and butterfly house, growing blackberries and native butterflies.

Pre-registration is required.

Solar Eclipse Party

On Monday, Aug. 21, a solar eclipse will be visible in Missouri when the moon passes between the earth and the sun.

In Missouri, the moon will begin its transit across the sun shortly after 11:30 a.m. Totality will occur after 1 p.m. There is a free watching event planned at the Springfield Botanical Center starting at 11 a.m. on

Aug. 21.

Growing Local

Food Tour

Tour three gardens and finish up at Millsap Farms as part of our first “Growing Local Food” tour on Aug. 31. First tour stop begins at 4 p.m. at the Wesley United Methodist Church community garden and then moves to a home garden, followed by the community gardens at The Fairbanks and ending with a tour of Millsap Farms. Tickets for the Twilight Garden Tour cost $10 per person. The purchase of pizza at Millsap Farms is optional. Pre-registration is required.

Fourth Garlic

Festival

The fourth annual Garlic Festival will be held Thursday, Sept. 7 at the Springfield Botanical Center. This event includes a presentation on garlic production (choosing varieties, planting, caring for, harvesting and storage), a presentation on the health benefits of garlic, presentation on the performance of 32 garlic strains in southwest Missouri, garlic tasting, and several different strains will be available for sale in time for fall planting. Purchase tickets online or at the office.

Salute To Century

Farms

This annual event is Monday, Sept. 25 at the Round Barn Event Center near Ash Grove. New this year is a late-afternoon free educational workshop designed especially for families that own a Century Farm. Century Farm owners can use this form to register and pay by check. General public registration and ticket purchases for this event can be done online.

Fall Food Preservation Camp

Our annual fall food preservation camp will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7 at the Botanical Center. Lindsey Stevenson, a nutrition specialist with MU Extension, will cover food preservation by the following methods: dehydration, freezing, pressure canning, and pickling. Pre-registration is required and can be done online.

Commission

AG Tour

The second annual Greene County Commission Ag Tour is scheduled for Oct. 27. This year’s tour will include a visit to a livestock operation, an orchard, a farm to table restaurant and a dairy operation all on the eastern side of Greene County.

More Information

The Greene County Extension office is located inside the Springfield-Greene County Botanical Center at 2400 S. Scenic Ave., Springfield.

The Greene County MU Extension center, with oversight by locally elected and appointed citizens, is your local link to practical education on almost anything. More information on this topic is available online at extension.missouri.edu/ greene.