We have had a couple of
slightly warmer days around here &
if you’re like me,
that means spring fever!!
I can’t wait to dig in the dirt, plant seeds,
weed my garden (that will get old quickly),
and get out of my house!!
Of course, a bountiful garden doesn’t happen overnight,
it takes lots of planning.
And with cold days to come
I plan to take full advantage of being stuck indoors.
So, where do you even begin when you are planning a garden?
Two words: Cooperative Extension
The Cooperative Extension System is
a nationwide, non-credit educational network.
Each U.S. state has an office as well as many regions and counties.
This is an invaluable resource to the beginning or seasoned farmer.
They offer workshops on farm related topics such as:
gardening, meat processing, beekeeping,
animal husbandry & everything in between.
Their services aren’t only for farmers though,
they are available for consumers, small business owners,
and others in rural areas.
Another great service my county office offers is the
spring plant sale which begins in January.
The beauty of this sale is that all of the plants
are proven to thrive in the region where you live
because all of their work is research based!
So you don’t have to spend hours & hours
researching plant varieties
& stressing over which you should buy.
All of the work is already done for you!
They also have extremely knowledgeable staff
who are ready & willing to answer all of your questions.
It is a wonderful way to start your gardening journey
or to add to your existing skills.
This program is not only in place to help adults.
They have wonderful resources for youth
such as the county 4H program.
This helps to plant the farming seed early!
(you like what I did there 😛 )
My brother & I were very active
in 4H growing up &
gained friends & knowledge that
have lasted into our young adult years.
I can’t sing the praises
of this program enough!
Don’t just take my word for it,
go online & find a Cooperative Extension near you!
Have any of you ever taken advantage
of the Cooperative Extension services??
Share your experiences in the comments section below!
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