The Alabama Cooperative Extension System’s St. Clair County office is excited to offer the following educational workshops/events:

1) Lunch and Learn Gardening Program Through a partnership with the St. Clair County Master Gardeners Association, Regional Extension Agent, Bethany O’Rear is offering this new program in 2016. Bring a lunch and a friend from noon to 1 p.m. Admission is free and drinks will be provided. To adequately prepare, please call in advance to register for the following workshops:

Feb. 23: Winter Pruning (Pell City Civic Center)

April 26: Spring Splendor (Dr. Mike Rushing’s Garden, Coal City)

June 28: Drip Irrigation (Moody City Hall)

August 23: Seed Starting for Fall Veggies (St. Clair County Farmers Federation Auditorium, Ashville)

October 25: Annuals, Perennials, and Bulbs (First United Methodist Church, Springville)

November 15: Decorating with Natural Materials (Purser-Ray Hall, Odenville)

2) Estate Planning Basics Would you like to learn methods of organizing your important papers and how to plan for the future? If so, then plan to join Nkenge Hyter, Urban Regional Extension Agent, for a free Estate Planning Basics workshop which will be held on Tuesday, March 15, from 10 a.m. – noon, at Moody City Hall. All attendees will receive a take home estate planning manual for future use.

3) Gluten-Free Living Workshop For some, gluten-free living is a lifestyle choice, while for others it is life-saving. Find out just what a gluten-free diet is and why some people who have to make the change have a better quality of life because of it. Join Regional Extension Agent, Donna Shanklin, on Tuesday, March 29 from 4—5 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Springville for this free workshop. Please pre-register to attend no later than Tuesday, March 22. 

4) FACES (Family Advocacy through Caring Engagement Strategies) Research shows a direct relationship between the well-being of children, families and communities. When families are strong then they can positively impact the communities in which they live. Please join Nkenge Hyter, Urban Regional Extension on April 6, 13, 27, and May 4, at the St. Clair County Extension Office from 10 – 11 a.m. for a free program that provides educational resources and training that will enhance family members’ knowledge of their family’s strengths. It is also designed to increase skills, in communication and conflict management as well as techniques to manage or eliminate stress.

5) Seniors Would you like to learn techniques to help with making ends meet and how to make the most of community resources? Nkenge Hyter, Urban Regional Extension Agent will conduct a free workshop called Seniors Can which will be held on Tuesday, March 1, 8, and 22, from 10-11a.m., at the St. Clair County Extension Office.

6) St. Clair County Master Gardener Association Annual Plant Sale Friday April 8 and Saturday, April 9 at the Pell City Civic Center.

7) What’s Under Your Sink & in Your Garage? Workshop From keeping snakes out of the yard to fire ants out of your flower beds, have you ever wondered if what’s under your sink or in your garage will really work? Now you can find out from our Extension wildlife and home grounds agents, Sallie Lee, Norm Haley, and Andrew Baril! Register now to attend this workshop which will be held on Monday, April 18 from 10—11:30 a.m. at the Pell City Civic Center. Cost is $5/person to cover materials and snacks.

8) Cottage Food Law Food Safety Course Anyone selling nonhazardous foods made in the home directly to consumers is now required by the new Cottage Food Law to attend a food safety course. Join Regional Extension Agent, Angela Treadaway for this course which will be held on Thursday, April 28, from 4—6 p.m. at the Pell City Civic Center. You must pre-register to attend online at aces.edu/foodsafety.

9) St. Clair County 4-H Summer Camp June 13-15, at the Alabama 4-H Center in Columbiana for youth, ages 9-14. For more information, please contact Becky Staples, 4-H Agent Assistant. Limited number of slots available. First come, first serve.

For more information and to register, please call the St. Clair County Extension office at (205) 338-9416. Classes fill up quickly, so don’t delay, register today! To learn more about what is going on at the Extension office visit our website at aces.edu/StClair or one of the Extension Kiosks located at the Moody and Ragland Libraries or the St. Clair County Courthouse in Pell City.