Extension Connection
Agriculture, Food, & Natural Resources Update
January 2023
A Note From Your Educator
Happy New Year! Each new year brings a fresh set of goals for me both personally and at Extension. Therefore, I am in the process of collecting data on what residents of Carlton County would like to learn about in 2023. I want to be able to deliver memorable classes that are pertinent to our residents. Please reach out if you have ideas. Let's make the most of this year, together!
Best,
Mercedes
Seeking Ideas for 2023 Classes
Minnesota Department of Ag Down Payment Assistance Grant
https://www.mda.state.mn.us/down-payment-assistance-grant-program
Pollinator Habitat Webinar Series
Are you interested in creating pollinator habitat, but you don't know where to begin? Check out this upcoming webinar series to help guide you in your pollinator plan. University of Minnesota Extension educators are excited to bring you this webinar series on creating your own pollinator habitat. This three-part series will cover how to create a pollinator-friendly garden, maintain a bee lawn and prairie planting for pollinators. Join us each afternoon on January 31, February 1 & 2 from 1:30-2:30 p.m. for this free webinar. You must pre-register for this series at http://z.umn.edu/BeeSeries to receive the webinar links.
2023 Tour de Forage
There is a preregistration fee of $25 online, or $30 at the door.
To view the agenda for this and other statewide events and to register online: https://www.midwestforage.org/events.php
Hope to see you there!
Join Us for the 50th Anniversary Celebration for Cow Calf Days!
You are invited to the annual Minnesota Fruit and Vegetable Growers Conference
The Minnesota Fruit and Vegetable Grower's Association invites you to the 2023 Minnesota Fruit & Vegetable Expo, scheduled for January 18-20, 2023 in St. Cloud, MN. This comprehensive education program will kick off on Wednesday, January 18 with a keynote speaker and grower's panel on agritourism, and a welcome reception in the evening. The event continues for two jam-packed days of education and networking opportunities along with our trade show.
Check out the brochure for a more in depth look at program schedule:
https://mfvga.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/2023-MFV-Expo-Schedule-Education-Fees.pdf
2023 Minnesota Organic Conference
Growing Shiitake Mushrooms is the topic for the January Community Connect Class
Join Shawn Bernhardt, local educator and mushroom grower for a presentation on growing this delicious fungi at home. He will cover supplies needed, growing conditions and harvesting.
Thursday, January 26, 2023 6:00-7:30 pm, Carlton County Transportation Building, 1630 County Rd. 61, Carlton
$5 at the door. 18 and under are free. Admission includes: hand-outs and door prizes.
Please call 218-384-3511 ext. 1 or email rustx048@umn.edu to pre-register.
Carlton, Pine & Isanti County to Host Farm Transfer Workshop
To register, please scan the QR code from the photo above, Contact Nathan Hulinsky, hulioo13@umn.edu, or follow the link: https://extension.umn.edu/event/east-central-minnesota-farm-transfer-workshop
Federated Coop and Munson Lake Nutrition's Winter Cow/Calf Meeting
Minnesota Master Naturalist: Northwoods Great Lakes
In Minnesota, winter is full of opportunities to explore and learn new things in nature!
During a week-long Northwoods, Great Lakes course at the Long Lake Conservation Center, you will explore the wonders of nature in winter by birding and tracking wildlife. Participants will learn how the first Minnesotans survived the winter, practice our own winter resourcefulness, trek through the forest, and identify trees by their twigs and bark while snowshoeing, skiing, and discovering new things about nature only observed in the winter.
In this core course, training is tailored to Minnesota’s unique Laurentian Mixed Forest biome. The largest biome of the state, it covers over 23 million acres of northeast Minnesota. The region contains a multitude of landscapes, including swampland, bogs, vast forests, lakes and exposed bedrock.
Course details:
Date: Monday, January 9, 2023 - Friday, January 13, 2023
Time: 8 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. each day
Location: Long Lake Conservation Center, Palisade, MN
Cost: $295 (includes course manuals & supplies) Additional fees for lodging & meals
To register: https://extension.umn.edu/event/minnesota-master-naturalist-north-woods-great-lakes
Contact: Jim Platt, jimplatt@gmail.com
Interested in becoming a certified Minnesota Master Naturalist Volunteer or other program offerings? Learn more at: https://www.minnesotamasternaturalist.org/
Extension Sewing Volunteers to host project day
In years past the group has sewn pillowcases for the local youth shelter, a women's treatment center, Lake Venoah boarding house, and a homeless shelter.
The Carlton County 4H groups have been invited to participate. Sewing mentors will be available for those who would like to learn basic sewing skills. There will be some pre-cut patterns available to sew.
This event will take place on January, 30, 2023 from 1:00 pm to 5:30 pm at the Cloquet Library, 320 14th St., Cloquet. Patterns and fabric are available at the Extension Office for those that would like to get a head start. Please call or email Ann at the Extension Office to pre-register or to reserve a sewing machine. rustx048@umn.edu or 218-384-3511 ext. 1.
Carlton County Extension Office closures
Interested in learning more about Carlton County 4-H news and events?
Carlton County Extension Staff
Tracey Hartung, Administrative Specialist thartung@umn.edu
Katie Siltanen, 4-H Educator silta006@umn.edu
Mercedes Moffett, Agriculture Educator, moffe029@umn.edu
Ann Rust, Vol Coord & Horticulture Assist rustx048@umn.edu
Email: mnext-Carlton@umn.edu
Website: https://local.extension.umn.edu/local/carlton
Location: 317 Chestnut Avenue, Carlton, MN, USA
Phone: 218-384-3511
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UofMNExt