For many gardeners, few winter pleasures rival the joy of leafing through seed catalogs, imagining the colors, scents, and harvests to come. That sense of anticipation will be in full bloom at this year’s annual Seed Swap, where community members are invited to browse, share, and take home seeds for the upcoming growing season.

From unique varieties of herbs to beloved annual flowers and coveted, prize-winning tomatoes, the event will offer a generous selection of seed packets. Attendees don’t need to bring seeds to participate, but those with extra or leftover packets are encouraged to contribute. Organizers ask that all donated seeds be clearly labeled so fellow gardeners know exactly what they’re receiving.

The Seed Swap provides both novice and seasoned growers an opportunity to expand their gardens and enhance their landscapes at no cost. Seeds will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, making early arrival a smart strategy for those looking for specific varieties.

Whether you’re planning your first container garden or dreaming of a full backyard harvest, the Seed Swap invites everyone to share in the excitement and promise of a new growing season. This program is sponsored by the Queen Anne’s County Master Gardeners volunteers and our generous sponsors.

Seed Swap Dates:

Saturday, March 7, 2026
10 am to noon
Queen Anne’s County Library-Kent Island Branch (200 Library Circle, Stevensville, MD 21666)

Wednesday, March 11, 2026
6 pm to 7:30 pm
Queen Anne’s County Library-Centreville Branch (121 S. Commerce Street, Centreville, MD 21617)

For further information, please call or make reasonable accommodations to participate in these events email the University of Maryland Extension Queen Anne’s County, Senior Agent Associate for Horticulture and Master Gardener Coordinator, Rachel J. Rhodes, at 410-758-0166 or rjrhodes@umd.edu by February 21, 2026 the events or see us on Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/QueenAnnesCountyMasterGardeners

University programs, activities, and facilities are available to all without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, age, national origin, political affiliation, physical or mental disability, religion, protected veteran status, genetic information, personal appearance, or any other legally protected class

For many gardeners, few winter pleasures rival the joy of leafing through seed catalogs, imagining the colors, scents, and harvests to come. That sense of anticipation will be in full bloom at this year’s annual Seed Swap, where community members are invited to browse, share, and take home seeds for the upcoming growing season.

From unique varieties of herbs to beloved annual flowers and coveted, prize-winning tomatoes, the event will offer a generous selection of seed packets. Attendees don’t need to bring seeds to participate, but those with extra or leftover packets are encouraged to contribute. Organizers ask that all donated seeds be clearly labeled so fellow gardeners know exactly what they’re receiving.

The Seed Swap provides both novice and seasoned growers an opportunity to expand their gardens and enhance their landscapes at no cost. Seeds will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, making early arrival a smart strategy for those looking for specific varieties.

Whether you’re planning your first container garden or dreaming of a full backyard harvest, the Seed Swap invites everyone to share in the excitement and promise of a new growing season. This program is sponsored by the Queen Anne’s County Master Gardeners volunteers and our generous sponsors.

Seed Swap Dates:

Saturday, March 7, 2026
10 am to noon
Queen Anne’s County Library-Kent Island Branch (200 Library Circle, Stevensville, MD 21666)

Wednesday, March 11, 2026
6 pm to 7:30 pm
Queen Anne’s County Library-Centreville Branch (121 S. Commerce Street, Centreville, MD 21617)

For further information, please call or make reasonable accommodations to participate in these events email the University of Maryland Extension Queen Anne’s County, Senior Agent Associate for Horticulture and Master Gardener Coordinator, Rachel J. Rhodes, at 410-758-0166 or rjrhodes@umd.edu by February 21, 2026 the events or see us on Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/QueenAnnesCountyMasterGardeners

University programs, activities, and facilities are available to all without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, age, national origin, political affiliation, physical or mental disability, religion, protected veteran status, genetic information, personal appearance, or any other legally protected class

Stop by the Queen Anne's County Library in Kent Island with all your questions about gardening, garden pests, plant problems, and insects. Master Gardeners will be on hand to give tips and tricks to support our wildlife in the winter. Master Gardeners will be on hand from 10 am to noon on Saturday, March 14, 2026.

If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this activity, please contact your local University of Maryland Extension Office, Rachel Rhodes (410) 758-0166 or rjrhodes@umd.edu by February 28, 2026.

University programs, activities, and facilities are available to all without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, age, national origin, political affiliation, physical or mental disability, religion, protected veteran status, genetic information, personal appearance, or any other legally protected class.

Whether you’re growing vegetables, herbs, or annual flowers, starting seeds indoors is an affordable and rewarding way to jump-start the growing season. Join the Queen Anne's County Master Gardeners for a hands-on class on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at 10 am at the Queen Anne's County Library in Kent Island (200 Library Circle, Stevensville, MD 21666) as we guide you through growing healthy seedlings.

If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this activity, please contact your local University of Maryland Extension Office, Rachel Rhodes (410) 758-0166 or rjrhodes@umd.edu by February 21, 2026.

University programs, activities, and facilities are available to all without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, age, national origin, political affiliation, physical or mental disability, religion, protected veteran status, genetic information, personal appearance, or any other legally protected class.

The Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics (AREC), University of Maryland Extension, and the Ag Law Education Initiative will host three one-day workshops on Jan. 13th in Mountain Lake Park, Jan. 27th at the Central MD Research and Education Center, and Feb. 11 at the Eastern Shore Hospital Center, in the English Room. The Farm Succession and Estate Planning workshops will be from 10 am to 2:30 pm.

The free program will assist Maryland farm families in starting the estate planning process, including creating a successful succession plan, having difficult conversations, and health insurance options for farmers. A grant funds the program through the Northeast Risk Management Education Center.

The workshop will feature Dr. Jesse Ketterman, Senior Agent, Dr. Alex Chan, Senior Agent, and a Farm Succession Coordinator, and Paul Goeringer, a Principal Faculty Specialist and Extension Specialist in agricultural law.

“Farm families often want to plan for the future but don’t always know where to start,” said Paul Goeringer. “These workshops give Maryland landowners the tools, confidence, and practical guidance they need to begin building a succession plan that protects both their operations and their families for generations to come.”

Lunch is provided with the workshops. Each workshop will begin at 9:45 am with a check-in, and the workshops will run from 10:00 am to 2:30 pm. Participants will receive copies of Extension fact sheets and other valuable documents as a part of the workshop series. This work is supported by the Northeast Extension Risk Management project award no. 2024-70027-42540, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

Join us as Andi Pupke, Education Director with Chesapeake Wildlife Heritage, as we learn about enriching our landscapes to create monarch habitat. This interactive class will discuss selecting the best plants to provide habitat throughout the growing season. This event is free and open to the public.

If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this activity please contact your local University of Maryland Extension Office, Rachel Rhodes (410) 758-0166 or rjrhodes@umd.edu by February 5, 2026.

University programs, activities, and facilities are available to all without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, age, national origin, political affiliation, physical or mental disability, religion, protected veteran status, genetic information, personal appearance, or any other legally protected class.

Join the Queen Anne's County Master Gardeners during our monthly meeting as Concetta Gibson, President of Wild Ones Delmarva, discusses the ins and outs of container gardening with native plants. Concetta will guide us through selecting the right containers for the right plants, as well as layout, arrangement, and maintenance. This event is free and open to the public.

If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this activity, please contact your local University of Maryland Extension Office, Rachel Rhodes (410) 758-0166 or rjrhodes@umd.edu by January 1, 2026.

If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this activity please contact your local University of Maryland Extension Office, Rachel Rhodes (410) 758-0166 or rjrhodes@umd.edu by January 1, 2026.

Objective

Annie’s project is designed to empower women in agriculture, provide information on farm management, and build local networks throughout the state. The target audience is women with a passion for business, agriculture, and involvement in the farm operation.

Key Principles:

*Teach all five areas of agricultural risk: financial, human resources, legal, marketing, & production.*Invite local professionals to serve as guest instructors where possible. *Allocate half of the class time to discussion and hands-on activities.*Provide unbiased, researched based information.*Create a learning environment where mentoring is spontaneous.

Core Values:

*Safe Harbor - all questions or situations are welcomed for sharing and open discussion.*Connection - to each other and to professionals introduced to them in class.*Discovery - the moment when something makes sense where before it did not.*Guided Intelligence - at any one time there is a woman in the audience who knows more about the subject being presented than the instructor and is willing to share her experience.

FSA Borrower Training - Annie's Project is approved for FSA Borrower Training.

For questions visit the website http://extension.umd.edu/annies-project, email sdill@umd.edu or call 410-822-1244.

See tickets for individual class locations and site-specific details. This is a hybrid class that will be offered concurrently - In person in Centreville MD or online via zoom.

MidShore Maryland

6 Sessions, 6:00 – 9:00 pm

February 18, 2026 - April 1, 2026 (Wednesdays)(NO CLASS FEBRUARY 25)

Location: Queen Anne's County Extension Office

505 Railroad Ave # 4, Centreville, MD 21617

Virtual

6 sessions, 6:30pm-8:30pm

February 18, 2026 - April 1, 2026 (Wednesdays)(NO CLASS FEBRUARY 25)

Location: Live via Zoom, approximately 1 hour of time out of class on reading and assignments

F SA Borrower Training - Optional

As part of the USDA Direct Loan Program, some applicants may be required to receive Borrower Training. Annie's Project is approved for borrower training and includes two steps: 1) Attend an Annie's Project class with satisfactory attendance, participation and discussion. 2) Complete a farm management workbook and return it to the reviewer.

More information here

University programs, activities, and facilities are available to all without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, age, national origin, political affiliation, physical or mental disability, religion, protected veteran status, genetic information, personal appearance, or any other legally protected class.

If you need reasonable accommodation to participate in any event or activity, please contact the UMD Extension office two weeks prior to the event at 410-758-0166 or 410-822-1244.