Public

We will be hosting a hands-on session where you'll learn how to identify invasive plants both in the classroom and the field. This session will also cover the most effective ways to control the growth of these invasives in hopes to promote native plant communities in your woodland. It's a great chance to sharpen your skills, spend time outdoors, and create real change in your own forest! As a bonus you will leave with your own copy of Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas Field Guide for you to use on your own! Whether you're a beginner or just curious, this practical experience is both fun and informative. Don't miss out on getting your hands dirty and your eyes trained!

Learn how to construct habitats to shelter wildlife and create biodiversity for your garden. Wild creatures are always looking for accommodations such as bug snugs, toad abodes, insect hotels, hedgerows, and brush piles.

This introductory class covers the essentials of hydroponics and aquaponics, including nutrients, grow mediums, system types, and a bit of history. We'll explore the benefits, challenges, similarities, and differences of these systems. 

What is Kombucha?

Kombucha is a lightly fizzy, fermented tea made with tea, sugar, and a live culture known as a SCOBY (Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast). The fermentation process creates a refreshing beverage that contains beneficial organic acids and live cultures.

During this class, you'll learn the science behind fermentation, proper brewing techniques, essential food safety practices, and how to confidently brew your own kombucha at home. Best of all, you'll leave with your very own Kombucha Brewing Kit so you can begin brewing right away! Come sip, learn, and ferment with us—we look forward to seeing you!

This event will be held in person and online via Zoom. Be sure to select the appropriate ticket!

Food Safety: Capture the Flavor Healthy Cooking with Herbs and Spices

Join us for a fun and informative online event where we'll explore the world of healthy cooking with herbs and spices! Learn how to enhance the flavor of your dishes while keeping them safe to eat. Whether you're a seasoned chef or a beginner in the kitchen, there's something for everyone in this session. Healthy Cooking using culinary herbs and spices!

September is Food Safety Awareness Month ! We Welcome you to our online event on Food Safety: Fall Food Safety, Nutrition and Wellness Tips! Join us on Thursday, September 3rd at 11:30 AM EDT to learn about how to keep your food safe and healthy this fall season. Our experts will share nutrition and wellness tips to help you make the most of your meals. Don't miss out on this opportunity to enhance your knowledge and improve your well-being. Register now and get ready to dive into the world of food safety!

Growing your own food is one of the simplest ways to improve both nutrition and overall wellness. When you combine gardening with healthy eating, you’re not just growing plants— you’re growing access to fresh, nutrient-rich foods that can support your daily meals in a powerful way.

Fresh vegetables like spring salad greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, parsley, mint, onions, squash, jalapeños, and spinach are easy to grow in small garden spaces, raised beds, or even containers. These foods don’t require complicated setups—just sunlight, good soil, water, and a little consistency.

Once harvested, they can be used immediately in everyday meals. Imagine adding crisp cucumbers and tomatoes to a fresh side salad, mixing spinach into smoothies or sautéed dishes, or using fresh parsley and mint to brighten flavor without extra salt. Even onions, squash, and jalapeños can easily move from garden to skillet, making meals more flavorful and nutrient dense. Gardening also encourages better eating habits. When healthy food is visible, fresh, and accessible, it becomes easier to include it in daily routines—breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It’s a practical way to support wellness, reduce processed foods, and reconnect with what we eat.

Food as Medicine

This Food as Medicine session explores the intersection of nutrition science, functional foods, and seasonal dietary strategies to support health, prevent chronic disease, and address emerging public health priorities. Designed for faculty, practitioners, and health-focused educators, this session integrates current research with practical applications for individual and community wellness.

Learning Objectives:

Participants will:

1. Understand Seasonal and Functional Foods: Examine the benefits of spring-specific foods, including their nutrient density, phytonutrient content, and role in supporting detoxification, immunity, and cellular health.
2. Explore Superfoods and Chronic Disease Prevention: Identify evidence-based superfoods and their mechanisms for addressing inflammation, oxidative stress, and chronic health conditions.
3. Integrate Dietary Guidelines and Nutrient Principles: Review the latest Dietary Guidelines, emphasizing the 7 core nutrients for health, nutrient density, and strategies to meet caloric needs while managing chronic disease.
4. Develop Practical Meal Planning Skills: Learn to plan balanced meals using pantry staples, seasonal produce, and nutrient-dense ingredients to enhance health and food security.
5. Address Food Safety and Insecurity: Examine strategies for maintaining food safety, reducing waste, and supporting populations experiencing limited access to nutritious foods.

Join the University of Maryland Extension Family and Consumer Science Educator for an online webinar to learn more about the MIND Diet. The MIND Diet is a hybrid of the DASH diet and Mediterranean diet that can make a difference in the risk of cognitive decline and dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, as you age.

Join us to learn about the foods that help improve brain activity, focus, mental alertness and mental wellness.

Earn a Certificate of Applied Agriculture at the University of Maryland, College Park. The IAA offers nine tracks to jump-start your career in agribusiness, sustainable food systems, environmental stewardship, horticulture, landscaping, turfgrass management, or ag communications. Explore areas of study, financial aid and scholarships, world-class facilities, campus life, and more. Registration required!