Healthy Chesapeake Bay

Stop by the Kent County Public Library in Chestertown on the first and third Saturday of every month from January to March from 10 am to noon with all your questions about gardening, garden pests, plant problems, and insects. Master Gardeners will be on hand to give tips and tricks to make your home garden flourish, help troubleshoot tricky growing situations, and offer encouragement on creating the perfect garden for your space.
Dates/Topics:
November 16, 2024: Preparing Your Lawn Now for Spring and Summer. Special Guests: Master Gardener Sabine Harvey and Marcus Goldman

December 7, 2024- Evergreens of the Season and Plants that Provide the Oils for Holiday Lights.

January 4, 2025- Supporting Wildlife in the Winter

January 18, 2025-Curl up with a Good Garden Book

February 1, 2025-Healthy Soil-Preparing for Planting in the Age of Climate Change

February 15, 2025- New Plants Due to Climate Change

March 1, 2025 – Seed Swap & Garden Day

March 15, 2025- Bugs Don’t Bug Me. Special Guest, University of Maryland Extension Educator, Beth Hill

For further information please call or reasonable accommodations to participate in this event contact the University of Maryland Extension Paul Rickert, at 410-778-1661 or prickert@umd.edu

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 us for the 2024 Maryland 4-H Volunteer and Teen Forum in Ocean City, MD! 

This event is open to all 4-H volunteers, teen youth, and 4-H faculty/staff members. The Forum provides time to network and connect with others from around the state and learn more about the 4-H program's wonders. It is an excellent opportunity for 4-H teens and adults to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to be successful leaders in their local 4-H programs and Grow and Grow. 

The Forum can also be a fun 4-H Family Getaway to Ocean City! It offers something for the whole family, from fun drop-in activities to free time on the beach or boardwalk to workshops for adults and Teens and classes for younger 4-Hers and Cloverbuds where they can learn and have fun while their parents attend activities for adults. 

The Forum provides professional development workshops, connection sessions during the day on Saturday and Sunday mornings, and fun, hands-on drop-in activities on Saturday evenings. Professional development workshops are designed for adults and teens aged 13 and older. Youth classes will also be offered on Saturdays to engage and educate.

Completed registration is due by November 21, 2024.
Hurry while space lasts.

If you require accommodation, please check that box when registering and indicate the reasonable accommodation. 

Join Baltimore City, Maryland based non-profit Backyard Basecamp for their annual Harvest Festival on Sunday, October 27th from 2pm to 6pm (EST). The festival will feature local vendors, family-friendly activities, cooking and food demonstrations, workshops, crafts, food, music and more!

Extension Educator Madeline Potter, will be tabling with an activity about sustainable fall gardening and the benefits of leaving the leaves.

Event Highlights:
-Cooking Demos & Tastings: Savor mouthwatering cooking demonstrations and tastings that will tantalize your taste buds.
-Fun for Kids: Enjoy face painting, pony rides, pumpkin carving, and more activities designed for kids and families.
-Local Vendors: Explore the talents of local vendors and discover unique, handcrafted items.
-Food Truck Delights: Treat yourself to delectable offerings from our food truck.
-Farmstand with Chloe: We’re bringing back the farmstand with Chloe, who will be selling our amazing produce and farm goods.

Attendance at this program will fulfill the requirements for Private Pesticide Applicator Recertification and Nutrient Management Voucher Training.

When it comes to adding color and texture to your living space, look no further than houseplants. In this presentation, University of Maryland Extension Horticulture Educator Ginny Rosenkranz will discuss the top 10 picks for easy houseplants and dive into the deep end of sprucing up our indoor spaces.

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 6, 2025.

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.

Using winter salt to provide safe roads, parking lots, and sidewalks during ice or snow storms is common in Maryland, with the vast majority used on roads. However, many times too much winter salt is used during winter storms. Many people think salt is there to melt snow or ice and tend to follow the more is better philosophy, but that’s not what salt’s primary job is. Over-salting doesn’t help, it’s throwing money down the drain! Join Extension Specialist Dr. Andrew Lazur, who will discuss, melting snow and ice safely to protect our waterways.

Join the University of Maryland Extension Master Gardeners in Queen Anne's County for our Annual Seed Swap and Garden Day on Saturday, February 22, 2025, at the Kent Island Branch of the Queen Anne's County Public Library. This event is free and open to everyone. You do not need to bring seeds to receive seeds. Please label any seeds you bring so that other swappers know what they are getting. Seeds are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

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 7, 2025.

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.

Time: 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Location: Central Maryland Research and Education Center, 4240 Folly Quarter Rd, Ellicott City, MD 21042 (Directions: Participants will meet in the new teaching and research building at 4240 Folly Quarter Road, Ellicott City, MD 21042. After turning from Folly Quarter Road make the first left and continue around the building to park.)
Cost: $30 for the day, paid by September 27, 2024 via check to the Maryland Department of Agriculture, covers materials and a box lunch.
Description: Hands-on activities to enhance any certified farmer or certified nutrient management consultant’s skill set. This year’s session will focus on topics most relevant to diverse agricultural operations. Topics to be covered include: Dr. Amanda Grev: "Pasture and Hay Management,” UMD Ag Nutrient Management Program: “Corn yield checks,” MDA Q&A during lunch, and UMD Ag Nutrient Management Program: “Manure Spreader Calibration.” CEUs: 4 hours of credit toward consultants’ or operators’ continuing education
requirement will be earned from full participation in this event.
Who should attend: Certified nutrient management consultants/operators and any individual interested in learning hands-on aspects of nutrient management are encouraged to attend.
For more information: Email Kayla Griffith at kmgriffi@umd.edu
Register online:  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfhB5JENEREw3k7e-AypjnyFpI9WKaW5T_EELxuuYbLnXPCbQ/viewform?vc=0&c=0&w=1&flr=0 (Payment link, agenda, and directions will be sent to registrants)

Complementing the options to visit and tour the University of Maryland, the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (AGNR) will be hosting college-specific Information Sessions on select visit days. Prospective students and their families will have the chance to learn about AGNR, its majors, minors, student clubs and more! Each Info Session will also provide an opportunity for visitors to interact with current students in these agricultural- and environmental science-based majors. Each session will include an opportunity to interact with representatives of the majors in AGNR.

Complementing the options to visit and tour the University of Maryland, the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (AGNR) will be hosting college-specific Information Sessions on select visit days. Prospective students and their families will have the chance to learn about AGNR, its majors, minors, student clubs and more! Each Info Session will also provide an opportunity for visitors to interact with current students in these agricultural- and environmental science-based majors. Each session will include an opportunity to interact with representatives of the majors in AGNR.