Calendar: 4-H rabbit workshop provides showmanship tips

MT. CARMEL, Ill. — The 4-H Rabbit Workshop will be 6 to 7 p.m. May 6 at the Wabash County Fairgrounds, 15039 4H Center Lane, Mt. Carmel.

This is a hands-on experience for youths to learn about rabbit selection and how to get their rabbit project started. Guest Speaker Mike Wilson will cover topics such as picking a rabbit for show, care, feeding, preparing for show, showmanship tips, and more.

This workshop is open to all enrolled 4-H members in Edwards, Lawrence, Richland, Wabash, and Wayne counties. Youth should not bring their rabbits to this workshop; rabbits will be provided.

Invasive Species

ELIZABETH, Ill. — The Spring Break Gardening Series program Invasive Species will be 1:30 to 3 p.m. April 29 at the Jo Daviess County Extension office, 204 N. Vine St., Elizabeth.

With warmer weather on the horizon, things are starting to green up. Our landscapes are coming back to life with showy displays of new plant growth and flower. But, are all of those plants you expected and want? Are there plants taking over your yard and landscape? If you have unwanted plants, now might be the best time to manage them before they become problematic. The primary focus of this spring workshop will be on vegetative plants easily identified and controlled prior to developing seeds.

Cost is $5. Register at https://tinyurl.com/ec2kahvk.

Plant and Bake Sale

The Plant and Bake Sale will be 8 to 11 a.m. May 3 at the Clark County Extension office, 15493 IL-1, Marshall.

Vendors are invited to bring seedlings, cuttings, and houseplants to sell, as well as baked items and treats. Call 217-465-8585 to reserve your space.

Note: Due to the threat of jumping worms, plants dug from the ground will not be allowed to be sold.

For more information, visit https://tinyurl.com/3sfhbp6k.

Reel in the Fun

YORKVILLE, Ill. — The Reel in the Fun Fishing Clinic will be 9 a.m. to noon May 3 at Silver Springs State Park, 13608 Fox Road, Yorkville.

Children and adult chaperones will learn safety, fishing tips/tricks, and all about aquatic ecosystems and organisms. All fishing supplies will be provided.

Register for this free program at https://tinyurl.com/598mxemu. For questions, contact 4-H Educator Andrea Farrier at farrier2@illinois.edu or 630-584-6166.

Be Heart Smart

RENSSELAER, Ind. — Be Heart Smart is being offered as a virtual lunch and learn at noon CT Tuesdays, May 6-May 27.

Be Heart Smart is a lecture-based program for individuals who want to learn more about preventing heart disease by making heart-healthy lifestyle changes. This program will teach participants how to monitor risk factors for heart disease and how to make simple changes to their daily routine that can improve their heart health.

Herb Gardens

ELIZABETH, Ill. — The Spring Break Gardening Series program Herbs will be 1:30 to 3 p.m. May 6 at the Jo Daviess County Extension office, 204 N. Vine St., Elizabeth.

This program will touch on how to grow herbs in small spaces, uses for the herbs you are growing, and how you can potentially overwinter certain types of herbs in your home. Participants will plant their own herb container to take home.

Cost is $20. Register at https://tinyurl.com/mwrn4vuc.

Container Gardens

CERRO GORDO, Ill. — Container Gardens with DeWitt and Piatt County Master Gardeners will be 6 to 7 p.m. May 7 at Hope Welty Public Library, 100 Madison St., Cerro Gordo.

Learn about the advantages of gardening in containers and tips for creating a beautiful flower container garden. Learn about containers, soil, plant selection, and proper care procedures. Participants will create a tabletop flower container to take home.

To register, call the library at 217-763-5001. For more information, visit https://tinyurl.com/6msjpuaz.

Warm Season Crops

DECATUR, Ill. — Homegrown Harvest: Warm Season Crops will be 9 to 10:30 a.m. May 7 at Southside Hill Community Garden, East Lawrence Street and South Maffit Street, Decatur.

Homegrown Harvest is a series of free, family-friendly vegetable garden workshops designed to support beginning gardeners through the growing season.

Workshop materials will be provided; please bring your own gloves and tools.

Native Trees and Shrubs

BRIGHTON, Ill. — The program Choosing Native Trees and Shrubs will be noon to 1 p.m. May 8 at Brighton Memorial Library, 110 N. Main St., Brighton.

Explore the invaluable role native trees and shrubs play in fostering a thriving ecosystem for insects and wildlife in local habitats. Gain insights into the distinctive qualities on native woody plants, and uncover the aesthetic appeal that desirable trees and shrubs can bring into the diversity of your landscape.

Smart Snacking

LE ROY, Ill. — Smart Snacking will be 1 to 2 p.m. May 8 at Living Well United Senior Center, 209 W. Washington St., Le Roy.

Do you reach for a snack when you’re hungry or is it out of habit? This lesson will discuss snacking behaviors and will help guide you to make smart snacking decisions. Enjoy a food demonstration and take home some new healthy snack recipes.

This program is free and no registration required. For more information, visit https://tinyurl.com/bdh5shpy.

Navigating Health

ELKART, Ind. — The program Navigating Women’s Health will be 3 to 4 p.m. ET May 8 at the Family Resource Center, 612 E. Bristol St., Elkhart.

Learn about the overall impact on physical and emotional health, common misconceptions, symptoms, and ways to support health through nutrition, lifestyle, and self-care practices.

This free educational program will be presented by Emily Christ, Purdue University Extension educator in health and human sciences in Elkhart County.

To register, call 574-533-0554 or email fink24@purdue.edu. For more information, visit https://tinyurl.com/ms28ezep.

Farmers Market

SALEM, Ind. — The Washington County Farmers Market opening day will be 8:30 a.m. to noon ET May 10 at the Washington County Justice Center parking lot, 801 Jackson St., Salem.

The market features local goods raised and produced within Washington and adjacent counties. The market will continue Saturday mornings through October. When produce is more plentiful later in the growing season, the market will also open on Tuesdays from 4 to 6 p.m.

New vendors are encouraged to participate in the market. Items for prospective vendors to consider are fruits, vegetables, dried/fresh herbs, plants, cut flowers, honey, eggs, unpopped popcorn, and meats. Some minimally processed food items can also be sold and include maple syrup, jellies/jams/preserves/butters, sorghum, frozen persimmon pulp, dried fruits/vegetables, and cider. Baked goods such as breads, cakes, and cookies as well as wood, natural and homemade crafts are also sold at the market. All products must meet state and local regulations. Vendors with questions about product requirements should contact the Washington County Health Department at 812-883-5603.

For more information, visit https://tinyurl.com/bderzc55.

Extension Day

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Extension Day 2025 will be noon to 2 p.m. May 10 at the Douglass Community Center and Annex, 512 E. Grove St., Champaign.

This free, family-friendly event will be packed with fun activities and community connections. Enjoy cooking demonstrations, face painting, bubbles, a bouncy house, cotton candy, Kona Ice, and food from the Chicago Grill food truck. You’ll also have the chance to explore what Illinois Extension has to offer —from nutrition and youth programs to gardening and more — and visit booths from other local community agencies sharing valuable resources.

For more information, visit https://tinyurl.com/3asham8h.

Flower Walk

GENOA, Ill. — The Mother’s Day Flower Walk will be 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 10 at the Natural Resource Education Center in Russell Woods Forest Preserve, 11750 IL-72, Genoa.

Two local botany enthusiasts, Karen Matz and Brian Hale, will talk about all that is blooming. They will identify a variety of beautiful wildflowers. Walks leave every hour starting at 10 a.m. and the last walk leaves at 1 p.m. The NREC will be open for people to explore the exhibits until 2 p.m.

“Visitors often ask us to come outside and help them identify one of the many beautiful spring wildflowers in the forest preserve,” says Peggy Anesi, University of Illinois Extension educator. “Spring is crucial for these delicate plants. Spring wildflowers grow in wooded areas and emerge early to capture sunlight and make food for themselves. If the plants wait too long, the shade of the trees blocks the precious light they need.”

For more information, visit https://tinyurl.com/4haa7n2z.

Sew Days

AUBURN, Ind. — DeKalb County Extension Homemakers Sew Days will be 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. ET May 13 at the DeKalb County Office Building basement, 215 E. 9th St., Auburn.

Bring a covered dish, and enjoy the day with great food and company, doing something you’ll love. No sewing experience needed.

For more information, visit https://tinyurl.com/5n6waf8n.