Learn about Healthy Yards and Food Preservation from MU Extension

The St. Louis Office of the University of Missouri Extension is hosting a seven session sustainability series called 7 Shades of Green every Tuesday from March 20th through May 1st from 6:00 to 8:00 pm.  The classes will be held at Hawken House Hearth Room, 1155 South Rock Hill Rd. in Webster Groves.  The cost of each session is $10. 

The next session in the Sustainability Series is scheduled for Tuesday, April 24th.  It is entitled “Healthy Yards-Clear Streams” and will be presented by our Horticulture Specialist, Nathan Brandt.  During that session, Nathan and our partners for this session, Worms Way, will present information about the connection between the way we maintain our yards and the cleanliness of our waterways.  Learn how to reduce your impact on the environment through use of organic and nontoxic products on your lawn and still have a successful garden.

The May 1st session, entitled “Preserving Summer’s Bounty” will be presented by our Nutrition specialists, Damaris Karanja and Mary Wissmann.  During that session, Damaris and Mary, along with our partner for this session, Maude’s Market CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) will present information about how you can preserve fresh, seasonal products that is easy, economical and healthy for both you and the environment.  You will learn how to safely can your fruits and vegetables and make jams/jellies/salsa.  You will also learn how to dry or freeze your produce for future use.  Pressure Canning lid-testing will be available on-site for free, so bring your pressure cooker lids!    

At each session, we will give away one free soil test with a value of $20.

By Nina Balsam, St. Louis County Program Director