> Extension has published a new comprehensive gardening manual. Sustainable Gardening: The Alaska Master Gardener Manual was adapted for Alaska from Sustainable Gardening: The Oregon-Washington Master Gardener Handbook. The 490-page manual is a basic gardening text. It also offers information on soils and fertilizers, propagation, berry crops, pruning, composting, flowers, greenhouses and season extenders, lawns, plant diseases, pesticides and integrated pest management. Contributors include current and former Extension faculty.

> Also new is the fourth edition of A Solar Design Manual for Alaska, which was revised and updated by author Rich Seifert, Extension’s energy and housing specialist

> Extension’s food product development staff has created 13 Alaska barley recipes for edibles, such as cornbread, brownies, banana bread, pancakes, carrot cake, chocolate chip cookies, honey crackers, muffins, noodles, tart crust and barley soup. The U.S. Department of Agriculture funded the research with a goal of developing a market for Alaska hulless barley, which has a mild, nutty flavor. Regular barley flour may be substituted in these recipes. The recipes, FNH-00400–FNH-00412, may be downloaded from our searchable publications catalog.

>This year’s fair season is in full swing. Come show off your handiwork, enjoy the elephant ears and visit with Extension at the remaining fairs.

• Alaska State Fair in Palmer, August 26–September 6 (exhibitor's guide)

• Kodiak State Fair, September 4–5