>July is National Blueberry Month. Alaska blueberries may not be ripe quite yet, but be prepared for blueberry season with our publication, Alaska Blueberries. Included is information on nutrition and health, selection, cleaning and storage, juice extraction and preparation as well as recipes.

>The Tanana District office will host mycologist Gary Laursen July 28-30 to teach Introduction to Mushrooms of the Tanana Region. Participants will collect, identify and learn how to prepare and preserve wild edible mushrooms. The fee is $100 for the entire course or $15 for the Friday night lecture only. Please register by July 26. For more information, view the flier or call 474-1530. Registration is available online.

>If your child is going to be entering goods into the Alaska State Fair, consider signing up for a class series our our Mat-Su/Copper River district office is hosting. The Fantastic Fair Series is designed for all youth ages 8-18 and will get your child ready to enter a variety of projects into the fair. The classes are $7 each or $25 for all and begin on July 11. For more information, view the flier or call 745-3551. Registration is available online. 

>The Mat-Su/Copper River District office will host mycologist Gary Laursen August 11-13 to teach Introduction to Mushrooms of the Mat-Su Region. If you want to collect, identify, prepare and/or preserve wild edible mushrooms, this course is for you. The fee is $100 for the entire course or $20 for the Friday night lecture only. The registration deadline is August 4. Register online or call 745-3360. For complete course information, view the flier.

>The Matanuska Experiment Farm in Palmer will host Alaska Agriculture Appreciation Day at the Farm from noon to 5 p.m. Aug. 3. The free annual event has the atmosphere of a country fair with education presentations, hayrides, animals and a number of kids’ and family activities. The farm is located at 1509 S. Georgeson Drive in Palmer. For more information, contact Theresa Isaac at 907-746-9450.

>Fall Master Gardener courses are open for registration in Anchorage and Palmer. The Anchorage class will be held Mondays and Wednesdays from 3-6 p.m. starting Sept. 11. The Palmer class will be held on Tuesdays from 6-9 p.m. beginning Sept 12. Registration is available for both Palmer and Anchorage online. For more information, contact instructor Steve Brown at 907-745-3639 or scbrown4@alaska.edu.

>Learn how to make pickles and sauerkraut on August 10 at the Mat-Su/Copper River district office in Palmer. Participants will learn about pickling as a method of preservation and vegetable fermentation. The cost for the class is $25 and registration is available online. For more information, contact instructor Julie Cascio at 907-745-3677 or jmcascio@alaska.edu.

> For past announcements please visit our home page news archive.