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Madison County Highlights

March 2021

picture of 7 individuals wearing masks and standing next to a Madison County Business Consortium sign

 

It’s less than a week until springtime!  It’s amazing what a difference a few weeks can make with the weather.   It’s wonderful to watch the trees and flowers come back to life.  

We’ve already had some exciting events in March with Huntsville City Council Member Frances Akridge visiting our office to learn more about the services the Madison Extension office provides to the public.  We hope these types of partnerships will allow more residents of Madison County to become aware of the many services our office provides.  We hope you will share with anyone who could benefit from our services, as well!

Make sure to see the progress pictures at the bottom of the newsletter for the greenhouse project our Master Gardeners of North Alabama (MGNA) are working on behind our office and the raised beds in the front. 

Lastly, please stay prepared and safe for the bad weather heading our way tomorrow

Warm Regards,
Sinead Lounmala, County Extension Coordinator, 256-274-7956
Visit our website: Madison - County Offices - ACES
Follow us on Facebook: Madison County Extension Office (Alabama) | Facebook

  Events
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Small Scale Crop Production Series

March 23 & 30 & April 13, 2021 at 10 am

Are you interested in getting into small scale growing for local markets? If so, join us for this free series to learn the basics you need to know to get started. Each session will feature a presentation by Alabama Extension staff and an on-site farm visit with a grower of that crop. Register Here

Right Bite: Setting the Table for Healthy Eating

March 17, 24, & 31, 2021 at 10 am

Understanding the Nutrition Facts Label, Bringing Nutrition into Your Daily Life, Choosing the Right Fat, & Seven Ways to Control Your Blood Pressure will be covered.  For more information contact: Shonda Miller, M.S. at sam0059@auburn.edu  or 256-426-8444 Register Here

Wise Food Purchases

March 30, 2021 at 2 pm

Alabama Extensions Urban SNAP-Ed team at Alabama A&M University, presents Wise Food Purchasing. During this class you will learn money saving tips such as using coupons, how to check for and compare the unit prices of food items, buying foods that are in season, and purchasing foods and household items in bulk. Register Here

Money Talk Mondays

March 22 & 29, 2021 at 4 pm

Participants will talk about all things related to planning, spending, savings, credit and banking.
This program is designed to give nuggets of information to help you become more financially savvy. Register Here

Alabama 4-H VEX IQ Hybrid Competition

March 22, 2021 from 2-5 pm CT

Alabama 4-H and Elkmont Elementary School’s 21st Century Program are excited to host a VEX IQ Rise Above Engineering Design & Skills Challenges event. Students will compete with robots they designed to demonstrate skills outlined in the challenge. In person & online.  Fee $40 Read More

Food Entrepreneur Conference

April 13 & 14, 2021 from 9 am - 5 pm

Join us for FEC2021 where we will learn about how other food entrepreneurs got to where they are, learn the rules from our Department of Public Health representatives, and some helpful financial information. There is a $50 fee for this 2-day virtual conference. Contact Christy Mendoza (cnm0012@auburn) for more information.  Read More

Eco-Friendly Fridays

March 26, April 30, & May 28, 2021 at 11 am

Join us for training sessions on traditional conservation topics as well as new and emerging issues in environmental education. This free virtual webinar series offers effective best management practices (BMPs) aimed at safeguarding human, animal & environmental health, and practical solutions to help reduce your ecological footprint. Read More

Tuesday Table Talks

April 6, 2021 at Noon CT (every 1st Tuesday of the Month)

Do you have questions about SPRING cleaning in your kitchen? Like, what is the safest way to clean my refrigerator or freezer? Older cooking utensils- should I replace or keep them? How often should I replace my kitchen towels? Food expiration dates, use by dates, sell by dates, best if use by dates- What do they all mean? Join use on our Tuesday's Table Talks for the answers! Read More

  News
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picture of tomato plant

4-H Grows Gardening Club

We will purchase & provide plants, buckets, & record books for all participants.  Tier I youth will grow bell pepper, tomato, & eggplant plants in five gallon buckets.  Tier II youth will grow 3 tomato, 2 bell pepper, 2 banana pepper, 2 jalapeno pepper, 2 yellow squash, & zucchini plants in a 4X12 raised bed or garden bed of the same space.  Deadline to register April 20, 2021 Register Here

grow more give more and picture of produce

Grow More, Give More

Growing and harvesting your own vegetables is a fulfilling process not only for gardeners and families, but communities as well. With proper tending and care, vegetable gardens can provide a wealth of freshly grown produce.  With Alabama Extension’s Grow More, Give More project, both experienced and novice gardeners can receive invaluable information and resources for a successful harvest. Read More

Where to Start: A Basic Program Resource Guide for Beginning Farmers

Alabama has a booming fruit and vegetable production industry which generates more than $160 million in revenue and provides employment to thousands of residents. The growth in the industry is also representative of the growth in local food movement and organic farming in the south. If you are a beginning farmer with ambition to grow food crops for clientele you know, you’ve come to the right place. Read More

picture of pasture with fences

Preparing Pastures for Spring

Though cold and dreary weather outside now might feel like perpetual winter, spring is quickly approaching. With its arrival comes many ‘spring cleaning’ tasks- including preparing pastures. Alabama Extension Forage Specialist Leanne Dillard shares how to properly prepare spring pastures to ensure success in the coming seasons. Read More

USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program Applications

The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) is accepting grant applications for projects that enhance the competitiveness of U.S. specialty crops in foreign and domestic markets. The application deadline for these specialty crop block grants through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is May 3, 2021, 5 p.m. CST. Read More

What's in a Name?

A new business can really benefit from choosing the right name. Your business name should identify exactly what you do or the services you provide. This process should be well thought out and easy for your potential clients to know who you are and what you do.

When selecting your business name, make sure it can mature with your business as it grows. Selecting names based solely on your most sought-after product or service could suggest that you are limited in what you do. Think broad in terms of how you see your business growing and additional products/services you plan to offer.
Make it simple. Your business name should be easy for customers to remember and spell. Remember that most people shop online and will search for products and services on mobile devices. If your business name is easy to find, you could potentially reach more customers.

Lastly, make sure you spell it correctly. Uniquely spelled titles are hard to find and harder to remember. Save your advertising budget and keep it simple with selecting the best name for your business venture.

For more information, contact the Madison County Business Consortium @ MCBC@aces.edu or call 256.532.1578.

Rosie Landers
Agent Assistant

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