By Lonnie Mengarelli – Extension Agent, Agriculture and Natural Resources, Southwind District
Following the success of last year’s homesteading education series in Fort Scott, Southwind Extension District is bringing the program back this fall with a new location. The response to last year’s program demonstrated a strong interest in practical homesteading and small-scale farming education, and participants encouraged Extension to offer the series again in a location closer to the center of the district. This year, the “Rooted & Ready: Practical Skills for Home, Land & Homestead” series will be held in Chanute, making the program more accessible to residents throughout the Southwind District.
Rooted & Ready is designed for both new homesteaders and those with experience who want to expand their skills. The series will focus on practical information that participants can take home and put to work.
The six-part series will cover a variety of topics related to growing food, raising livestock, managing natural resources, and turning products into potential income.
The series will begin Tuesday, October 6, at 6 p.m. with “Pests, Predators, and Protection.” This program will look at common pests and predators that can create challenges around the homestead and discuss practical management and protection options.
The remaining programs include:
October 13 – “Grow Your Grid: Homestead Garden Planning” – Participants will learn strategies for planning and managing a productive garden.
October 27 – “Livestock School: From Start to Stock with Sheep, Goats, and Pigs” – This session will provide information for those interested in raising small livestock, including considerations for getting started and managing these species.
November 3 – “Recipes to Revenue: Turning Homemade Foods into Market-Ready Products” – Participants will learn food safety requirements to meet KDA compliance for farm to table sales.
November 10 – “The Laying Line: Poultry for Reliable Food Supply” – This session will focus on poultry production and ways to establish a dependable source of eggs and food for the homestead.
Thursday, November 19 – “Deep Roots: Soil & Forage Strategies for Resilient Farms” – The final program will focus on soil health and forage management strategies that can help build productive and resilient small farms.
All programs will begin at 6 p.m. with a meal sponsored by Cleaver Farm and Home. Programs will be held at the Central Park Pavilion, 2nd Street and Forest Avenue in Chanute.
The Rooted & Ready series is being presented by Southwind Extension District agents who bring together expertise in agriculture, natural resources, and rural living.
Participants do not have to attend the entire series. Those interested can attend individual sessions based on their interests, or participate in all six programs for a broader look at the skills involved in homesteading and small-scale farming.
Whether someone is starting with a backyard garden, adding livestock to their property, managing a small farm or simply looking for ways to become more self-reliant, the goal of Rooted & Ready is to provide practical knowledge that can be put to use at home.
Reservations are requested for meal counts. For more information or to reserve a seat, contact the Southwind Extension District office at 620-223-3720.
Lonnie Mengarelli is a Kansas State University Extension Agriculture agent assigned to the Southwind District. He may be reached at mengo57@ksu.edu or 620-223-3720.