SAN ANTONIO — This winter, the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will offer additional programs from its popular Backyard Basics series in Bexar and surrounding counties, according to an agency administrator.
“Backyard Basics is a new multi-county initiative that promotes healthy living by providing residents of South Central Texas — including Atascosa, Bexar, Comal, Guadalupe, Kendall and Wilson counties — information and hands-on education relating to the benefits of homegrown and homemade foods,” said Lupe Landeros, AgriLife Extension county director, Bexar County.
Landeros said the Backyard Basics initiative has been in response to the growing interest in home-based food production, preparation and preservation in Texas and throughout the U.S.
“There has also been a growing interest in being more self-reliant in producing and preparing foods, plus there’s been an increasing interest by consumers in knowing where their food comes from and how it is being grown,” she noted.
A Backyard Poultry Workshop will be from 9-11 a.m. Jan. 23 at Tractor Supply, 1530 S. Main St. in Boerne. The cost for the program, which addresses the selection, care and feeding of small flocks for meat and egg production, is $10.
For more information and to register, contact the AgriLife Extension office for Kendall County, 830-249-9343.
“Making Soft Cheeses at Home” will be from 2-5 p.m. Jan. 31 at the agency’s office for Comal County, 325 Resource Drive in New Braunfels.
“Attendees will learn techniques for making soft cheeses such as mozzarella and will be able to take samples made in class home with them,” said Martha Joyce, AgriLife Extension agent for family and consumer sciences, Comal County.
The cost is $20 per person. To register and for more information, call 830-620-3440.
“Rose is a Rose is a Rose is a Rose” is a Backyard Basics program being held from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Feb. 19.
“This program will address the selection, care, nutrition and maintenance of roses in this region of Texas,” said David Rodriguez, AgriLife Extension agent for horticulture, Bexar County.
The cost for this program is $10 per person. It will be held at the AgriLife Extension office for Bexar County, Suite 208 of the Conroy Square office complex, 3355 Cherry Ridge Drive, San Antonio. For more information and to register, call Angel Torres at 210-467-6575.
More information on these and upcoming Backyard Basics programs can be found at http://Backyardbasics.tamu.edu (period)
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