2023 Past Events

CSU Green School – January 9 – April 30, Virtual. As you know, Colorado gardening can be tough! Weather, soils, pests, diseases… we have classes to cover these obstacles and more. Learn science-based, best practices for managing landscapes no matter where you work, live or garden in our state. Join us in January for CSU’s popular Green School. Training offers flexible, online courses combined with live review sessions weekly with CSU Experts. Learn science-based gardening strategies specifically for gardening in Colorado. Registration is open now through January 4th. Classes start January 11th.

4-H Extravaganza – February 4, 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. at the Arapahoe County Fairgrounds 25690 E. Quince Ave. Aurora, CO 80016. Join 4-H leaders and members to learn more about 4-H clubs in Arapahoe County. There will be project workshops opened to the public including: dog quiz bowl, beekeeping, cake decorating, model rocketry, shooting sports, and livestock education. This is a free event and registration is not required.

Cottage Foods Safety Training – February 22, 5:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. Learn food safety guidelines and the specifics of operating a home-based cottage food business. Upon completion of the webinar and exam, receive a 3 year food safety certificate.

Pressure Canning Chicken IN_PERSON – February 24, 9:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m Come learn the principles of using a “Pressure Canner” to preserve low acid foods at high elevations. Watch a live demonstration of canning chicken in a pressure canner. Price includes taking home, directions, recipes, and a small jar of chicken that we pressure can in class. Jars will be too hot to take home the day of class, so plan to come back and pick it up later.  Class is located Jefferson County Extension, 15200 W 6th Ave., Suite C, Golden, CO 80401 

Money Habitudes IN_PERSON – February 27, 6:30 p.m.- 7:45 p.m This FREE session is designed as a fun interactive and constructive way to learn about our habits and attitudes (Habitudes) about money. Participants will discover the how, why, and when they spend, save, give, or invest. This program promotes conversations with partners/families to encourage positive financial relationship skills. For ages 12 and up. Family participation is encouraged (for age-appropriate materials a separate registration for each individual is required). Class is located at Smoky Hill Library 5430 S Biscay Circle, Centennial, CO, 80015

2022 Past Events

Cottage Foods Safety Training – Learn food safety guidelines and the specifics of operating a home-based cottage food business. Upon completion of the webinar and exam, receive a 3 year food safety certificate.

Mediterranean Diet – March 16, 7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. Learn how to use the Mediterranean Diet to enjoy good food and improve your health!

Convert Your Turf! – March 18, 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m. Learn what steps you can take to turn your current lawn into something different! Event Speaker: Tony Koski, CSU Professor and Interim Director of the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture.

Pruning Shrubs: Stop the Senseless Shearing – March 25, 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m. To cut or not to cut? Learn the correct steps to take when pruning shrubs in your yard. Event Speaker: Eric Hammond, CSU Extension Director – Adams County.

“All My Money” Basic Money Management Course – Wednesdays, March 30-April 20. Want to get your finances on track in 2022? Attend a free, online series (4 sessions) on basic money management. Great for people starting out or looking to get back on track with their finances.

A Fool’s Guide to Zero-Water Gardens – April 1, 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m. We’re not fooling on this April Fool’s Day! Learn the truth about zero-water gardens. Event Speaker: John Murgel, CSU Extension – Douglas County.

Vegetable Varieties – April 8, 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m. Choosing vegetable varieties can be overwhelming. Join this class to narrow down the possibilities and choose what grows best in Colorado. Event Speaker: Cassey Anderson, CSU Extension – Adams County.

Celebrate Trees for Arbor Day! – April 15, 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m. Join our panel of tree experts to celebrate Colorado Arbor Day as they present you with their favorite trees for Colorado landscapes. Event Speakers: CSU Extension – Cassey Anderson, Eric Hammond, Amy Lentz, Alison O’Connor and Lisa Mason.

Denver Audubon – Native Plants for Birds – April 16, 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. Join Lisa Mason exploring the basics of native plants and why they’re essential for our bird populations.

Bemis Public Library Monthly CMG Series: Garden Insects – April 19, 6:00 p.m. Arapahoe County Master Gardener Ron Hogan will be presenting on the various insects found in your landscape. Come learn about beneficial insect friends and common insect pests that can be found in your own garden. In person at Bemis Public Library – 6014 S Datura Street Littleton, CO 80120.

Beneficial Garden Insects – April 22, 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m. Meet some of the beneficial insects that you can attract to your garden to help you win the war against pests. Event Speaker: Lisa Mason, CSU Extension – Arapahoe County.

NPM – Basic Botany – April 26, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Enjoy an interactive, fun and fact-filled class designed to prepare you for success in your study of Colorado’s flora. Participants will be exposed to the plant kingdom and basic botanical terms as we get a close-up look at plant parts, discover scientific terminology and basic identifying characteristics, all to set you up for success in the field. No keying will be done in this class.

NPM – Plant Families – April 28, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Learn distinguishing characteristics of common plant families which will make plant identification more successful and fun. Plant materials will be available for a close look. Handouts available. This is a particularly useful class for those new to botany and plant identification.

Introduction to Landscape Design – April 29, 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m. Learn the basics of landscape design from site planning to plant placement. Event Speaker: Deryn Davidson, CSU Extension – Boulder County.

Native Plants Suitable for Extreme Elbert County Habitat – April 30, 10:00 a.m. This class will be geared towards adults and youth alike, and include lectures and a presentation on native plants. Speakers include Raylene Owen, Jesse Donnelly, and Cathy Ramsey.

Soil Health and Amendments – May 6, 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m. Learn what it takes to have healthy soil and which soil amendments can help you get there! Event Speakers: Dan Goldhammer, CSU Extension – Denver County and Sarah Schweig, CSU Extension – Broomfield County.

Native Plant Master Course at Roxborough State Park – May 10, 17, and 24, 4:00pm – 8:00 p.m. Take a Native Plant Master course at this state park during three outdoor field sessions where you will learn common and scientific names, ecological relationships and human uses of 40 – 50 plants. You will develop skills in using family features and a botanical key to identify plants. Course includes special emphasis on natives useful for landscaping and invasive plants that threaten native ecosystems.

Native Plant Master Course at Cherokee Ranch – May 12, 19, and 26, 8:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Cherokee Ranch and Castle is a private property with an elegant and interesting castle and over 3000 acres of rolling hills, forest and meadows with spectacular views. NPM class will study an array of fantastic flowers, trees and shrubs on short trails with some uneven footing.

Bulbs for Summer Blooms – May 13, 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m. Planting bulbs this spring for summer blooms is a great way to add color and texture to your garden. Even Speakers: Cassey Anderson, CSU Extension – Adams County and Alison O’Connor, CSU Extension – Larimer County.

Mediterranean Diet Meal Planning on a Budget – May 17th, 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m. or 7:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. Join us as we learn about planning meals to save time and money, and the many health benefits of the Mediterranean Diet. Includes planning and shopping templates, recipes, and more!

Bemis Public Library Monthly CMG Series: Pollinators – May 17, 6:00 p.m. Arapahoe County Master Gardeners will be presenting on pollinators in Colorado.

Growing Backyard Berries – May 20, 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m. Learn how to grow small fruits in your own backyard including strawberries, raspberries and more! Event Speaker: Amy Lentz, CSU Extension – Weld County

“Walking Amongst the Natives” – May 21, 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. A walk and talk exploring native plants in Western Elbert County with local Native Plant Masters Raylene Owen and Cathy Ramsey.

Plant Besties – Companion Plants – May 27, 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m. Separate the friends from the frenemies–and the truth from the wishful thinking! Event Speaker: John Murgel, CSU Extension – Douglas County.

Native Plant Master Course at Sandstone Ranch Open Space – June 2, 9, and 16, 8:30a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Come explore and learn with us at this amazing facility. We will introduce you to 40-60 plants, using family features and a botanical key to help identify species. Ecological relationships, human connections and the potential to use some of these plants in your landscaping will be discussed. In addition, we will emphasize understanding noxious alien plants and the challenge they present to our native environment.

Beauty and the Bees – June 3, 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m. Learn about who our more common pollinators are and how you can support them by creating a habitat in your yard. Event Speakers: Lisa Mason, CSU Extension – Arapahoe County and Deryn Davidson, CSU Extension – Boulder County

Urban Ranchers Day Camp – Tuesday June 7 – Friday, June 10, 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Join us for a fun filled adventure at the Arapahoe County Fairgrounds. The Urban Rancher Camp brings the farm to urban kids. Youth learn first-hand about agriculture, livestock, and animal care and husbandry. Youth will learn how to care for and handle several animals throughout the camp – such as chickens, cows, horses, goats, sheep, and llamas . Camp counselors will lead daily games and projects which will help youth explore where their food comes from.

Native Plant Master Course at Dawson Butte Ranch Open Space – June 9, 16, and 23, 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Dawson Butte in Douglas County Open Space has a total of over 7 miles of wide and mostly flat trails which meander through forests and meadows with spectacular views and an amazing array of wildflowers, shrubs and trees.

Bemis Public Library Monthly CMG Series: Container Gardening – June 21, 6:00 p.m. Arapahoe County Master Gardeners will be presenting about Container Gardening.

Meal Planning with Confidence; Summer 2022 Edition – June 22, 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m. or 7:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. Please join us as we explore the many benefits of meal planning, while learning the basic steps for creating and organizing a meal plan to fit your needs. This course includes printable meal planning and shopping list templates, a Colorado fresh produce calendar to help you discover when Colorado produce will be in season this summer, recipes, and more!

Cottage Foods Safety Training – July 8th, 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Learn food safety guidelines and the specifics of operating a home-based cottage food business. Upon completion of the webinar and exam, receive a 3 year food safety certificate.

Weed Walk – July 8, 5:00 p.m. Join Dan Nosal, Rangeland Management Specialist for the Natural Resources Conservation Services, Willie Wilkins and Raylene Owen for an informative session on weeds. They will discuss noxious weeds and invasive species, provide help on weed identification, and share management options.

Model Rocketry Launch Day Extravaganza 2022 – July 9, 7:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Have you ever wanted to learn more about Model Rocketry? Are you interested in learning more Model Rocketry skills? Participants ages 8 – 18 will learn more about Model Rocketry, have the chance to launch rockets and watch demonstrations.

Bemis Public Library Monthly CMG Series: Xeric and Water Wise Gardens – July 19, 6:00 p.m. Arapahoe County Master Gardeners will be presenting about Xeric and Water Wise Gardens. In person at Bemis Public Library – 6014 S Datura Street Littleton, CO 80120.

Cottage Foods Safety Training – August 10, 5:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. Learn food safety guidelines and the specifics of operating a home-based cottage food business. Upon completion of the webinar and exam, receive a 3 year food safety certificate.

Bemis Public Library Monthly CMG Series: Composting – August 16, 6:00 p.m. Arapahoe County Master Gardeners will be presenting about Composting. In person at Bemis Public Library – 6014 S Datura Street Littleton, CO 80120.

Free online class to learn about beans from farm to table, includes tasty bean recipes! – September 6, 7:00 p.m. Join us to learn all about beans, from farm to table! We’ll dive into quick and delicious tips for cooking with beans, human and environmental health benefits, and more. This class is part of a PhD project, and you will be asked to complete 3 brief surveys: before the class, immediately after, and 1 month after the class. We will email you links to the surveys, and your feedback will help us improve the class and Extension resources. Thank you for helping CSU research and doctoral students!

Native Plant Master Course at Plains Conservation Center – September 8, 15, and 22, 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Take a Native Plant Master course that includes three outdoor field sessions where you will learn common and scientific names, ecological relationships and human uses of 40 – 50 plants. You will develop skills in using family features and a botanical key to identify plants. Course includes special emphasis on natives useful for landscaping and invasive plants that threaten native ecosystems.

Bemis Public Library Monthly CMG Series: Common Plant Diseases – September 20, 6:00 p.m. Arapahoe County Master Gardeners will be presenting about Common Plant Diseases. In person at Bemis Public Library – 6014 S Datura Street Littleton, CO 80120, no registration required.

Cottage Foods Safety Training – September 23, 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Learn food safety guidelines and the specifics of operating a home-based cottage food business. Upon completion of the webinar and exam, receive a 3 year food safety certificate.

4-H Expo – October 1, 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. 17 Mile House Farm Park Learn about what 4-H has to offer with hands-on activities (cookie decorating, rocketry, leathercraft, and entomology), meet 4-H members and volunteers, and hang out with some cute 4-H project animals! No registration is required.

Smoothie Demo during 2nd Saturday at CSU Spur Campus – October 8. 2022 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 PM Increase the fiber and protein content of smoothies with the addition of cooked beans.   Free smoothie demonstrations, tasting, recipes and facts about how beans are good for you and the planet. Join CSU Extension Instructors, Sheila Gains, Arapahoe County and Mary Snow, Jefferson County for one of these tasty and informational demonstrations. Demonstrations will repeat every 20 minutes from 10 am – 2 pm. One-pound bags of Colorado grown dry beans will be given away to two lucky winners at each demonstration. More information on Spur Campus Events. This event is free and open to the public with no registration required.

Cottage Foods Safety Training – October 14, 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Learn food safety guidelines and the specifics of operating a home-based cottage food business. Upon completion of the webinar and exam, receive a 3 year food safety certificate. 

Bemis Public Library Monthly CMG Series: Fall Planted Bulbs – October 18, 6:00 p.m. Arapahoe County Master Gardeners will be presenting about Fall Planted Bulbs. In person at Bemis Public Library – 6014 S Datura Street Littleton, CO 80120

Cottage Foods Safety Training – November 2, 5:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. Learn food safety guidelines and the specifics of operating a home-based cottage food business. Upon completion of the webinar and exam, receive a 3 year food safety certificate.

Formación En Seguridad Alimentaria Para Productores de Colorado Comidas Caseras – Lunes 7 de noviembre 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Conozca las pautas de seguridad alimentaria y los detalles de operar un negocio de comida casera en el hogar. Al completar el seminario web y aprobar el examen que lo acompaña, reciba un certificado de seguridad alimentaria de 3 años. Costo: $50.

Fermenting Vegetables Program – November 9, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Learn the science of safely fermenting vegetables. Workshop includes making a quart jar of sauerkraut to ferment at home. In person at the Arapahoe County CSU Extension Office – 6934 S. Lima Street Centennial, CO 80112. Cost $25. 

Bemis Public Library Monthly CMG Series: Houseplants – November 15, 6:00 p.m. Arapahoe County Master Gardeners will be presenting about Houseplants. In person at Bemis Public Library – 6014 S Datura Street Littleton, CO 80120.