Extension Service offers slate of free classes

PALMER — The Cooperative Extension Service is offering a series of classes on a variety of topics including raising chickens, growing vegetables, care for a lawn in Alaska and using a GPS.

The classes are free, but class size is limited and registration is required. To register for any of the classes, call 745-3360.

• “Chicken University,” is from 7 to 9 p.m., May 4 in Room 208 at Matanuska Experiment Farm, Kerttula Hall. Extension agent Steve Brown will teach this fun and informative class on the fundamentals of raising chickens in Alaska. Topics include breed selection, where to get the breeds you want, determining the sex of chicks, coop design, hatching, brooding, nutrition, diseases and even a little bit of poultry psychology.

• “Introduction to Alaska Vegetable Gardening,” is from 7 to 9 p.m., May 5 in Room 208, Kerttula Hall at the Matanuska Experiment Farm. Extension agent Steve Brown will teach the basics of soil sampling, fertilization, garden planning, variety selection, methods for warming soil, and weed control.

• “Alaskan Lawn Care,” is from 7 to 9 p.m., May 18 in Room 208, Kerttula Hall at the Matanuska Experiment Farm. Creating a beautiful lawn is the single cheapest thing you can do to increase the value of your home. This class will teach you to create and maintain a beautiful lawn. Topics include grass selection, yard preparation, seeding rates, mower selection, fertilization and disease control. Learn how to make the neighbors jealous in this class.

• “Soil Science and Fertilizers,” is from 7 to 9 p.m., May 20 in Room 208, Kerttula Hall at the Matanuska Experiment Farm. Extension agent Steve Brown will teach the fundamentals of soil science.

• “Introduction to GPS,” is from 7 to 9 p.m., May 19 in Room 208, Kerttula Hall at the Matanuska Experiment Farm. Extension agent Steve Brown will teach the fundamentals of GPS navigation and introduce people to potentially life saving information not found in the instruction manual. Topics include fundamental operation, how to recognize different coordinate formats, selecting appropriate datums for Alaska, creating waypoints and more. Class will also feature hands-on outdoor instruction...come prepared to be outside and walk at least a mile. Participants can bring their own unit or borrow one provided by CES.

• “Friday at the farm: Wild Edibles,” class is at 6:30 p.m., May 15 in Room 208, Kerttula Hall at the Matanuska Experiment Farm. Learn to find, identify, prepare and store Alaskan wild edibles.