Winter webinar series offered for 2016 Master Gardeners
SAC CITY – The Iowa State University Extension master gardener program will host a winter webinar series in 2016.
Master Gardeners will gain educational hours, while learning the realities of hunger in Iowa, the best way to work with food banks and food safety.
The two-hour webinars are scheduled at the Sac County Extension office from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Jan. 6, 13 and 20.
Winter webinar topics include:
- Jan. 6: “Hunger in Iowa.” Learn the realities of hunger and teaching methods to use when working with food-insecure adults.
It’ll be presented by Christine Hradek, food and nutrition educator for ISU Extension, as well as Susan DeBlieck, Master Gardener program assistant.
- Jan. 13: “Working with Food Banks.” Find out how master gardeners can work with food banks to donate garden produce.
It’ll be presented by Sara Bonefas, interim director of the Food Bank of Iowa; and DeBlieck.
- Jan. 20: “Best Practices for Food Safety.” Get information on the best practices for handling garden produce going to food banks and the importance of food safety procedures.
It’ll be presented Shannon Coleman, an assistant professor in food science and human nutrition, and ISU Extension specialist; and DeBlieck.
This webinar series is part of collaborative project between the master gardener program in Iowa and the USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education.
This collaboration aims to improve the food environment for Iowans with low income, develop a strategic plan for planting food bank donations in gardens across Iowa, and increase the amount of food donated to food banks by Iowa Master Gardeners.
To apply for a mini grant to support a food security project, registration and participation in the webinar series is required.
Mini grant applications for up to $500 are due on March 1, 2016.