The raised bed gardens at the North Alabama Agriplex are playing host to the foods that local kids planted in June 2019, as part of a gardening day camp program that calls for repeat visits through the summer. 

With winter getting set to make a welcome exit later this month, the North Alabama Agriplex is intrepidly turning one eye toward the outdoors with its lineup of March events. From backyard birds to native wildflowers and more, this month’s events calendar signals that spring is just around the corner.

On Saturday, kids will get to create a garden in miniature with a Farm Kids Club session on fairy and gnome gardens that, thanks to their tiny size, can go home with them when the day is over. The idea is to plant a succulent garden all in one dish — and then pick either a gnome or fairy to watch over it. The session begins at 9 a.m. Saturday, and the cost is $10 per child.

Chickens, ducks, and more land-strutting birds will be the focus on Tuesday, March 10, when the Heritage Skills series will head outside to take a peek (and a peck) at backyard poultry. Yard chickens are increasingly popular with hobby-farming families, and this course will cover chickens, pea fowl, turkeys, quail, guineas, ducks, and more. Cost for the class is $5 per person, and the feather-ruffling begins at 6 p.m.

Later next week, kids will learn all about the tasty treats that lurk under the soil in an educational course on root crops as part of the Little Farmers Preschool program. Kids will explore Janet Stevens’ Tops and Bottoms book before planting, harvesting, and (of course) eating root crops and other earthy veggies. Cost is $5 per child, or $10 per family, and the course kicks off at 10 a.m.

Looking farther ahead, here are the other events coming to the Agriplex later this month and in early April:

March 19 — Heritage Homeschool Nature Study (9 a.m. to 11 a.m.)

Learn to observe the outdoors around us, and then chronicle your insights in a nature journal. The class will go over different techniques for journaling. Notebooks and all supplies will be provided. Cost is $8 per child, or $16 per family.

March 25 — Lunch & Learn Native Wildflowers (12 p.m. to 1 p.m.)

Learn to recognize and identify the wild flora that’s native to our area, and find out some of their interesting uses through time. Lunch & Learn is a free program with door prizes at each event, and no registration is required — but be sure to bring your own lunch!

April 4 — Farm Kids Club Natural Egg Dying (9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.)

Easter’s on its way! Bring your own dozen eggs to dye using nature’s bounty — and play old time games on the front lawn while waiting for the eggs to set. Cost is $5 per child, or $10 per family.

To register for any Agriplex event, visit Agriplex.org and click on the “programs” tab. Choose which series the program is in (i.e. Adult, Living Landscapes) and then look for a direct link to the program registration. To learn more about the Agriplex and its programs, explore the website or call 256-297-1044.