We have over 80 people already pre-registered to attend at 6:30 p.m. on March 3. If you still want to participate, call 439-3178 as soon as you can.

Fruit Tree Pruning!

If you are concerned about when and how to prune your fruit trees, come to the Fruit Tree Pruning class Friday, March 13, at 1:15 p.m. The class will be held at Bill Nicholson's residence, 17996 Biehl Rd., West Frankfort, Illinois. Ed Billingsley, Williamson County Extension Director, will be the instructor. Call Franklin County Extension at 439-3178, or Williamson County Extension at 993-3304 to register and get directions to the site. There is no fee.

Adult Sewing Class to begin March 6^th

There has been a lot of interest in sewing and quilting lately at University of Illinois Extension. Twenty ladies have started a quilt which they will make over the course of the next year. This class is full and some have been told there is no more room.

Alice Hunt is offering a new class that will feature a different project each month. The first session will be March 6, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon. Participants will make a table mat for St. Patrick's Day. A charge of $5.00 will cover the cost of supplies (including fabric) and the lesson. Some sewing machines are available, or you can bring your own. You will need to bring a few basic sewing supplies, cutting mat and rotary cutter (or share with a friend).

Class size will be limited to the first 15 who register. Call soon to University of Illinois Extension in Benton at 439-3178 to get your name on the list.

Monthly classes on many different sewing projects will be offered during the next year. Watch the paper for details.

Make a Purse in One Afternoon

Youth ages 8-19 will learn to make a fabric purse on March 12. The session is 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. at the Extension Building. All supplies will be furnished for a fee of $5.00. Call 439-3178 to sign up. Anyone is welcome!

Small Fruits in the Home Garden

Growing small fruits in your home garden is easier than you think. Strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, blueberries and grapes are small fruits well-adapted to our Illinois climate. Once established these perennial fruits can provide years of bountiful harvest with a minimum amount of care. This lesson will provide many valuable tips on varieties, planting and care of these garden crops. You can soon be growing and harvesting fresh, inexpensive fruit right from your own backyard!

Plan to attend the session titled Growing Small Fruits for the Home Garden. It will be presented on Tuesday, March 24^th at 10:00 a.m. in the Extension Building. Growing small fruit is a rewarding aspect of home gardening, which can provide summer-long, fresh eating treats. With today's prices for fruit, growing your own helps trim the grocery bill, providing fruit for eating right off the plant, as well as for preserving in jams, jellies, or canning and freezing.

The workshop will be taught by Marc Lamczyk, Ag. Program Coordinator. Any

interested person is welcome to attend. There is no fee. Call 439-3178 to let us know

you would plan to join us so that we can have materials for everyone.