Written by Sherie Shaffer, Horticulture Agent, CSU Extension-Pueblo County

With the COVID-19 pandemic still looming, opportunities for virtual learning have been increasing. Although most people can’t wait to get back to “normal life”, the chance to learn about “virtually” anything from the comfort of your own home, and on your own time, is a really great thing that will hopefully continue well past when the pandemic has ended.

CSU Extension is offering many opportunities for virtual learning this year. We hope that as the year goes on, we will be able to add in some “in-person” classes as well. Here are some virtual classes you may be interested in:

• Virtual Yard and Garden class series– CSU Extension-Pueblo County’s yearly Yard and Garden class series is all online, and all free of charge this year. These monthly classes are on timely topics that will guide you through the gardening season. Even if you can’t make the actual class at the scheduled time, you can still register and receive the recording of the class for 30 days. More information and the link to register can be found here: https://pueblo.extension.colostate.edu/programs/gardening-horticulture/horticulture-classes/

• All Pueblo Grows Seed Lending Library virtual class series– The All Pueblo Grows Seed Lending Library is also moving their yearly class series online for 2021. These classes focus on helping people get a garden going, from starting seeds to saving seeds in the fall. They will also cover how to use the new “Little Seed Libraries”, and the Seed Library located at Rawlings Library. Register for these classes here: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0pce-qrzsiHN2zUkBXS-vWYOpGEqwrV2ZQ and if you want to request a seed kit you can visit this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd8U7-AIkMlltBawXXEB9vx8Sf_kcINo5AvTOMSfM2xEhET6A/viewform

• Guest speaker series– Tune into the classes in this series to hear great speakers from across the state speak about their topics of expertise. At the time of writing this we have one session on the schedule, with more to come this year. These classes will cost $10 per session and will include time to ask live questions to our expert speakers. To sign up for the session we currently have scheduled you can visit: https://creatingsustainablelandscapes.eventbrite.com. Watch our website for information on the next speaker we have scheduled: https://pueblo.extension.colostate.edu/programs/gardening-horticulture/horticulture-classes/.

• Statewide webinars– Great webinars from CSU Extension offices across the state are constantly coming out and are on many great topics. Stay up to date on the available public webinars around the state by checking out this blog: http://csuhort.blogspot.com/p/csu-extension-spring-gardening-webinars.html