Owen County Conservationist Classes will be held monthly beginning in February at the Owen County Public Library located at 10 S. Montgomery Street in Spencer. Classes will continue through December 2010. Hands-on activities and accompanying materials will be available for the subject matter of each workshop. The program and materials are free of charge to participants. In addition, attendees will have the opportunity to win fun stuff (such as books, birdfeeders or other nature related materials) at each class. All learners who attend at least 9 workshops will be awarded a special gift at the end of the program in December.

            In order to give community members the best chance for attendance, each class will be offered twice monthly. “Brown Bag Lunch” classes will be held during the day from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on the first Thursday of the month. Evening classes will also be available on the third Thursday of the month from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. Both the day and evening class will cover the same subject matter for that month.

            Owen County Conservationist Classes will appeal to anyone who desires to know more about the natural environment around them. See the schedule below for dates and subjects.

February 4 & 18:         Tweet Treats - Inviting Birds to your Yard

March 4 & 18:              Discovering the Secrets of Soil – Don’t Treat Your Soil Like Dirt

April 1 & 15:                 Time to Get Off the Sofa – Preparing the Garden for Spring Planting

May 6 & 20:                  The Victory Garden – Know & Grow Your Food

June 3 & 17:                 Compost Happens – Turning Yucky Stuff into Gardening Gold

July 1 & 15:                   What’s Bugging You – Dealing with Those Pesky Pests

August 5 & 19:              Might as Well Try to Catch the Rain – Building a Rain Barrel

September 2 & 16:     Your Contribution to Cleaner Water - Build your Own Rain Garden

October 7 & 21:           Grow a Friend for Life – Planting and Caring for Trees

November 4 & 18:      It’s OK to be a Gourd Head – Growing and Using Gourds

December 2 & 16:       "In the Bleak Midwinter" – Winter Habitat