It is snowing at my house and making it a bit challenging to get into my springtime mindset. The skiing is still fantastic, but I look at my seedlings and plant cuttings and wonder when I’ll be able to finally put them in the ground.

Spring fever is running rampant and one way to cure those blues is to look for spring in other corners of the Adirondacks.

To help prepare for the upcoming season, The Essex County Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) is celebrating its Open House on Saturday, from 12 to 2 pm. Having made a move in December to a new location at 8487 Route 9 in Lewis, the Extension is inviting everyone to drop by their office, find out about all the upcoming classes, and even try some free maple cotton candy.

CCE Master Gardener Volunteers will be available for questions about seed starting, companion planting and soil maintenance, as well as growing home citrus and figs. I usually bring a list of issues that I had from the previous year and the Master Gardens are always helpful finding answers and researching questions that help everyone be better gardeners.

There will also be demonstrations and displays with 4-H children and parents. 4-H is a worldwide organization open to all youth (4-19). The program promotes hands-on learning in a supportive environment. Citizenship, healthy lifestyle, and science engineering, and technology are the backbone of the 4-H youth development program.

The Open House is just one of a long list of events and activities offered throughout the year at the Essex County Cooperative Extension. If gardening doesn’t interest you, perhaps learning the fundamentals of bee keeping is. There are shiitake mushroom workshops and even a public plant swap.  This free event is focusing on education, but I am looking forward to making sure I’m prepared for planting season. If I can’t have spring weather in my backyard, the next best thing is meeting up with other gardeners willing to share their expertise.

Photo of CCE’s Master Gardener plants are used with permission.