The Colorado State University Extension Office in La Plata County will offer its Backyard Food Production Series from 6 to 8 p.m. on various Tuesdays beginning May 3 at the La Plata County Fairgrounds Extension Building, 2500 Main Ave.
This is a series of 12 classes designed to help people grow and preserve food.
Classes will be taught by local experts and will give people the tools to effectively and efficiently grow food. The cost is $130.
To RSVP, call Darrin Parmenter at 382-6464, email darrin.parmenter@colostate.edu, visit www.laplataextension.org or pick up a form at the Extension Office
The 12th annual Ute Mountain-Mesa Verde Birding Festival will include these programs:
The Local Lakes Tour will be held May 11. The tour, which incorporates bodies of water ranging from Denny Lake to McPhee Reservoir and lakes on Summit Ridge, will focus on waterfowl, waders and shorebirds. A tour will visit the RSL Ranch on Summit Ridge between Mancos and Dolores on May 14. The ranch, a Colorado Centennial Farm, provides a variety of wildlife habitats. Participants will travel by van with seating filled on a first-come, advance-registration basis. Several tours will focus on various habitats within the Dolores and Summit Ridge areas. The Dolores River Canyon tour will be held May 13, the Bradfield Bridge tour May 15 and a free family tour will visit the Butler Bluebird Trail on May 14.Birding from Old Fort Lewis at Hesperus to Blue Lake Ranch along the La Plata River will take place May 14. Participants will travel by van and eat a catered lunch at Blue Lake Ranch. All festival tours are filled on a first-come, advance-registration basis. To register or for more information, visit www.utemountainmesaverdebirdingfestival.com or call the Cortez Cultural Center at 565-1151.
Mesa Verde National Park announces these events:
Ranger guided tours of Balcony House cliff dwelling will begin Sunday. Tours will be conducted hourly from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Ticket sales for ranger-guided tours will also begin Sunday. Tickets may be purchased at the Visitor and Research Center (open 8 a.m.-5 p.m.), Chapin Mesa Museum or the Colorado Welcome Center in Cortez. Tickets for the guided tours must be purchased in person, but beginning Sunday, they may be purchased up to two days in advance.Ranger-guided tours of Long House will begin May 14, with tours offered at 9:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. On May 27, Cliff Palace will open to the public with tours offered every half hour from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mesa Verde will observe National Park Week from April 16 to April 24. Entrance fees will be waived the entire week. The park will offer “behind the scenes” curation tours of the Visitor and Research Center at 9 a.m. April 16 and 10 a.m. April 20. These free tours are one hour in length and are limited to 10 people. To register, call 529-4612.For more information, visit www.nps.gov/meve or call 529-4465.
Project proposals are being accepted for natural-resource projects that benefit lands and resources of the San Juan National Forest and the rural economies of Southwest Colorado counties, which have opted to take part in Title II of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act.
The purposes of the act include making investments and creating employment opportunities through special projects that improve the maintenance of existing infrastructure, implement stewardship objectives or restore and improve land health and water quality.
Examples include projects that restore watersheds, decommission or maintain roads, manage noxious weeds or otherwise improve forest health on or adjacent to the national forest.
The San Juan Resource Advisory Committee will review project proposals and recommend projects to the Forest Service for funding.
To be considered, proposals must be posted online by close of business May 6. Before submission, applicants should coordinate proposals with their local San Juan National Forest Ranger District.
For an application form, visit http://bit.ly/1GWzgY2. For more information, visit www.fs.usda.gov/main/pts or call Ann Bond at 385-1219.
Herald Staff
