Butler County - Alabama Extension

06/17/2026

Grant-funded beautification brings new landscaping, planters and decorative features to downtown Georgiana, uniting the city, Extension, Master Gardeners and vo...

06/17/2026

Thinking about starting your own home-based food business?
Learn the rules, requirements and tips for turning your homemade goods into a successful business.
Perfect for bakers and anyone interested in selling homemade foods legally and safely!
🔗 Register here: www.aces.edu/go/cottagefoodbusiness

06/17/2026

Mimosa trees are blooming across Alabama right now!

These eye-catching pink flowers may be beautiful, but mimosa is a non-native invasive tree found throughout Alabama along roadsides, streams, woodlots and other disturbed areas.

Join the 2026 Year of Alabama Invasive Plants Project to raise awareness, improve identification skills and take action against invasive plants.

Learn more and take the pledge: www.aces.edu/go/YearofInvasivePlants

06/16/2026

If you're ready to take the next step toward becoming a Certified Arborist, join Alabama Extension for the Arborist Review Workshop on June 29–30 at the Gulf Coast Research and Extension Center in Fairhope, Alabama.

This two-day workshop is designed to help participants prepare for the ISA Certified Arborist exam while expanding their knowledge of tree biology, identification, planting, pruning, plant health care, urban forestry, and more. Current ISA Certified Arborists can also earn up to 12 CEUs for attending.

To find out more and register for the workshop, click here: https://www.aces.edu/go/6468

06/16/2026

June is Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Month, and we're celebrating with the Alabama Extension Homegrown Fruit & Vegetable Photo Contest!
Got a bumper crop of tomatoes? A giant squash? A funny-looking carrot? Show us what you're growing!

Submit your best homegrown fruit or vegetable photo in the comments for a chance to win Alabama Extension goodies and, of course, ultimate bragging rights.
Contest Rules:
• Photo must be taken in Alabama.
• Produce must be homegrown.
• Like and share this post.
• Submit your photo in the comments under this original post.
• Two winners will be selected:
Judges' Choice for the most unusual fruit or vegetable
People's Choice based on the most likes on a photo

Entries must be submitted by noon on June 18. Winners will be announced at 4:00 p.m. on June 18.

Happy growing, and we can't wait to see what's coming out of your garden!

06/13/2026

06/13/2026

🌾🤝 NEW DATE ANNOUNCEMENT 🤝🌾

Due to feedback from farmers, buyers, and community partners, we have rescheduled our Farmers-to-Buyers Mixer to allow more producers and businesses the opportunity to participate after the busy summer growing season.

📅 August 19, 2026📍 National Peanut Festival Volunteer Building📌 Dothan, AL

This event brings together local farmers, restaurants, retailers, schools, and other food buyers to build relationships, create new market opportunities, and strengthen our local food system.

✅ Meet local producers and buyers
✅ Learn from experienced farmers and purchasers during our discussion panel
✅ Network with potential business partners
✅ Enjoy local hors d'oeuvres from Southrngritskitchen

Producer tables are available, and buyers are encouraged to attend and make valuable local connections.

Registration closes August 14th:
https://www.aces.edu/go/farmerstobuyers2026

We look forward to connecting local food with local businesses and helping grow opportunities across the Wiregrass!

06/13/2026

🎈Watching colorful balloons float into the sky is a popular way to mark special milestones, but the reality of balloon releases is far more troubling. Every balloon released eventually returns to Earth as dangerous litter that pollutes ecosystems and threatens wildlife.

When balloon fragments land in our environment, the impacts are devastating:

Severe Risks to Wildlife: Marine animals like sea turtles often mistake floating balloons for jellyfish, leading to fatal digestive blockages. Soft plastics are among the deadliest materials ingested by seabirds, and attached strings can easily entangle livestock, dolphins, and land animals.

Ecosystem & Infrastructure Damage: Ingested plastics accumulate throughout the food chain, disrupting entire ecosystems. Additionally, conductive Mylar balloons cause hundreds of electrical power outages across the country every year, sparking fires and costly repairs.

The Myth of Biodegradability: Even natural latex balloons can take years to break down. Non-biodegradable Mylar balloons eventually fragment into microplastics, contaminating our soils, waterways, and drinking water sources.

The good news? We can still celebrate meaningfully without the plastic pollution. Consider switching to eco-friendly alternatives like blowing bubbles, using no-mess throw streamers, flying kites, or planting trees and wildflowers to honor your special moments.

Small changes in our traditions can preserve the health of our planet for generations to come. Head over to our blog to read the full article on balloon pollution and sustainable celebration ideas! 🌲

🔗 https://www.aces.edu/blog/topics/forestry-wildlife/balloon-releases-environmental-impacts-and-eco-friendly-alternatives/