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May 2026

Edition #22                                                                                                                

Purdue Extension-Lake County

Urban Ag Chronicles

Welcome!

Welcome! If you’re new here, my name is Hayley Kinley, and I’m the Administrative Assistant for Communications & Marketing at Purdue Extension-Lake County. Each edition features upcoming events, a cover crop of the month, and more. Stay connected and explore ways to get involved with our programs—there’s always something exciting happening!

Stories Inside This Issue:

• Meet The Team
• May’s & June’s Events
• Upcoming Events
• Two Newsletters, Two Ways to Grow
• 4-H Urban Ag Youth Program
• Horticulture Hotline
• Crop of the Month
• Cut Flower Diagnostics
• Grant Opportunities for Nonprofits
• Local Resources
• Resources

Meet the Team!

May’s Events

• May 5 – Companion Planting (Vegetables): Join our Horticulture Program Assistant, Dolly Foster at the Dyer-Schererville Library, located at 1001 W. Lincoln Hwy
  Schererville, IN at 6:00pm for this program. The age-old practice of placing plants together in the garden so they benefit each other; mostly focuses on vegetables and herbs. Companion Planting helps the garden fight off garden pests naturally by deterring pest To register call the Dyer-Schererville Library at (219) 769-3541.
• May 7 – Udderly Tasting Creations: Join Purdue Extension at Ligonier Public Library, located at 300 S. Main Street, Ligonier, IN from 6:00pm to 8:00pm EST for Udderly Tasting Creations. This is the second part of a three-part, hands-on livestock skills series that Elkhart, St. Joseph, and Kosciusko Counties are hosting. This series is designed to help build practical knowledge and confidence for youth and families working with livestock. In this session, you will learn how to make yogurt and other products using milk from your livestock. The cost to register is $15 per session and payment is accepted at the door, cash and checks and accepted, if paying with check please make sure to make the check payable to ‘Trustees of Purdue University’ and dinner will be included. To register, be go to https://bit.ly/4kgg12F. If you have any questions, please contact Kathryn Jennings at (574) 533-0554 or email at jennin30@purdue.edu.
• May 9 - Lake County Master Gardener’s Plant Sale: Join the Lake County Master Gardener’s for their annual plant sale from 9:00am to 2:00pm at the Lake County Fairgrounds, located at 857 Lake Street, Crown Point. Be sure to get your plants before they go!
• May 11 – Small Fruit PARP Program: Join Purdue Extension from 2:00pm to 5:00pm EST at Blueberry Ranch, located at 5473 Buckeye Road, Mishawaka, IN. This program is perfect for farmers who still need Private Applicator Recertification Program (PARP) credits or if you are interested in fruit production or blueberries. Cheyenne Sloan, who is the Blueberry and Small Fruit Educator at Michigan State University Extension will be joining for a hands-on scouting walkthrough the fields. To register for this program, please call Purdue Extension-Elkhart County at (574) 533-0554 or email elkhartces@purude.edu. If you are in need of PARP credits, there will be a $10 fee that is payable at the door with cash or check. If you are paying with a check, please make the checks payable to ‘Purdue University’.
• May 27 – Natural Pest Solutions in the Garden: Join our Agriculture & Natural Resource Educator, Rebecca Koetz and our Horticulture Program Assistant, Dolly Foster at the Extension Office, located at 2291 N. Main Street Crown Point, IN at 6:00pm. Delve into the problem of pests in the garden and how they can be dealt with naturally with Becca and Dolly. Register at https://purdue.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0leni5IwGQKVOYK.

june’s Events

• June 3 – Natural Pest Solutions in the Garden: Join our Horticulture Program Assistant, Dolly Foster at the Hammond Public Library, located at 564 State Street, Hammond, IN from 6:00pm to 7:30pm for a lecture on how to reduce insect damage in the veg garden by repelling a deterring them instead. Learn how to attract predatory insects that are the heroes of the garden. 
• June 4 – Backing Up a Trailer: Join the Purdue Extension at the Kosciusko County Fairgrounds, located at 1400 E. Smith Street, Warsaw, IN from 6:00pm to 8:00pm EST for Backing Up a Trailer. This is the last part of a three-part, hands-on livestock skills series that Elkhart, St. Joseph, and Kosciusko Counties are hosting. This series is designed to help build practical knowledge and confidence for youth and families working with livestock. In this session, you will learn how to safely back up livestock and utility trailers. The cost to register is $15 per session and payment is accepted at the door, cash and checks and accepted, if paying with check please make sure to make the check payable to ‘Trustees of Purdue University’ and dinner will be included. To register, be go to https://bit.ly/4kpXpNF. If you have any questions, please contact Kathryn Jennings at (574) 533-0554 or email at jennin30@purdue.edu.
• June 5 – Butterfly Gardening: Join our Horticulture Program Assistant, Dolly Foster at Bulldog Park located at 183 S West Street, Crown Point, IN at 1:00pm to learn how to garden to attract butterflies and other pollinators to the garden.
• June 6 – Butterfly Gardening: Join our Horticulture Program Assistant, Dolly Foster at the Hobart Branch of the Lake County Public Library located at 100 North Main Street, Hobart, IN from 12:00pm to 1:00pm to learn how to garden to attract butterflies and other pollinators to the garden.
• June 9-September 22 – The Farmer’s Market at Fox Pointe: The Farmers Market at Fox Pointe in Lansing, IL will run Tuesdays from June 9 through September 22, from 9:00am to 1:00pm, with a special evening market on August 4 from 5:00pm to 8:00pm in partnership with National Night Out. 
• June 17 – Seed Collecting and Cleaning: Join our Horticulture Program Assistant, Dolly Foster at the Hammond Public Library, located at 564 State Street, Hammond, IN from 6:00pm to 7:30pm to increase your garden plants by collecting and growing by seed. Seed collecting is a fascinating hobby to start, learn how to recognize seeds on plants and how to process them for spring growing.

Upcoming Events

• July 16 – 2026 Fruit and Vegetable Field Day: Join the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture and Purdue Extension for this year’s Fruit and Vegetable Field Day. The field day will be from 9:00am to 1:00pm EST at the Meigs Horticulture Research Farm, located at 9101 S. 100 East, Lafayette, IN and the cost to attend is $48 and will include lunch from Great Harvest Bread Co. This field day will feature educational sessions on cutting-edge research, which will include high tunnel production systems, pollinator management, soil health strategies, and innovative weed and pest control methods. This event will offer fruit and vegetable growers a valuable opportunity to learn about the latest in research that Purdue is doing, network with fellow producers, and discover practical solutions to enhance your operations. A full agenda for this event will be out after May 1st at org/purdue-fruit-and-vegetable-field-day. If you would like to register for this event, you can register at https://web.cvent.com/event/2da43e55-9a79-4e57-bc91-5594e09ae63b/summary. If you have any questions, please contact Lori Jolly-Brown at ljollybr@purdue.edu.
• August 27 – Indiana Land Use Summit: Agrivoltaics and Renewable Energy: Purdue Extension and the Purdue Institute for a Sustainable Future invite you to the Indiana Land Use Summit. The summit will be from 9:00am to 4:00pm EST at the Beck Agricultural Center, located at 4550 U.S. 52 W., West Lafayette, IN. This summit will highlight Purdue University’s applied research and extension efforts in advancing data-driven, community engaged approaches to land use planning across Indiana. The cost is $50 to attend and will include lunch, to view details and register, please visit https://cvent.me/d7rYb3.

4-H Urban Ag Youth Program

Do you know any youth in grades 3–12 who are interested in learning where their food comes from? This summer, Purdue Extension Lake County is offering the 4-H Urban Agriculture Youth Program. Participants will take part in hands-on workshops, plant and grow herbs, learn basic cooking skills, and visit local urban farms to discover how food is grown and shared within their communities. The program concludes with youth showcasing their knowledge at the Lake County Fair during the 4-H Urban Ag Expo on August 8. The program fee is $15, and it is free for current 4-H members. For more information or to enroll, visit our website at extension.purdue.edu/county/lake or call 219-755-3240.

tWO nEWSLETTERS, tWO wAYS tO gROW

The Urban Ag Chronicles shares stories, resources, and education focused on urban agriculture, local growers, homesteading, and farm-based production. The Gardening Gazette will feature everyday gardening topics such as flowers, vegetables, lawns, trees, and creating healthy, beautiful outdoor spaces at home.

If you would like to update your newsletter subscription preferences, please complete the survey at https://purdue.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0Vwevnc476lr4c6 so we can update our records. The Gardening Gazette will begin in June.

fARMERS nEEDED

The Farmers Market at Fox Pointe in Lansing, IL runs Tuesdays from June 9 through September 22, from 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM, with a special evening market on August 4 from 5:00 - 8:00 PM in partnership with National Night Out. They are currently seeking farmers that offer fresh produce. Booth options include the following: 

Full Season (16 markets) $275

Half Season (8 markets) $175

Weekly $25

They do have a limited number of discounted spots available for produce-focused farms to help strengthen the market's fresh offerings. Vendors can view details and apply by visiting foxpointe.org, or applying directly here: FARMERS MARKET - Eventeny. For questions or to connect directly, contact Michelle Henderson at mhenderson@villageoflansing.org or 708-832-4583.

hoRTICULTURE hOTLINE

Spring is here and Purdue Extension, Crown Point hosts a Horticulture Helpline. Horticulture experts will answer questions about your landscape, gardens, tree and more! Experts are gearing up to help you answer questions with the latest research-based information and resources you can trust. Spread the word, if you need advice for your garden, Purdue Extension is the place to ask! 

Call 219-755-3240 for one-to-one expert answers. Walk-ins welcome; bring a plant sample to the extension office for ID of plants or diseases. Our address is 2291 Main Street, Crown Point, IN; and we are open Monday through Friday from 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Crop of the Month

As May arrives, the growing season is starting to ramp up, making it the perfect time to spotlight this month’s featured Cover Crop of the Month in The Urban Ag Chronicles. Each month, we’ll highlight a cover crop by sharing its scientific and common names, cover crop type, key benefits, notable characteristics, and helpful growing tips to support your gardening success. For May, we’re featuring Crimson Clover (Trifolium incarnatum), a popular annual legume known for its vibrant blooms and soil-building benefits. Crimson Clover is valued for its rapid, vigorous growth and can be an excellent source of nitrogen when planted at the right time. As a legume, it helps improve soil fertility by fixing nitrogen, making it a great choice for gardens, raised beds, crop rotations, and sustainable growing systems. This cover crop has also become a popular forage option and roadside planting throughout the Southeast. While Crimson Clover can tolerate a variety of soil types, it performs best in well-drained loam soils. In addition to improving soil health, Crimson Clover can help reduce erosion, suppress weeds, and attract beneficial insects and pollinators.
            One thing that I had found really interesting when I was researching Crimson Clover was that it produces showy, deep red blooms that are approximately ½ to 1 inch long. These nectar-rich flowers are frequently visited by many species of bees. The blooms may also attract minute pirate bugs—beneficial insects that help control small garden pests.

Resources:
• Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education – https://www.sare.org/publications/managing-cover-crops-profitably/legume-cover-crops/crimson-clover/
• Michigan State University Extension – https://www.canr.msu.edu/cover_crops/species/crimson-clover

We’re excited to continue our Cover Crop of the Month feature and share more ways to build healthier soil and stronger growing spaces throughout the season! 

Cut Flower Diagnostics

Cut flower production has been expanding rapidly in Indiana, the reason why is because many farms are adding cut flowers as an agritourism attraction, a way to diversify their operations, or because they are using cut flowers as a high-value crop. Because of this, Purdue Extension has launched a new project to help better serve the Indiana Cut Flower Farms, which is funded by Purdue’s AgSEED program. An important aspect of this new project is for the 2026 season Indiana growers will receive free diagnostic reports for commercial cut flower samples that will be submitted to the Purdue Plant and Pest Diagnostic Laboratory (PPDL). This free service will help farmers to identify any problems quickly and help them receive science-based management recommendations. If you are a cut flower farmer and would like to receive this free service, you can use the dedicated sample submission form for cut flower growers at https://ag.purdue.edu/department/btny/ppdl/submit-samples/submit-sample.html.

GRant Opportunities

Looking to turn a vacant lot into a thriving green space? The Lots of Compassion Grant from Kids Gardening is now accepting applications for 2026. This opportunity will award 10 grantees $20,000 each—for a total of $200,000 annually—to help transform underutilized spaces into community gardens that increase access to fresh food and support hands-on learning. Learn more: https://kidsgardening.org/grant-opportunities/lots-of-compassion-grant/

Apply Now
https://form.jotform.com/260895417762165

Applications Due: June 15, 2026
Award Announcement: August 2026

Don’t miss the opportunity to bring new life to your community through urban agriculture

Local Resources

The Times of Northwest Indiana is collecting information on local food resources throughout the Region to build a public directory of food pantries, meal programs, and assistance services. If you know anyone who would like to be apart, please share the link  https://www.nwitimes.com/forms/nwi_food_resources/.

Resources

1. Urban Ag IPM Webinars on YouTube,

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF5Jb7P6mv4A7CepWyqIZnA

see the Great Lakes Urban Agriculture playlist

2. Virtual Urban Farm Tours, https://d2a7h761ws2w2t.cloudfront.net/

Thank You

Thank you for reading! If you have an upcoming event, need volunteers, or want to showcase your garden or farm, we’d love to feature it in a future newsletter. Email us at hkinley@purdue.edu or busser@purdue.edu. Stay tuned for the next edition of Urban Ag Chronicles—there’s always something new to discover!

Happy Growing!

Purdue University prohibits discrimination against any member of the University community on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin or ancestry, genetic information, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, or status as a veteran.

If you are in need of accommodations to attend events, please contact the Rebecca Koetz or Dolly Foster at 219-755-3240 and busser@purdue.edu or dolly@purdue.edu at least 2 weeks prior to the event.

For special dietary needs, please contact the Rebecca Koetz or Dolly Foster at 219-755-3240 and busser@purdue.edu or dolly@purdue.edu at least 2 weeks prior to the event.

If you need an interpreter or translator, please contact the Rebecca Koetz or Dolly Foster at 219-755-3240 and busser@purdue.edu or dolly@purdue.edu at least 2 weeks prior to the event.