Three upcoming events hosted by Alabama Extension in Bay Minette and Fairhope are offering residents hands-on learning opportunities in food safety and wildlife exploration.

The Baldwin County Extension Office will host a Cottage Food Law Workshop on Tuesday, April 28, from 10 a.m. to noon. The $25 course, presented in partnership with the North Baldwin Chamber of Commerce, is designed for anyone interested in selling baked goods, jams, treats or other non-hazardous homemade foods.

The workshop fulfills the food safety training requirement of the Alabama Department of Public Health for home-based Cottage Food Businesses and covers the specifics of the Alabama Cottage Food Law. This session is ideal for potential event vendors or anyone curious about starting a cottage food business.

The workshop will be held at the Baldwin County Extension Office, 302 Byrne Street, Bay Minette. Registration is available online at www.aces.edu/event/cottage-food-course-bay-minette/. Questions can be directed to Rebecca Catalena at (251) 234-1050 or rjc0026@auburn.edu.

The Baldwin County Extension Office will host a pressure canner dial gauge testing event on April 28 immediately following its Cottage Food Law Safety Training to help residents prepare for the upcoming canning season.

Extension Agent Rebecca Catalena will test pressure canner gauges and answer questions on home food preservation, ensuring equipment is functioning properly and foods are safely processed. The service is free and open to the public.

The event runs from noon to 2 p.m. at 302 Byrne Street in Bay Minette. Residents can register online at www.aces.edu/go/6111. Early drop-off is also accepted for those who cannot attend during the scheduled hours.

Participants should bring their pressure lid with dial gauge. Tests typically take less than 10 minutes. The Extension Office encourages gauge testing to prevent under or over processing, maintain equipment, and ensure safe food preservation.

In Fairhope, the Gulf Coast Research and Extension Center will host “Dig In and Discover: Wildlife and Forestry” on Thursday, April 9, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. The free event offers families and nature enthusiasts a chance to explore wildlife on the Auburn Research Station and celebrate National Gopher Tortoise Day.

Participants can see gopher tortoise burrows, learn which animals use abandoned burrows as habitat, and discover forest management practices researchers and Extension agents employ to maintain healthy forests. Registration is required at www.aces.edu/event/dig-in-and-discover-wildlife-and-forestry/. The center is located at 8300 Alabama 104, Fairhope. For more information, contact Sarah Butterworth at (251) 937-7176 or sfb0010@aces.edu.