The University of Kentucky’s Robinson Center for Appalachian Resource Sustainability will begin the Mountain Monday series Feb. 14.

The series is a new monthly educational program covering a wide variety of topics.

“We want to cover a broad range of subjects because our clientele are involved in many facets of agriculture and family and consumer sciences,” said David Ditsch, the center’s director. “The first session is going to get spring vegetable growers on the right track, and then every month, we’ll cover a completely different topic.”

The first meeting in the series will begin  at 6:30 p.m. in the Robinson Center Auditorium in Quicksand. UK Extension Horticulture Specialist Shawn Wright will lead the program titled, “Spring Vegetable Production for the Home and Farmers Market,” and discuss soil testing, cover cropping, pollination, planting dates and crop management. Weather permitting, participants will get to tour the center’s research plots and see the latest techniques for extending the growing season such as low tunnels, high tunnels, plastic mulches and row covers.

“If gardening is not your thing, don’t feel left out,” Ditsch said. “There’s bound to be a topic throughout the year that will touch on everyone’s interests.”

Other topics throughout the series include:

March 14 – Producing Shiitake Mushrooms

April 11 – Blueberry Production and Pruning

May 9 – Mountain Cattleman

June 13 – Food Preservation

July 11 – Pasture Poultry Production

Aug. 8 – Cutting Board Workshop

Sept. 12 – Food Plots for Wildlife

Oct. 10 – Holiday Decorations and Wreath Making

Nov. 14 – Introduction to Beekeeping

Dec. 12 – Holiday Quilt Show

Most Mountain Monday programs will begin at 6:30 p.m. Preregistration may be required, and some sessions may have fees. Information about each session will be released on the center’s website http://www2.ca.uky.edu/rcars/ .