Ramona Grange Hall is site of backyard agriculture workshops

Would you like to have fresh eggs from your own backyard? How about a goat or two for milk and meat? Or just a few veggies for salad? Don’t know how to get started?

Beginning on April 10, Ramona Grange will be holding classes and workshops on backyard agriculture.

The first two classes will be about poultry and goats and are geared to the novice. Good health and humane treatment of livestock are emphasized.

“Eggs from Your Backyard” will teach basic poultry raising. Incubating eggs, brooding chicks, feeding, housing, cage-free poultry and California regulations on raising poultry are a few of the subjects that will be covered. Dora Friedli, with 20 years experience in 4-H and backyard poultry raising, is the instructor.

This is a “hands-on” workshop. Participants are advised to wear your old clothes and be prepared to handle poultry.

“Milk and Meat from Your Backyard” is about raising dairy and meat goats.

Teacher Bernadette Faust, a 4-H goat leader, has raised goats for milk and for meat for three decades. Instruction will be on feed and shelter needs, types and breeds of goats, goat products (milk, cheese, meat and fleece), grooming, care and goat breeders in Ramona. There will be goats to pet and feed.

Both workshops will be on Saturday, April 10. “Eggs From Your Backyard” will start at 10 a.m. and “Milk and Meat From Your Backyard” will start at 11:30 a.m.

Suggested donations are $10 per class or $15 for both classes for adults. “Family Special” is $20 for both classes, with the family including mother, father and children. Admission is free for active military. Children under age 16 are welcome and will be admitted free, but they must be accompanied by a responsible adult.

The classes will be in Ramona Grange Hall at 215 Seventh St. Donations will be used to repair the Grange Hall.

“Bring your family and join us,” said Friedli. “See this beautiful, 100-year old building and learn what you can do in your own backyard.”

For more information, contact: dlfriedli@cox.net.