“Backyard Farmer” will travel to the lakeside Yanney Heritage Park in Kearney, known for its
gardens, trails and iconic observation tower, to record an episode Tuesday, June 16.
The public is invited to attend this free event near the Pavilion Building, 2020 W. 11th St., in Kearney. Before the show begins, enjoy hands-on yard-and garden-related activities for the whole family starting at 3:15 p.m. CT, followed by a question-and-answer session at 4:15 p.m. CT. The recording begins at 5 p.m. CT.
Host Kim Todd, Nebraska Extension landscape horticulture specialist, joins a panel of Nebraska Extension experts and other horticulture professionals to answer viewer questions about insect pests, plant diseases, lawn care, fruits and vegetables, and landscape design. Panelists include: Kait Chapman, urban entomologist; Terri James, extension educator; Amy Timmerman, extension educator and Elizabeth Extrom, extension educator.
Audience members should bring lawn chairs or picnic blankets, along with questions and samples from their lawns or gardens for the Q&A session.
The program will feature a spring planting project called the “Big Dig,” where community volunteers plant annuals in ornamental beds, along with stories about the late philanthropist Mike Yanney and Ward Laboratories, a family-run soil-testing lab founded in 1983.
Family activities include creating seedballs for pollinator-friendly wildflowers, making and decorating a bee hotel, sidewalk chalk activities and more.
In case of inclement weather, “Backyard Farmer” will be recorded inside the pavilion.
Viewers can submit their lawn and garden questions and photos beforehand via the “Backyard Farmer” webpage, email or Facebook messages. To submit a question or photo for the experts, email byf@unl.edu or visit Facebook at facebook.com/backyardfarmernebraska. The “Backyard Farmer” webpage at byf.unl.edu features additional information about the series and its Facebook page also includes announcements and other garden information.
Past features and episodes are available for viewing on the program’s YouTube channel at youtube.com/backyardfarmerand as a free podcast. Fans of “Backyard Farmer” can also stay up to date with the latest gardening trends by signing up for the program’s monthly newsletter at byf.unl.edu/about/newsletter.
This episode will air at 7 p.m. CT, Thursday, June 18 on Nebraska Public Media.
