Johnson County K-State Extension

Johnson County K-State Extension Our Extension agents provide scientific, unbiased, research-based information to help you. Content that is excessively long or repetitive is subject to removal.

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09/07/2026

How far can one rotisserie chicken really go? 👀🍗

That convenient chicken you grab on the way home can be more than just tonight's dinner. Discover practical ways to stretch one simple grocery store shortcut into multiple meals and make busy weeknight cooking a little easier.

Join us virtually over your lunch hour for Making the Most of a Rotisserie Chicken, part of our Learning Lunchbox series.

💻 Virtual | Bring your lunch and learn!
👉 Register: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/rxv7dcf

09/05/2026

Every new garden begins with a vision. But bringing that vision to life takes a community. 🌱

The Food Forest Open House marked an exciting early milestone for this evolving Demonstration Garden at JCCC's Stu Shafer Open Petal Farm—and an opportunity to see the collaborations behind it in action.

This project brings together Johnson County Community College Center for Sustainability, Johnson County K-State Extension, Extension Master Gardeners and Extension Master Naturalists, each contributing knowledge, experience and a shared commitment to environmental stewardship and community education.

During the Open House, volunteers, partners and community members gathered to explore the space, exchange ideas and imagine what this Food Forest can become.

The garden is still growing. The ideas are still taking root. And this collaboration is just getting started.

We're excited to see what grows next.
JCCC Open Petal Farm and Sustainable Ag Program

National Hummingbird Day is today, September 5th! ❤️Have you ever had a hummingbird stop and hover just a few feet away ...
09/05/2026

National Hummingbird Day is today, September 5th! ❤️

Have you ever had a hummingbird stop and hover just a few feet away while you were watering flowers, pulling weeds or simply sitting outside?

For such tiny birds, hummingbirds have an incredible ability to make their presence known. They zip past our heads, pause in midair to seemingly inspect us, and sometimes return again and again as we work in the garden.

Those fleeting encounters are part of what makes hummingbirds so magical.

But the flowers and gardens they visit are more than beautiful backdrops. They are important refueling stops, especially as hummingbirds prepare for the next stage of their remarkable migratory journeys.

Want to do more than simply enjoy their visits? Creating and maintaining habitat can provide the food, shelter and resources these tiny travelers need.

🌿 Fall is also a great time to add native plants to the landscape—and today is a great opportunity to get started! Stop by our friends at the Lenexa Farmers Market for their Native Plant Sale from 8-12, visit with Extension Master Naturalists and Master Gardeners, and explore the vendor list in the link in the comments.

Ready to put those ideas into action?
Call our Garden Hotline at 913-715-7050 or email us at [email protected] to get a tailored idea for your yard.

And because every garden tells a slightly different story, we're curious:
What is one memorable encounter you've had with a hummingbird?

Maybe one stopped to hover nearby. Perhaps you've discovered a favorite flower they return to year after year. Or maybe they've simply made an ordinary afternoon in the garden feel a little more magical.

Lenexa Farmers Mkt , ,
https://www.lenexa.com/City-Calendar/2026/Farmers-Market/Saturday/2026-09-05-Lenexa-Farmers-Market
Share your hummingbird story in the comments. 👇

📅 A quick calendar change for Kitchen Restore donors!Kitchen Restore donation drop-offs are typically held on the first ...
09/04/2026

📅 A quick calendar change for Kitchen Restore donors!

Kitchen Restore donation drop-offs are typically held on the first Saturday of the month, but because of the Labor Day holiday weekend, our September collection date has been rescheduled.

🚫 No donation drop-off this Saturday, September 5

✅ Join us instead on Saturday, September 12!

So if you've been setting aside extra dishes, pots and pans, utensils, or other kitchen essentials, hold onto them for one more week and bring them to Kitchen Restore on September 12. We will also host a drop-off on September 17th.

Your extra kitchen items can help someone else build a kitchen—and prepare nutritious meals—at home.
Learn more: https://www.johnson.k-state.edu/programs/health-food-safety/programs-and-events/kitchen-restore/donations/

🍎🌻 Make a weekend of it with the Kaw Valley Farm Tour October 3-4!Fall is the perfect time to get out and explore—and th...
09/04/2026

🍎🌻 Make a weekend of it with the Kaw Valley Farm Tour October 3-4!

Fall is the perfect time to get out and explore—and the Kaw Valley Farm Tour gives you plenty of places to go. October 3–4, more than 30 farms and heritage sites across Northeast Kansas will open their doors for a weekend of agriculture, local food, flowers, animals, wine, history and more.

And yes, there are Johnson County stops on the tour! So grab the map, pick your interests and create your own route. 🗺️

From alpacas to wine, apples to pumpkins, U-pick flowers to mushroom logs, there are so many ways to experience the farms and people that make our region special. You might discover a new favorite farm—or come home with something delicious to enjoy.

🎟️ One $15 ticket covers your whole car for the entire weekend.

Check the map, plot your route and make a weekend of it!

Learn more and purchase tickets: https://www.kawvalleyfarmtour.com/

Healthy eating doesn't have to mean giving up the foods you love or following a rigid set of rules. Sometimes, it starts...
09/04/2026

Healthy eating doesn't have to mean giving up the foods you love or following a rigid set of rules. Sometimes, it starts with small changes and a willingness to try something new.

In a recent K-State Extension article, Johnson County Nutrition, Food Safety and Health Agent Chelsea King shares how the Mediterranean style of eating is less about a “diet” and more about incorporating nutritious foods and healthy habits into everyday life. Think more fruits and vegetables, whole grains, healthy proteins and heart-friendly fats, while finding preparation methods that make those foods enjoyable.

That spirit of exploration is at the heart of our nutrition and cooking classes, too. Whether you're interested in discovering new ingredients, building confidence in the kitchen or simply finding fresh inspiration for your next meal, learning alongside others can be a delicious place to start.

🥗 Read Chelsea's article to learn more about making healthier eating a lifestyle: https://extension.k-state.edu/news-and-publications/news/stories/2026/08/health-mediterranean-diet.html

Then explore upcoming Nutrition and Silver Clovers classes and find your next opportunity to learn, cook and taste something new!
Upcoming classes: https://www.johnson.k-state.edu/newsandevents/classes-events/

We are closed Monday, September 7th for the Labor Day Holiday.  We will be open regular business hours, 8:30-5:00, Frida...
09/03/2026

We are closed Monday, September 7th for the Labor Day Holiday.
We will be open regular business hours, 8:30-5:00, Friday, September 4th, and Tuesday-Friday, September 8th-11th.
Garden Hotline will be open the same hours.

🎄 Christmas in September?After the ongoing stretch of excessive heat, we're ready to think about cooler days, cozy indoo...
09/03/2026

🎄 Christmas in September?

After the ongoing stretch of excessive heat, we're ready to think about cooler days, cozy indoor activities and maybe—even just for a moment—the winter holidays. ❄️

And here's something to consider: there are only 16 Wednesdays left until Christmas Eve. 😯

If you'd like to gift something a little more personal this year, now is the perfect time to start. Our upcoming classes offer opportunities to learn new skills, spend time with others, preserve special memories and create something uniquely your own.

🛍️ Grocery Bag Holder – Adult Sewing Class
Practical gifts can be personal, too! Make a useful and reusable grocery bag holder while building your sewing skills.

🧵 Christmas Wall-hanging – Adult Sewing Class
Create a festive Christmas tree wall-hanging while learning and practicing appliqué, piecing, quilting, binding and hand-sewing techniques. A handmade decoration can become part of your holiday traditions for years to come.

📖 The Cookbook Project – From Recipe Box to Bookshelf
Some of the best gifts aren't bought—they're filled with memories. Learn how to turn treasured family recipes, stories and traditions into a lasting cookbook that can be shared for generations.

Whether you're creating a gift, preserving a family legacy or simply looking for a reason to gather, learn and make something new, September might be the perfect time to start thinking ahead.

🎁 Visit our classes and events page or scan the QR code to learn more and register: https://www.johnson.k-state.edu/newsandevents/classes-events/

Christmas Wall-hanging – Adult Sewing Class
The Cookbook Project – From Recipe Box to Bookshelf
Grocery Bag Holder – Adult Sewing Class

😴 Are you getting enough quality sleep?Sleep is more than just a way to recharge after a busy day. It plays an essential...
09/02/2026

😴 Are you getting enough quality sleep?

Sleep is more than just a way to recharge after a busy day. It plays an essential role in both our physical and mental health. Yet for many of us, a good night's sleep can feel increasingly out of reach.

Join K-State Extension and our partner host, JCPRD, to explore the science behind sleep and why it matters. Learn about sleep stages and biological rhythms, the effects of sleep deprivation, and practical strategies you can use to create healthier sleep habits.

Small changes to your environment and daily routine may make a meaningful difference in the quality of your rest.

💤 Better sleep starts with understanding what your body needs.

September 15th | New Century Fieldhouse | 11:00 AM
Register here: https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/jcprd/activity/search/detail/52225?onlineSiteId=0&locale=en-US&from_original_cui=true

September is shaping up to be another busy month for getting Extension resources out into the community! 🌱🍎🦋You’ll find ...
09/02/2026

September is shaping up to be another busy month for getting Extension resources out into the community! 🌱🍎🦋

You’ll find the smiling faces of Extension Master Food Volunteers, Extension Master Naturalists, and Extension Master Gardeners out and about at events across Johnson County and with our friends in Douglas County—sharing knowledge, answering questions, and connecting you with resources you can use.

Some of the places you’ll find us include:
🌳 Food Forest Open House at JCCC on Sept. 3
🥕 Lenexa Farmers Market on Sept. 5
👨‍👩‍👧 Olathe Parents as Teachers events
🥬 Lenexa Spinach Festival on Sept. 12
🦋 Monarch Watch tagging festival on Sept. 12
🌼 Gieringers Butterfly Festival on Sept. 19 & 20th
🦋 Monarch Tagging with the Extension Master Gardeners at Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead on Sept. 22
🦋 Hasta Luego Monarchs Pollinator Prairie in Olathe on Sept. 26
…and many more!

Whether you’re looking for gardening tips, food and nutrition information, natural resource expertise, or just a chance to talk with someone who knows Extension, we’d love to connect with you!

And we want to know: What Extension resources would you like to see out in the community? What questions do you have? What topics would be helpful to you?

Tell us in the comments! 👇

Address

11811 S Sunset Drive, Ste 1500
Olathe, KS
66061

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5pm
Friday 8:30am - 5pm

Telephone

+19137157000

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