The TexasA&MAgriLife Extension Service in Lubbock County will be hosting “Homegrown & Homemade: Backyard Poultry and Cottage Food Production” on July 23 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Lubbock Courthouse Annex.
The event functions as an educational program for individuals and families interested in raising backyard poultry, producing homemade food products and learning how to navigate Texas cottage food regulations.
Tickets for the program are $20 through Eventbrite or $30 at the door. Advance registration is encouraged but not required.
The backyard poultry section of the program will provide a comprehensive introduction on how to keep small flocks of laying hens, as well as teach participants about poultry feeding, flock health, egg production and safe egg handling practices.
This section will include a presentation by special guest speaker Dr. Greg Archer, an AgriLife Extension Poultry Specialist.
The program will also feature a section covering recent updates to the Texas Cottage Food Law, teaching participants what foods can and cannot be sold under the law, where and how cottage food can be marketed and the rules regarding wholesaling and cottage food vendors.
Information on labeling requirements, recipe considerations, and basic food safety practice tips will also be provided.
“This program is a great opportunity for anyone interested in producing food at home, whether that means raising a few laying hens, selling baked goods, or learning about the laws and food safety practices involved,” says Cory Edwards, a Lubbock County Extension Agent for Family & Community Health.
“We hope participants leave with the knowledge and confidence to take the next step in their homegrown or homemade journey,” he adds.
For more information on the program, contact Lubbock County Extension agents Robert Scott or Cory Edwards at 806-775-1740 or go to the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service website at agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/.