Ken Anderson shows how you can easily learn all of the skills you'll need to run your homestead or survive in the city...through your state university and county extension services
Say you're headin' back to the land and have to pick up a lot of rural survival skills in a hurry ... or maybe you want to learn a new trade to increase your urban earning potential (or to open your own business), Of course, if you have lots of time and/or money you could take a regular university course or apprentice yourself to a master of your chosen craft ... but what do you do when you're bucks down and in a big hurry? Just listen up, 'cause there is away!
You see, every one of the 50 states has a land-grant university that-in cooperation with the federal government-offers hundreds of short courses, seminars, and workshops on just about any topic you can imagine. Most of these programs are open to anyone who wants to attend them, too, and registration (as well as materials) fees are modest. If you're interested, just figure out what you want to know, and then contact your state's extension service director for a schedule of the subjects offered and class meeting times. (See the list of names, addresses, and telephone numbers that accompanies this article.)
You'll also be glad to know that you won't have to travel to here-and-gone to attend these classes ... because extension courses are held in a number of locations throughout every state. So the subjects that you're interested in may be taught in your town hall, in high school classrooms or workshops, or even in empty store buildings!
And, if you 'can't attend the regular workshops, seminars (or whatever), you might still be able to get the information that you need from some of the state university extension publications. Every extension issues a large number of these pamphlets, fact sheets, instruction manuals (and even books), and the publications cover everything from beekeeping and greenhouse insulation to catfish culture and adobe brick making. Some of these booklets are free-for-the-askin', and others are available for as little as a nickel. Your extension service director's office will gladly supply you with a list of their current publications.
If you happen to live near a state university, you should also take advantage of the on-campus extension offerings. As an example of the subjects covered in these programs, one Midwestern state college schedules courses on beef and dairy cattle, poultry management, crop drying, and new farm equipment ... as well as the annual "Day for Women", which actually includes a week of sessions on everything from estate planning to energy conservation in the kitchen.
TECHNOLOGY, TOO!
Technological subjects aren't ignored in the extension service program, either. Many areas offer regular courses in such subjects as auto tune-up and welding, for instance, in which (for a payment of $20 or so) the student can get background training and actual hands-on experience under the sharp eye of a trained instructor. (As an added bonus, you can often-in the tune-up classes-work on your own car while you learn!)
One of the biggest advantages of these extension services is that-under the right circumstances-they'lI bring the classroom to you! For example, suppose you and a dozen or so of your friends want to take a short course on how to raise geese for down, but-for one reason or another-you are unable to travel to a distant campus for the one or two days instruction that you need. Often, in such cases, the state extension service director will send out an expert on the subject ... who'll conduct the classes right in your own community.
Another readily available source of information and education is the "Cooperative Extension Service", which is a joint venture of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the state land-grant university, and the county government. The "local" arm of this service used to be called the "County Agent", but that title has since been changed to "County Extension Director". The director's office-which might (depending upon tax-base funding and such) be a one-man show or include a whole staff of specialists in a wide variety of subjects-is usually located in the county courthouse. The extension director is no longer a strictly rural phenomenon, either. Numerous cities and highly urbanized counties maintain extension services ... and these offices emphasize teaching folks how to deal with the problems of the metropolis, rather than those of the farmstead.
The county extension director's office distributes a large number of publications, too. Many of these (like the booklets offered by state university extensions) are free, and all of them are within reach of any but the most strained budget. Let your agent know what your interests are, and he'll help you order whatever materials he doesn't have in stock.
And, if the information that you want isn't available locally, all you have to do is trot on over to your nearest library and look through the current edition of the List of Available Publications of the United States Department of Agriculture. This is a paperback index of thousands of booklets and pamphlets on everything from "A-Frame Cabins" to "Zoning". Price information-and directions for ordeing-are included in the listings ... and, again, many of these publications can be obtained free of charge.
Just in case you're not sure which university in your state administers a land, grant extension program, I've prepared the following list of extension service directors. So, get in touch with your state office, because that's the quickest, easiest, and least expensive way to "learn how to...."
DR. J. MICHAEL SPROTT
Auburn University
Auburn, Alabama 36830
(205) 826-4444
DR. JAMES W. MATTHEWS
University of Alaska
Fairbanks, Alaska 99701
(907) 479-7246
DR. DARREL S. METCALFE
University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona 85721
(602) 626-4171
KENNETH S. BATES
University of Arkansas
P.O. Box 391
Little Rock, Arkansas 72203
(501) 376-6301
DR. J.B. KENDRICK, JR.
University of California
317 University Hall
2200 University Ave.
Berkeley, California 94720
(415) 642-7252
LOWELL H. WATTS
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, Colorado 80523
(303) 491-6281
DR. EDWIN J. KERSTING
University of Connecticut, U-66
Storrs, Connecticut 06268
(203) 486-2917
DR. SAMUEL M. GUINN
University of Delaware
Newark, Delaware 19711
(302) 738-2504
DR. IRVIN GORDY
University of D.C.
724 9th St., N.W.
Washington, District of Columbia 20005
(202) 727-2314
DR. JOHN T. WOESTE
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida 32611
(904) 392-1761
DR. TAL C. DUVALL
Connor Hall
University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia 30602
(404) 542-3824
MRS. MARGARET EDSEL FITCH
University of Hawaii
Honolulu, Hawaii 96822
(808) 948-8228
JAMES L. GRAVES
University of Idaho
Morrill Hall
Moscow, Idaho 83843
(208) 885-6681
DR. J.B. CLAAR
122 Mumford Hall
University of Illinois
Urbana, Illinois 61801
(217) 333-2660
DR. HOWARD G. DIESSLIN
A.G.A.D. Building
Purdue University
West Lafayette, Indiana 47907
(317) 749-2413
CHARLES E. DONHOWE
Iowa State University
Ames, Iowa 50011
(515) 294-4576
DR. JOHN O. DUNBAR
Room 123, Umberger Hall
Kansas State University
Manhattan, Kansas 66506
(913) 532-5820
DR. CHARLES E. BARNHART
College of Agriculture
University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky 40506
(606) 257-4772
DR. DENVER T. LOUPE
Louisiana State University
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803
(504) 343-7444
EDWIN H. BATES
University of Maine
Orono, Maine 04469
(207) 581-2211
DR. JOHN M. CURTIS
University of Maryland
College Park, Maryland 20742
(301) 454-3742
DR. WILLIAM J. MELLEN
University of Massachusetts
Room 117, Stockbridge Hall
Amherst, Massachusetts 01003
(413) 545-2890
DR. GORDON E. GUYER
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan 48823
(517) 355-2308
DR. ROLAND H. ABRAHAM
University of Minnesota
St. Paul, Minnesota 55108
(612) 373-1223
DR. W.M. BOST
Mississippi State University
Mississippi State, Mississippi 39762
(601) 325-4436
DR. CARL N. SCHENEMAN
University of Missouri
309 University Hall
Columbia, Missouri 65211
(314) 882-7754
DR. CARL J. HOFFMAN
Montana State University
Bozeman, Montana 59717
(406) 994-3402
DR. LEO E. LUCAS
Room 214, A.G.H.
University of Nebraska
Lincoln, Nebraska 68583
(402) 472-7211
DR. DALE W. BOHMONT
College of Agriculture
University of Nevada
Reno, Nevada 89557
(702) 784-6611
DR. MAYNARD C. HECKEL
University of New Hampshire
Taylor Hall
Durham, New Hampshire 03824
(603) 862-1520
DR. JOHN L. GERWIG
Rutgers-The State University
P.O. Box 231
Cook College, Administration Building
New Brunswick, New Jersey 08903
(201) 932-9306
DR. L.S. POPE
New Mexico State University
Box 3, Agriculture
Las Cruces, New Mexico 88003
(505) 646-1806
DR. LUCINDA A. NOBLE
103 Roberts Hall
New York State College of Agriculture
Ithaca, New York 14853
(607) 256-2117
DR. T.C. BLALOCK
North Carolina State University
P.O. Box 5157
Raleigh, North Carolina 27650
(919) 737-2811
DR. MYRON D. JOHNSRUD
North Dakota State University
Fargo, North Dakota 58102
(701) 237-8944
DR. ROY M. KOTTMAN
Ohio State University
2120 Fyffe Rd.
Columbus, Ohio 43210
(614) 422-6891
DR. FRANK H. BAKER
Oklahoma State University
Stillwater, Oklahoma
74074 (405) 624-5398
HENRY A. WADSWORTH
Room 101, Extension Hall Oregon State University
Corvallis, Oregon 97331
(503) 7542713
DR. JAMES M. BEATTIE
Pennsylvania State University
University Park, Pennsylvania 16802
(814) 863-0331
DR. GERALD A. DONOVAN
University of Rhode Island
Kingston, Rhode Island 02881
(401) 792-2474
DR. WAYNE T. O'DELL
Clemson University
Clemson, South Carolina 29631
(803) 6563382
DR. HOLLIS HALL
South Dakota State University
Brookings, South Dakota 57007
(605) 688-4147
DR. M. LLOYD DOWNEN
University of Tennessee
P.O. Box 1071 Knoxville, Tennessee 37901
(615) 974-7114
DR. DANIEL C. PFANNSTIEL
Texas A&M University
Systems Building, Room 112
College Station, Texas 77843
(713) 845-6411
DR. J. CLARK BALLARD
Utah State University, UNC-49
Logan, Utah 84321
(801) 752-4100
DR. WILLIAM A. SHIMMEL
University of Vermont
Morrill Hall
Burlington, Vermont 05405
(802) 656-2990
DR. W.R. VAN DRESSER
Room 334, Burruss Hall
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State
University
Blacksburg, Virginia 24061
(703) 961-6705
DR. J. ORVILLE YOUNG
Washington State University
Pullman, Washington 99164
(509) 335-2511
RONALD L. STUMP
West Virginia University
817 Knapp Hall
Morgantown, West Virginia 26506
(304) 293-5691
DR. GALE L. VANDEBERG
University of Wisconsin -Extension
432 N. Lake St.
Madison, Wisconsin 53706
(608) 262-9510
DR. HAROLD J. TUMA
University of Wyoming
Box 3354, University Station
Laramie, Wyoming 82071
(307) 766-4133
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