Bernalillo County Extension Office Home

Cooperative Extension Service

Major Program Areas

Objective, research-based, and credible
information to improve your daily life.

Announcements

Wildfire Resources

Food Preservation Lending Library

The Bernalillo County Extension Food Preservation Lending Library is now open. The equipment available to borrow includes a dehydrator, a food processor, a pressure canner, a boiling water bath canner, and fermentation equipment. For more information, please download the Food Preservation Lending Library Flyer (PDF) or contact Amber Benson at ambenson@nmsu.edu

Bees and Wasps

If you would like to report a swarm, or have questions or concerns about bees or wasps, please visit Bees & Wasps

Giant Wasps in Albuquerque are Cicada Killer Wasps and NOT the Asian Giant Hornets.

Guide H-175: Large Wasps in NM or the Asian Giant Hornet - NMSU Publication
NO, It is NOT the Murder Hornet from NMDA
An overview of the Asian Giant Hornet aka Murder Hornet from TAMU AgriLife Extension

2023 Advisory Meeting

Check out our 2023 Advisory Booklet (PDF) to learn about the highlights from our 2023 programs

Agents in Office

The Agents are working in the office or out in the community. Please call ahead for their availability or make an appointment directly with the agents.

Plant Samples and Site Visits

Plant Samples are best received before Wednesday at noon. The office is scheduling site visits, please call (505) 243-1386 or email bernalillo@nmsu.edu for an appointment.
Also please send pictures of plants or insects to bernalillo@nmsu.edu or the Master Gardener Hotline.

4-H Volunteers

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer for 4-H, please fill out the 4-H Volunteer Interest Form

Upcoming Events

Health, Wellness, Food

Extension Get Fit - In Person

Extension Get Fit is a community-based strength training program that is fun and doable, targeted to midlife to senior participants. Based on the latest research, the program is designed to: improve strength, balance and flexibility, reduce the risk of falls, help maintain independence, increase energy, help manage your weight, decrease pain, and help you feel better! Sessions include information on healthy eating, how to stay motivated in your healthy lifestyle choices, and other topics about creating and sustaining healthy habits. This is followed by simple and easy to do strength training exercises that can be done at any pace.

Bernalillo County Extension Session

Location: Bernalillo County Extension Office, 1510 Menaul Ext Blvd NW, Albuquerque, NM, 87107
Date/Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays, September 10 - October 10, 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
To register, call 505-243-1386 or email bernalillo@nmsu.edu with your name, address, phone number, and email.

Tijeras Session

Location: Tijeras Senior Center, 10 Tijeras Ave, Tijeras, NM, 87059
Date/Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays, October 15 - November 21
To register, call 505-243-1386 or email bernalillo@nmsu.edu with your name, address, phone number, and email.

Intermediate Kombucha: So You've Made Kombucha, Now What? - In Person

Dive into complex flavoring additions and how to make syrups for a second ferment, learn how to make kombucha syrup and what to do with it, how to build a SCOBY hotel, and why a continuous brew option may be right for you. A hands-on lab will allow participants to make flavored syrup to bottle and take home.

Date/Time: September 26 | 9 AM - 12 PM
Location: 1510 Menaul Blvd Ext NW, Albuquerque, NM, 87107
Lab Fee: $20
To register, click Register for Intermediate Kombucha. If you are unable to register online, Please call (505) 243-1386 to register.

Preserving Prickly Pear: Red Chile Prickly Pear Jam & Pickled Nopales

An introductory class and demonstration highlighting the water bath canning process. This class will provide an overview of several different methods of home food preservation specifically focused on Prickly Pear cactus! Participants will have the opportunity to taste Prickly Pear Jam and Pickled Nopales. Participants will receive USDA approved publications on preservation methods and recipes to take home.

Date/Time: September 28 | Time TBD
Location: NM Prickly Pear Festival, Gutiérrez Hubbell House, 6029 Isleta Blvd SW, Albuquerque, NM 87105
Tickets now available at NM Prickly Pear Fest!
To learn more about harvesting and preserving Prickly Pear, watch Making Prickly Pear Cactus Juice (Video)

Chile Preservation Presentations - Online via Zoom

Agents will be presenting four food preservation techniques: drying, freezing, freeze-drying, and pressure canning.

Date/Time: October 1, 8, 15, 22 | 10 - 11 AM
Location: Online via Zoom
To register, click Register for Chile Presentations. If you are unable to register online, Please call (505) 243-1386 to register.
Hosted by Sandoval County Extension Service in collaboration with the Valencia, Santa Fe, Bernalillo, and McKinley Counties.

Walk With Ease - Zoom

Wanting to get more activity at your own time and pace with the support of a coach and team members? Plan to join Walk With Ease, a six week program designed to: teach the 5 step walking method, reduce pain, build confidence in activity, and improve overall health and well being. If you can stand for 10 minutes, you can join and look forward to increasing your activity. The group will meet via Zoom and participants will walk on their own as their schedules allow.

Date/Time: Mondays, October 7 - November 11, 9:00 - 9:45 AM
To register, click Register for Walk With Ease, complete the registration, and your unique ZOOM link will be emailed to you to be used for every session.

Beginner Sausage Making Workshop - In Person

Sold Out This class will cover the basics of making your own sausage. Topics include meat selection, equipment needed, how to grind, how to stuff sausage, natural v. collagen casings, sausage linking, seasonings, storage, and sanitation. We will be demonstrating a breakfast sausage and traditional linked sausage.

Participants will have the opportunity to taste a variety of sausages.

Date/Time: October 10 | 9 AM - 12 PM
Location: 1510 Menaul Blvd Ext NW, Albuquerque, NM, 87107
Lab Fee: $30
To register, click Register for Sausage Workshop. If you are unable to register online, Please call (505) 243-1386 to register.

Chile Ristra Making Workshop - In Person

This hands-on workshop will offer participants the opportunity to make your own chile ristra to take home for both display and culinary use.

Date/Time: October 17 | 9 AM - 12 PM
Location: 1510 Menaul Blvd Ext NW, Albuquerque, NM, 87107
Lab Fee: $35
To register, click Register for Chile Ristra Workshop. If you are unable to register online, Please call (505) 243-1386 to register.

Cold Smoking & Curing Meat: Learning to Make Your Own Charcuterie - In Person

Sold Out This beginner's workshop will cover how cold smoking, fermentation, and curing work across the spectrum and how these processes layer and combine to create charcuterie. Participants will learn about meat selection, cures, salts, and nitrates, why climate control is important, an introduction to cold-smoking, and fermenting sausages. Participants will get the opportunity to create a charcuterie board in a hands-on lab and taste their creations.

Date/Time: October 24 | 9 AM - 12 PM
Location: 1510 Menaul Blvd Ext NW, Albuquerque, NM, 87107
Lab Fee: $30
To register, click Register for Curing Meat. If you are unable to register online, Please call (505) 243-1386 to register.

Charcuterie Board Workshop - In Person

Charcuterie boards are a great way to highlight many of the preserved foods we create throughout the changing seasons. Mustard, pickles, cheese, cured meats, and many other tasty ingredients come together easily to create a delicious, prepared-in-advance, showstopper for your next gathering.

You will learn the basics of assembling a cohesive charcuterie board and we will make a red-chile, cranberry, and pistachio goat cheese. Participants will leave with some of the cheese we make in class as well as a personal Acacia Wood board for home use.

Date/Time: November 7 | 10 AM - 12 PM
Location: 1510 Menaul Blvd Ext NW, Albuquerque, NM, 87107
Lab Fee: $35
To register, click Register for Charcuterie Board Workshop. If you are unable to register online, Please call (505) 243-1386 to register.

Making Pressure Canning Recipes Your Own - In Person

This class will help participants learn how to safely modify flavors and ingredients of approved, low-acid, pressure canning recipes. Participants will learn what is okay to change in an existing recipe as well as gain experience with the finer points of USDA's "your choice" soup.

Workshop will be hands-on experience with pressure canning soup and participants will be given the opportunity to take a jar home.

NOTE: This class is intended for those with experience in low-acid canning practices and processes. It is not an introductory course to pressure canning. Further, we are unable to accommodate dietary restrictions.

Date/Time: November 16 | 9 AM - 1 PM
Location: 1510 Menaul Blvd Ext NW, Albuquerque, NM, 87107
Lab Fee: $20
To register, click Register for Pressure Canning. If you are unable to register online, Please call (505) 243-1386 to register.

Kitchen Creations: A Cooking School for People with Diabetes - In Person

Learn how to eat healthy delicious foods and manage diabetes in this educational and informative series. Please join us if you have been diagnosed with pre-diabetes, diabetes, or cook for people with these conditions. Taught by a registered dietitian and a wellness educator, you will enjoy practical tips, receive delicious recipes, cook delicious meals in the lab time, and be prepared to manage your wellness journey long term.

Date/Time: Wednesdays, January 22, 29 and February 5, 12, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Location: South Valley Health Center Conference Room, 2001 Centro Familiar Blvd SW, Albuquerque, NM, 87105
To register, call 505-243-1386 or email bernalillo@nmsu.edu with your name, address, phone number, and email.

Garden, Farm

Ready, Set, Grow Webinar Series

Date/Time: The 3rd Wednesdays of each month at 3 PM
Website: Ready, Set, Gro

Produce Safety Alliance Webinars

Date/Time: Every month, 8 AM - 12:30 PM, both days. Cost $45 for NM residents.
Website: PSA Grower

Jujube Workshop and Fruit Tasting - In Person

There will be a presentation of jujube basics, followed by a fruit tasting session. There will also be a tour of the jujube cultivar trial at Los Lunas. This event is limited to 40 attendees.

Date/Time: Saturday, September 21, 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Location: NMSU Agricultural Science Center, 1036 Miller Rd, Los Lunas, NM 87031
Fee: $10 (cash or check, payable to New Mexico State University) or $11 (with credit card, online)
To register, go to Jujube Workshop Registration
Flyer: Jujube Workshop Flyer (PDF)

Chispas Farm Field Days - In Person

Join Chispas Farm and Friends for two days of free Farmer to Farmer education, outreach, and networking. All presentations will be interactive with plenty of discussion and questions encouraged. Lunch is free and provided to participants who register before September 18. Registration is requested but not required to attend.

Date/Time: September 28 | 12:30 PM - 5:00 PM and October 19 | 12:30 PM - 5:00 PM
Location: Chispas Farm, 229 Saavedra Rd SW, Albuquerque, NM, 87105
To register, go to Chispas Farm Field Days
Flyer: Chispas Farm Field Days Flyer (PDF)

Events at the Agri-Nature Center of Los Ranchos - In Person

Learn about a wide variety of topics in horticulture and agriculture from experts in these fields. Tickets can be purchased online or at the door.

Location: Agri-Nature Center of Los Ranchos, 4920 Rio Grande Blvd NW, Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, NM, 87107.
Agri-Nature Center of Los Ranchos
Kombucha Workshop
- September 12 | 5:30 - 6:30 PM
Green Chile: Preserving the Harvest
- September 26 | 5:30 - 6:30 PM
Growing Livestock Forage in Hot Climates w. NMSU
- September 28 | 9:30 - 10:30 AM
How to Take a Soil Sample and Read Test Results w. NMSU
- October 10 | 5:30 - 6:30 PM
Beekeeping Workshop
- November 7 | 5:30 - 6:30 PM
Matanza Demo: Butchering and Roasting Lamb
- November 15 | 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Pasta Making Workshop
- November 21 | 5:30 - 6:30 PM

Bernalillo County Open Space Backyard Farming 2024 - In Person

This workshop series includes instruction and demonstrations given by local experts in each topic. All workshops will take place between 10 AM - 12 PM

Series Flyer: Backyard Farming Calendar 2024 (PDF)
Preserving the Taste of Summer: Lactic-Acid Fermented Pickles and Hot Sauce
- Saturday, September 14
- Location: Gutiérrez-Hubbell Open Space Property - Gutiérrez-Hubbell House History and Cultural Center, 6029 Isleta Blvd SW, Albuquerque, NM, 87105
How to Build an Efficient Tree Watering System
- Saturday, September 28
- Location: International District Library, 7601 Central Ave NE, Albuquerque, NM 87108
Passive Rainwater Harvesting
- Saturday, October 12
- Location: Gutiérrez-Hubbell Open Space Property - Gutiérrez-Hubbell House, 6029 Isleta Blvd SW, Albuquerque, NM, 87105
Cover Cropping: Utilizing Plants Year Round for Optimal Soil Health and Viability
- Saturday, October 19
- Location: Gutiérrez-Hubbell Open Space Property - Gutiérrez-Hubbell House, 6029 Isleta Blvd SW, Albuquerque, NM, 87105

Composting Classes - In Person

Learn about composting in New Mexico's high desert climate from the Bernalillo County Extension Master Composter

Home Composting Basics
- October 12 | 10 AM - 12 PM
- Location: Open Space Visitor Center, 6500 Coors Blvd NW, Albuquerque, NM, 87120
Hugelkultur
- November 2 | 10 AM - 12 PM
- Location: Gutierrez-Hubbell House Open Space, 6029 Isleta Blvd SW, Albuquerque, NM, 87105
To register, RSVP online at Composting Classes.

Note:

All class times are listed as Mountain Time Zone unless otherwise stated
Auxiliary Assistance: If you are in need of any auxiliary assistance to participate in an extension program, please contact the event organizer to arrange services prior to the event.

Contact Us

NMSU-Bernalillo County Cooperative Extension Service
1510 Menaul Blvd Ext NW
Albuquerque, NM 87107
Phone: (505) 243-1386 844-409-0562 (Toll Free)
Fax: (505) 243-1545
Email: bernalillo@nmsu.edu
URL: https://bernalilloextension.nmsu.edu