LAKE COUNTY – Innovative farming strategies and niche specialty crops will be the topic of two workshops to be held Dec. 15 and 16 in Mendocino and Humboldt Counties.

The first session of the Profitable Niche Farming Workshop will be held Dec. 15 from noon to 5 p.m. at the Humboldt County Agriculture Center, 5630 S. Broadway, Eureka.

The second session will be held Dec. 16 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Hampton Inn Ukiah, 1160 Airport Park Blvd., Ukiah.

Both facilities are wheelchair accessible.

Workshop topics will include small-scale mushroom production, strategies for extending seasons, blueberry production, and orchard planning and management.

Focus will be on alternative crops for local, small-scale farmers seeking to increase their likelihood for success.

“This is a chance for North Coast growers to explore ideas that can help boost a farm’s bottom line, with small-scale farming experts gathered from throughout the University of California system,” said Shermain Hardesty, director of the UC Small Farm Program.

The Profitable Niche Farming Workshops are sponsored by the UC Small Farm Program and local UC Cooperative Extension offices.

Registration is $10, which includes lunch and materials.

To register for either session, visit http://ucanr.org/profitable or call 530-752-7849 or 707-263-6838.

For further information, contact Brenda Dawson at 530-752-7849.