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Arts/Crafts

Custer’s Spring Arts & Crafts Show - The 36th annual event. Features more than 300 professional artists and crafters. Today, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Spokane County Fair and Expo Center, 404 N. Havana St. $7/good all weekend; free/age 12 and younger. (509) 924-0588.

Rings & Things Bead Show - Incredible selection of unique gemstone beads including new stones and shapes, as well as a wide selection of popular findings, tools, books and crystals. Today, 11 a.m., Mirabeau Hotel and Convention Center, 1100 N. Sullivan Road. Free admission. (800) 366-2156.

NIBCA Home and Garden Show - Annual showcase event by the North Idaho Building Contractors Association. Hours are Saturday and March 16, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Kootenai County Fairgrounds, 4056 N. Government Way, Coeur d’Alene. $5. (208) 765-5518.

CVHS Arts and Crafts Show - Crafts and baked goods, sponsored by CVHS Band Boosters. Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and March 16, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Central Valley High School, 821 S. Sullivan Road. $2/admission. (509) 228-5100.

55th Annual Gem, Jewelry and Mineral Show - March 28-30. The show will feature 40 dealers and 60 displays of precious and semi-precious stones, fossils, specimens and beautiful jewelry. It will also include demonstrations and children’s activities. Presented by Rock Rollers of Spokane. Hours are Friday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Spokane County Fair and Expo Center, 404 N. Havana St. $6/adults; $5/seniors and military; free/age 12 and younger and Scouts in uniform; free parking and admission is good all weekend. (509) 891-6533.

Home/Garden

Horticulture Workshops - The University of Idaho Extension presents the 2014 Idaho Master Gardener’s Annual Horticulture Workshops, including: Basic Gardening for Northern Idaho, Monday, 6-8 p.m., $10; Tree Identification, March 17, 6-8 p.m., $10; The Art of Composting, March 24, 6-8 p.m., $10; Hunting for Wild Mushrooms in Northern Idaho, March 31, 6-8 p.m., $10; Ice Age Floods, April 7, 6-8 p.m., $10; Plants and Clean Water: Creating Rain Gardens, Native Gardens and Protecting the Aquifer and Surface Water, April 14, 6-8 p.m., $10. Registration is recommended; class sizes are limited. University of Idaho Kootenai County Extension Office, 1808 N. Third St., Coeur d’Alene. (208) 446-1680.

Spokane’s Champion and Historic Trees - Informative history of the local trees presented by Ed Lester, WSU Spokane Master Gardener. The third annual Speaker Series is hosted by Inland Northwest Land Trust. Tuesday, 7-8:30 p.m., Community Building, 35 W. Main Ave. Free. (509) 328-2939.

Community Library Network Adult Programs – “Organic Gardening in Northern Idaho” with Master Gardener Patricia Baillie. Wednesday , 2-3 p.m.; “Doing it in the Dirt” presented by horticultural consultant, Nina Eckberg. March 26, 6 p.m., Hayden Public Library, 8385 N. Government Way, Hayden. (208) 772-5612. Free.

Idaho Native Plant Society - The topic will be “Field Trips and Idaho Rare Plants.” Wednesday, 7 p.m., Idaho Department of Fish and Game, 2885 W. Kathleen Ave., Coeur d’Alene. Free. (208) 667-8790.

“Ready? Set, Grow!” - The Coeur d’Alene Public Library will host informational booths and displays to get ready for spring gardening. Thursday, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Coeur d’Alene Library, Community Room, 702 E. Front Ave., Coeur d’Alene. Free. (208) 769-2315.

Library Spring Gardening Series – Thursday, Rock Gardens. Programs will be 6-8 p.m., Athol Library, 30399 Third St., Athol. Free; registration required. (208) 683-2979.

Propagation from Seeds & Cuttings - Backyard Bounty Spring Gardening Series presents a class on how to grow from seeds with or without a greenhouse and how to get new plants from cuttings. Thursday, 7 p.m., North Spokane Library, 44 E. Hawthorne Road, (509) 893-8350; March 19, 7 p.m., Spokane Valley Library, 12004 E. Main Ave., (509) 893-8400. Free.

Beginning Soap Making Class - Design your own fragrance and take home 3 pounds of soap. Saturday and March 16, 10 a.m.-noon, Greencastle Soap Company, 203 N. Stone St. $55. (509) 466-7223.

Beginning Gardening Class Series - Presented by the WSU Spokane County Extension Master Gardeners. Classes include: Saturday, Basic Gardening Practices; March 22, Growing the Right Vegetables; March 29, Growing Small Fruits and Berries; and April 5, Growing Easy Flowers. All classes held Saturdays from 9 a.m.-noon. Registration is recommended at www.mgfsc.org or www.spokane-county.wsu.edu/Spokane/eastside. WSU Spokane County Extension, 222 N. Havana St. $12/per class; or $40/series. (509) 477-2181.

Grow Your Own Food Class Series - Presented by the WSU Spokane County Extension Master Gardeners. Classes include: Saturday, Raised Beds; March 22, Growing Tomatoes; March 29, Culinary Herbs; and April 5, Vegetables for the Inland Northwest. All classes held Saturdays from 12:30-3 p.m. Registration is recommended at www.mgfsc.org or www.spokane-county.wsu.edu/Spokane/eastside. WSU Spokane County Extension, 222 N. Havana St. $12/per class; $40/series. (509) 477-2181.

Spoils to Soils: Home Composting - Learn how to turn your kitchen and yard waste into a rich soil amendment through backyard composting. This class will cover the basics of home composting. Presenter Kris Major is a Master Composter/Recycler. March 18, 6-7:30 p.m., South Hill Library, 3324 S. Perry St. Free. (509) 444-5385.

Kinnikinnick Native Plant Society - “Native Flora and Fauna-A Perfect Match,” presented by Kathleen St. Clair-McGee. March 22, 9:45-11:30 a.m., Sandpoint Community Hall, 204 S. First Ave., Sandpoint. Free. (208) 627-3292.

Vegetable Gardening 101 - Backyard Bounty Spring Gardening Series presents a class on designing your garden, soil prep, planting, watering, fertilizing and harvesting. March 27, 7 p.m., North Spokane Library, 44 E. Hawthorne Road, (509) 893-8350; April 2, 7 p.m., Spokane Valley Library, 12004 E. Main Ave., (509) 893-8400. Free.

Associated Garden Club - Chickens in the Urban Backyard. March 28, Manito Garden Meeting Room, east of the greenhouse, 4 W. 21st Ave. (509) 838-3705 or (509) 260-5503.

Spokane Orchid Society Annual Show and Sale - March 29-30. Eight vendors and hundreds of orchids for sale. There will be raffles and speakers. Come and see prize-winning orchids and displays. Orchids and displays will be judged prior to doors opening to public. Hours are Saturday, noon-6 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Southside Community Center, 3151 E. 27th Ave. $2/person; free/age 15 and younger. (509) 953-5356.

SCD Tree Sale and Surplus Sale - The featured species this year are the Giant Chinese Silver Grass and the Rocky Mountain Juniper superstock. Both species are great for making screens, prefer full sun, are drought tolerant and are highly adaptable. Visit www.sccd.org to order. For more information on the annual Tree and Shrub Seedling Sale, email treesale@sccd.org or call. April 4, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., and April 5, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Spokane County Conservation District, District, 210 N. Havana St. (509) 535-7274.

Beginning Bird Watching Classes - The Friends of Turnbull and Spokane Audubon Society will sponsor beginning bird watching classes for ages 8 to 80. The classes will be April 5, May 3, June 7 and July 12 and include binocular instruction and practice, field guides, identifying birds at Turnbull and more. Class size is limited; registration is required. Classes are 9-11 a.m., Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge, 26010 S. Smith Road, Cheney. Registration and payment is required with participant information and check to “Friends of Turnbull,” c/o D. Burt, 3312 E. Donora Ct., Spokane, WA 99223. $5/per person; $10/per family. (509) 448-0659.

Animals

Backyard Chickens - Paul and Susan Puhek from S&P Homestead Farm will share their knowledge of backyard chickens. You’ll leave with a ton of tips and practical advice plus an understanding of what’s needed to take on this rewarding venture. March 24, 6-7:45 p.m., South Hill Library, 3324 S. Perry St. Free. (509) 444-5385.