Hugh Weathers, South Carolina’s Commissioner of Agriculture, reminds gardeners to mark their calendars for the Midlands Fall Plant & Flower Festival coming up September 28-30 at the State Farmers Market in West Columbia. This annual event features locally grown and seasonal produce as well as plants, flowers, and lawn decorations for the gardening enthusiast.

The State Farmers Market, 3483 Charleston Highway, is conveniently located two miles from Interstates 26 and 77 in West Columbia. The Midlands Plant & Flower Festival’s hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Food producers interested in learning how to sell products directly to restaurant chefs and retail managers are invited to attend a South Carolina Market Ready training workshop on Thursday August 30 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Clemson Extension Johnny M. Shelley Agriculture Facility, 1949 Industrial Park Rd.

Lexington County, Richland County, the City of Columbia, S.C. DHEC the Central Midlands Council of Governments has partnered to provide a free electric mower to a citizen in the Central Midlands Region who signs up for the air quality forecast via EnviroFlash by August 1, 2012.

EnviroFlash (www.enviroflash.info) is an e-mail alert system that delivers air quality information straight to your inbox.