They’ve included ways to make money from things like making specialty foods and growing a garden, learning to use the Internet to market goods, even basket making, quilting and chair caning.

Talladega County Extension Coordinator Wanda Jurriaans is looking for all kinds of ways for people to supplement and or replace income, finding sources who have been successful and passing along their information.

Earlier this month, there was a chair caning workshop given by instructor Laura Vaughn of Weaver, who told participants from several counties who attended she has more requests for work than she can do.

“She said she is never completely caught up with the work because before she finished a job, another one comes in,” Jurriaans said.

Vaughn is returning to Talladega for another hands on session Sept. 20, and those who want to attend need to register ahead of time by calling the Extension Office at 256-362-6187 to reserve a space.

Vaughn got started caning chairs when she wanted to repair a chair seat on a chair her husband had as a child.

Once she learned the craft, requests starting coming in, mainly through word of mouth to re-cane chairs, Vaughn said.

Few tools are required for the process, and many of those that are needed are probably already on hand, she said.

Instead of starting with a “prize peace” you want to restore, Vaughn suggests looking for prospective practice pieces in thrift stores or yard sales.

Once a piece is found, any other repairs that need to be made to the piece should be done before starting the caning, Vaughn said.

For the upcoming workshop, participants will bring a piece to work on.

During the basket making workshop, each participant made a small basket.

“For the past three years, our county has remained in double digit unemployment and the unemployed are having a hard time finding employment,” Jurriaans said.

“I hope these efforts will help people get an idea and training for creating employment.”

Jurriaans has worked with a group of gardeners in the Munford area to teach raised bed gardens to produce food and now has another raised bed demonstration plot in place in Fayetteville.

A third garden spot will incorporate herb growing, and will include demonstrating it as a business opportunity as well as a demonstration to tech cooking and baking skills using herbs for a healthy diet choice, she said.

“I am also in the process of establishing a hoop house demonstration to show how to extend the growing seasons, which will help with a small business income.”

Jurriaans said she is anxious to get the word out about Extension’s offerings especially in today’s times.

“I hope they can take advantage of any opportunity that could help improve the quality of life,” she said.

Contact Laura Nation-Atchison at lnation@dailyhome.com.