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It's been said that one of the main differences between Alaskans and their Lower 48 counterparts is that if you show them both something, Alaskans will ask how you made it, while the others will ask where you bought it.

This can-do attitude is commonplace with many local people, and the University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Office in Soldotna is hoping to spread this ethos to others.

"We're trying to put together a series of 'how-to' classes for people interested in learning how to do things for themselves," said Linda Tannehill, the Cooperative Extension's Health, Home and Family Development agent.

Tannehill said the first course in the series will be on raising poultry for eggs or meat, and the goals of this course are the same as for all the upcoming courses.

"We want to help people learn how to do things for themselves. Doing things for yourself saves on purchasing food. And, eating what you've grown is better because you know what's in the food," she said.

Rather than relying on paid professionals from outside the area, the courses will be taught be local folks savvy in their particular craft or trade.

"It's drawing from local expertise. We have some very knowledgeable people here in the community and they have a lot to share," Tannehill said.

The first course will be taught by Patty Miller, a 4-H leader who regularly teaches about keeping and rearing poultry and rabbits. She is also a life-long breeder of both species. Miller said the course -- predominantly on chicken husbandry -- would be geared toward beginners, yet would still be comprehensive.

"We'll go over the different kinds of feed, what they need in terms of space, and shelter and housing. And we'll talk about electric fencing too, since we live in an area with bears, coyotes and fox," she said.

Miller said she would also discuss which breeds are the best for which purposes, since not everyone that desires to keep chickens wants them for the same reasons.

"We'll go over which ones do well this far north, which ones are best for beginners, which ones lay lots of eggs, and which ones are good for meat," she said.

Miller said she would cover all aspects of a chicken's life-cycle.

"We'll talk about how to build incubators, in case people want to raise their own. We'll also talk about how to cycle birds, and what to do once they are no longer productive," she said.

Miller said the course would also touch on the subject of husbandry for turkeys, geese and ducks.

Tannehill said she thinks the courses will be useful to the community and she hopes they are well attended.

"People can come, find out what is involved, and then decide if it's for them," she said.

Tannehill said numerous future classes are planned on the subjects of keeping and rearing animals. These include rabbits and goats.

Their will also be courses on gardening, divided up into individual topics, such as herbs, vegetables, berries, and how to preserve what has been grown.

There may also be other classes on practical ideas, such as how and where to erect a clothesline to save on energy bills.

"We want to make this interactive, finding out what people are interested in, and going from there," she said.

Those interested in attending the upcoming poultry course are asked to preregister by Wednesday. The course will be held on Thursday, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., at the MAPTS building at Kenai Peninsula College.

To register or for more information, call 262-5824.

Joseph Robertia can be reached at joseph.robertia@peninsulaclarion.com.