NATIVE TREE & SHRUB FUNDRAISER FOR CORNELL COOPERATIVE EXTENSION
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Delaware County is pleased to announce that it’s Fundraising Tree and Shrub Sale is now underway. The deadline for ordering is August 27, 2008. This Tree and Shrub Sale is offering RPM (Root Production Method) restoration/conservation grade native trees. These native hardwoods and shrubs are well known for their extraordinary fast growth, high survivability and earlier seed production. Read more about the advantages of RPM trees and how they are grown at www.rpmecosystems.com RPM high quality tree and shrub seedlings come with a healthy root ball in a container, with planting and care instructions. As “conservation trees” RPM native trees are well suited for a wide variety of planting sites, including urban and suburban backyard habitats, restoration plantings along creeks and rivers, in parks and community spaces. The seedlings come in approximately 3 gallon containers and are 2-5’ in height. Their extraordinary root growth is achieved through collection of superior native seed stock, air root pruning, greenhouse growing, balanced nutrition, soil health and container growing. This process was developed from over twenty years of field research. It includes no genetic modification and provides individual trees and shrubs an early jump-start for future success in conservation plantings. This year’s fund raiser will feature trees that have value for wildlife. Species include: red maple; sugar maple; shadbush serviceberry; gray dogwood; American filbert (also called hazelnut), black walnut, and northern red oak. Each tree or shrub costs only $45.00. The proceeds from this sale will benefit our building fund at Cornell Cooperative Extension in Delaware County. Pickup will be held on Saturday, September 13 from 10 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at 4-H Camp Shankitunk, 2420 Arbor Hill Road in Delhi, NY. For descriptions of this year’s selections and to obtain an order form; click on the above title, then open the order form and print. Or e-mail jla14@cornell.edu, or call Cornell Cooperative Extension at 607-865-6531. MINI-GRANTS AVAILABLE TO PROMOTE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY & HEALTHY EATING FOR CHILDREN Cornell Cooperative Extension of Delaware County has been awarded a grant from the New York State Department of Health to establish the Delaware-Greene Eat Well Play Hard Community Project (EWPH) in Delaware and Greene counties. The goal of Eat Well Play Hard project is to develop policy and environmental changes to prevent/reduce childhood obesity in 2 to 12 year olds. As part of implementation of this grant the project will award mini-grants of up to $1,000 each to agencies or organizations to promote childhood obesity prevention. Delaware and Greene County organizations (elementary schools, food pantries, youth organizations, day care centers or registered family daycares, pre-/after-school programs, community groups) that directly or indirectly serve children ages 2 to 12 are encouraged to apply. Applications are due to Cornell Cooperative Extension of Delaware County by July 31, 2008 with the award announcements made on August 15. Grant funding period will run from September 1, 2008 – September 1, 2009.
Pastureland Dairy Farm, Manlius, NY Cornell Cooperative Extension of Delaware County and the Watershed Agricultural Council are sponsoring a van trip to Pastureland Dairy in Manilus, NY on Friday, July 25th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The day-trip to Onondaga County also includes an optional side tour of the Morrisville State College Agro-Business Center. Cost is $10 which includes lunch and transportation. The tour will focus on pasture management and is intended for farmers that are currently grazing their herds and those who are transitioning to a grazing dairy. Over the winter, grazier Peter Mapstone spoke before the Catskill Regional Dairy, Livestock and Grazing Conference where he shared his story of transitioning from a confinement feeding system to a successful grass-based grazing dairy. Pastureland Dairy currently manages 825 acres of cropland and 325 acres of grazing land. Cows are milked twice a day in a double 7 flat-barn parlor. During winter, the animals are housed in a drive-through, four-row freestall barn. Last year, Mapstone reduced herd size and adopted organic production practices to make more profit. This year, Mapstone reduced his herd size from 195 to 150 so he could meet his cows’ nutritional needs better with homegrown small grains. This summer’s grazing tour provides the opportunity to visit Pastureland Dairy to see first-hand how Mapstone successfully manages his dairy business. Van transportation will leave from the Price Chopper parking lot in Delhi at 10 a.m. and will return at 5 p.m. The tour will begin at noon at Pastureland Dairy; an optional tour of the Morrisville State College Agri-Business Center will begin at 3:30 p.m. The Center is a licensed dairy plant that works with individuals to bring value-added dairy products to market. The tour, led by the Center’s Director Jim McFadden, will highlight how the Center helps farmers learn and manufacture a variety of products including bottled milk, soft and hard cheeses, yogurts, ice cream, juices and more. Those touring the Center will arrive back in Delhi at 6:45 p.m. The cost for this full-day event is $10 and includes lunch and transportation. Pre-registration is required by Wednesday, July 23 at 3 p.m. To register, call Kim Holden at (607) 865-7090 or email kmh19@cornell.edu. For more information on the event, visit www.nycwatershed.org. The Watershed Agricultural Council a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization whose mission is to support the economic viability of agriculture and forestry through the protection of water quality and the promotion of land conservation in the New York City watershed region. The WAC is funded by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and other public, foundation and private sources. The WAC and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Delaware County are Equal Opportunity Providers and Employers. When your garden overflows with plump red tomatoes and the farmers’ market explodes into rows of brilliantly colored fruits and vegetables, it’s time to join in the flavorful tradition of preserving good food. Whether you are just getting started or you’ve been preserving food for awhile we recommend that you review the basics of canning foods with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Delaware County. Come and learn the newest research and techniques for canning using two techniques: water bath and pressure canning. This year based on consumer requests we are offering food preservation classes at the following locations: Hanford Mills, East Meredith September 6, 2008 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Canning demonstrations focusing on hot water and pressure canning with a packet of food preservation resources on canning, drying and freezing food. Cornell Cooperative Extension office, 1 mile south of Hamden, Route 10 September 8, 2008 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Canning demonstrations featuring hot water and pressure canning with a review of canning, drying and freezing food preservation resources, procedures and tested recipes. Jeanne Darling, Executive Director/Extension Educator and Carol Brannen, Master Food Preserver, will be teaching these classes and sharing current recommended food preservation resources with participants. Cornell Cooperative Extension educators will also be preserving food with daily demonstrations at the Delaware County Fair. For a schedule of food preservation demonstrations check the web at cce.cornell.edu/delaware. To register for food preservation classes at Hanford Mills and Cornell Cooperative Extension in Hamden, mail your name, address and $10.00 to Jeanne Darling at PO Box 184, Hamden, NY 13782. Checks should be made out to Cornell Cooperative Extension.
3-DAY SCHOOL SET FOR AUGUST Area forest owners are invited to attend a three day school to be held at Cornell Cooperative Extension in Delaware County, Hamden, NY, August 20-22, 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Area forestry experts will be on hand to help you get started in managing your forests and woodlots. The event is sponsored by the Watershed Agricultural Council through its Forestry Program with funding from the U.S. Forest Service and the Department of Environmental Protection. Participants will be introduced to the forestry specialists and agencies in our area who can help them develop management strategies. Morning classes will be held at Extension’s resource center in Hamden and afternoon woods walks will take place at the Lennox Memorial Forest in Delhi. Discussions will include utilizing maps in the woods, tree and shrub id, leasing for recreational access, easements, roads and trails, timber theft, how to use a compass and basic orienteering, finding boundaries, posting, Catskills silviculture, forest invasive species, forest pests, timber sales, and evaluating the value of a tree. This forestry series is funded by the Watershed Agricultural Council’s Forestry Program, in partnership with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Delaware County. Each session costs $10, or $30 for all three days; each fee includes lunch. Participants must pre-register and indicate which days they plan to attend. Make check payable to Cornell Cooperative Extension and mail to P.O. Box 184, Hamden, NY 13782. For a registration form and directions, contact Cornell Cooperative Extension at (607) 865-6531, e-mail Janet Aldrich at jla14@cornell.edu or visit Extension’s website at: www.cce.cornell.edu/delaware. The mission of the Watershed Agricultural Council is to support the economic viability of agriculture and forestry through the protection of water quality and the promotion of land conservation in the New York City Watershed region. The WAC is supported by the U.S. Forest Service, New York City Department of Environmental Protection and other private, public, and foundation sources. The Watershed Agricultural Council and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Delaware County are equal opportunity employers and providers. For more information, visit www.nycwatershed.org.
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Delaware County will be offering a 9-week micro-enterprise school for people interested in starting a new farm business. This series is funded by the Watershed Agricultural Council’s Small Farm Education Program, in partnership with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Delaware County. New Farm Ventures will be held Wednesdays 10:30 a.m. -2:00 p.m., at Cornell Cooperative Extension Resource in Hamden, September 3, 10, 17, 24 and October 1, 8, 15, 22, 29. This program will help participants research their farm enterprise and determine if they have the resources and markets necessary to proceed. Primary focus will be placed on writing a farm business plan. It will cover innovative marketing, food entrepreneurship, labels and labeling, creating a farm identity, practical whole farm planning, reducing risk and maximizing profit, local resources for financing, and local agricultural expertise. Call 607-865-6531 or e-mail Janet Aldrich: jla14@cornell.edu for a registration brochure – pre-registration is required by August 25. The fee for this program is $45. Lunches are included. Checks should be made payable to Cornell Cooperative Extension and mailed to P.O .Box 184, Hamden, NY, 13782.
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