The Environmental Horticulture and Natural Resources program links Putnam County residents, green-industry businesses and farmers with Cornell University faculty and regional specialists. Our educators and Master Gardener volunteers bring you research-based information about gardening, landscaping, insects, birds, natural resources, agriculture and the environment. Our unique focus on landscaping to protect water quality, now entering its tenth year, includes the Turf Love program for homeowners, Turf Love Pro for landscapers and garden center retailers, and Lake Friendly Gardening for homeowners living on any of Putnam's many lakes and streams.

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Citizen Science
Now you can be part of the research team! Many projects need people throughout the United States to report on what's happening with birds, bees, plants and plant pests. Help scientists in ornithology, entomology and plant science find answers to common problems and new ones, too.

• Project BudBreak http://budbreak.tc.cornell.edu/
  Help Cornell researchers monitor climate change. Tell our scientists when specific trees break bud in your garden.
• Viburnum Leaf Beetle Watch http://www.hort.cornell.edu/vlb/
  Viburnum Leaf Beetles are voracious insects eating some of our favorite plants, even the native American Cranberry Bush. Help us track their movements and learn how to control them.
• Vegetable Varieties for Gardeners http://vegvariety.cce.cornell.edu/
  Here's a place to share with other gardeners around the state. If you want vegetable advice, or if you're fond of a certain type of tomato, potato or bean, let everyone else know.
  

Green Lawns Clean Water
In response to growing concerns about water quality in Putnam County, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Putnam and Westchester Counties and Cornell University have teamed up to provide educational workshops and information on landscaping to protect water quality. A twelve-month Lawn Care, Water Quality Almanac can be purchased or viewed on the web at: http://www.lawn.cornell.edu/almanac.

Recycling and Composting
Putnam People Recycle! Cornell Cooperative Extension, in partnership with Putnam County Department of Solid Waste offers information on composting of kitchen, garden and yard wastes. Cornell Cooperative Extension's Master Gardener Volunteers maintain a composting demonstration in front of the Putnam County Department of Motor Vehicles.
For more information about Recycling in Putnam County go to the county's website at: http://www.putnamcountyny.com Click DEPARTMENTS and then RECYCLING.

For the 2009 Selected List of Vegetable Varieties for Home Garden Use in New York State please go to http://www.gardening.cornell.edu/vegetables/vegvar.pdf

Gardening Resources on Campus
Cornell University's Department of Horticulture has a wealth of information on its Gardening website. Follow the link to explore this growing website and bookmark it. It is regularly updated. http://www.gardening.cornell.edu

For information about how the Master Gardener Volunteers of Putnam County can help you, follow the link.

• Master Gardeners

To find out how Cornell Cooperative Extension helps the Commercial Horticulture Industry in Putnam, follow the link.

• Commercial Horticulture

If you have found the services provided by Cornell Cooperative Extension useful, consider donating to the program by going to donation request.

Last updated: September 25, 2009