THINK SPRING! Winter Lecture Series for Home Gardeners Returns in 2012

THINK SPRING! Winter Lecture Series for Home Gardeners Returns in 2012

“Four fun and informative seminars to choose from”

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County Master Gardener Program is once again offering a series of workshops during February and March to help the avid home gardener get prepared for spring.

Classes will be held on Thursdays, February 9, and February 16, and March 1 and March 22. All classes will be from 7:00pm to 9:00pm at Ulster County BOCES located at 175 Rt. 32 North in New Paltz. Participants may choose the class or classes they are most interested in or sign up for the entire series. The fee for individual classes is $15 or $50 for all four. Class sizes are limited. Pre-registration is encouraged.

For more information call Dona Crawford at 845-340-3990 ext. 335. Click here to register.

Do It Yourself Vegetables, Berries & Herbs

February 9, 7:00pm to 9:00pm

Composting - John McCormick

Everything you wanted to know about composting and then some!

Whether you compost at home or just thinking about starting to compost, you will learn the best way to compost your kitchen and yard waste and turn it into beautiful soil using the best methods that fit your situation.  We will cover the benefits, elements needed, different approaches that can be used and the practical uses of compost.

John McCormick has been a Master Gardener since 2007.  He is a retired HS Social Studies Teacher and

Adjunct Professor School of Education at Marist College.

February 16, 7:00pm to 9:00pm

Vegetables From Seed: Spring Through Fall  - Barbara Bravo

Every year we are inundated with seed catalogs and alluring displays of seed packets at our favorite garden centers.  Learn to base your choices on proven varieties for our local area and basic information such as starting your own plants vs. buying, using coldframes, interplanting to maximize your garden space, the benefits of annual crop rotation and how to replace valuable nutrients to the soil through cover crops and green manures.

Instructor - Barbara Bravo is a Master Gardener, Garden Coach and ceramic artist.  She is a frequent speaker at Garden Day and local events.   Barbara has planted and maintained ornamental and vegetable gardens at her home and studio for more than 25 years.

March 1, 7:00pm to 8:00pm

Part 1

Every Tomato Under The Sun - Teresa Rusinek

Over 100 varieties of heirloom, Cherry, Grape, Field and Plum tomatoes were grown on a local farm in 2011. Learn which were the favorites and why.

Instructor: Teresa Rusinek is the Commercial and Community Horticultural Educator at Cornell Cooperative Extension in Ulster County where she provides oversight to the Ulster County Master Gardeners.  She has had over 20 years experience in horticulture. Teresa works with vegetable farmers in Ulster County, helping them trouble shoot production problems.

March 1, 8:00pm to 9:00pm

Part 2

Herbs - Allyson Levy

Herbs are legendary; they play prominent roles in the culinary arts and enjoy a rich folkloric history. Their medicinal value is well known. In the ornamental garden they are easy to grow and mostly deer resistant. This class will introduce you to the history of herbs, their many uses and some practical tips about growing them.

Instructor:  Allyson Levy is a Master Gardener. She and her husband have an edible and decorative garden company, Hortus Conclusus. Allyson helped spearhead 2 edible gardens in the Rondout Valley School District, where she volunteers as a MG.  Allyson and her husband are turning their 11-acre property into a botanical garden

March 22, 7: 00pm to 9:00pm

Small Fruits Explained - Steve McKay

This is a 2-hour intensive training class about cultivation practices, harvest and storage of berry crops including blueberries, currants, gooseberries, elderberries, and brambles as well as uncommon bush fruits such as honeyberry, aronia and saskatoon.

Instructor: Steve McKay is a former Extension Educator for CCE HV in the commercial fruit program.  He has a BS in International Agricultural Development and Entomology and a MS in Pomology, both from UC Davis.   His expertise is in berries, grapes and processing.

For more information about Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County’s community programs and events visit our online calendar at www.cceulster.org. Follow us on www.facebook.com. CCEUC provides equal program and employment opportunities. Please contact the CCEUC office at 845-340-3990 if you have any special needs.

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Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County (CCEUC) is a 501(c) 3 subordinate government agency of the State of New York under Article 5, 224(b) of the NYS County Laws organization that utilizes research based knowledge through their partnership with Cornell University. This information is disseminated through their on-going community programming in the areas of Agriculture, Horticulture, 4-H Youth Development, Family and Consumer Science and Environmental programs held throughout Ulster County.

Just in case you have'nt heard....we've moved!

Cornell Cooperative Extension Ulster County Moving to New Location in Kingston Plaza

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County’s (CCEUC) Executive Director, Lydia Reidy has announced that CCEUC’s main offices currently located at 10 Westbrook Lane in Kingston, NY will relocate to the former Blockbuster Video Store located at 232 Plaza Road in the Kingston Plaza. The new office and education center is set to open on Monday January 30, 2012.

“Relocating our offices to this new site has many advantages,” explained Lydia Reidy, CCEUC Executive Director. “It’s a retail location in a high-traffic area – in the heart of the Kingston Plaza. This fosters greater connectivity with the community, which is critical to an agency charged with educating the public on a variety of issues.”

“The new office site is near a public transportation hub. The City of Kingston and Ulster County Rural Transportation bus lines depart from the Kingston Plaza to serve Kingston and the county. Regarding the space itself, the new offices include a larger multiple-purpose room, which improves the organization’s programming capabilities. The office also features an open, professional layout that creates a more pleasant work environment. “Our new office is an improved work environment that will enhance our programming, thereby bettering the lives of Ulster County residents,” Reidy added.

The phone number will remain the same at 845-340-3990. Business hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 5:00pm.

CCEUC offers resources, tools and education through on-going community programming in efforts to improve the lives of a broad and diverse county population. Program areas include Agriculture, Horticulture, 4-H Youth Development, Family and Consumer Science and Environmental programs. CCEUC works to extend the educational resources of Cornell University, the Land Grant university system and other educational institutions, to the people of Ulster County to foster economic, social and environmental improvement of its individuals, families and communities. Since 1913, Cornell Cooperative Extension Ulster County (CCEUC) continues to use research based knowledge through their partnership with Cornell University to assist the residents of Ulster County.

CCEUC is a registered 501(c) 3 non-profit educational organization and part of the Cornell Cooperative Extension land grant system, a partnership between County, State, and Federal Governments. The mission of CCE is to enable people to improve their lives and communities through partnerships that put experience and research knowledge to work. Extension staff and trained volunteers deliver education programs, conduct applied research, and foster community collaborations.

For more information about Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County’s community programs and events visit our online calendar at www.cceulster.org. Follow us on www.facebook.com. CCEUC provides equal program and employment opportunities. Please contact the CCEUC office at 845-340-3990 if you have any special needs.

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Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County (CCEUC) is a 501(c) 3 subordinate government agency of the State of New York under Article 5, 224(b) of the NYS County Laws organization that utilizes research based knowledge through their partnership with Cornell University. This information is disseminated through their on-going community programming in the areas of Agriculture, Horticulture, 4-H Youth Development, Family and Consumer Science and Environmental programs held throughout Ulster County.

CCEUC Presents Meritorious Service Awards

Each year, we recognize members of our staff for their years of dedication to the Association’s educational programming with a Meritorious Service Recognition Award.

CCEUC Executive Director, Lydia M. Reidy presented the awards at the CCEUC Annual Meeting held on Monday, December 14, 2009 at the SUNY Ulster campus in Stone Ridge.
This years awards were presented to:

Financial Administrator, Candace Boderck for 10 years of service

Administrative Manager, Roxanne Churchill for 15 years of service

Master Gardener Coordinator, Dona Crawford for 5 years of service

Extension Educator, Mike Fargione for 15 years of service

Administrative Assistant, Barbara Grumberg for 10 years of service

CCEUC Executive Director, Lydia M. Reidy for 20 years of service


CCEUC President of the Board, Raymond Haberski presented the award to Executive Director, Lydia M. Reidy.

CCEUC Elects New Board and Program Committee Members for 2010

We held our Annual Meeting to elect new CCEUC Board of Directors and Program Committee members for 2010 on Monday, December 14, 2009 at the SUNY Ulster campus in Stone Ridge.


The evening’s agenda began with an election of new CCEUC Board and Program Committee members, a treasurer’s report, a review of CCEUC’s programs of 2009 and CCEUC staff and current board and program committee member recognition and a presentation by the Assistant Professor at the Bard Center for Environmental Policy, Jennifer G. Phillips entitled, "The Role of Agriculture in Curbing Climate Change:
Win-Win Scenarios"


2010 CCEUC Board of Directors:

Newly and Re-elected

Reverend James Childs

Chester Karwatowski

Kristen Vale

Gene Vidal

Kim Wagner

They join current Board Members:

Len Cane

Bradley Clark

Dave Cobb

Denise Dourdeville

Asha Golliher

Nola Gutmann

Wayne Harris Ulster County Legislative Representative

Todd McNutt Treasurer

Arnaldo Schewert

Sandy Snyder Vice President

Jodie Stevens

2010 CCEUC Program Committee

Re-elected:

Kay Peischel

They join current Program Committee Members:

Carol Carboni

Denise Dourdeville

Asha Golliher

Nola Gutmann

Marijane Knudsen

Amanda LaValle

Maria Oakley

Kathy Puglisi

Carolyn Short

Sandy Snyder

Barbara Vermuelen


CCEUC would like to extend their appreciation and thanks to former Board of Directors and Program Committee members.

Board of Directors: Raymond Haberski President

Carla Picayo Secretary

Program Committee: Carla Picayo

FREE Presentation about Climate Change and Agriculture comes to SUNY Ulster

This informative presentation entitled, "The Role of Agriculture in Curbing Climate Change: Win-Win Scenarios", will be presented at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County’s Annual Meeting to be held on Monday, December 14, 2009 at 6:30pm in the Student Lounge located in Vanderlyn Hall at the SUNY Ulster campus in Stone Ridge. The meeting and presentation is free and open to the general public. Please pre-register by calling 845-340-3990.

The keynote speaker, Jennifer G. Phillips, Assistant Professor at the Bard Center for Environmental Policy, will look at agriculture as both a source and a sink for greenhouse gases that are likely to be regulated in the future. Fortunately, many of the practices that will curb greenhouse gas production or lead to increased carbon storage are also ones that can increase farm productivity, lower costs, and lead to resilient, sustainable agro-ecosystems. Although in the early stages of research, many of these practices are both familiar and proven. Phillips will include a brief review of the role of greenhouse gases in climate regulation and the expected changes in store for the Northeast that focus on recent science and field research.

The evening’s agenda begins with the election of new CCEUC Board and Program Committee members, Treasurer’s report, a review of CCEUC programs of 2009, a vote on the proposed changes to the CCEUC Constitution and CCEUC Staff and current Board and Program Committee member recognition followed by fall themed desserts, coffee, cider and tea. The evening closes with the featured presentation by Jennifer G. Phillips.

First Annual Respite Holiday for Relative Caregivers Coming in December

Our Relatives as Parents Program (RAPP) is proud to announce the first annual Respite Holiday on Sunday, December 20, from 12:00pm to 4:00pm at the CCEUC Education Center located at10 Westbrook Lane in Kingston.
We are offering this FREE event to any person who is raising a relative’s child in Ulster County. Go shopping or go home and take a well deserved nap knowing your child will be in good hands.

RAPP staff will be conducting therapeutic play activities, games, and arts & crafts throughout the day. We will also be introducing theatre arts to the children in preparation for a play called “What’s Your Story?” that we are organizing for the children to perform for their relative caregivers next year.
Lunch and a healthy snack will be provided to the children. Relatives are welcome to join but are not required. Pre-registration is required no later than Wednesday December, 15 and limited to the first 15 children. Please call Barbara Grumberg at 845-340-3990 to pre-register.

For more information on “Living and Re-learning” (formerly known as the RAPP Support Group for caregivers and the RAPP Kidz Club) please call Danielle Garris, RAPP Program Coordinator, at 845-340-3990. These groups meet in New Paltz on the first Monday of every month or in Kingston on the first Saturday of every month.

RAPP is funded by Cornell Cooperative Extension Orange County through a grant from the NYS Office of Children and Family Services, The Brookdale Foundation, and The Dyson Foundation.

FREE Bi-Lingual Program in Kingston Teaches Healthy Eating Habits & Food Budgeting

Our Eat Smart New York Program is offering the program “Healthy Nutrition Habits”, a free six part series that runs continuously every Monday, from 1:00pm to 2:00pm at the CCEUC Extension Education Center located at 10 Westbrook Lane in Kingston. This program is also available in Spanish. For more information or to attend please call Barbara Grumberg at 845-340-3990.
This program is open to all food stamp participants and low to moderate income families and individuals residing in Ulster County. Sessions will include various topics including food budgeting, serving sizes, learning about food groups, eating healthier by making better food choices, food safety and more! Participants will gain valuable kitchen skills through hands-on food demonstrations with CCEUC Nutrition Program Educator, Pablo Shine. One on one session’s in the home can be arranged for those without transportation.

All participants who complete six sessions of the program will receive a Certificate of Completion from the Cornell Cooperative Extension Ulster County’s Eat Smart New York Program.

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County’s Eat Smart New York Program is funded through the Department of Social Services of Ulster County from the NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance and USDA.