Cornell Cooperative Extension Tompkins County

"Gardening, food preparation, and eating with others strengthen human bonds. And local food activity in any sector creates local wealth which is retained in our community." Read more in this week's Signs of Sustainability column! https://lnkd.in/eE8mFiEk

Canning jams and jellies is an easy, fast, and fun way to preserve fruit. On Tuesday, April 1, we'll share the basics of canning including equipment and food safety and learn how to make jams and jellies. Participants will practice these skills with hands-on demonstrations and take home some of the items that they make! Registration required. This program is valued at $35, however, please pay what you are able. If you cannot afford the lowest cost option, please contact us; scholarships are available. https://lnkd.in/e2gbcKQR

Sustainable Finger Lakes interviewed recent Finger Lakes Climate Fund awardee, Ritza Francois! Our Community Energy Educator Leigh was happy to be a part of this process, helping Ritza explore options and opportunities to make this upgrade easier and more affordable. Get in touch if you'd like to learn more: SmartEnergyChoices.org. https://lnkd.in/ezmEaeCg

We're offering our annual Keeping Chickens Class, 5:30-7:30 pm, Tuesday, March 18 at CCE Tompkins County, 615 Willow Ave or online via Zoom! This class will explore topics including sourcing healthy birds, determining which laying varieties are best for your needs, options for housing and nutrition, common illness and pest prevention, and the joys of living with chickens! Instructor Sarah Lubold is an ESOL educator, homesteader, amateur beekeeper, and CCE Tompkins Master Gardener. She and her family live with a small flock of Rhode Island Reds and Khaki Campbell ducks in West Groton. Sarah is active in the Cayuga and Tompkins Counties' Farmworker and Immigrant community. Please note: residents in the Villages of Trumansburg and Dryden and the City of Ithaca who wish to keep chickens need a permit and evidence that you have attended a class on raising chickens. Our class meets that requirement as long as attendees attend live and receive a letter to take to their municipality upon course completion. This program is valued at $20, however, please pay what you are able. ?? Learn more and sign up at https://lnkd.in/e74yJRkb.

The Beautification Brigade is looking for 2025 volunteers! Attend an orientation meeting 6-7:30 pm Tuesday, March 11, OR Wednesday, March 19, to learn about the Beautification Brigade's public flower plantings in Ithaca. Our volunteers have fun, learn gardening techniques, and help keep Ithaca gorgeous. No experience is required. The orientation will introduce you to the Beautification Program and our sites, share information about volunteer sessions, and show you how to register. You only need to attend one of the meetings; registration is limited to 25 people. Register early to ensure a space!

Did you get our March newsletter? If not, you can find it online at https://conta.cc/4kCR9lB to read about this month's programs! ?? Keeping Chickens Class ? The Family Playgroup ?? Lansing Community Resource Hubs ?? The Healthy Eating Support Community ?? Primitive Pursuits Camps ?? Asempe Kitchen's growth from our facilities ?? Beautification Brigade Volunteer Orientation ?? Thriving Futures Mural Funding ?? Worm Composting ?? Community Seed Swap ?? And much more!

Join us for a community seed swap 11 am-2 pm Saturday, March 8, and dream about your spring garden! Whether you’re new to growing or an experienced gardener looking for new varieties, you’re sure to find something that fits your planting needs. We’ll also have activities and information about gardening, starting seeds, and how to plan your garden. All ages are welcome! To participate in the seed swap, please bring viable seeds to add to our bounty. Suggested donation of $5/person if you do not have seeds to share.

This engaging and interactive class blends essential nutrition education with hands-on cooking skills, utilizing the Cooking Matters for Chefs and Kids curriculum. Designed for both aspiring chefs and young learners ages 8 -12, the course aims to foster healthy eating habits, food literacy, and culinary creativity. Sign up at https://lnkd.in/eQannq8T. Join us to learn how to prepare a nutritious, budget-friendly breakfast meal using everyday ingredients while gaining valuable skills in food safety, meal planning, and understanding nutrition labels! Explore the role of different food groups in maintaining a healthy lifestyle and the importance of balanced meals. Most importantly, develop confidence in the kitchen by cooking simple, delicious dishes that appeal to people of all ages! An adult caregiver must remain at the store for the duration of the class.

Tianna Kennedy, executive director of the Catskill Agrarian Alliance, is coming to Ithaca on Monday, March 3, to speak about cooperative farming and land access. Tianna will be sharing her experience with establishing the agrarian commons at River Haven Farm (the first agrarian commons in New York State) and the work of the Catskills Agrarian Alliance. Let’s gather together to see what we can learn from the Catskill Agrarian Alliance and how their strategies for land access and cooperative farming might be applied to the Ithaca area. This event is free! Learn more and find a link to sign up at https://lnkd.in/dBZqHjbW.

An info session at 5:30 pm on Wednesday, February 26, will dive into all things Community Supported Agriculture (also called CSA). You’ll learn about the variety of CSA options in Tompkins County and why this model can be a great way to support local farmers and communities. Learn more about what it means to be a member of a CSA, break down the costs of participating, and check out some resources on how to use what you get! We will also have a list of CSAs in the area available. This event is free, however, donations help us keep future programming costs low for our community. Sign up online at https://lnkd.in/epR-FN6Q.