Greetings from CCE Nassau,

With springtime right around the corner we wanted to share some of our exciting CCE Nassau late winter/early spring 2023 happenings with you.

Our Urban and Community Forestry program has remained busy this month, with multiple pesticide training certification courses as well as the start of a 12-week Urban Forestry Academy all about tree biology and plant health care. Young community members have been busy during our 4-H Afterschool and Vacation Camp programs.

February is American Heart Month, which served as the theme for our Nutrition Educators during their lessons at local Senior Centers throughout the month. March is National Nutrition Month and the return of our weekly Veggie Van mobile market, so be sure to stop by the market soon for fresh, local produce; all the details are mentioned later in this email. Our Master Gardener Volunteers are ramping up preparations for planting in our own gardens at East Meadow Farm, too, as well as keeping busy leading gardening presentations at local libraries.

As you continue to peruse the CCE Nassau February Update you will see that we have an array of educational opportunities and hands-on workshops on the calendar for you to enjoy so be sure to enroll and join us for enriching activities!

Thank you for your on-going commitment to CCE Nassau, we couldn’t do all that we do without our amazing supporters!

All our best,

Greg and Team

Saturday, March 18, 2023

(Rain date: Saturday, March 25, 2023)

10:00am - 12:00pm

Location: East Meadow Farm - 832 Merrick Avenue,

East Meadow, NY 11554

Cost: $10 per person

This workshop will include a talk on basic pruning techniques, what to look for while pruning, when to prune, tools needed, and safety issues when pruning. This will be followed by pruning of select on-site trees and shrubs. This will be supervised by Master Gardeners. Adults only.

No pruning tools are needed, all will be provided. However, you must bring the following items to participate in the hands-on portion:

• Safety head gear - i.e. hard hat, helmet (bicycle, ski, football, etc.)
• Safety goggles
• Work gloves
• Work shoes or boots (no sneakers)

Space is limited to 30 participants, so please register early.

The Garden-Based Learning Short Course is designed to provide gardeners with the skills and resources to improve their home gardening techniques. Maintaining your own landscape is a cost-effective way to improve your home aesthetic, while enjoying time outdoors and exercising. Residents may also find enjoyment in growing their own fresh produce to supplement their trips to the grocery store or even share with neighbors. The Garden-Based Learning Short Course is an excellent opportunity to explore your interests in a supportive, educational environment.

Both courses will be held at East Meadow Farm located at 832 Merrick Avenue, East Meadow, NY 11554

The cost for each 4-part course is $150

$30 per each 90-minute Workshop

Register Here

All workshops will be held at East Meadow Farm - 832 Merrick Avenue, East Meadow, NY 11554

FOR ORNAMENTALS AND TURF CATEGORY 3A

March 6, 7, 13, 14 - ONLINE

8:00am - 5:00pm

This course is approved by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). Anyone supervising or applying pesticides to ornamental and turf is required to take a 30 Hour Pesticide Training Course before taking the NYS Exam to become a licensed Pesticide Applicator.

The category and course covers the following control methods and materials:

• Herbicides and Pesticides for Turf Grasses, Ornamentals, and Landscapes
• Pesticide Laws
• Pesticide Safety
• Labels
• Mixing and Storing Pesticides
• Pesticide Application Equipment
• Calculations and Calibration of Equipment
• Common Pests of Turf and Ornamentals
• Along with Other Topics of Importance to Applicators

Our Master Gardeners are growing restless, as true gardeners do this time of year, waiting for spring to arrive! In the meantime, they have been busy ordering seeds, designing their gardens, and preparing for upcoming events!

We have also taken some time to catch up on some learning opportunities. This month, several Master Gardeners enjoyed a tour of the Camellia House from our friends at Planting Fields Arboretum. Our Master Gardeners enjoyed a first-hand glance at the beautiful flowers in bloom in the greenhouse. A huge thank you goes to Vinnie Simeone for the wonderful experience!

The following day, Master Gardeners gathered at our administrative building at Eisenhower Park for the MGV Monthly Meeting, where we got program and garden updates, as well as a presentation from Nicole on the latest from CCE Nassau’s Nutrition team. Special treats also came from Russell, a Master Gardener Volunteer who provided insight into irrigation in the gardens, as well as Joshua, a local High School student who provided the concluding results of his summer research project. Thank you to all our presenters!

We look forward to a busy month in March! With this month being prime-time for pruning, MGVs from our Urban Forestry crew will be hosting a Hands-On Pruning Workshop on March 18th from 10am-12pm. Details are listed earlier in this email. For any questions, please email us at nassau@cornell.edu.

Though the Farmers Market season has come to a close, our team is busy preparing for another great market in the coming summer and fall seasons! As such, we are working hard to gather more vendors for the 2023 market season. If you are a farmer, producer, or other small business interested in joining our team of vendors in 2023, we would love to have you! For the Vendor Application, please email us at nassau@cornell.edu.

While we anxiously wait for our favorite vendors to return to the CCE Nassau Farmers Market at Eisenhower Park for the market season, if you are interested in purchasing items from any of our market vendors, please feel free to email us at nassau@cornell.edu for contact information.

Market season will be here before we know it! We look forward to seeing you then!

These interactive workshops cover myriad topics, from the basic biology of trees to learning how to diagnose common tree problems. Lecture topics may vary depending on the interest of participants and relevance to current environments.

Registration is available for individual sessions at $40 per workshop.

Classes are held online on Wednesday nights from 7:00 - 8:30pm

UPCOMING TOPICS:

March 1: Tree Pruning and Tree Care

March 8: Native Species and the Invasive Species Issue

March 15: Tree Identification 101

March 22: Future of Trees: Green Infrastructure

March 29: Advocate for Trees: Tree Stewardship

April 5: Urban Environmental Planning

April 12: Community Projects and Grants

April 19: Site Assessment for Optimal Tree Health and Long-term Success

April 26: Tree Planting for Success

We are able to offer Continuing Education Credits for the following: ISA Certified Arborist, Landscape Architect, and Certified Nursery and Landscape Professional.

CCE Nassau Nutrition Educators celebrated American Heart Month at our local senior centers. Participants sampled a red lentil squash soup while learning about sodium’s impact on heart health. See below for the recipe and let us know if you try it at home!

Dining with Diabetes (DWD) is a series of four fun and interactive classes focused on disease management and prevention. Classes include research-based education led by a Registered Dietitian, cooking demonstrations, and healthy recipe tastings.

The program is open to all and is particularly relevant for individuals with diabetes or prediabetes and members of their family and support system. An exclusive program offered only by Cooperative Extensions across the United States, DWD helps participants learn self-management strategies to better manage, prevent, or delay complications surrounding diabetes.



The course helps individuals build food skills through cooking demonstrations while learning about carbohydrate counting, portion control, label reading, and meal planning.

Led by CCE Nassau Educator

Beth Labelson, MA, RD, CDN

Tuesdays

April 18, April 25, May 2, May 9

6:00pm - 8:00pm

Location: East Meadow Farm, 832 Merrick Avenue, East Meadow, NY 11554

Thanks to the generous support from The Edward Smith Mineola Lions Club, we are able to offer this series at a reduced rate of $25 per person or $40 per pair.

WHEN

• Resuming Thursday, March 9th
• Running every Thursday through June (weather permitting)
• 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
• First Come, First Served

WHERE:

• 101 South Bergen Place

Freeport, New York 11520

We Accept: Cash, Debit/Credit, & SNAP/EBT

Please note: produce will vary throughout the season.

¡La Furgoneta de Verduras ha Vuelto!

CUANDO: Comenzando el 9 de Marzo

Todos los jueves hasta Junio, pendiente al clima

10:30am -12:00pm (primero a llegar, primero en ser atendido)

DONDE: 101 South Bergen Place, Freeport, Nueva York, 11520

Aceptamos: El Efectivo, Debito/Crédito, y SNAP/EBT

Por Favor Nota: El producto variara a lo largo de la temporada.

Love was in the air as families gathered for a special Valentine's Day cooking event! The evening was filled with laughter, joy, and plenty of delicious food.

Led by Chef Nicole, a full course menu was cooked that included ravioli, bread sticks, salad, and cookies. Families went home with full stomachs and leftovers.

Be on the lookout for future family programs as well as our Kid’s Cook series.

The 4-H Afterschool programs are a series of six-week-long special interest programs that are designed to engage youth in a chosen topic.



Location for programs: East Meadow Farm - 832 Merrick Avenue, East Meadow, NY.

Looking for fun, educational programs for the child(ren) in your life to enjoy during their school break? Our Vacation Camp is engaging, enriching, and entertaining.

Dates:

April 10 - 14 (5 days, 10 sessions)

Ages/Grades: Kindergarten – 6th

Location: East Meadow Farm

(832 Merrick Ave., East Meadow, NY 11554)

Times: 

Morning Session:

8:30 AM – 12:00 PM

Afternoon Session:

12:30 PM - 4:00 PM

Price per session: $50 (per child)

5-day price for AM & PM sessions: $400 (per child)

Any questions, contact us at 516-832-2591 ext. 11 or email nassaucounty4h@cornell.edu

FEBRUARY 28TH IS THE FINAL DAY TO REGISTER AT A DISCOUNTED PRICE

Registration for Summer Camp 2023 at DPF opened in December. We're using the Ultra Camp registration system again this year. Be sure to sign up the children in your life for another fun summer!

You can learn more about the DPF 4-H Camp for summer 2023 by attending a Virtual or In-Person tour/open house! We have 4 virtual and 4 in-person open houses scheduled over the coming months.

The next virtual open house is March 6th from 4:00-6:00pm.

Questions? You can contact Camp staff at:

dpf4hcamp@cornell.edu or 516-832-2591 Ext. 11

Have you ever wanted to come to camp and lend a hand at DPF? Try a community clean-up day.

Each day has a general theme so you can select how you would like to help.

MARCH 5th - Things are Looking U.P: Upper Plateau

• Fixing up the face of buildings and cleaning up the area in the older section of camp known as the Upper Plateau and Edranal.

MARCH 25th - Leaves and Litter

• Cleaning up the leaves and litter from the fall and winter to get camp ready for the spring and summer season ahead.

APRIL 1st - The Great Cabin Clean-up

• Reopening of cabin spaces prepared for campers, family camps and rentals. Moving beds and fixing screens, etc.

APRIL 16th - Take THIS as a Sign

• Making of signs for areas around camp
• Designing Council fire, ropes, trails, and informational signs to be hung up around camp.



APRIL 22nd - Trail Blazing: Paving a Path to future Leaders

• Clearing and defining paths around camp. Keeping clear and safe paths for hundreds of campers and community members to use.

MAY 19th - 21st

SEPTEMBER 2nd - 4th

OCTOBER 6th - 8th

Rent our rustic cabins for a stay on the North Fork! During these weekends our staff runs programming designed for visiting families to enjoy together. Families can choose to come to as many programs as they like at no additional cost. Activities may include guided nature hikes, outdoor cooking, farm tours and animal education, crafts, low ropes, and much more. Staff availability may allow for additional paid activities, too, such as archery or high ropes.

You're welcome to enjoy activities away from the group as well, be it a walk on the beach or an adventure to the nearby aquarium, bowling alley, or wineries. You'll return to camp's beautiful 140-acres of nature, able to enjoy access to a grill and a comfortable place to rest your head for the night.

It wouldn't be a true Family Camp Weekend without a Counsel fire every night. You'll enjoy a short story, some songs, and of course s’mores.

2023 marks the tenth anniversary of the Taste NY program. Over the last decade, Taste NY has highlighted the quality, diversity, and economic impact of food and beverages grown, produced, or processed in New York State. These last ten years, the program has created new opportunities for producers, expanded retail locations, and forged partnerships statewide.

The agricultural industry in New York State continues to grow at an exceptional rate. The state boasts more than seven million acres of farmland and 36,000 farms. It is the second largest producer of apples and maple syrup in the country, and the top honey producer in the Northeast. Additionally, the state ranks first in the U.S. for the number of hard cider producers, second in craft distillers, third in breweries, and fourth for the total number of wineries.

Taste NY at the Long Island Welcome Center opened in 2016. In 2017, the Long Island Welcome Center celebrated its first anniversary with $700,000 in sales. By 2022, Taste NY-LI reached $1 million in sales, which is a wonderful show of support for the eat-local, drink-local initiative. Taste NY-LI partners with NYS Grown & Certified to promote seasonal Long Island Fish initiatives featuring education on fish native to Long Island, and also partners with other organizations to promote diary month, maple month, and much more.

As we celebrate this incredible milestone – a decade of hard work and growth – we encourage New Yorkers and visitors alike to continue their support of the delicious, homegrown goodness of Taste NY.

Taste NY offers a wide variety of products ranging from snacks to oils, vinegars, and sauces. Stop by the Long Island Welcome Center in Dix Hills and buy local!

Click the graphic to the right to shop online

Sarah Schaefer-Brown began work in Fall 2021 with New York Sea Grant (NYSG) in its mission of “Bringing Science to the Shore”. Sarah is based in the CCE Nassau office and her work focuses on helping Nassau County coastal communities along the Long Island Sound anticipate and overcome disturbances associated with climate change, while achieving well-being for all.

She supports the Long Island Sound Study (LISS) Sustainable and Resilient Communities (SRC) goal of vibrant, informed, and engaged communities that use, appreciate, and help protect the Sound, by fostering the ability of social and ecological systems within the Sound community to adapt and recover from the effects of climate change. Sarah is part of a larger LISS SRC Extension Professional team focused in five regions surrounding the Long Island Sound in New York and Connecticut. Each dedicated Extension Professional is working with their respective coastal communities with the goal of building a coordinated regional response to current and future climate change impacts, empowering better trained and informed community decision makers, and increasing implementation of resilience projects to protect the communities, economy, and environment of Long Island Sound (see graphic below).

In 2022, the team spent much of our time speaking with stakeholders (more than 300 regional stakeholder entities) to better understand the environmental challenges, current efforts, and implementation barriers that Long Island Sound communities are encountering on their paths to becoming more resilient to a changing climate.

To help communities learn more, the 1st Annual Long Island Sound SRC Workshop was held virtually on December 1, 2022. The interactive workshop provided more than 260 attendees with valuable opportunities to network, share, and learn from individual on-the-ground experiences. The workshop was recorded and is available online, with additional resources and links from each session.

This year, the team will be focusing on offering additional training programs, hosting an Annual SRC Workshop, and developing a resource hub tailored to the needs of Long Island Sound communities.

Long Island Sound Resilience Grant Writing Assistance Program

Through our conversations, the team found that one of the main barriers to planning, designing, and implementing sustainable and resilience-focused projects is obtaining funding and a lack of capacity, expertise, and resources to prepare successful applications and apply for grant funding.

With funding from EPA through LISS, the team launched a new funding opportunity - the Long Island Sound Resilience Grant Writing Assistance Program. This program is open to municipalities and community organizations, and offers match-free, monetary support to facilitate the hiring of grant contractors to assist with the development of grant applications for sustainable and resilience-focused projects that will benefit coastal Long Island Sound communities.

The opportunity is open and applications are accepted on a rolling basis! For program details, visit the NYSG website.

The 2023 Calendar is a day-to-day guide with "best practices" for attaining attractive flowers gardens, productive vegetable gardens and healthy lawns, shrubs and trees that thrive in Long Island climate (Zone 7). 

The Gardener's Journal includes tips and useful information from our CCE Nassau Master Gardener Volunteers. 

Each are $10 if picked up at CCE Nassau.

Planting Season is approaching so get yours now!

CCE Nassau is currently looking to fill various positions. If interested in any of these openings, please click the link below for more details or to apply.

• Finance Manager
• Urban and Community Forestry Educator
• Community Energy Educator
• EFNEP Nutrition Educator
• Lead Camp Farm Assistant
• 140LLL (Living Learning Laboratory)/Farm/CSA Assistant
• Long Island Taste NY Market Sales Ambassador - NB
• Long Island Taste NY Market Sales Ambassador - BE
• Multiple Summer Camp Staff positions

Cornell Cooperative Extension actively supports equal educational and employment opportunities. No person shall be denied admission to any educational program or activity or be denied employment on the basis of any legally prohibited discrimination involving, but not limited to, such factors as race, color, religion, political beliefs, national or ethnic origin, sex, gender/gender identity, transgender status, sexual orientation, age, marital or family status, protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. Cornell Cooperative Extension is committed to the maintenance of affirmative action programs that will assure the continuation of such equality of opportunity.

Volunteers are very important to Cornell Cooperative Extension of Nassau County. Many individuals volunteer their time to a variety of Extension activities, contributing many hours each year!

Through duties as diverse as teaching others to prune trees or make compost, answering callers' questions on consumer or gardening issues, mentoring young people as they acquire new skills, or serving as board members or on committees that guide our work, volunteers represent the Extension's far-reaching roots in our community.

Prospective volunteers need to complete an application form. In addition, those who volunteer to work with vulnerable populations (children, individuals with disabilities, etc.) will be asked to consent to a criminal background screening at Cooperative Extension's expense, as a means of ensuring the safety and security both of our volunteers and of the people we serve through our programs.

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Nassau County (CCE Nassau) is committed to building healthy lifestyles and sustainable communities by conducting high quality educational programs that connect Cornell University knowledge and research to community needs for all people in the county.

An educational, not-for-profit organization founded in 1914, CCE Nassau has served many thousands of Nassau families through programs focused on horticulture, the environment, health, nutrition, food systems, renewable energy, and youth development.  

"Helping you put knowledge to work"

CORNELL COOPERATIVE EXTENSION OF NASSAU COUNTY

Eisenhower Park, SAC Building, Field 8

PO Box 148

East Meadow, NY 11554

www.ccenassau.org

E-mail: nassau@cornell.edu