Spring 2023 is upon us – the season for renewal and new growth. I am looking forward to sharing more news with you all in the upcoming months about the various projects that CCE Nassau is planning or partnering in to promote a healthier, greener, and more sustainable Long Island. I am proud to be part of these important CCE Nassau efforts and am eager to have you join us in these new endeavors as we start rolling them out.

We were thrilled to be chosen in 2022 by New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to establish the Long Island Regional Clean Energy Hub. The aim of the Clean Energy Hub is to provide comprehensive, multidisciplinary programs to ensure all Long Islanders have equitable access to the benefits of the state’s transition to clean energy. These efforts include:



• Supporting the development of renewable energy sources.
• Promoting energy efficiency and conservation through programs that help homeowners and businesses reduce their energy use and save money on utility bills.
• Partnering with local organizations and businesses to promote sustainable practices and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.



The early stages of this important project have begun and we are close to making those efforts widely available to all of you. We’ll share more updates with you along the way.

Our commitment to building a sustainable and resilient Long Island is strengthened by the strong support from myriad stakeholders, from community members, to local businesses and government, to industry partners. We’re very appreciative of Covanta (leading waste-to-energy company), and Skanska (global leader in sustainable construction), for collaborating with us to build a new Dynamic Learning Center on our East Meadow Farm property, and are eager to break ground later this year. The new learning center will incorporate all the programs of CCE Nassau, including Horticulture, Natural Resources, Nutrition, Health & Wellness, Food Systems, and 4-H Youth Development. We look forward to the new facility additions, new programs, and new faces as we move forward as a community! This is an exciting new chapter and I am excited to bringing you along with us on this journey.

As you peruse this March Update you will find a selection of exciting activities that we were involved with during March, ranging from National Nutrition Month classes, to school visits during Agricultural Literacy Week, to preparing the gardens and fields for spring planting at our East Meadow Demonstration Farm and our 140 acre Living Learning Laboratory/ 4-H Camp Farm. Also included in this monthly update are announcements about events and workshops that we will be running over the next few months.

In early March we announced the newest component of our sustainable Food Systems program, a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) membership program that will take place this summer. A CSA offers multiple benefits; nutritious produce is good for our bodies, consuming locally-grown foods is less harmful for the environment, and supporting small businesses helps the local economy. The CCE Nassau CSA will primarily include produce grown on our 4-H Farm in Riverhead, with some additional produce supplemented from other Long Island farms. By participating in this 10-week CSA, you’ll be able to pick up your share of produce weekly at our East Meadow Farm and enjoy delicious, local foods all summer long. Shares are still available and all the details are explained further in this email. 

Last but not least, we also want to express our appreciation to Richard Ball, Commissioner of the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, for his support of the Taste NY program and its mission to “buy local” and encourage local producers. With the continued public support of our local economy, we’re taking important steps toward promoting more sustainable and prosperous future for Long Island.

Thank you as always for your ongoing support of CCE Nassau in our commitment to enhancing the wellness and sustainability of Long Island.

All my best,

Gregory M. Sandor

Participants in our 12-week Urban Forestry Academy had a Tree Pruning Workshop on Saturday, March 4th. On Saturday, March 18th, those same students had a Woody Plant Identification Workshop. Take a look at the pictures!

On March 16th, the CCE Nassau Urban and Community Forestry team joined our colleagues at the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) for a Tree City USA Recognition Event at Vassar College. There were 30 Long Island Communities who were recognized by the Arbor Day Foundation as Tree Cities, in addition to the 6 Long Island colleges recognized as Tree Campuses, and PSEG – Long Island who was recognized as a Tree Line Utility. The Tree City USA program recognizes communities who exhibit exceptional urban forestry management and stewardship.

Opening remarks were given by Fiona Watt, NYS DEC Director of the Division of Lands and Forest, and awardees were recognized by Gloria VanDuyne, NYS DEC Urban and Community Forestry Program Coordinator. To learn more about the Tree City USA Recognition Program, visit the Arbor Day Foundation website: www.arborday.org/programs/treecityUSA

Nassau Tree City Communities:

• City of Glen Cove
• Incorporated Village of Manorhaven
• Incorporated Village of Sands Point
• Town of North Hempstead
• Village of Baxter Estates
• Village of Bellerose
• Village of Floral Park
• Village of Flower Hill
• Village of Garden City
• Village of Great Neck Estates
• Village of Lawrence
• Village of Lynbrook
• Village of Malverne
• Village of Mineola
• Village of Munsey Park
• Village of New Hyde Park
• Village of Rockville Centre
• Village of Upper Brookville
• Village of Valley Stream

Suffolk Tree City Communities:

• Incorporated Village of Patchogue
• Town of Babylon
• Town of Brookhaven
• Town of Huntington
• Town of Smithtown
• Village of Amityville
• Village of Bellport
• Village of Greenport
• Village of Head of the Harbor
• Village of Southampton
• Village of Westhampton Beach

Tree Campuses:

• Hofstra University
• Stony Brook University
• Suffolk County Community College: Ammerman Campus, Eastern Campus, Michael J. Grant Campus
• SUNY Old Westbury

Tree Line Utility:

• PSEG – Long Island 

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:

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.

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.

Composting and Sustainability Methods for the Homeowner

Composting is a great practice, but it is only one piece of a larger approach to managing gardens and landscapes. In this four-part class, we will dive deeply into the meaning and detailed practices of “sustainability”, including composting, as applied to your home property. Each session will run from 6:30 - 8:00pm.

Thursday, April 13th

Thursday, April 20th

Thursday, April 27th

Thursday, May 4th

Location: East Meadow Farm

832 Merrick Avenue, East Meadow, NY 11554

Cost for the 4-part course: $150

The Gardening School Workshops are horticulture programs that are designed for hobbyist gardeners. These introductory workshops provide participants with new information and the confidence to improve their own gardens and landscapes.

$30 per each 90-minute Workshop

Register Here

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

April 22

May 27

June 24

10:00am - 12:30pm

As the gardening season approaches, we would like to invite adults and high school students to participate in our community clean up days at East Meadow Farm! Our demonstration gardens and community garden plots provide educational opportunities to thousands of students and residents each year.

Help us wake up our garden beds, spruce up our educational spaces, and even help build some exciting new displays! Cornell Cooperative Extension staff and Master Gardener Volunteers will be facilitating projects on all days - we welcome volunteers of all skill sets!

The Community Gardens at the East Meadow Farm consist of sixty 5' x 20' beds that are leased to families, individuals, schools and community groups.

Most gardeners grow produce for their families, and school/youth groups utilize the space to learn about botany, plant and soil science.

As spring kicks into gear, our Master Gardeners are busy preparing for the season and finally making their way back into the gardens!

For gardeners, March is all about two main projects; Pruning and Seed Starting! Master Gardeners have had the opportunity to both learn and teach through our Hands-On Pruning Workshop, which was hosted by our Master Gardeners in the Gold Medal Arboretum (located at EMF) on March 18th. A good time was had by all as we invited community members into the Arboretum to learn how to prune multiple types of small trees. While these perennial items are pruned to get them refreshed for the coming seasons, annual vegetables and flowers get seeded! Our Master Gardeners have been working on sowing seeds; the symbolic start of the growing season!

For the coming month, our Master Gardeners have much to look forward to! Between the weather getting warmer and Earth Day, we will be getting a great start to another spring season.

We look forward to seeing you in the gardens again soon!

Saturdays

July 8th - October 28th

9:00am - 12:00pm

Eisenhower Park, Parking Field 8

If you are a farmer, producer, or other small business interested in joining our team of vendors for the imminent 2023 market season, we would love to have you!



For the Vendor Application, please email us at nassau@cornell.edu.

If you are interested in purchasing items from any of our 2022 CCE Nassau Farmers Market at Eisenhower Park 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!

In celebration of National Nutrition Month, our Nutrition & Farm to Table teams visited Taste NY at the Long Island Welcome Center to share fresh, healthy food and nutrition recommendations.

Commissioner Ball with David Rolnick, Vice President of CCE Nassau Board of Directors

TNY employees with the event speakers

The 5 speakers

CCE Nassau Team Leader/ Taste NY Market Manager, Amy Lesh

Subtle Tea

Mongo's Coffee

NY Honey Company

Chip'n Dipped Chocolatier

The Granola Plant

Lucky Lou's Rice Pudding

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

CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture. In its simplest form, it is a partnership between farmers and their local community where both parties share the risks and benefits, while supporting sustainable, local agriculture. Farmers receive upfront capital to support the farm while customers will receive fresh, locally grown produce.

Besides receiving delicious farm fresh produce, CSA members have access to a host of added benefits like visiting the DPF farm, meeting like-minded people who are interested in supporting local farms, receiving newsletters with tailored recipes, exclusive members-only events, 20% off discount at CCE Nassau-run farm stands and mobile markets, and much more. Our goal is to promote and support our farm and 4-H youth while highlighting other farms on Long Island and telling their stories!

Please Note:

• There is a $100 min deposit to hold your spot in the CSA.
• If you pay in full you will receive an insulated tote bag to transport your produce, which will be distributed on the first day of pickup.
• CSA Membership must be paid in full by June 1st.
• Once you are signed up for the CSA your payment is non-refundable, however it is transferable, so you can find someone else to take over your share if you need to leave the CSA.

WHO WE ARE

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Nassau County (CCE Nassau) provides educational programming and direct support to the local community in many components of the food system, including production, access, marketing and promotion of locally produced food, and food literacy. CCE Nassau dedicates more than 20 staff and 100 trained volunteers to food systems work, who in turn collaborate with over 500 organizations in Nassau County to develop and strengthen the food system. To expand our partnership with the residents of Nassau, CCE Nassau is setting up a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. The goal is to provide CSA members with a true farm to table experience, by sourcing produce grown and harvested by 4-H youth on the CCE Nassau-run Dorothy P. Flint (DPF) Farm as well as other local farms.

With over 56 years of experience in farming, Bill Walsh is the mastermind behind CCE Nassau’s farm. Rest assured you will receive produce of the highest quality, grown using sustainable farming techniques. Throughout our CSA season, make sure you pick up Bill’s garlic, potatoes, onions, carrots, and other delicious vegetables! CCE Nassau also collaborates with Anderson’s Farm, Schmitt’s Family Farm, and Briermere Farms to offer variety in our CSA! We will continue to develop relationships with other local farms to bring the highest quality and most nutritious produce straight from the farm to your plate!

The Veggie Van is back! March 9th was our first day back. Every Thursday through June (weather permitting) from 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., we'll be located at 101 South Bergen Place, Freeport, New York 11520.

As part of our partnership with the Nassau County Office of the Aging (OFA), our Educators visit local senior centers to lead classes. Our primary focus during these classes is nutrition, but we also lead cooking and gardening classes. The topic for March's nutrition classes was "Nutrients of Concern & Supplements."

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.

During the week of March 20th - March 24th, CCE visited over 30 classrooms for Agricultural Literacy Week, reading to over 500 students across Nassau County. Volunteers from the Master Gardeners and the Long Island Farmers Bureau read "Tomatoes for Neela" by Padma Lakshmi to students and planted tomato and basil seeds that they will watch grow and eventually harvest. Students learned about the seed to plant cycle and celebrated the role food plays in their communities.

Thank you for celebrating Agricultural Literacy Week with us!

Submissions will be judged by professional artists Jim Minet and Michelle Palatnik. Winning artwork will be featured in CCE Nassau's 2024 Annual Gardening Calendar.

Suggested subjects for artwork are:

• Flowers, vegetables, trees, bushes, gardens or nature scenes that are found on Long Island
• Animals, birds and insects (i.e, bees, butterflies) whose habitats are found on Long Island
• Garden tools, seed packets, garden accents (i.e., fountains, statuary, chimes, etc)
• A garden or nature scene in one of the four seasons

For complete rules and information regarding the submissions, along with biographies of this year's judges, visit: ccenassau.org/4-h-youth-development/art-competition

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 virtual and 4 in-person open houses scheduled over the coming months.

Our first in-person open house of the spring is April 15th from 11:00am - 3:00pm. The next virtual open house is May 8th 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.

Timing: 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Location: 3186 Sound Avenue, Riverhead, NY 11901

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.

In March 2023, the Homemaker's Council of Nassau County, Inc. (HCNC), participated in the "Homecoming Baskets" program organized by the Long Island Coalition for the Homeless. HCNC donates to many organizations with funds raised through auctions, monthly meetings, and member contributions.

The "Homecoming Baskets" program is designed to give a basket to a person or family moving out of a shelter and into permanent housing. The Homemaker's donated over 140 baskets in March, each containing 10-15 items. The donated baskets were packed based on 7 areas of need: kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, general cleaning, baby, women's personal items, and men's personal items.

CCE Nassau employees also donated to the program and Executive Director Greg Sandor allowed the Homemaker's to store the items and assemble the baskets at the CCE Nassau main office located in Eisenhower Park. Thank you to the Homemaker's and Greg Sandor for their "Time, Effort, & Kindness."

The main objectives of HCNC are friendship/fun, education, and community service. Every HCNC Chapter offers a variety of classes during the year. There is a monthly meeting with an educational program at which scheduled classes are announced for that month. Classes cover home management, cooking, sewing, needlework, arts and crafts, and consumerism. They are taught by members on a volunteer basis. New members add their talent to the existing chapter program.

If you have questions or would like to find out more about HCNC, you can contact Dawn Avento, President of the Lynbrook/Hewlett/Woodmere Chapter at dawnavento@yahoo.com

One of our community partners, Nassau County Soil & Water Conservation District, recently published their 2022 Newsletter. You can read about their environmental successes during the past calendar year.

New York Sea Grant is another of our community partners working towards improving the local environment.

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
• Community Energy Educator
• EFNEP Nutrition Educator
• Lead Camp Farm Assistant
• Long Island Taste NY Market Sales Ambassador - NB
• 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

Phone: 516-832-2591

Fax: 516-832-2597