February 1, 2012
Master Composter Volunteer Training on Wednesday February 1,
5:00 PM. Master Composters are trained volunteers who promote responsible
composting in Tompkins County!
Training involves 20 hours of class time covering composting in depth,
and 20 hours of "practical internship". After training, Master
Composters give back to the community in a variety of outreach activities.
Applications are due Wednesday, February 1st; training sessions are held from
6:30-8:30pm on Wednesdays, February 22-May 2, 2012 at the CCE-Tompkins Education
Center.
February 4, 2012
Feb 6, 2012
Ithaca Childrens Garden Winter Sprouts at Mama Goose on
Monday February 6, 10:30 AM -11:30 AM Join the Ithaca Children's Garden for
stories of plants, gardens, and nature plus hands-on activities for children
ages 2 to 5 and their caregivers.
FREE! For more information or
to RSVP: Leigh MacDonald-Rizzo, Education Coordinator 272-2292 x186.
Feb 7, 2012
Raising Livestock Workshop Series on Tuesday February 7,
6:00 PM -8:00 PM Looking for something to do with your land? New York's
Southern Tier is well suited for pasture-based livestock production. If you
want to have animals and sell pasture-raised meats, this series of classes is
for you. Learn from the experiences of other successful farmers, and from
Cornell Cooperative Extension educators.
Preparing for Livestock: This first set of 2012 winter
classes are at the county office building on 56 Main St, Owego, Tuesday
evenings, 6:00-8:00 pm.
February 9, 2012
Intro to Fermented Beverages class by Rachel Firak rfirak
(at) gmail.com on 2/9, 2/23, 3/8, 3/22, 4/5, 4/19, 6:30-8 pm, Please RSVP for
directions. Learn how to make raw, living, plant-based fermented beverages!
Fermented foods have been eaten for thousands of years and are healthful,
delicious, inexpensive, simple, and fun. In this class we’ll meet twice a month
to study and drink low/non-alcoholic vegan fermented beverages, from ferment
celebrities (kombucha, ginger beer, nut milk) to more obscure characters (boza,
amazake, and tibicos). We’ll also discuss fermented food safety and regulation,
health benefits, and the current literature on B12 in fermented foods. Starter
cultures will be provided. This class is special diet/food allergy friendly;
RSVP with dietary needs.
February 9, 2012
Getting Started With Vegetable Gardeningon Thursday, February 9, 6:30-8:30 pm at the Groton Public Library, 112 E. Cortland Street, Groton. Learn where to site your garden, how to prepare the soil, how to start seeds, how to plant, when to mulch, which easy veggies to try first, and so on. Patricia Curran, Horticulture Educator at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County, also will discuss favorite varieties, container gardening, harvesting tips, and will share information on CCE-Tompkins' "free seed cabinets! FREE workshop, but please pre-register with the Groton Public Library at 898-5055 to assure enough handouts. NOTE: this workshop is offered for a $5/person fee on 2/21 and 3/22 at CCE-Tompkins.
Feb 10, 2012
Corning Locally Grown Foods Festival on Friday February 10,
4:00 PM -8:00 PM Sample locally produced meats, vegetables, fruits, cheeses,
wines, and other farm products at the Corning Locally Grown Foods Festival!
Meet dozens of Finger Lakes farmers and learn how and where to buy fresh,
healthy, local foods! Learn more
about Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) - the event will feature several
different CSAs that offer a variety of shares for sale. The Locally-Grown Foods Festival takes
place on Friday, February 10 from 4:00 to 8:00 pm at Union Hall, 100 Civic
Center Plaza, Corning. Admission
is $5 per individual/$10 per family.
February 11, 2012
February 16, 2012
Maple Syrup: Past, Present and Future with Sapsquatch on Thursday, February 16, 2012 from 12:00pm until 1:00pm. Josh
Dolan of CCE's Ag Department, Gardens 4 Humanity and Sapsquatch Pure Maple
Syrup will show a powerpoint on the history of maple syrup production, modern
methods, and threats. There will be a maple syrup tasting and discussion to follow.
February 16, 2012
Gluten Free Info Night at Greenstar on Thu, February 16, 4pm
– 7pm at 701 W. Buffalo St., Ithaca, NY 14850 How do Gluten Free products fit
into your life? Whether you are just curious or have been diagnosed, GreenStar
can help you navigate the many choices we have available throughout the store.
February 16, 2012
Beginning Hydroponics (Grow with the Flow) on Thursday, February 16, 7:00-8:30pm at Silver Spoon Café, Human Services Complex, 323 Owego Street, Montour Falls. Class with Bryson Clark from Upstate Hydroponics & Garden Supply. $5 fee - pre-registration is required by February 10 by calling CCE-Schuyler County at 607-535-7161.
February 18, 2012
February 20, 2012
Veterans’ Sanctuary: A Call to Farms! A class by Mike Perry,
585-402-0658, mperry89 (at) gmail.com every Mon starting Feb. 20, 10am at 46
King St, Trumansburg. Second year of the Veterans’ Sanctuary Community Farm!
Shake off winter in our greenhouses. Learn to start medicinal herbs like tulsi
and ashwaganda, and transplant hardy perennials like hazelnuts and jerusalem
artichoke. No one goes home empty handed–plant with us and take home your own
seedlings! For vets and non-vets alike.
February 20, 2012
ICG Winter Sprouts at Mama Goose Monday February 20, 10:30
AM -11:30 AM Join the Ithaca Children's Garden for stories of plants, gardens,
and nature plus hands-on activities for children ages 2 to 5 and their
caregivers. FREE! For more information or to RSVP: Leigh
MacDonald-Rizzo, Education Coordinator 272-2292 x186.
February 21, 2012
Let's Preserve: Cranberry-Orange Chutney on Tuesday February
21, 1:00 PM -3:00 PM. If you've been wanting to try your hand at home food
preservation, here's your chance to start by canning something easy and
delicious! Led by a Cooperative Extension Educator/Master Food Preserver,
you'll learn how to make a gourmet chutney and how to preserve it in a Boiling
Water Bath Canner. Each adult participant will take home a jar of
Cranberry-Orange Chutney. Fee: $20/adult;
$5/child (9 yrs and older) accompanying a registered adult. Registration and
pre-payment is required by February 19th.
http://ccetompkins.org/calendar/11/12/20/lets-preserve-cranberry-orange-chutney
February 21, 2012
Getting Started with Vegetable Gardening on Tuesday February 21, 6:30 PM -8:30 PM at Cooperative Extension Education Center, 615 Willow Avenue, Ithaca NY This class for the beginning vegetable gardener will be offered twice this year! Learn where to site your garden, how to prepare the soil, how to start seeds, how to plant, when to mulch, which easy veggies to try first, and so on. Patricia Curran, Horticulture Educator, will also discuss favorite varieties, container gardening, and harvesting tips. Pre-registration is recommended; call (607) 272-2292.
http://ccetompkins.org/calendar/11/12/13/getting-started-vegetable-gardening
February 21, 2012
Grow your own: Planning a Garden Class. what and how much to
grow, when to plant, how much space needed, what challenges to expect and how
to handle them. This will partly
be a Q&A type group so we really hope that experienced gardeners join us to
share their knowledge. Tuesday
February 21 6:30 - 8:00 pm Dryden Community Center Cafe, 1 West Main St. http://drydencafe.org/
February 24, 2012
Tompkins County Agriculture Summit on Friday February 24,
9:00 AM -4:00 PM
Local farmers will share their success stories as part of
the Tompkins County Agriculture Summit planned for Friday, February 24th from 9am to 4pm at the Dryden
V.F.W. Featured speakers
will be Patrick Hooker, former NYS Agriculture Commissioner, and Phil Gotshall,
a noted agriculture and community development consultant.
http://ccetompkins.org/calendar/12/01/12/tompkins-county-agriculture-summit
Feb 24, 2012
Brewing Short Course at Geneva Experimental Station on
Friday, February 24 at 8:00am to 5:00pm in the NYS Agricultural Experiment Station,
Dept. of Food Science Conference Room. Presented by Prof. Karl Siebert, who
spent over 18 years in the brewing industry and who has received multiple
awards from brewing organizations, thisshort course will cover barley, malt,
hops, brewing water, adjuncts, brewhouse operations, brewing yeast and brewery
fermentations, maturation, finishing and beer styles. For more information,
please contact Nancy Long - phone (315) 787-2288; npl1@cornell.edu
February 25, 2012
Ithaca Farmers Market at the Space@ Greenstar on Feb 26 from
11am to 2pm. This is the last winter market of the season.
http://www.ithacamarket.com/
February 25, 2012
The Sugarbush Experience. Josh Dolan sapsquatch7 (at)
gmail.com at Sapsquatch Sugarbush, 2247 Rt. 79, Enfield. Volunteer at Sapsquatch
on weekends and weekdays (by appointment only) Feb. 25 – April 1. Learn to make
maple syrup the old way over a wood fire. Hone your woodswoman and woodsman
skills; chop wood, carry sap buckets, tap trees and hang sap lines, boil and
bottle maple syrup, cook on cast iron and teach a class to visitors! Regular
volunteers get a bit of syrup at the end of the season.
February 26, 2012
Aquaponics in Your Own Back Yard by Steve Austin,
steve_austin (at) earthlink.net
Where: Next to Collegetown RSVP for directions and to
reserve a spot as space is limited, on 2/26 1-4pm Aquaponics is a sustainable
food production system that combines raising fish in tanks and plants in
hydroponic grow beds using the same water in a closed symbiotic environment. In
this class we’ll go over basics of how to build your own Aquaponic system. I
have a 100+ gallon working system in my back yard greenhouse I will use as an
example of how you can quickly build your own system. The focus will be on
raising tilapia with your veggies all year long. All levels welcome.
February 27, 2012
ICG Winter Sprouts at Mama Goose on Monday February 27,
10:30 AM -11:30 AM Join the Ithaca Children's Garden for stories of plants,
gardens, and nature plus hands-on activities for children ages 2 to 5 and their
caregivers. FREE! For more information or to RSVP: Leigh
MacDonald-Rizzo, Education Coordinator 272-2292 x186.
February 26, 2012
Urban Homesteading Reading Group led by Janet Edwards edwards.rosemaryj
(at) gmail.com on 2/28, 3/27, 4/24 6-8pm at Buffalo Street Books, Dewitt Mall,
215 N Cayuga St. This book group is a continuation of the Agrarian Issues
Reading Group held last fall and spring. We will be discussing books that focus
on the modern homesteading movement and homemaking. All homesteaders and
persons interested in homesteading are welcome to attend, not just “urbanites”!
2/27: Made From Scratch – Jenna Woginrich 3/27: Hip Girl’s Guide to Homemaking
– Kate Payne 4/24: Grow the Good Life – Michelle Owens
February 28, 2012
ServSafe® Food Safety Basics on Tuesday February 28, 12:30
PM -4:30 PM This 4-hour class is designed for food service employees, job
seekers, volunteers, and anyone involved in food preparation outside the home.
It is based on the ServSafe® program of the National Restaurant Association,
and will cover: the basics of foodborne illness; purchasing, receiving, and
storing food; preparing, cooking, and serving; cleaning, and sanitizing.
Participants receive a certificate upon completing this workshop. Fee: $40 per person,
includes book and all printed materials.
February 28, 2012
Home Fruit Production on Tuesday February 28, 6:00 PM -8:00
PM This 2-part workshop series will cover tree and berry fruits, and how to get
started growing them at home!
Participants may take one or both workshops. These classes are geared
for the serious home gardener or beginning farmer exploring fruit growing
options. Tree fruit will be covered on Tuesday, 2/28 and berries will be
discussed on 3/14. Both classes will be taught by Molly Shaw, Cooperative
Extension Fruit & Vegetable Specialist.
http://ccetompkins.org/calendar/11/12/13/home-fruit-production
March 3, 2012
Community Supported Agriculture Fair on Saturday March 3,
12:00 PM -3:00 PM Community Supported Agriculture provides farmers with an
established market prior to the production season and consumers with a weekly
selection of just-harvested food. Attend the CSA Fair to learn about this
partnership and meet farmers from CSA farms serving the Ithaca area. Farmers
will have informational displays showcasing their operations and will be available
to speak with interested community members. There will also be some fun,
hands-on agricultural-related activities offered for children of all ages.
http://ccetompkins.org/calendar/11/01/21/community-supported-agriculture-fair
March 10, 2012
Apple Tree Pruning – Saturday, March 10th 10am-1pm – Learn to start and train new trees and how to rejuvenate older apple trees. This class held at Daring Drake Farm, 3046 County Road, Ovid. Contact the Edith B. Ford Memorial Library to register:
ovidlib@rochester.rr.com
March 14, 2012
Home Fruit Production on Wednesday March 14, 6:00 PM -8:00
PM This 2-part workshop series will cover tree and berry fruits, and how to get
started growing them at home!
Participants may take one or both workshops. These classes are geared
for the serious home gardener or beginning farmer exploring fruit growing
options. Tree fruit will be covered on Tuesday, 2/28 and berries will be
discussed on 3/14. Both classes will be taught by Molly Shaw, Cooperative
Extension Fruit & Vegetable Specialist. Details below.
March 17, 2012
Winter Worm Composting Class on Saturday March 17, 10:00 AM
-12:00 PM No backyard is needed - learn all you need to know to set up and
maintain an indoor worm composting bin in this workshop. Every household leaves with a starter
bin and worms. Children are welcome with an accompanying adult. Fee: $10
includes starter bin & worms. Register early at (607) 272-2292. Space is
limited! Contact Adam Michaelides
at acm1@cornell.edu with questions.
http://ccetompkins.org/calendar/11/01/21/winter-worm-composting-class
March 20, 2012
Grow your own: Big Spring Community Garden Sign-up. Garden
members can answer questions about the community garden, we can share ideas,
voice problems encountered last year, etc. Tuesday March 20 6:30 - 8:00 pm Dryden Community Center
Cafe, 1 West Main St. http://drydencafe.org/
March 22, 2012
Getting Started with Vegetable Gardening on Thursday March
22, 6:30 PM -8:30 PM This class for the beginning vegetable gardener will be
offered twice this year! Learn where
to site your garden, how to prepare the soil, how to start seeds, how to plant,
when to mulch, which easy veggies to try first, and so on. Patricia Curran, Horticulture
Educator, will also discuss favorite varieties, container gardening, and
harvesting tips. Pre-registration
is recommended; call (607) 272-2292.
http://ccetompkins.org/calendar/11/12/13/getting-started-vegetable-gardening
March 24, 2012
Tree Grafting – Saturday, March 24th 10am-noon at the Ovid Library. Learn the history, lore, and mechanics of tree grafting with John Reynolds at Daring Drake Farm. Students will have hands-on practice doing a tongue and whip graft and leave class with two fruit trees to plant. Fee: $3/person. Register at the Edith B. Ford Memorial Library.
ovidlib@rochester.rr.com
March 29, 2012
April 7, 2012
AgStravaganza! On Saturday April 7, 10:00 AM -4:00 PM Learn
about agriculture at this FREE fun, family event! There will be educational
exhibits and lots of hands-on activities. Find out what cows eat, sample cheese
and ice cream, take a Stick Horse Ride, meet the Dairy Princess and Ronnie
Raindrop, visit with farmers from a variety of different operations and pet a
bunny. Bring a water sample from home and the 4-H20 Water Monitors Club will
pH-test it for you. Just outside, visit with a pony, goats, sheep and lamb,
calves, and a cow, and climb into some really big farm equipment.
http://ccetompkins.org/calendar/11/02/23/agstravaganza
April 17, 2012
ServSafe Food Manager Certification Course on Tuesday April
17, 8:30 AM -5:30 PM This nationally recognized and accredited food safety
training course is offered over two days and provides participants with
nationally-recognized certification in food safety. The certification course is administered through the
National Restaurant Association and offered at Cornell Cooperative Extension of
Tompkins County several times per year by a certified ServSafe instructor who
is also a Cornell Cooperative Extension educator. Fee of $165 is due at the
time of registration, and includes textbook, all printed materials,
certification exam and light refreshments.
http://ccetompkins.org/calendar/10/08/09/servsafe-food-manager-certification-course
April 28, 2012
Shiitake Mushroom Workshop - Saturday, April 28th 10:00am-1:00pm
- Join Steve Sierigk for this hands-on workshop that will cover the basics of
growing Shiitake mushrooms on hardwood log. Participants will drill and fill provided logs with Shiitake
mycelium and each participant will take home a log to grow. $15/person class fee. Held at the Ovid Library. Registration
required.
http://ovidlibrary.org/
April 29, 2012
Compost Fair on Sunday April 29, 11:00 AM -4:00 PM Celebrate
spring's arrival by stopping by the Compost Fair for a guaranteed good time!
This year's fair will be in conjunction with the 4H Duck Race. Admission is
FREE to both events and open to the public.
http://ccetompkins.org/calendar/10/03/04/compost-fair
May 12, 2012
Library Plant Sale – Saturday, May 12th 9am – The Ford Memorial Library in Ovid will hold their annual plant sale fund raiser with plants donated from local farms and gardeners. Enjoy a selection of unusual herbs, flowers, heirloom vegetables, fruit trees and plants.
