GRANT OPPORTUNITIES

NOW OPEN!

The Economic Viability Micro Grants Program is now accepting applications. This program supports NYC Watershed farm and forest businesses with up to $5,000 per fiscal year in reimbursable funding to strengthen long-term economic success.

Categories Include:

• Greenhouse or Raised Bed Expansion

• Water Access 

• Farm Structure 

• Staffing 

• Training 

• Marketing 

• Event and Mileage

Eligibility: Farm operations located within the NYC Watershed (West and East of Hudson), as defined by NYS Ag & Markets Chapter 69, Article 25-AA, Section 301. Preference will be given to current WAC participants.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and reviewed within three months of submission.

Learn more and apply here: https://nycwatershed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/ev-grants-application-2025.pdf

For questions or assistance, contact the Economic Viability team at (607) 865-7090 or evprogram@nycwatershed.org

CLEAN SWEEP 2025

Every year, regional partners for clean water and a healthy environment host a community hazardous waste collection day, known as Clean Sweep. Now in its 29th year, Clean Sweep provides a safe disposal venue by collecting chemicals and other materials which pose a threat to public health, water and environment.

Clean Sweep is free to farmers in the eight NYC Watershed counties and free to all Delaware County household residents. Delaware County businesses, municipalities and county agencies are also invited to properly dispose of waste materials. Disposal services for businesses and municipalities are provided “at cost” with a cost estimate based on your itemized disposal list.

Register online at cleansweepdelaware.eventbrite.com by October 1st. If you prefer to register by phone call (607) 865-6474 between September 16th-October 1st, Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. or register by email to CleanSweepDelaware@gmail.com. Click here for more information.

VISIT US AT EVENTS

The Watershed Agricultural Council, MyWoodlot and Pure Catskills invite you to join us this season at the following events:

Bovina Farm Day

(8/31/25)

Margaretville Cauliflower Festival

(9/20/25)

Delhi Harvest Festival

(9/27/25)

Belleayre Fall Festival

(10/11-10/12/25)

More events may be added to this schedule. Please check our website for more information.

FORESTRY RESOURCE:

NYS Best Management Practices for Water Quality

If you are curious about other Best Management Practices (BMPs), including culverts, the New York State Forestry BMP Guide for Water Quality app is free. This guide can be useful to landowners who seek to manage erosion on trails and driveways. It also contains information on wetland and streamside areas, helpful mapping resources, and provides insight into the planning and execution of a timber harvest.

Download the app for Apple devices >>

Download the app for Android devices >>

SCENES FROM THE FIELD

This photo of Gladstone Farms was taken by Assistant Conservation Planner Tristin Tait, while staff were monitoring paddocks that were seeded with various grass species this spring. This seeding was for a quality management assistance project to investigate how to help the condition of heavy use areas in a more natural way - utilizing the roots of growing vegetation to stabilize the soil rather than concrete or gravel. Gladstone's have a barnyard structure adjacent to this paddock, but it is for on/off cattle use. This means the cows have free access to a paddock off of the barnyard over the winter. The paddock that they have access to can become rutted up and denuded by cow traffic, so his farm was a good candidate for this demonstration.