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2715 Route 44, Suite 1
Millbrook, NY 12545
(845) 677-8223
(845) 677-6563 FAX
About Us
CCEDC, a subordinate governmental agency associated with Cornell University and its land-grant mission since 1869, provides research-based resources, tools and education for the residents and officials of Dutchess County. Our four program areas "Help People Help Themselves" through education on:
Agriculture & Horticulture
Environment & Energy
Family & Consumer Education
4-H Youth Development
Our Mission
Through quality educational programs, Cornell Cooperative Extension Dutchess County builds strong, healthy youth, adults, families and communities while enhancing the economic, social, agricultural and natural resources of Dutchess County.
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CCEDC Newsletters
Many of our four program areas have their own specialized newsletters, which are sent out regularly, as well. If you're interested in reading the latest issue of each newsletter, click on the links below:
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Welcome to the July CCEDC Newsletter,
The programs below are just a sample of offerings. Learn more about these and other CCEDC programs by contacting us anytime at (845) 677-8223, visiting our website
at ww.ccedutchess.org, or checking out
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Environment & Energy
Support the Dutchess Single-use Plastics Pollution Prevention Campaign (Dutchess S.U.P.P.P.) effort by participating in Plastic Free July!
Now more than ever many of us are relying on online shopping and takeout meals. This is increasing the amount of trash and recyclables that we generate at home.
The most effective way to reduce waste is to prevent it before it occurs,
so it's important to pay special attention to what we buy and the items we're placing in our recycling bins.
This July, join millions of people around the world by pledging to reduce your reliance on single-use plastic items. Learn more at
https://www.plasticfreejuly.org/
The Dutchess S.U.P.P.P. Campaign is continuing to spread the word about eliminating single-use plastics from our lands and waterways! Tell us how you are reducing
*Funding provided by the Environmental Protection Fund as administered by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation." Any opinions, findings, and/or interpretations of data contained herein are the responsibility of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the opinions, interpretations or policy of Rochester Institute of Technology and its NYS Pollution Prevention Institute or the State."
Watt's Up? Energy stories with a purpose
"Watt's Up?" is a weekly conversation around all the ways energy impacts our lives.
Every week we sit down and have a conversation about current topics in energy from
our home to yours, live via Facebook Live.
You can follow and share the action by liking @CCEDutchess on Facebook and follow
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Family & Consumer Education
Family and Consumer Education
This month the Relatives As Parents Program had guest speaker Christine Agro join us to discuss the B.E.N.D exercise, which stands for Breath, Expand, Notice and Deepen. This exercise helped families deal with stress and promoted more mindful parenting. We continue to get more families joining our program through word of mouth and referrals
Fish Advisory
The Hudson River Fish Advisory had a partner call July 7th to discuss future programming and creative ways for people in the community to fill out the fish advisory survey; including holding (social distancing) tabling events near the river and creating a simulation game to educate people on edible fish in the Hudson.
Parenting Skills - DCFS Mandated
The Parenting Skills program will resume in person parenting courses starting July 22 for parents required to attend classes. The Parenting team developed internal and external protocols to implement when classes are back up and running. Our goal is to ensure the safety of both employees and participants.
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Agriculture/Horticulture
All farmers should be aware that USDA has a financial assistance program for farms called CFAP (Coronavirus Food Assistance Program)
https://www.farmers.gov/cfap. This program provides a cash payment to farms. The program is based on sales of product between January 15 and April 15.
It is NOT limited to farms who suffered personal losses.
Payments are based on losses or price reductions at the national level. CFAP payments could be very helpful to NYS farms that are experiencing higher costs due to COVID-19 protection measures or who suffered financial losses this spring. Based on the numbers, there are lots of farms in NYS that are eligible for this program, but who have not applied.
Funding for CFAP is limited and on a first come, first served basis. USDA has made the application process very easy for this program. Farms that have applied and have received the money have indicated to us that it is not an onerous process - especially if you have participated in a USDA
program in the past. As of July 13
th
there were 3,447 approved applications for funding in New York State. 2,297 for dairy; 2,876 for livestock (cattle, hogs and sheep), 2,396 for non-specialty crops (corn, soy, sunflowers, wheat, malting barley, oats) and 42 for specialty crops (fruit and vegetables)
Not all crops and types of livestock are eligible, but many are. The program is based on sales of product between January 15 and April 15
th
. On July 10
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USDA added a lot of new crops so specialty crop producers should contact FSA to make sure they are notified if their crop should become eligible. Farmers who grow in greenhouses or who sold storage crops like apples, onions, potatoes and greens, garlic between January 15 and April 15, in particular should take note. Apples in particular are now eligible for improved payments.
While most USDA Service Centers are open for business by phone appointment only, FSA is working with producers by phone
and using email and online tools to process CFAP applications.
Please call the FSA office at your local USDA Service Center to schedule
an appointment if you'd like assistance or have questions.
The Millbrook office can be reached at 845-677-3952.
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4-H Club Program
4-H Lessons Learned During COVID-19
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Violet Bliss of the Blooming Kids 4-H Club writes out her recipe - the kids are planting gardens to grow ingredients before cooking a meal for their families.
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The COVID-19 pandemic brought traditional programming, where youth develop vocational skills and develops their leadership abilities through hands-on activities, to an abrupt stop. But the 4-H community is resilient and creative. And 'hands-on' has many definitions. Here are just some of the ways 4-H'ers have developed skills during the time 4-H in-person meetings have been suspended:
- Technology competence: making videos, using Zoom and taking part in virtual shows;
- Community Service: making masks, donating to food pantries and planning new events;
- Family relationships: helping siblings with online schoolwork, learning do-it-yourself skills, and developing tolerance and cooperation in often-crowded homes;
- Responsibility: looking after animals with less guidance from mentors; and
- Coping skills: learning to see the silver lining rather than the cloud and still enjoy life with new hobbies such as gardening and fun activities such as camping in the garden!
4-Her Profile
We are so proud to announce that 4-H'er Faith Shultz has been awarded the Dutchess County Agricultural Society and the Rhinebeck Farmers Market Scholarships for 2020. Faith has been an active 4-H'er for 8 years and has successfully showed both dogs and goats. She recently graduated from Millbrook High School and will commence studies at Dutchess Community College in the fall with plans to transfer to SUNY Cobleskill in 2 years and eventually become an Ag. Educator.
She has already begun to build an impressive resume.
This is her 3
d
year working for the summer as 4-H program assistant at CCEDC.
She already demonstrates great Leadership skills and a community-minded outlook, for example, as chair of the 4-H Teen Ambassadors. Go Faith!
Faith has been busy designing fun and educational challenges to keep everyone engaged and on
their toes! Check out what's going on - like us on
Facebook
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Simply Gourmet
raised nearly $800 for the Dutchess County 4-H Program with their fair Food Pop-up!
Photo courtesy of
Mike Polasek - Founder
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A Great Community
Thank you is inadequate to tell Simply Gourmet how grateful we are for their support. At a time when
they are struggling, they still found the time, energy and generosity of spirit to raise funds for 4-H during their drive thru' fair food experienc
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Restarting 4-H In-Person Meetings and Activities
Balancing our obligation to keep our youth and volunteers safe with the need to move towards a 'normal' way of life has led to long and heart-felt discussions between the CCEDC Executive Director, Board of Directors, 4-H program staff and 4-H Program Advisory Committee. Now Dutchess County is in Stage 4 of the state reopening plan (and assuming COVID numbers in the county do not spike) we are excitedly looking forward to resuming in-person 4-H meetings at the end of July. If you would like more information on the safety plan we have designed to facilitate this, please do not hesitate to contact Program Leader Jane Rodd.
Green Teens Community Gardening
New Season, New Green Teen Crew
Happy Summer! We are so happy to have this great weather. Our tomatoes are growing taller, the squash and zucchini are trying to take over the garden, and we just harvested 350 bulbs of garlic! And this year we finally have a space of our own to keep all of these veggies in. With the help of a CoolBot, an air conditioner, and an insulated trailer, we have our very own walk in cooler in which to store all the produce we harvest! We are beyond grateful for this upgrade. Speaking of veggies, this month we started up our Free Farm Stand! Every Wednesday at the Beacon Rec. Center, we are giving away fresh veggies from our gardens in Beacon and Common Ground Farm. With many people in our community struggling financially right now we decided this was the best thing for us to be doing- giving fresh vegetables to folks who need it. Our first two weeks were a huge success and we will be continuing to run the Free Farm Stand through September. Thank you to everyone that has helped and supported Green Teen! Stay safe!
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Bountiful Harvest Free to the Community
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Loading the New Cooler with Fresh Veggies
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Sincerely,
Cornell Cooperative Extension Dutchess County Cornell Cooperative Extension is an employer and educator recognized for valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans, and Individuals with Disabilities and provides equal program and employment opportunities. The programs provided by this agency are partially funded by monies received from the County of Dutchess. Please contact the CCEDC office if you have any special needs. |
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