Cape Cod Cooperative Extension
Quarterly Newsletter
September 2020
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3195 Main Street
P.O. Box 367
Barnstable, MA 02630
508-375-6690
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A MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR
Michael Maguire
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As summer on Cape Cod transitions to fall, and we look back at a season unlike any other, I feel an overwhelming sense of pride and admiration for our community. The collective vision for safety and prosperity was clear and the cooperative effort inspiring. Our community has persevered and made the best of a compromised summer season.
Over the past six months Extension has seen rapid change in program service delivery and an evolution of how we deliver those services and programs through technology. Nutrition, youth programs, marine, aquaculture, water quality, solid waste, horticultural and entomologic program needs evolved and Extension staff have risen to the challenge and adapted. Our staff has worked tirelessly with state and federal agencies bringing resources and funds to Cape Cod in the form of personal protective equipment, forgivable grants, and the development of new markets and products. Our traditional programs and trainings are now held virtually, and our in person events continue with proper health protocols put in place.
This summer also brought significant change with our physical office that had been located in the Deeds & Probate building at the county complex for nearly half a century. We have temporarily located to a new rental office in Yarmouth and are in the beginning phases of designing and building a new office. This office will replace the existing farmhouse building that currently houses half of our staff at the county farm and will be designed to accommodate all of our staff in one location. Plans for state of the art training and education spaces, a new demonstration garden, and municipal meeting space are also underway. As we look to the future there is change on the horizon in many forms, but what will remain constant in this office is the dedication, commitment, and mission of Extension bringing the best to our community. I hope this note finds all of you safe and well.
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NUTRITION EDUCATION & FOOD SAFETY
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It’s harvest time! For our Nutrition and Food Safety Educators that means putting all that fresh and local produce to good use. Food preservation may be in your future, and if so, be sure to use tested, research-based recipes for canning: https://nchfp.uga.edu/.
Don’t forget to get the kids involved. Check out the first of our new Kids in the Kitchen videos to inspire BFBL Kids in the Kitchen by clicking here
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AGRICULTURE & HORTICULTURE
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So far this summer there has been very little precipitation in Barnstable County. Our Barnstable County Farm weather station has recorded 0.53 inches of precipitation in August as of Aug. 26, 0.75 inches of precipitation in July and 1.59 inches in June. The lack of precipitation and periods of hot, dry, windy weather have contributed to very low soil moisture levels and according to the US Drought Monitor our area is currently in a moderate drought, with some areas of southeastern MA in severe drought.
For more detailed information about the drought please click the photo below.
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Oyster farmers on Cape Cod have been affected financially by the pandemic. Most oysters and other types of seafood are eaten in restaurants and since restaurants had to close in the spring, aquaculture sales in Massachusetts went down by at least 70% The Marine Program has been working with the aquaculture industry to find different markets for their oysters.
In June Cape Cod Cooperative Extension partnered with Woods Hole Sea Grant and the local chapter of the American Culinary Federation to create dishes that feature local shucked oysters. It was supposed to be an in-person event in April, but it was adapted to be an at-home Shucked Oyster Cook-Off. Six chefs received shucked oysters from Cape Cod and shucked oysters from outside of Massachusetts. The chefs prepared the same dish twice with the two different sets of oysters and then were asked to rate each on things like flavor, texture, and saltiness. The chefs preferred the local oysters and most said they’d be willing to purchase local if it was readily available. For more details on this project and to see the photos of the chefs’ creations, check out the Woods Hole Sea Grant newsletter story.
The Marine Team is also working on encouraging people to try eating oysters at home. Not everyone knows how to shuck an oyster but there are ways to get around that. Cooked oysters are delicious and they can be baked or grilled open. Our Woods Hole Sea Grant colleague Stephanie Murphy and a talented high school student worked with us to produce a video that shows the many ways to prepare an oyster and how aquaculture is an important part of the Massachusetts Economy. Check it out! Eat an Oyster, Support a Local Farmer.
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We are at a transition point in the deer tick population…nymph stage ticks which are the size of a poppy seed are winding down. Come September the next generation of adult stage ticks will be emerging and be with us until next April. Permethrin treated clothing footwear affords the most effective tactic. Remember to protect your pets as well.
Be Tick Aware
One Bite Can Change Your Life
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HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE
WATER QUALITY
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Household hazardous products collection have served over 2,600 residents in 2020. Find you town’s event here: www.LoveYourLocalWater.org
Barnstable County Hazardous Materials Program helps protect Cape Cod’s sole source aquifer from chemical contamination. Find out how you can help: www.facebook.com/loveyourlocalwater. |
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With a combination of the recent vast expansion of interest in Cape Cod real estate and a new tool that identifies flood risk, there has been a lot of interest in flood risk for individual properties on the Cape in recent months.
If you have questions about flood risk or flood insurance for your home or business, please contact Shannon Hulst, Extension’s Floodplain Specialist, at (508) 375-6952 or shannon.hulst@barnstablecounty.org.
For more information and some cautions about the new Flood Factor tool that can help to identify flood risk, check out this Cape Cod Times article (with significant input from Shannon).
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New Handbook Helps Homeowner’s Prepare for Natural Hazards:
Natural hazards are part of life near the coast. The Cape Cod Cooperative Extension and Woods Hole Sea Grant have produced the third edition of the handbook, which has been redesigned and updated with the most current information, links, graphics, and references to recent storms. It also provides more information on climate change and resiliency to help citizens plan, prepare and mitigate the impacts of more extreme storms. More than 15,000 copies of past editions have been distributed. The current edition is available now as a free PDF download.
Hardcopies are being printed August/September. To receive a print copy, please email seagrant@whoi.edu.
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Thank you for supporting our local land and sea farms, markets, and fishermen!
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For the paint, we held a one-day Cape-wide collection event on Aug. 1, in the Town of Dennis.
Of the 15-towns, residents from every town participated with the exception of the Town of Bourne. Of the 174 cars that came to the event- Dennis, Barnstable, Sandwich, and Yarmouth had high participation rates.
We planned on collecting enough paint to fill 30-gayloads and nearly met that goal with 28! It was a privilege to work with everyone. Thanks to Chad for hosting and to Kalliope, Phil and the entire County crew and volunteers who made this work!
For more informative information from Kari Parcell, Municipal Assistance Coordinator, click below
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GET INVOLVED AND STAY UP-TO-DATE
Our goal is to ensure that the next generation can enjoy
Cape Cod's natural splendor as much as we do!
Check out our calendar and sign up for our various newsletters
to find out about future events, upcoming workshops,
and available resources on our efforts.
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