News & Events from CCE Tompkins County | |
Tour the PowerHouse Tiny Home at Dryden Dairy Day | |
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It was so great to see everyone at the Ithaca Festival Parade! If you saw us walking with CCE Tompkins' energy-efficient tiny home, the PowerHouse, and wanted to get a closer look, come visit us at Dryden Dairy Day on June 8 at Montgomery Park in Dryden. Our goal is to help our neighbors save money on their energy bills and have a more comfortable home!
As always, if you have energy-related questions, CCE Tompkins' Energy & Climate Change Team is here to help. For free energy advising, give us a call at 607-272-2292.
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Join us for a Seed Saving class from 5:30 to 7:30 pm Tuesday, June 4, which includes a discussion of the reasons to save seeds, the plants that are good candidates for seed saving, and methods for handling and storing seeds. Emphasis will be on tomatoes, beans, lettuce, and kale. Other vegetable varieties, annual flowers, and native plants will also be covered.
The class will be led by Master Gardener Volunteer Tracy McLellan. Tracy moved back to her hometown after many years in South Africa studying the evolutionary biology of plants. She now spends her time birding, sewing, and raising seedlings.
This class is offered in-person or via Zoom. Register at ccetompkins.wufoo.com/forms/ryi5daf0b4pft6 — the cost is $20, but all are welcome to pay what you're able!
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Choose You Tuesdays, June 11-Sept 24 | |
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We'll be a part of The Choose You Tuesdays health series, held weekly from 5 to 7 pm June 11 through September 24 at the Ithaca Community Gardens pavilion!
Join us for yoga, dance workouts, and walks with local health organizations. Build biking skills for road and trail riding, taste garden-fresh recipes, and learn how to grow your own food. It's the perfect way to wind down after a busy day and meet others who live, work, and garden locally.
Choose You Tuesdays is a collaboration between Bikewalk Tompkins, CCE Tompkins County, Yoga Farm Ithaca, Ithaca Community Gardens, the YMCA of Ithaca and Tompkins County, Cayuga Health, and Tompkins County Whole Health. Let us know you'll be joining on the Facebook event!
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Primitive Pursuits Arnot Forest Camp still has spaces available for summer 2024 for ages 9-16! Between June 1- June 21, choose a program at PrimitivePursuits.com/Overnight-Camps/Overnight-Catalog and enter the code ExploreArnot24 to get $150 off one week of camp.
Overnight camp gives young people an opportunity to build resiliency, meet new people, immerse into nature and master new skills. Make the most out of this summer with an unforgettable experience at Arnot Forest!
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Agroforestry Community Workshare June 1 | |
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Join us TOMORROW for the first agroforestry community workshare. A day of collective work from 10 am to 1 pm on Saturday, June 1, is open to all. These workshares will focus on supporting farmers to accomplish a specific task — we will start at Food Forest Farm (2137 Slaterville Road) by mulching in the nursery. Expect to move mulch and do some basic clearing around smaller nursery stock before the placement of mulch.
Discussion will take place throughout, focusing on agroforestry practices, conservation practices and codes, how to achieve them, and how they fit into the holistic farm plan and climate adaptation and mitigation. We'll end with a farm walk and refreshments.
This event is free. Donations are welcome to support more gatherings. Please register at ccetompkins.wufoo.com/forms/s101p82w0smnvnb so we know how many are joining in!
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Sign up for the Family Play Group! Caregivers and their children ages 1-4 will get together 9:30-11:30 am Thursdays, May 16 - June 20, for baby doll circle time, story time, free play, songs and movement, healthy snacks, nutrition information from the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education (EFNEP) Program, and more.
Each family will receive a free gift! Sign up online at cornell.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bf4lmcyd2MDZDoy.
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New Funding Available for Energy Improvements | |
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There are now additional funds available for residents to better afford energy efficiency improvements in their home.
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) announced earlier this month that $9.5 million has been allocated from the NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) for energy efficiency improvements. The funding will “serve Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) recipients with envelope and heat pump measures.”
Up to $20,000 is available for each household based on the needs of the home and what measures may be eligible. We encourage residents to apply soon. You’ll need to provide a HEAP award letter dated between October 1, 2023, and now OR a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) award letter dated between October 1, 2023, and now. Applications must be approved no later than July 1. Work must be completed by Sept. 30, 2025.
Anyone with a current HEAP award letter is eligible for this funding, including residents on Long Island and municipal utility customers.
For information on HEAP, visit otda.ny.gov/programs/heap. If you need help navigating these programs, reach out to your local Community Energy Advisor — they’d be happy to answer any of your questions or guide you through applications.
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Nut Tree ID and Discussion at the Cornell Arboretum | |
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Join Agroforestry Educator Gabe Smith 10-11 am on Saturday, June 22 for a nut tree walk through the Cornell Arboretum and discover the yearly cycle of chestnuts, hazelnuts, and other nut trees. Learn basic tree ID along with the benefits and challenges of growing nut trees. Get information and resources for all things nuts!
Gabe has studied eastern black walnut and now works with chestnuts and hazelnuts in NY state. Familiar with perennial production systems and backyard hobby gardens, Gabe is excited to learn and share with others while spending time outside.
Participants should dress for the weather and wear shoes comfortable for walking at least one mile over uneven terrain. Registration is $20, but all are encouraged to pay what they're able. Sign up to let us know you'll be joining!
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Buying a Used Car? Learn What to Look For! | |
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CCE's Way2Go transportation and Energy & Climate Change teams are offering a free workshop on basic mechanics for used car and Electric Vehicle (EV) buyers, 5:30-7 pm Thursday, June 13.
Participants will gather at the CCE Tompkins County parking lot, where Miguel Flores, Certified Mechanic from Ridge Road Auto, will share information about what to check before you make your decision on purchasing a used vehicle. We'll also go through a demo check on a used gas vehicle, a hybrid, and a fully electric car.
This class is limited to 25 people, and we encourage those who aren't well-served by the system to attend. The class is free, but registration is required. Sign up online at tinyurl.com/usedcarmechanics or contact Holly at hp67@cornell.edu to save your spot!
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Volunteer with the Payment for Ecosystem Services Program | |
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The Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) Pilot Program at CCE Tompkins is looking for volunteers to conduct field sampling on local farms this fall. No prior experience is needed! Training and sampling will begin in September.
To learn more and apply, contact PES Educator Jenna DeRario at jd965@cornell.edu.
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Parents Apart® Zoom Course | |
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Parents Apart® focuses on the emotional reaction of children to their parents' separation or divorce, and methods parents can use to help make the transition easier for children.
Workshops cover the following topics:
- The emotional reaction of children to their parents' separation and/or divorce.
- The promotion of good parenting to help children adjust after a separation and/or divorce by teaching listening skills and conflict management.
- The avoidance of common pitfalls parents experience during separation and/or divorce.
- Discussions of mediation and collaboration, among other legal options open to families.
- The exploration of the legal resources available.
There is a $60-$100 registration fee to cover workshop expenses, but Parents Apart® is open to all regardless of ability to pay.
The next workshops will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 pm Mondays, June 3 and 10. Participants must enroll in both sessions. Registration is confidential, and parents of the same child(ren) are placed in different workshops. Learn more and find a link to sign up at ccetompkins.org/events/2020/08/03/zoom-parents-apart.
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A big THANK YOU to everyone who joined us for the Plant Sale May 17 — our Master Gardener Volunteers sold over 750 plants! | |
Ag Conservation Easements: The Inside Scoop | |
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Farmers and landowners are invited to Agricultural Conservation Easements: The Inside Scoop from Landowners, 7-8 pm, Tuesday, June 4, on Zoom. You'll hear from the New York Agricultural Land Trust and landowners who have protected their farmland, who will talk about their experiences working through the state farmland protection implementation grant program.
Join this presentation and Q&A on Zoom to learn about the process, what it’s like to work with a land trust, the benefits of selling your development rights, and the long-term considerations when placing your farmland in a conservation easement.
This class will be held on June 4 or June 11, depending on weather (we’re aiming for a rainy day!). There is no cost to attend. Sign up online at ccetompkins.wufoo.com/forms/r1u94spt1tnyyk7, and send any questions to Crystal Buck, Farmland Protection & Ag Marketing Educator, at cb258@cornell.edu.
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New York Honeyberry Conference | |
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CCE Oswego County and CCE Harvest NY will host a state-wide conference on a new emerging fruit called Honeyberry, also known as Haskap (Lonicera caerulea) from 8:30 to 4:30 pm on Saturday, June 29.
The conference will cover the history of the fruit, best growing practices, processing, value-added production, and marketing. Guest speakers will include growers and researchers from the US and Canada, and attendees will also be able to network and attend an optional farm tour immediately after the conference.
Learn more about honeyberries, see the agenda, and find a link to register at thatscooperativeextension.org/events/2024/06/29/nys-honeyberry-conference.
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CCE Tompkins will be closed for Juneteenth on Wednesday, June 19. | |
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Open Positions at CCE Tompkins County include:
- 4-H Issue Leader
- 4-H Administrative Assistant
- 4-H Dryden OURS (Opportunity Understanding Respect Success) Senior Program Manager
- SNAP-Ed Nutritionist
- Urban Outreach Program Educator
Visit https://ccetompkins.org/jobs for more information and links to apply.
Primitive Pursuits, a non-profit 4-H program of CCE Tompkins County, is hiring for open positions this summer! Learn more about our unique opportunities and how to apply at PrimitivePursuits.com/Seasonal-Employment.
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About Us
The Community Toolbox is your monthly connection to classes and events at Cornell Cooperative Extension Tompkins County. We hope you'll think of Cooperative Extension as your personal "toolbox" filled with reliable and useful information whenever there's something you'd like to know or learn! Explore our links, check out our upcoming workshops, then call us at (607) 272-2292, email tompkins@cornell.edu or drop by our Education Center in Ithaca which once again is open to the public during weekday business hours. We're here to help, with information — and people — you can trust!
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