Dr. Jason Henderson and Vickie Wallace of our Turfgrass Extension program provide research-based health tips for cultivation and managing school grounds in this first video of our new series.
Free Webinar on Export Assistance for CT Agricultural Producers
Free Webinar on Export Assistance for Connecticut Agricultural Producers! Date: Wednesday, May 4, 2022 Time: 10:00am Eastern time Cost: Free, but pre-registration is required Register Here: Closed Overview: Join us for a free webinar to hear about state and federal resources available to assist Connecticut agricultural and food product companies interested in exporting. This webinar, […]
CLEAR Online Training Portal
The Center for Land Use Education and Research (CLEAR) is the new home to a suite of online certificate trainings. The CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) offers online certificate courses for new and existing land use officials charged with protecting our environment. DEEP asked CLEAR to host them to expand reach and […]
Community Promise Week – Thank You Volunteers!
To celebrate our amazing volunteers, we are recognizing the work they’ve done. This April 24-30 is our #CommunityPromiseWeek, where we’ll be highlighting a few key leaders that make our programs possible. Thank you to Carol, Sandy, Ellen, Kim, Peg and Rich for all that you do! Stay tuned throughout the week as we highlight more […]
Fenwick Living Shoreline
The Hepburn Preserve is a 4-acre beach, dune and brackish tidal wetland habitat owned by the Lynde Point Land Trust, located in the Borough of Fenwick in Old Saybrook. Storm events have caused serious erosion of the area when strong winds and waves hit the shoreline, compounded by shoreline changes due to nearby seawalls and […]
Food and Nutrition Classes at Home
Hartford County’s Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) provided virtual nutrition education and cooking programs to limited resource adults and youth in 2021. We held the Cook and Chat virtual series for adults online. It included sessions on cooking basics, food safety, food budgeting, and nutrition topics over three to 12 lessons. Programs partners […]
Calling All Citizen Scientists: Mallard Duck Research
Have you found a Mallard duck nest this spring? Please support the research project of Dr. Tracy Rittenhouse in the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment by letting us know. We have several students searching for nests all day, every day, but CT is full of people who are outside observing wildlife. We would greatly appreciate […]
Cleanup at Sherwood Island State Park
Sherwood Island State Park in Westport was Connecticut’s first state park. It is 238-acres of beaches, wetlands, and forest that serves as a public recreation area. Improving Habitat for Wildlife Work & Learn is a year-round outreach project that teaches Master Gardeners, interns and the public to create, improve and maintain a natural habitat for […]
Shellfish Habitat Restoration
The COVID-19 pandemic hit the aquaculture industry particularly hard. It was facing catastrophic sales losses that would have forced many out of business. Connecticut Sea Grant Extension helped keep industry members afloat during the pandemic by involving them in shellfish habitat restoration work. We kept people working at a time when the shellfish marketplace collapsed […]
‘Handbook for Increasing Ocean Literacy’ now available
A Handbook for Increasing Ocean Literacy: Tools for Educators and Ocean Literacy Advocates, developed by the National Marine Educators Association, with the support of NOAA, is now available to help educators and other ocean advocates teach, learn, and communicate about the ocean. CT Sea Grant Education Coordinator Diana Payne is one of the editors of the […]
4-H Mentoring Continues Serving Youth
Youth in Waterbury continued benefitting from the 4-H Mentoring project during the pandemic. The 4-H Mentoring Project is a prevention program where youth gain knowledge, build character, and develop life skills. It is a fun learning environment that helps them become self-directing, productive members of society. Approximately 45 youth ages nine through 14 participate annually. […]
Extension Donor Support is Growing Statewide Programming
The work of UConn Extension serves thousands of people across Connecticut. UConn Extension educators work in all 169 cities and towns helping Connecticut residents to solve problems in their communities and provide transformational learning experiences to program participants. This couldn’t be done without the financial support of generous donors, many of whom have experienced Extension […]
New Geographic Information Systems Office
Geospatial Educator Emily Wilson was named as the UConn representative to the newly formed Geographic Information Systems Advisory Council. The Council was established by the Connecticut Legislature last session in a bill that created a state Geographic Information Systems Office within the Office of Policy and Management, a Geographic Information Officer (GIO) to oversee the […]
Registration Open: Urban Farming Course
Join us for an Urban Farmer Training Course. We’re coordinating with @GVInitiative to offer this course from May through October. Details: s.uconn.edu/urbanfarmingcourse This program is funded in part by USDA NIFA.
Jacqueline Kowalski Hired as Urban Agriculture Educator
Urban agriculture in Connecticut is growing! Urban farms, community gardens, and innovative practices such as hydroponics are all a part of the urban agriculture landscape. To help meet the needs of the urban agriculture community, Jacqueline Kowalski recently joined the UConn Extension team. She is based at the Fairfield County Extension Center in Bethel. Identified […]
Ask UConn Extension: All About Cheese
Can cheese be frozen? Some cheese can be stored in the freezer but it’s not recommended because it can change the texture. Harder cheeses like Parmesan freeze better than other types. Therefore, it is best to freeze harder cheeses that you intend to use for cooking rather than eating alone. It is best to freeze […]
Job: Educational Program Assistant – Part-Time in Fairfield Co.
Apply Here: https://jobs.hr.uconn.edu/cw/en-us/job/496223/educational-program-assistant-1-fairfield-county-extension Search #: 496223Work type: Part-timeLocation: Fairfield County Extension CtrCategories: Academic Programs and Services JOB SUMMARY The UConn Extension Center located in Bethel, CT is seeking applications for a part-time Educational Program Assistant 1 position (50%). This position is responsible for supporting and helping implement high-quality, comprehensive, Extension programming at different program sites throughout the region, with […]
Ultrasound Technology Improves Livestock Meat Quality
Article by Joe Emenheiser, Ph.D. Meat quality improvement can improve economic development for livestock producers. Ultrasound technology is used to evaluate body composition traits. This means livestock producers can check meat qualities in live animals. It leads to better livestock selection and breeding decisions. A three-year grant project on beef and dairy crossbreeding is improving […]
Ultrasound Technology Improves Livestock Meat Quality
Article by Joe Emenheiser, Ph.D. Meat quality improvement can improve economic development for livestock producers. Ultrasound technology is used to evaluate body composition traits. This means livestock producers can check meat qualities in live animals. It leads to better livestock selection and breeding decisions. A three-year grant project on beef and dairy crossbreeding is improving […]
UConn Gives – Please Support Our Programs
Friends, please join us in supporting our UConn Extension Master Gardener Program and UConn 4-H program during #UConnGives. $5 helps support these programs and unlocks matching gifts. Give to the Master Gardeners: s.uconn.edu/givetogardeners Give to 4-H: s.uconn.edu/giveto4-H
Sustainable Landscape Tips
Question: What are important considerations for plant selection when designing a sustainable landscape? Answer: Proper plant selection is the most important step in designing a sustainable landscape. “Right plant, right place” is the fundamental principle for the environmentally sound management of landscapes. Plants should be selected for not only aesthetic value, but also because they […]
3/29 Labor Challenges Workshop
Labor Challenges Workshop: Tuesday, March 29th from 3 – 4:30 pm EST | An informative workshop to learn about results of a 3-year Northeast SARE research project to assess collaborative, multi-farm strategies to help our agricultural community solve labor challenges. Register Here
Waterbury 4-H Youth Mentoring Program is Thriving
Waterbury’s 4-H program is going strong! As we all know the past two years have been far from ordinary. While Waterbury Youth Services, Inc. (WYS) has been facilitating 4-H programing for 30 years, we have had to face new challenges and with them, new joys. While in person programming was not an option, our team […]
Swine and Poultry Owners Educational Session
An educational session for Poultry and Swine owners will be held on April 7th at the Litchfield County Extension office. There is a great lineup of guest speakers! Register at s.uconn.edu/swine-poultry-edu.
EFNEP/4-H Special Interest group with Danbury Public Schools
UConn Extension in Fairfield County is leading a EFNEP/4-H special interest group with Danbury Public Schools at Rogers Park Middle School. EFNEP educator Heather Peracchio is engaging students with Teen Cuisine curriculum and hands-on activities in grades 6-8th. During National Nutrition Month in March students enjoyed learning about MyPlate healthy eating and made a Colorful […]
Canter Curriculum
Interested in learning about horse nutrition? Sign up for Canter Curriculum. This asynchronous course will cover topics such as the digestive system basics, nutrients needed by horses, how to feed different types of horses, supplements, feeding guidelines, and common questions and myths. Sign up at https://secure.touchnet.com/C21646_ustores/web/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCTID=2747 Reach out to Dr. Jenifer Nadeau, […]
Lorraine St. Clair Recognized at Spirit Awards
Congratulations to Lorraine St. Clair (center) from our North Haven Extension office! She was a finalist for this year’s Behind the Scenes UConn Spirit award for her continued contributions. Thank you, Lorraine, we appreciate everything you do!! We submitted the following about Lorraine: Lorraine works quietly but diligently to keep our office operations running like […]
Snakes and St. Patrick’s Day
Snakes are among the most misunderstood animals.Hundreds are needlessly killed each year. People panic when they encounter a snake, fearing it poisonous.Poisonous snakes in Connecticut, copperheads and rattlesnakes, are seldom encountered and only in specific habitats, such as piles of rocks known as talus slopes and rocky cliffs and hillsides. Poisonous snakes will onlyattempt to […]
Part Time Biotechnology Grant Project
UConn Extension has two part-time positions open on a biotechnology grant project. These positions are both four-year appointments through the grant period. Program Assistant (15 hours per week) Program Coordinator (15 hours per week) The grant will create 4-H clubs focused on teaching teen members about biotechnology and encouraging them to pursue it as a […]
Job Posting Assistant/Associate Extension Educator in Water Quality
The Department of Extension in the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources invites applications for an Assistant/Associate Extension Educator in Water Quality. We seek an individual whose professional skills and abilities can foster the integration of extension with research to address local and regional water quality issues such as urban stormwater and agricultural runoff. […]
Dig Deeper Into Your Garden
Dig Deeper Into Your Garden! Learn the fundamental concepts of horticulture, as taught by UConn Extension educators and specialists. Based on UConn Extension Master Gardener Program curriculum, this four-part, online series can be taken at your own pace, at times that work for you. Choose just the modules you’re interested in or complete all four […]
Joro Spider Information
You asked, we answered. We’ve been getting questions about Joro spiders. Gail Reynolds from our UConn Extension Master Gardener program answered: Joro spiders, Trichonephila clavata, have been sensationalized in recent news stories. The actual appearance of these spiders in Connecticut has not been documented. According to various reports, this spider was first noted in Georgia in […]
Part-Time Positions on Biotechnology Grant Project
UConn Extension has two part-time positions open on a biotechnology grant project. These positions are both four-year appointments through the grant period. Program Assistant (15 hours per week) Program Coordinator (15 hours per week) The grant will create 4-H clubs focused on teaching teen members about biotechnology and encouraging them to pursue it as a […]
Ana Legrand: Educator Spotlight
Creating Sustainable Landscapes Through the Interactions of Plants and Insects Educator Spotlight: Ana Legrand Ana Legrand built her career around helping people understand the benefits that insects provide. Legrand is an entomologist and UConn Extension educator in the Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture. Entomology is the study of insects, and it plays a […]
Job Opening: Water Quality Extension Educator
We are seeking an Assistant/Associate Extension Educator in Water Quality with a 75% extension, 25% research mission split housed within the UConn Center for Land Use Education and Research in Haddam. This joint-appointed position between UConn Extension and the Natural Resources & the Environment in UConn CAHNR begins reviewing applications on April 1st. Full details: […]
Master Gardner Community Garden
Several of our 2021 Master Gardener interns from Litchfield County worked on community gardens that helped provide not only food, but much needed outdoor learning environments. Rebekah Chestna spearheaded the creation of an outdoor classroom garden in Watertown, CT that donated over 200 pounds of food to the Watertown Food Bank. Carolyn Morin worked with […]
DEEP Recreational Trails Program Grant
The Connecticut Trail Census Program by UConn Extension received funding from the CT Department of Energy and Environmental. The DEEP awarded $3 million in grant funding through its Recreational Trails Grant Program. These funds will be used for locally supported trails and trail systems, bikeways, and multi-use paths. More information can be found at https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/News-Releases/News-Releases—2022/DEEP-Announces-3-Million-in-Trail-Grants-For-20-Projects-Across-the-State
Know Your Farmer Fair
Know your farmer fair event is occurring on March 19th. More information can be found at www.grownconnected.org/knowyourfarmerfair or at the Facebook event page https://fb.me/e/2fKJs6X2F . This is the 7th year this event is happening but the Grown ConNECTed program is now partnering with the organizers this year to hopefully make it even more successful.
Avian Influenza in Connecticut
Poultry and Avian Enthusiasts: Connecticut has confirmed cases of Avian Influenza. Please take proper precautions to protect your birds and minimize disease spread: https://cvmdl.uconn.edu/ai/. The Connecticut Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (CVMDL) at UConn CAHNR is working with the Connecticut Department of Agriculture and Usda Aphis on diagnosis and surveillance. TODAY (MARCH 3rd) —FREE WEBINAR: “Healthy […]
EFNEP Baby Food Making Class
UConn EFNEP hosted a baby food-making class which was a success! 9 parents register and picked up baby food-making kits. Three mothers with infants attended consistently, for one mother English was a second language, and another mother was from a family of 7 with her youngest just 7 months. They discussed how to make homemade […]