Author: Stacey Stearns

Northeast Greenhouse Conference Webinar Series

The Northeast Greenhouse Conference and Expo has announced that they will offer a webinar series this fall, beginning Nov. 4 sponsored by New England Floriculture Inc., in order to deliver content relevant to greenhouse pests, diseases, biocontrols, PGRs, and sanitation.  Although having to postpone the Northeast Greenhouse Conference and Expo to 2021 due to the […]

Connecting and Transforming Communities with Rich Mutts

Rich Mutts ’06 (CLAS) graduated from UConn with a bachelor of arts in human development and family sciences. The New Haven school system quickly hired him. As his career progressed, he knew that he wanted to do more to make positive changes in the community. In 2016, Rich had the opportunity to join the Meriden […]

How to Roast Pumpkin Seeds!

Written by UConn Dietetics Student Hannah Waxler The Fall season brings to us a favorite squash!! Pumpkin! Did you know it’s a squash? Pumpkin and the spices that seem to flavor it best are added to just about everything: pumpkin coffee, pumpkin muffins, and of course, pumpkin pie! As delicious as pumpkin treats are, did […]

Extension Program Receives USDA-NIFA Grant to Help Beginning Farmers Prosper

Beginning farmers in Connecticut are changing the face of agriculture. With their values driven, sustainable-minded farming practices, they are filling the direct-to-consumer marketplace with high quality food grown intensively on small parcels. Since 2012, UConn Extension, part of the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources, and its partners have responded to the growing number […]

UConn Beef Cattle to Be Sold at Middlesex Livestock Auction This Year

Department of Animal Science UConn Beef Cattle to be Sold at Middlesex Livestock Auction Monday, November 2, 2020 In lieu of an auction held on the UConn campus, UConn beef cattle will be sold at the Middlesex Livestock Auction (488 Cherry Hill Road, Middlefield, CT 06455) on Monday, November 2, 2020 beginning at 7 PM. […]

National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week Webinars

This is a message from the Healthy Homes Partnership Welcome! Each year, the National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (NLPPW) outreach campaign is aimed at awareness, action, and prevention. We bring together individuals, diverse organizations, industry, and state, tribal, and local governments nationwide. NLPPW is held this year from October 25‐31, 2020. NLPPW highlights the many […]

Meet Kim Bradley, our CT Trail Census Coordinator

Kim Bradley recently joined UConn Extension as the project coordinator for the Connecticut Trail Census. Welcome, Kim! Kimberly Bradley is dedicated and passionate about engaging individuals and communities in outdoor activities and connecting them to our public lands and educating others to maintain resilient ecological systems. Her involvement in the conservation and trails communities includes […]

Pumpkin’s a Good Pick for Your Health!

Written by UConn Dietetics Student Alexa Horkachuck Autumn is finally here, which means that pumpkin flavored products are flooding into your local grocery store. If you’re a fan, you will find everything from pumpkin cream cheese and pumpkin spice lattes to pumpkin pastas and soups. There is bound to be a recipe that you would […]

Celebrate Seafood Month this October with these recipes

Jacques Pepin’s fish tacos, made with local black sea bass fillets, are an easy and delicious way to celebrate National Sea Food Month this October. Pepin, world-famous chef and resident of Madison, provided this recipe as part of two collections of 21 recipes from eight Connecticut chefs compiled by Connecticut Sea Grant. Connecticut Sea Grant […]

Journal examines role of ‘blue humanities’ in ocean literacy

This special issue of Parks Stewardship Forum, guest-edited by Connecticut Sea Grant Research Coordinator Syma Ebbin, looks at how the “blue humanities” can bolster the public’s ocean literacy and sense of stewardship for the seas. Articles in this issue make the case that the arts and humanities can and should contribute to marine conservation. In addition […]

Fall is Here – Stay Hydrated

Written by UConn Dietetics Masters Student Shawn Lada We may be having cooler days now, but it is always important to stay hydrated. Keeping your body hydrated helps your heart, brain, muscles, and joints to stay healthy, along with keeping you regular and preventing urinary tract infections! During hotter days and summer months your body […]

2020 Herb of the Year

RUBUS (Brambles) 2020 Herb of the Year Red Raspberry, Black Raspberry, Blackberry & Wineberry Article by Dana Weinberg, UConn Extension Advanced Master Gardener Since 1991, the International Herb Society has chosen an Herb of the Year. This year’s choice is the genus Rubus. The name comes from the Latin word ‘ruber’ meaning red. Indigenous to […]

HardCORE CRUNCH: Apple & Pear Activity Worksheets!

October is National Farm to School Month and Put Local On Your Tray has apple and pear activity worksheets to share! These worksheets include a coloring page, apple fun facts, a maze, and a delicious apple-themed recipe from New England Dairy. The worksheets are in English and Spanish. These can be distributed and shared with […]

Sarah Bailey Receives Mehlquist Award from CT Hort

Congratulations to Sarah Bailey, coordinator of our UConn Extension Master Gardener Program on receiving the 2020 Mehlquist Award from the Connecticut Horticultural Society.   “… Sarah’s reach and impact on Connecticut’s gardening community has been significant. Sarah’s work to transition the MG class to an online platform in 2018 helped bring the Program into the […]

Valley View Farm is Connecticut Dairy Farm of the Year

New England Green Pastures Connecticut Dairy Farm of the Year 2020 It is indeed a pleasure to announce that Ben and Tim Learned, owners of Valley View Farm, in North Stonington are the 2020 Outstanding Connecticut Dairy Farmers of the Year for the New England Green Pastures Award Program. Ben and Tim have accomplished the […]

Stephen Gustafson Names Northeast 4-H Volunteer of the Year

Congratulations to Stephen Gustafson, Tolland County 4-H Volunteer, who has been selected by National 4-H Council to receive the Northeast Volunteer of the Year award for 2020. Steve helped create and is the leader of the Paca Pals 4-H club. The Paca Pals are an alpaca club. The club meets at the Round Hill alpaca […]

Cholesterol Education with the UConn Dietetics Program

Written by UConn Dietetics student Madeline Fulton 93 million U.S. adults age 20 or older have total cholesterol levels higher than 200 mg/dL. Nearly 29 million adult Americans have total cholesterol levels higher than 240 mg/dL.1 Too much cholesterol circulating in your blood can put you at risk for developing heart disease and stroke. What […]

CT Grown for CT Kids Week

October is National Farm to School Month – a time to recognize and celebrate the connections within communities to fresh, healthy food and local food producers by changing food purchasing and education practices at schools and early care and education sites. With fewer than two percent of Americans living on farms, the U.S. population continues […]

Lesson on climate change and marshes created for high schools

UConn Professor Beth Lawrence collaborated with two high school teachers to create a salt marsh-climate change teaching module for high school students. In the “Impacts of Climate Change on Long Island Sound Salt Marshes” module, students learn about the natural and anthropogenic impacts of climate change on salt marshes, delve into how scientists are studying […]

Registration is now open for Connecticut Invasive Plant Working Group’s VIRTUAL symposium

The Connecticut Invasive Plant Working Group’s 2020 Symposium will be held online on October 7th!  Registration is now open!   WHAT: Virtual Event: Realistic Solutions to Managing Invasive Plants WHEN:  October 7, 2020;  8:30 a.m. – 3:15 p.m. WHO:  Connecticut Invasive Plant Working Group (CIPWG) WHERE:  Webcast on your computer NOTES:  CEUs for 11 organizations and […]

What to do during a drought

During a drought, it is important to conserve as much water as possible. Making small changes in our daily routines can go a long way. There are also other things we can do to help reduce the impact of a drought. Watch to learn more about what you should do. More information for residents are […]

Power Up with Breakfast! Go-Grow-Glow!

Written by UConn Dietetics Student Alyson Gaylord You have probably heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but why? The term breakfast means “break- the- fast.” After 8-10 hours of fasting as you sleep, your body is looking for calories and energy. Scientists tell us that kids who eat breakfast tend […]

American Lobster Research & Extension Initiative newsletter

The first issue of the Connecticut newsletter for the American Lobster Research and Extension Initiative, a project of seven Northeast Sea Grant programs including Connecticut Sea Grant, is now available. The newsletter is part of the regional Lobster Extension Program to complement and enhance the research component of NOAA Sea Grant’s American Lobster Initiative. Read […]

Job Opening: Assistant Cooperative Extension Educator – UConn Plant Diagnostic Lab

Search #: 494755 Work type: Full-time Location: Storrs Campus Categories: Faculty Non Tenure Track The University of Connecticut, Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture (PSLA) is seeking a full-time Assistant Extension Educator to fulfill the mission of the UConn Plant Diagnostic Lab. This is an 11-month, non-tenure track position renewed annually with the expectation of long-term employment. Collaboration […]

What to Eat (and Drink) Before, During, and After Exercise

Article by Mackenzie Lane, UConn Dietetics Student Do you ever stop to think about taking a bite of a granola bar before your morning jog? Or force yourself to skip a mid-hike snack so you can feast at the next meal? Or think post-workout meals will make you gain weight? No need to look any […]

Part-Time Agriculture Program Coordinator In-Training Position Open

We are seeking a part-time (20 hours/week) Agriculture Program Coordinator-in-Training to work on our Mashantucket Pequot Federally Recognized Tribes Extension Program (FRTEP). The incumbent will work collaboratively with a team of Extension professionals, tribal members, and leaders to empower members of Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation (MPTN) and communities through nutrition education and youth engagement. This […]

Fairfield County 4-H Grows True Leaders: Youth Garden Club Serves the Community

Throughout the summer, 20 youth in the 4-H Community Garden Club have managed a one-acre garden in New Milford. They were led by leaders Anna Loor and her daughter Amira. Each youth worked eight hours every week at the garden and during 4-H time, learned the principles of seeding, planting, weeding, harvesting and garden pests. Critical thinking […]

UConn 4-H Announces Winners of Calendar Photography Contest

The winners of the 2020 UConn 4-H Calendar Photography Contest have been selected! Congratulations to the winners and thank you to all the participants. We enjoyed viewing your favorite 4-H project pictures and are glad a wide range of 4-H activities will be represented in the calendar.  The 2020 UConn 4-H Calendar Photo Contest results […]

Ornamentals and Turf Short Course Offered Online by UConn Extension

This year has been unique for everyone. All of us have been impacted in one way or another. We at UConn Extension have been striving to put this course online for your convenience. While we understand that an online course is simply not the same as in person this is where we are in the […]

UConn Extension Releases Evidence-Based Information Sheets on the Impacts of Trails

UConn Extension and the National Park Service are pleased to announce the publication of the Impacts of Trails info-sheet series. As communities throughout the U.S. and the world cope with the devastating toll of COVID-19, the pandemic has brought a renewed focus on the importance of local trails.  These one-page color, downloadable resources provide evidence–based information […]

Hurricanes and COVID – 19

Preparing for the 2020 hurricane season or severe storms during the COVID – 19 pandemic requires more planning than usual.  First, make a “go kit” – a bag you can grab and go should you need to evacuate!  Pack a kit for each household member and pet with a 2-week supply of emergency food, water, […]