Author: Stacey Stearns

New England Dairy Conference Scheduled

Join us for the New England Dairy Conference on March 13th:   CONFERENCE AGENDA 9:00 am – Registration, Refreshments and Trade Show 9:50 am -Welcome Dr. Sheila Andrew, Professor, UConn, Department of Animal Science 10:00 am – “New Milk Analysis Technologies to Improve Dairy Cattle Performance’” Dr. David Barbano, Professor, Department of Food Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 11:00 am – “Use […]

Major New CLEAR Programs Underway in 2017

By Chet Arnold Originally posted on http://blog.clear.uconn.edu As 2017 gets underway, CLEAR folks are working hard on the early stages of major new projects that cover all three of CLEAR’s traditional program areas, and actually add a fourth! Each one of these projects will no doubt be the fodder for many blogs to come, but for […]

Attending the Inauguration with 4-H

I recently returned from Washington D.C. where I joined 4 fellow Connecticut 4-Hers to attend the first ever Citizen Washington Focus Presidential Inauguration. It was held in conjunction with the Presidential Inauguration. We were there with 500 4-Hers from all across the country who all shared the same interest in democracy and politics. We stayed […]

It’s Not Too Late for the Spring Bedding Plant Meetings

You can Register for the Spring Bedding Plant Meetings:   By  Email: Leanne Pundt, at leanne.pundt@uconn.edu  or call 860-921-3288 You can pay at the door (cash or check), however, please pre-register by phone or email by Feb 13 for Feb 16 meeting at the Tolland County Extension Center Feb 14 for Feb 21 meeting at the Litchfield County Extension […]

Summer 2017 Internships

UConn Extension is pleased to offer internships for UConn undergraduate students again this year. Student interns gain valuable in-the-field experience in your chosen discipline at an in-state Extension office location. Internship opportunities include: • Food    • Nutrition    • Health    • Sustainability   • Research • Agribusiness   • Youth Education    • […]

Join Us for America Saves Week

UConn Extension has partnered with America Saves Week again this year, and we are celebrating from February 27th through March 4th. Connecticut Saves Campaign is a statewide initiative to encourage Connecticut residents to take positive financial actions and save regularly to turn their dreams into reality. Here you will find workshops and events around the state, […]

Import a Little Flavor in the Winter Months

By:     Diane Wright Hirsch             Senior Extension Educator/Food Safety   OK, I admit it…. I just cannot eat totally “local” and “seasonal” during the winter. It’s just too hard at this time of year. And, also, so many cold weather menus and winter celebrations revolve around aromas, flavors and sensations that come from foods […]

Webinar: Innovations in Workforce Development

Innovations in Workforce Development A CEDAS Academy Webinar Thursday, February 16, 2017 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Workforce development is one of the foundations of successful local and regional economic development strategies.  Local, new and emerging businesses need a well-trained and accessible labor force. In light of recent industry location decisions in the state, more […]

UConn CLEAR February Webinars

UConn CLEAR has announced their February webinars for the 7th and 14th. The first is Getting Started on Your New MS4 Permit, and the second is Road Salt Use in Connecticut: Understanding the Consequences of the Quest for Dry Pavement. Attendance is FREE! Register online now, and invest just one hour of your time in the […]

Worker Protection Standard Training

UConn Extension is hosting EPA Worker Protection Standard (WPS) workshops for agricultural pesticides. This training is for agricultural employers of farm workers and or pesticide handlers on farms, forests, greenhouses, and nurseries. Also for commercial pesticide application employers. The revised worker protection standard went into effect on January 2, 2017. There will be further requirements […]

Exploring the Results of Low Impact Development (LID)

In addition to reviewing the land use regulations of towns, the NEMO team created an interactive online “Story Map” allowing users to explore the data further (http://s.uconn.edu/stateoflid). The story map combines interactive maps, text, graphics, photos and other media to tell a more compelling story than could otherwise be done by a publication or website. […]

Lifelong Learning: February Classes

CLIR lifelong learning classes for February, held in Vernon Cottage on the UConn Depot campus, all from 1:15-2:45 p.m. except for Memoirs: Memoir Club – Thursdays, February 2, 9, 16, 23           10:15-11:45 The Politics of War and Peace – Wednesday, February 1 Crumbling Foundations in CT Homes:  A Contractor’s Perspective – Tuesday, February 7 The Role of […]

Stormwise: There’s An App For That

Undergraduate students in the Department of Computer Science are developing a Stormwise app. The app will have two functions; tree failure reporting where individuals can provide a description and photo, and the app will walk people through a hazard tree assessment process. Collecting tree failure data will be of great value for research down the […]

EFNEP: Making an Impact

The nutrition programming through EFNEP has three components: healthy food and physical activity choices, making funds go farther, and learning skills to improve food preparation and food safety practices. Clients participate in four to eight lessons, meet with the educator at least four times, complete pre and post assessments, participate in food and nutrition activities, […]

Hydroponics at UConn Extension

Hydroponics is a growing area of agriculture that uses mineral nutrient solutions in a soilless system to grow plants. Rosa researches chemistry and water clogging of hydroponics in her greenhouse. “With the CARE project, a set of growers in Connecticut have problems with low quality water clogging systems,” Extension educator Rosa Raudales mentions. “Samples are […]

Drought in Connecticut? Who Knew?

By Mike Dietz Connecticut is not the first place that would likely come to mind if I asked you to come up with a part of the country that experiences drought; the desert southwest and California might typically be first on the list. However, southern New England has received less than normal amounts of precipitation […]

Bridging the Gap Between Classroom & Cafeteria

By Catherine Hallisey, FoodCorps Connecticut Fellow | Nov 30, 2016 Originally published by: foodcorps.org Big things are happening with farm to school in New London. The school district has a team of administrators, teachers, principals, non-profit organizations, and FoodCorps service members who are working towards one shared goal: “Every New London student will graduate educated and empowered to grow food, eat well, and […]

NIFA Programs Salute and Assist Veterans and their Families

Posted by Brent Elrod and Desiree Rucker, National Institute of Food and Agriculture Whether protecting our nation and its highest ideals with military service or ensuring a safe, abundant, and nutritious food supply as veterans, we are grateful for their willingness to serve. For more than 35 years, USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) […]

Wind Firm Forests

Driving down a Connecticut road with a canopy of green overhead delights Connecticut residents. But when a storm strikes, those same trees frustrate residents by blocking roads and causing power outages. Connecticut is the fourth most densely populated state in the union, and with 75% of the land covered by trees, power outages frequently occur. […]

Internship Program Provides Credentials for Job Search

By Kim Colavito Markesich Originally published by Naturally@UConn on July 26, 2016 According to a 2012 survey of employers conducted by the Chronicle of Higher Education and American Public Media’s Marketplace, an internship is the single most important credential for recent college graduates in their job search. The UConn Extension/4-H Internship Program was created to […]

Telling Stories with Maps

Emily Wilson wrote a blog post for Map@Syst on the story maps being created by UConn Extension: CLEAR’s Extension faculty have long used maps to educate land use decision makers and the public about Connecticut’s landscape and natural resources.  The Connecticut’s Changing Landscape (CCL) research project has been the foundation of the education.  CCL is […]

Paper Envelopes in your Mother’s Day Hanging Basket?

What are those paper envelopes in my Mother’s Day hanging baskets? By Leanne Pundt, UConn Extension Educator These small paper “envelopes” are slow release “sachets” that contain beneficial predatory mites that attack young thrips larvae.  (Thrips are very small insects (1-2 mm.  long) with narrow bodies and fringed wings. As they feed they can deform flowers, […]

Live Local UConn Trail

Live Local Connecticut is a UConn Extension program encouraging residents to live locally through food and gardening, and ties into our Live Local app. The Live Local UConn Trail highlights a few locations in and around UConn’s Storrs campus where you can live locally. UConn Trail: Dog Lane Cafe – the menu and daily specials […]

10 Tips for the March Gardener

Make plans to attend the UConn Garden Conference on March 18, 2016. Carefully remove winter mulches and leftover debris from planting beds to reduce the presence of overwintering diseases and pests. Get your soil tested through the UConn Soil Nutrient Analysis Laboratory before any major planting or fertilizing venture. Soils sent in before April 1 […]

Volunteer Spotlight: Marcia Johnson

Teacher and 4-H Volunteer Brings Gardening, Nutrition and Fitness to Students in the Classroom and Beyond By Kim Markesich Originally published by Naturally@UConn on January 26, 2016   Twenty-eight years as an elementary school teacher has not dampened the enthusiasm of 4-H volunteer Marcia Johnson. She’s upbeat, energetic and clearly excited about teaching. Five years […]

UConn Represented at New England Grows

New England GROWS, the Northeast’s largest educational conference and green industry exposition, wrapped up on December 4 after three days of seminars and hands-on learning, combined with an exhibition showcasing the latest innovations from hundreds of leading industry exhibitors. Opening day saw record-breaking attendance and overall the event attracted nearly 9000 green industry professionals to […]

The Role of Greenways and Multi-Use Trails in Connecticut

Posted on September 20, 2015 on Extension Community & Economic Development By John McDonald, Extension Intern The concept of a network of trails in the state of Connecticut dates back to 1929, when the Connecticut Forest and Park Association established the blue-blazed hiking trail system (CFPA, 2006). In many cases, these trails follow steep ridge lines in […]