Our UConn Extension educators working in land use, and the environment have recently published two articles: Extension Educators Mike Dietz and Chet Arnold have an article, Can Green Infrastructure Provide Both Water Quality and Flood Reduction Benefits?, in the May issue of the Journal of Sustainable Water in the Built Environment. You can read the […]
Climate Adaptation & Resiliency
Advancing Adaptation and Resilience in a Changing Climate
New Rules for Corralling Runoff Require Local Actions
By JUDY BENSON Haddam – As the state gets wetter, Connecticut cities and towns have little choice but to take better control of the water that flows over streets, parking lots and fields from rainfall and snowmelt. “There are two drivers related to stormwater,” said David Dickson, faculty member of the UConn Center for Land […]
Worker Protection Standards for Organic Farms
Organic Farming is Affected by a New Law: The Worker Protection Standard (WPS) The new law provides protections for agricultural workers, pesticide handlers, family members and volunteers. UConn Extension and CT NOFA are offering a workshop specifically designed for organic growers on May 3, 2018 from 6:30 to 8:30 PM at 1796 Asylum Avenue in […]
Worthley Recognized for Forestry Efforts
Extension educator Tom Worthley received the Ernest M. Gould Jr. Technology Transfer Award today from the New England Society of American Foresters in Nashua, New Hampshire. With Tom are members of the Department of Natural Resources & the Environment: Senior Nick Vertefeuille, Asst. Prof. Bob Fahey, Tom, and PhD candidates Nancy Marek and Danielle Kloster. […]
Install a Rain Garden This Spring
What is a Rain Garden? A rain garden is a depression (about 6 inches deep) that collects stormwater runoff from a roof, driveway or yard and allows it to infiltrate into the ground. Rain gardens are typically planted with shrubs and perennials (natives are ideal), and can be colorful, landscaped areas in your yard. Why […]
Tick Alert!
Headed outdoors? The recent warm weather has brought the ticks back out. Make sure you take precautions against ticks in October and November. Adult ticks are more active during this time of the year, creating a problem for both humans and animals. These disease-carrying arachnids reside in moist areas, long grass and the leaf litter […]
Sustainable Landscape News
Vickie Wallace is an Extension Educator and Program Director of UConn’s Sustainable Turf and Landscape Program. Ms. Wallace is part of a team of Extension specialists that provides Integrated Pest Management (IPM) education for CT landscape professionals and homeowners. One focus of Ms. Wallace’s program is the training of municipal and school grounds managers who […]
New Year Resolution: Take the 40-Gallon Challenge
What are you going to do differently in 2018? How about conserving water with UConn Extension. UConn Extension is inviting all Connecticut residents to join the 40 Gallon Challenge and take on new practices to increase water conservation. The 40 Gallon Challenge is a national call for residents and businesses to reduce water use on […]
Are You Storm Ready?
By Karen Filchak Being storm-ready means advance planning and preparation in the event of power outages, evacuations or property damage. Many in Connecticut have assembled a “Go Pack”, “Bug-Out Bag” or some other type of emergency grab and go bag that can be easily accessed in the event of a power out age or the […]
CT Trail Census Update
By Kristina Kelly, Connecticut Trail Census Statewide Coordinator Fall is a busy time for the Connecticut Trail Census team as we are nearing the end of our pilot year. We are so excited to have this important data finalized and ready for release in January 2018 so that our local communities can begin to put […]
Tick Testing Available at UConn
Headed outdoors? Make sure you take precautions against ticks in October and November. Adult ticks are more active during this time of the year, creating a problem for both humans and animals. These disease-carrying arachnids reside in moist areas, long grass and the leaf litter and will latch onto humans and animals alike. Although there […]
CT Trails Symposium
UConn Extension educators Laura Brown, Kristina Kelly, and Emily Wilson are presenting at the CT Trails Symposium on Thursday, October 19th. The CT Greenways Council, in partnership with Goodwin College, encourages you to engage in conversation about why and how to put your local trail systems to work for your community. Speakers and panels will use […]
Ocean Data for Connecticut
By Emily Wilson I recently learned about two impressive resources for ocean-based geographic information. One is the Northeast Ocean Data Portal and the other is the New York Geographic Information Gateway. Both are well-developed websites that include a comprehensive data viewer, ancillary information and stories about how ocean information has been used with multiple benefits. […]
Guide to Emergency Preparedness
By Katy Davis Did you know that September is National Preparedness Month? The State of Connecticut Department of Public Health has issued the Connecticut Guide to Emergency Preparedness, with tons of information so you can prepared during an emergency. Also, The Connecticut Guide to Emergency Preparedness has come out in ten different languages! Those languages […]
Brush Hill Farm – CT Dairy Farm of the Year
Brush Hill Farm – CT Dairy Farm of the Year 2017, UConn Extension Green Pastures Program By Joyce Meader Looking for cows at Brush Hill Farm? Look no further than the pasture. Other than a few hours a day when the cows are being milked in the barn, they enjoy fresh air, sunshine, and lush […]
My 2017 Climate Corps Summer Internship
By Nikki Pirtel The shoreline community of Westbrook, Connecticut, situated halfway between New Haven and New London, is home to approximately 7,000 residents while supporting seasonal tourists with numerous beaches and shopping stores in the town’s outlet. It is also the municipality I was assigned to research and create a vulnerability assessment for during my […]
UConn Extension Encourages Water Conservation with the 40 Gallon Challenge
By Angie Harris UConn Extension is inviting all Connecticut residents to join the 40 Gallon Challenge and take on new practices to increase water conservation. The 40 Gallon Challenge is a national call for residents and businesses to reduce water use on average by 40 gallons per person, per day. The challenge began in 2011 […]
Videos Showcase Farm Energy
Renewable energy has a lower environmental impact than energy generated by burning fossil fuels. Connecticut has a goal to secure 27% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2020. Recently, four videos on farm energy were produced to showcase different options available to Connecticut Farmers. Ace Begonias in Bethany has an energy-efficient lighting project. Full […]
Welcome New Trail Census Coordinator Kristina Kelly!
We welcome our new Trail Census Coordinator Kristina Kelly! Kristina has experience coordinating volunteer data collection programs such as DEEP’s Riffle Bioassessment by Volunteers (RBV), and has developed a passion for citizen science as away to involve the community in environmental education, protection and advocacy. She is currently pursuing a Master of Science degree in Geography […]
Can You Hear Me Now? Smartphone Maps (That Work) Off The Beaten Path
By Cary Chadwick It’s summer. Family vacation time. I don’t know about you, but I’ve been waiting for this all year. We had planned to take the family west for two weeks in the mountains. Utah, Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. Off the beaten path. Round up the kids, pack […]
America’s PrepareAthon
Yardwork, like trimming your trees, cleaning your gutters, and clearing debris from drains, can protect your home from wind and water damage during a storm. Share these tips with your neighbors: https://go.usa.gov/xNMMu
Become a Master Composter
Become a UConn Master Composter! The purpose of the Master Composter Program is to provide local compost enthusiasts with the tools and information necessary to educate and teach interested community members about composting and reducing the amount of solid waste sent to the state’s incinerators and landfills. Participants would attend classroom sessions at the Fairfield […]
Join the Big Bug Hunt to Beat Garden Pests
Major citizen science project tracks garden bugs to identify when and how they spread Key points The Big Bug Hunt is an international research project to track when and how garden bugs spread. Participants are helping to create a pest-alert system that will warn gardeners when pests are heading their way. Anyone can take part […]
CT Needs a Passport to the Parks
What is the Passport to the Parks? The Passport to the Parks is a $10 charge added to your 2-year motor vehicle registration which would generate an estimated $14.3 million each year for the operations, maintenance, and improvement of your State Parks. In return for paying this charge every other year, all motor vehicles with […]
Hike Safe
From the Hike Safe website: Wherever you hike, no matter what season or whether it’s a short hike or a multi-day trek,be safe: Follow the Hiker Responsibility Code. You are responsible for yourself, so be prepared: With knowledge and gear. Become self reliant by learning about the terrain, conditions, local weather and your equipment before you […]
Got Ticks?
UConn is on the front line in the fight to control the spread of tick-borne diseases. At the state testing lab on campus, UConn scientists are tracking established and emerging diseases carried by ticks from around the country.
Tackling Turfgrass
Article by Stacey Stearns Turfgrass is often overlooked by residents – but is one of the most abundant crops in the state, and an important part of Connecticut’s economic engine. Direct sales from the turfgrass industry are around $2.5 billion, with a total economic impact of $2.9 billion. Lawn care services are the largest turfgrass […]
Tools for Healthy Living Receives National 4-H Award
The purpose of the Excellence in Urban 4-H Programming Award is to recognize outstanding efforts by members in urban programming and to strengthen the commitment to urban programming curriculum. The National Association of Extension 4-H Agents Member Recognition Committee selected the Tools for Healthy Living program as the national award winner for the competition. This afterschool program, […]
Nutrient Management Planning
Article by Richard Meinert In the simplest form a Nutrient Management Plan is an inventory of the nutrients produced on the farm or needed by crops that are, or will be, produced, and a list of planned applications needed to distribute those nutrients to individual crop fields to support the growth of the desired crop, […]
Gypsy Moth Update
Gypsy Moth Update from Extension Educator Tom Worthley: “On Friday, I observed these live adult female gypsy moths laying eggs along Chaffeeville Road in Mansfield. Obviously some caterpillars managed to survive the fungus and other predators and develop to maturity in some spots. If people are so inclined they could kill moths they can reach, […]
Preparing Agricultural Leaders for Drought
Article by Kim Colavito Markesich Originally published by Naturally.UConn.edu While Connecticut residents live in a state with ample water resources, we are beginning to notice some changes in precipitation trends. “Connecticut is very fortunate as we’re actually quite water rich,” says Angie Harris, research assistant in UConn Extension. “We are getting rainfall, but there’s […]
Prepare for Storms
We had hail on the UConn campus in Storrs during last night’s storm, as did many other towns in the state. It serves as a reminder to prepare for storms and other events ahead of time. Visit the UConn EDEN and Ready.Gov websites for resources and information.
Gypsy Moth Caterpillar Update
From Extension Educator Tom Worthley: “The attached photo is of a 26-inch diameter oak near my home with lots of caterpillars on it, and all of the caterpillars are dead. They exhibit symptoms of the fungus that attacks gypsy moth caterpillars, particularly when populations are high. So while I cannot say it with absolute certainty, I […]
Tree Wardens Celebrate 25th Anniversary
On April 28, 2017, the Tree Wardens’ Association of Connecticut, Inc., celebrated the 25th anniversary of its founding with a gala event at the Omni Hotel in New Haven. The organization was founded by Bob Ricard, Senior Extension Educator, as a result of his findings in a statewide needs assessment he conducted in 1991, the […]
UConn EDEN
UConn EDEN is part of the nationwide EDEN system located at all the land-grant institutions, and is based-on four strategic goals: (1) Enhance the abilities of individuals, families, organizations, agencies, businesses, and institutions prepare for, prevent, mitigate, and recover from disasters and emergencies. (2) Serve as a statewide resource for university research-based disaster outreach education. […]
Connecting with Emergency Preparedness Resources
Article by Mary Ellen Welch Emergency preparedness is an issue for an increasing number of people and families. No matter the season, take steps in advance, and be ready for storms or other natural disasters. Personal experiences with storms – Tropical Storm Irene (2011), Sandy (2012) – and conditions that produce snow, winds, flooding and […]
Extension’s Climate Adaptation Academy Explores Legal Issues
The Climate Corps is in part a response to the ongoing work of Juliana Barrett and Bruce Hyde, two Extension educators who form the CLEAR/Sea Grant climate team. The Climate Adaptation Academy (CAA) created by the two has been engaging community officials, citizens and others for over four years, in a series of iterative workshops […]
Climate Corps, Harnessing the Power of Students
Article by Chet Arnold Extension faculty is leading a collaborative new program focused on the impact of climate change on Connecticut communities. The UConn Climate Corps will bring together undergraduates enrolled in the environmental majors with town officials, to the benefit of both groups. The program is supported for three years by a competitive grant […]
Connecticut’s New Marine Crop
By: Anoushka Concepcion, Connecticut Sea Grant and UConn Extension Connecticut has an extensive agricultural industry that extends far beyond land. Hidden under its coast, lies more than 70,000 acres where one of the best protein sources is produced – shellfish (clams, oysters, mussels, and scallops). The shellfish aquaculture industry is over 150 years old and […]
Got Gardening Questions?
Did you know that the UConn Extension Master Gardener program has 9 locations statewide, and our trained volunteers are ready and able to help you answer garden questions. Find a location near you at http://mastergardener.uconn.edu.