Hey Farmers! Learning season is starting up! And over at Solid Ground we want to help you with BUSINESS! Yup, each and every one of us is a small business, whether we like it or not, so we want to help you navigate the ins-and-outs of topics that are usually the most frustrating for […]
Education
HACCP for Meat and Poultry Processors
HACCP for Meat and Poultry Processors (Course approved by International HACCP Alliance) December 4, 5, & 6, 2024 Middlesex County Extension Center 1066 Saybrook Rd. Haddam, CT 06438 UConn Extension in cooperation with University of Rhode Island Cooperative Extension is pleased to offer a three-day International HACCP Alliance approved Meat and Poultry course. This course […]
2024 Ag Expo
Come to the 2024 Connecticut Agricultural Expo! There will be a farm equipment and implements showcase, crop production supplies and services. This is a great opportunity to get Pesticide CEU credits, network and great food. This event is taking place Wednesday, November 20th from 8:30 AM- 2:00 PM, at the Aquaturf in Southington. For more […]
Did you know how good Squash is for you?
Did you know Squash Is rich in vitamins A and C, potassium, and fiber? As the temperature cools, it is the perfect time to explore the vibrant world of late season squashes. These nutrient packed vegetables offer a multitude of flavors with countless cooking possibilities. Here, we will share some facts, storage tips, delicious recipes […]
Fall Ornamental & Turf Short Course
Registration is now open for the UConn Extension Ornamental & Turf Short Course! This course will run from October 9th – December 18th. An instructor will meet virtually with students weekly on Wednesdays at 5:30-7:30 p.m. to review each module topic and answer questions. Registration Cost: $400.00, which includes the Pesticide Applicator Core Manual, Ornamental & Turf Category Manual, and […]
Sustainable Regenerative Gardening for Everyone
Please join us for a lively conversation about sustainable regenerative gardening practices with five local farmers, who, between them, have many years of vegetable growing experience they are keen to share with you. Come prepared with your questions to this knowledgeable panel of experts. This Advanced Master Gardener Class is on Sunday, November 3rd, 10:00am – 12:00pm at […]
Olivia Routhier: Intern Spotlight
Olivia Routhier, our community nutrition intern this summer, and a dietetics major in UConn CAHNR shares her experiences: This past summer, I have had the pleasure of working with Heather Peracchio, RDN at Fairfield County UConn Extension on a variety of programs ranging from summer school programs to senior center lessons to farmer’s market nutrition […]
Summer Updates from Extension
The unofficial end of summer is around the corner and students are headed back to school. UConn Extension has resources and information to help you wrap up summer and transition to the fall months, including preparing for extreme weather and access to our fact sheets. We also share updates from one of our summer interns […]
Coastal Flooding Preparedness
Connecticut Sea Grant and UConn Extension have a new project to help older underserved residents of New London, Stamford and West Haven be better prepared for flooding and other weather emergencies. This past week’s flooding in western Connecticut demonstrated how critical preparedness and community resilience projects are. More information on the new project is at https://seagrant.uconn.edu/?p=12147 […]
Ag Mechanics Classes Help New and Beginning Farmers
Connecticut’s new and beginning farmers face numerous tasks and expenses when starting their farm businesses. To support these farmers, UConn Extension’s Solid Ground program offers a comprehensive suite of workshops and programming. One of the standout offerings each winter for new farmers is the Ag-Mechanics series. Ag-Mechanics workshops focus on equipping farmers with practical skills […]
Meet Diane Dorfer
Diane Dorfer (’03 CLAS) joined UConn Extension as our Farm Viability Service Coordinator in June. She’s from Mansfield Center and owns and operates Cobblestone Farm. Diane earned her bachelor of science degree in ecology and evolutionary biology from UConn. What is your area of interest? One of the goals of my new position is to […]
Meet Chelsea Erem
Chelsea Erem (’24 CAHNR) joined our Farmington office as an educational program assistant in June. She’s originally from Waterbury and earned her bachelor’s degree in Allied Health and Psychology at UConn’s College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources. What is your area of interest and how did you get interested in it? My academic interests […]
Meet Fanny Hernandez
Fanny Hernandez joined UConn Extension as our Evaluation Specialist in April. She is from the Dominican Republic, and before moving to Connecticut, she lived in Kalamazoo, Michigan, for almost nine years. She earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from the Santo Domingo Institute of Technology (INTEC) and a certificate in education in the Dominican […]
Home Food Preservation
Fresh fruits and vegetables are bountiful at farmers’ markets. The abundance can create kitchen challenges and one way to address those is with food preservation. It is important to learn and follow safe home food preservation methods. There are risks to almost every method, but canning, pickling, and fermentation carry some specific risks. Visit https://s.uconn.edu/food-preservation […]
UConn Spring 2024 Horseback Riding Program
Come ride at UConn, the horseback riding program is open! The practicum is a professional, improvement, non-credit horseback riding lesson program open to everyone. Lessons in dressage, hunt seat, western, polo, and trail are offered at a variety of levels. Going from January 22 to April 26 (13 weeks), at the UConn Storrs Campus! Registration […]
Spotted Lanternfly Quarantine Connecticut
CAES Announces Renewal of the Spotted Lanternfly Quarantine for Connecticut New Haven, CT – The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES) in cooperation with USDA APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) continued to detect expanding populations of the spotted lanternfly (SLF) in Connecticut through 2023. The Director of CAES hereby announces the renewal of the Order of Quarantine for SLF that was established 1 July 2021, effective January 1, 2024. More information about SLF, the quarantine order and state quarantine requirements can be found at: https://portal.ct.gov/CAES-SLF In 2020 through 2023, multiple adult SLF populations were detected in Fairfield, Hartford, Litchfield, Middlesex, New Haven, and New London Counties. The distribution […]
Crop Talk
We are pleased to share the December 2023 edition of Crop Talk! Access it via the following link to view the full publication:https://ipm.cahnr.uconn.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/3216/2023/12/Crop-Talk-December-2023.pdf
Farm Risk Management Program 2023-2024 FREE Programs
UConn Extension is offering plenty of Farm Risk Management Programs in the upcoming 2024 year, and they are FREE! Options to Mitigate Farm Financial Losses When: Tuesday, January 16, 2024 Where: CLiCK, 41 Club Rd, Windham, CT Time: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Crop Insurance Programs When: Tuesday, January 23, 2024 Where: Tolland County […]
Business of Farming Course
UConn Extension’s Solid Ground Program is now accepting applications for our new training “The Business of Farming.” What is it? This course will accommodate 15-18 participants for a 7-week learning opportunity that includes both virtual and in-person meetings (details below). It is designed to develop and strengthen the business and technical skills for beginning farmers with 0 – 3 years of experience. […]
UConn Extension’s Solid Ground Ag-Mechanics part 2
We’ve just about finished up our first round of Ag-Mechanics and we’re getting ready to start round 2! Again, these are small classes, so you’ll want to sign up fast because they fill up fast! The topics happening in the beginning of 2024 are Welding Using Metal Inert Gas Methods, Small Engine Maintenance & Repairs: 2-Stroke AND […]
2024 Produce Safety Rules Training Courses
The 2024 FSMA produce safety rule/ produce safety alliance approved grower training courses are here! Course Summary: The Produce Safety Alliance (PSA) Grower Training Course has been designed to provide a foundation of Good Agricultural Practices knowledge that includes emphasis on co-management of food safety and environmental management goals, while outlining the requirements of the […]
4-H Robotics Shines at The Big E
Our UConn 4-H members participate in the Big E, the world’s only multi-state fair, with their projects every September. It provides an opportunity to showcase their project and develop lifelong skills to serve them in their future careers and activities. The robotics program offers demonstrations in the New England Center, and shares information on STEM […]
United Way’s Partnership with New London County 4-H
In 2022, United Way of Southeastern Connecticut launched, Your Voice Counts (YVC), to promote trust and civility in our community. The initiative aims to improve communication, critical thinking, and understanding among high school students, to contribute to a more positive community. United Way’s program pairs up community partners and volunteers with the high school students […]
Wrack Lines explores the many facets of marine education
The new issue of Wrack Lines is now posted on the sea grant website! Learn about the inspiring journey of a mini sailboat, lessons from beaches and school aquariums and the unique geology of the Connecticut shoreline in their newest issue. More good reading can be found in articles about how the ocean literacy campaign and ocean […]
Registration now open for winter UConn Ornamental and Turf Course
Registration now open! Winter 2024 Ornamental and Turf Short Course Wednesdays 5:30-7 pm, from January 10 – March 13, 2024 Register Here More information at s.uconn.edu/ornamental-turf. Ornamental and Turf Online Short Course Description UConn Extension offers an online Ornamental & Turf Short Course in the fall and winter, which helps students prepare for the pesticide applicator supervisory […]
Happy Holidays from UConn Extension
Happy Holidays to our program participants, partners, and volunteers, from all of us at UConn Extension! Wishing you all the joy of the season. Extension is proud to serve all 169 towns and cities in Connecticut. We look forward to working with you again in the new year! Plans are underway for 2024 programs, visit s.uconn.edu/Extension to […]
Farmer 2 Farmer Conference
We’re so excited because we are partnering up with New CT Farmers Alliance to put on a conference that is FOR farmers and BY farmers, January 27! It’s the Farmer 2 Farmer Conference! ~Register here~ Farming is a profession full of trial and error. Every year, we take stock of what worked and what didn’t, assess our […]
Annual Vegetable and Small Fruit Growers Conference
We are pleased to announce that our annual Vegetable & Small Fruit Growers’ Conference will be held at the UConn Storrs Campus on January 9, 2024. For details, please see the registration information and agenda below. Register online at: s.uconn.edu/ctvfcregistration To pay by check visit: s.uconn.edu/ctvfconference or email tolland@uconn.edu Trade Show Exhibitor Registration: s.uconn.edu/ctvfctradeshow For any further questions email tolland@uconn.edu or […]
2024 CNLA Winter Symposium
UConn Extension is looking forward to seeing everyone at the Connecticut Nursery and Landscape Association winter Symposium. This event is full of learning, and takes place on January 24th and 25th at the Aqua Turf Club in Plantsville, CT. This is a great opportunity for networking, meeting exhibitors, attending educational programs, and seeing new products! […]
Master Gardner 2024 Calendar Sale
The UConn Master Gardeners have assembled a calendar for Connecticut gardeners! There are tips through every month on how to plan and maintain your garden for fresh blooms and abundant vegetables. This year there is additional information on supporting beneficial insects in the landscape, with tips on using integrated pest management, creating habitat for beneficials, […]
Winter 2024 Ornamental and Turf Short Course
Registration now open! Winter 2024 Ornamental and Turf Short Course Wednesdays 5:30-7 pm, from January 10 – March 13, 2024 Register Here More information at s.uconn.edu/ornamental-turf. Ornamental and Turf Online Short Course Description UConn Extension offers an online Ornamental & Turf Short Course in the fall and winter, which helps students prepare for the pesticide applicator supervisory exam. […]
Ag Mechanic Classes 2023
It’s that time of year again where our Solid Ground Trainings are starting to get their gears rolling! Kicking it off this season, we’re bringing back the ever popular Chainsaw Skills and Safety program directed toward women, our Beginning Welders Workshops, and an Intro to Carpentry! Each workshop cost $25 and includes lunch. See more info below! Note: These […]
Build Scientific Understanding of Genetic Engineering with High School Students
UConn Extension has made available a standards-based curriculum aimed at addressing the misunderstandings about genetically modified foods. This curriculum, aimed toward science and agriscience educators, provides information about the applications of genetic engineering in agriculture and other fields. Both a formal and non-formal curriculum are available. The non-formal curriculum is a great tool that could be […]
Join Our Team! – Solid Ground is seeking new project coordinator
UConn Extension’s Solid Ground Program team is looking for a new project coordinator this winter to help lead training programs for new and beginning farmers. Responsibilities: As a team project, the right candidate will be able to support existing staff in implementing an aggressive schedule of events. After shadowing our existing staff, the Coordinator will […]
Registration open for 2024 shellfish farming course
The 2024 “Foundations of Shellfish Farming” course will be offered at the UConn Avery Point campus over 12 weeks starting Jan. 16. The classes will meet on Tuesdays from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. through April 2 in Room 312 of the Lowell P. Weicker Jr. Building. Registration is now open and financial aid is available. […]
Local Work Group Meetings in CT
The Connecticut Conservation Districts are gathering information about natural resource concerns from agricultural producers, private forest landowners, environmental organizations, and government agencies to help structure future Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Farm Bill programs.We invite you to participate in one of the five Local Work Group meetings. To register, please click on the link for […]
Meet Mike Gilman
Mike Gilman of Branford recently joined us as an Assistant Extension Educator with Connecticut Sea Grant, where he works with our aquaculture program. Mike received his bachelor of science from Albertus Magnus College and a master of science from Southern Connecticut State University. What is your area of interest? My main areas of interest are […]
Meet Heather Zidack
Heather Zidack (‘11 CAHNR, ’12 Neag) joined the UConn Home and Garden Education Center as an educational program assistant in September. Heather works with faculty and staff at UConn to provide educational resources and answer home and gardening questions for residents statewide. She earned her bachelor of science in ornamental horticulture and her master of […]
Solid Ground Ag Mechanics Series
It’s that time of year again where the Solid Ground Trainings are starting to get their gears rolling! Kicking off this season, is the popular Chainsaw Skills and Safety program directed toward women, our Beginning Welders Workshops, and an Intro to Carpentry! Each workshop cost $25 and includes lunch. See more info below! Title of class: Chainsaw Class Directed toward Women […]
New Podcast Episode: UConn 4-H Fairfield County
Our UConn 4-H program has a positive impact on youth every day, and one of our youth, volunteers, and educators from Fairfield County explain more in our latest podcast episode. Learn more and listen in at s.uconn.edu/fairfield-fair – and join us this weekend for their 4-H Fair at Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo.