Sustainable Landscapes

Designing sustainable landscapes across urban-rural interfaces

Respecting Our Roots with the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation

A partnership between UConn and local tribes led to the development of Meechooôk Farm and other programs that strengthen the tribal community, their land-base, and self-sufficiency. Learn more about the project by reading this article. Financial support for this work was provided by the USDA NIFA Federally-Recognized Tribes Extension Program (FRTEP Awards 2017-41580-26950 and 2022-41580-37944). […]

Fall Updates from Extension

The changing seasons are a reliable time marker, and this fall, UConn Extension is experiencing our own transitions. It’s an exciting time as new educators join the team and continue implementing our statewide programs. Catch up on our latest updates: s.uconn.edu/fall-news

2023 Vegetable & Small Fruit Growers’ Conference & Trade Show: We’re Back!

UConn Extension’s 2023 Vegetable & Small Fruit Growers’ Conference Wednesday, January 4, 2023 Sheraton Hartford South Hotel 100 Capital Blvd, Rocky Hill, CT 06067 Trade Show: 8:00-8:55, 10:00-10:45, 12:00 -1:00 8:00-8:55 Registration, breakfast, socialize, visit trade show Morning Moderator – Mary Concklin, Fruit Extension Specialist Emeritus, UConn 8:55 Welcome: Indrajeet Chaubey, Dean of CAHNR, UConn […]

Virtual Invasive Plant Symposium, Thursday, November 3, 2022, 8:30 AM-4 PM

Virtual Invasive Plant Symposium, Thursday, November 3, 2022, 8:30 AM-4 PM This is the last week to register! The Connecticut Invasive Plant Working Group (CIPWG) 2022 symposium will be a full-day virtual webcast on November 3, with some sessions directed to all attendees and other sessions in concurrent breakouts (recordings of all sessions will be […]

Community climate planning projects underway in four CT cities

Doreen Abubaker, of the Community Placement Engagement Network and West River Watershed Partnership, talks to a group at the New Haven Folk Festival about climate change impacts in New Haven and the upcoming Climathon. Photo: Steve Hamm. Four Connecticut cities have joined a pilot project to boost community participation in climate change planning. Community activities […]

Register for the CT Invasive Plant Symposium

If you have not yet registered, register by today for the early bird discount!   CIPWG 2022 Symposium Virtual, Thursday, November 3, 2022, 8:30 AM-4 PM   Click here to REGISTER for the 2022 CIPWG Symposium! The 2022 CIPWG Symposium theme is Strategies for Managing Invasive Plants: Assess, Remove, Replace, and Restore. Early Registration $50 on or […]

Online Environmental Courses Available

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 […]

10 Ways to Volunteer with UConn 4-H

No matter how much time you have, volunteering with UConn 4-H makes a difference by helping youth explore and discover the skills they need to lead for a lifetime. There are lots of ways to get involved! Please note, your volunteer experience and/or opportunities may be happening virtually or in-person. Contact UConn 4-H for more […]

Help Wanted: Become a UConn 4-H Volunteer

UConn 4-H is Accepting Volunteer Applications UConn 4-H provides youth with life-changing experiences from flying rockets into space with NASA to organizing national conferences for other youth, and everything in between. These experiences are possible because of thousands of adult mentors and volunteers who work throughout the state and guide youth to reach their potential. […]

Spotted Lanternfly on the Move in Connecticut

The Spotted Lanternfly is on the move in Connecticut. In mid-August adults were confirmed in Norwich (New London County) and this week in two locations in New Milford (Litchfield County). These confirmed populations are in addition to the ones already known in Fairfield County (Greenwich, Stamford, New Canaan, Darian, Norwalk, Westport & Fairfield) and New […]

Meet Samuel Kocurek

Samuel is our Ecotypic Seed Supply Chain Intern this summer. His majors are Mathematics and Environmental Science – ’23 CLAS. I truly believe in developing a personal relationship with the land. So when I saw UConn Extension offering this internship I was immediately hooked. With this work, I am aiding a professor and doctoral student […]

Summer Program Updates

Empowering Connecticut Communities  Extension programs are in full swing this summer, both in-person and online. we are here to serve and empower our Connecticut communities, while co-creating solutions to the critical issues that residents and communities are facing. Programs focus on the expertise of the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources (CAHNR) and incorporate […]

Marketing Extension with Michael Wolf

My name is Michael Wolf, I am currently the Marketing Intern for UConn Extension and have been working on multiple projects focusing on growing our network and how we can continue to interact with the community. Extension is constantly growing our outreach through our various social media platforms where we advertise virtually all of the […]

Forest Silviculture Research and Extension in Action

Our forests are one of our most vital environmental, economic, and recreational resources, and we are fortunate to have abundant access to these wonderful spaces right here in Connecticut! The UConn Forest Crew works with Professor Tom Worthley in the UConn Forest and across the state to apply silvicultural practices, conduct maintenance work, and gather […]

Buzzworthy News: Bug Week Approaches!

Do you think that creepy crawlers are cool? How about ones that fly? Are you fascinated with insects and want to learn more about them in a fun way? As the vegetable entomology extension intern, I am working closely with Dr. Ana Legrand to create exciting outreach content for the upcoming Bug Week event ranging […]

Top 10 Cool Season Tips to Get You the Best Yard

Clean up Gently In the spring, remove any large debris from the lawn that may have the potential to smother and kill your grass as it starts to resume growth in the spring.  Once excess debris is removed, rake your lawn to remove any dead grass. Get Rid of Bare Spots Reseed any bare patches […]

Transformative Life Experiences with Environmental Education

UConn’s Natural Resources Conservation Academy (NRCA) offers several educational programs for both children and adults, including the Conservation Ambassador Program, Conservation Partnership program, and Teacher Professional Learning program. Environmental education is a crucial part of working towards a more sustainable world. The first step in making positive environmental changes both locally and worldwide is making […]

CT Trail Finder and GIS with Courtney Andreozzi

Greetings! My name is Courtney Andreozzi and I am honored to be the GIS intern for CT Trailfinder for Summer 2022. I am a rising senior at UConn studying Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB) with a minor in Geographic Information Systems (GIS). During this previous school year I worked in conjunction with UConn’s CLEAR and […]

Job Openings with UConn Extension

UConn Extension is hiring! We have several positions open. Please visit the individual position links for full descriptions and information on how to apply: Assistant/Associate Extension Educator – Soil Health Associate Dean for Extension 4-H Youth Development Food and Agricultural Literacy Assistant/Associate Extension Educator in Water Quality Administrative Program Support 1, Storrs Campus Educational Program […]

UConn Forest Providing Educational, Environmental Benefits

The UConn Forest is vital for teaching, research, and extension work. It also provides wildlife habitat, watershed protection and popular recreational hiking trails. The Department of Natural Resources and the Environment (NRE) manages the forest.  Proactive management sustains and enhances the many benefits the forest provides. Thomas Worthley is an Associate Extension Professor with joint […]

Multi-Faceted Approach to Nitrogen Management

We have a multi-faceted approach to nitrogen management in Connecticut that addresses land use issues, agricultural production, and water quality.  Extension faculty from the Center for Land Use Education and Research (CLEAR) are working on several applied research projects in support of better nitrogen (N) management. They are collaborating with the University of Rhode Island […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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: […]

Black History Month 2022 – Health and Wellness

Have your ever wondered about the history of Black History Month? Dr. Carter G. Woodson is credited with bringing to the forefront the importance of teaching about Black History, Culture and Life. Carter G. Woodson, was the son of former slaves, and as a child, worked as a sharecropper, a miner and other odd jobs […]

2021 Highlights of Extension Report

  The past two years have challenged us more than anyone could have predicted. Extension adapted our services and programs to continue serving our audiences. We are addressing critical issues related to agriculture and food, climate adaptation, enhancing health and well-being, social justice, and sustainable landscapes.  Extension is unique because the services we provide are […]

Celebrating Black History Month, The Paradigm Shift

Have your ever wondered about the history of Black History Month? Dr. Carter G. Woodson is credited with bringing to the forefront the importance of teaching about Black History, Culture and Life. Carter G. Woodson, was the son of former slaves, and as a child, worked as a sharecropper, a miner and other odd jobs […]