Happy Thanksgiving

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Essex County P.O. Box 388, Westport, NY 518-962-4810 Dear Friends: Cornell Cooperative Extension is celebrating 90 years of educational programming in Essex County at our Annual Meeting. We are inviting all of our members to come and help us remember our heritage and to thank our volunteers and helpers. Hope to see you there! 4-H News In This Issue 1 2 3 4 5 6 7-12 13 14 15 16 17 18-20 20 21 22 23 4-H Holiday Creations 4-H Trips & After School Program 4-H Officer Training 4-H Nov. Events & Leader/Volunteer Recognition Dinner Info Anita Deming Executive Director Leaves Leaves 4-H 2006-2007 Events Calendar Ag Bits & Pieces Guilt Free Holiday Feasting Holiday Food Handling Safety Tips Happy Thanksgiving Keeping a Garden Journal The Garden Show Goes On Caring for Your Garden Tools November Garden Tips Annual Meeting Info Some Lists to Get You Thinking Thanksgiving Sonnet for Fall November Events Calendar http://counties.cce.cornell.edu/essex Essex County Cooperative Extension Center 3 Sisco Street P.O. Box 388 Westport, NY 12993-0388 Tel: 518 962-4810 Fax: 518 962-8241 E-mail: essex@cornell.edu Web: http://counties.cce.cornell.edu/essex/ ASSOCIATION OFFICERS BOARD OF DIRECTORS Bernard Leerkes Bill Johnston Barbara Papineau Frank Heald David Blades Jeff Sherman Bob Ashline, Supervisor Representative Sheila Borden Penny Daniels Christine McAuliffe Bunny Goodwin Charles Fausold, Cornell Specialist AGRICULTURAL PROGRAM COMMITTEE Cordelia Sand Linda Harringshaw Chris Maron Martha Honeywell Tom Heald Mark Wrisley Bernard Leerkes 4-H /FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCE PROGRAM COMMITTEE Diane Zimmer Bridgette Blemel Tina Evens Heather Denton Stephen Pray Erik Leerkes Linda Sherman Ethan French Colleen Denton Meredith Johnston Sheila Borden Penny Daniels STAFF Anita Deming — Phone Ext. 409 – ald6@cornell.edu Executive Director, Agriculture/Natural Resource Issue Leader Emily Selleck — Phone Ext. 408 – els52@cornell.edu Horticulture Program Assistant Mary Almon — Phone Ext. 407 – mba32@cornell.edu 4-H/Youth Development Team Coordinator Matt Bosley — Phone Ext. 405 — mwb33@cornell.edu 4-H Program Assistant Natalie Sullivan — Phone Ext. 406 – nms29@cornell.edu After School Coordinator Dottie Wehnau — Phone Ext. 411 – daw27@cornell.edu Nutrition Team Coordinator Amy LaPierre — Phone Ext. 411 – afl9@cornell.edu Nutrition Community Educator Judy French – jpf25@cornell.edu Sue Cutting – sac55@cornell.edu Renée Cusprinie – rcp25@cornell.edu Eileen Longware – el252@cornell.edu Nutrition Teaching Assistants Kevin Iungerman – Phone: 518-885-8995 kai3@cornell.edu Regional Fruit Specialist Ann Moore — Phone Ext. 402 – abm12@cornell.edu Finance Administrator Sharon Garvey — Phone Ext. 403 – sjg20@cornell.edu Office Manager, Administrative Assistant Laurie Davis — Phone Ext. 404 – lsd22@cornell.edu Adirondack Harvest Coordinator Vicki Wuest – Phone Ext. 401 – vw34@cornell.edu Town & Country Layout, Web Site, Financial and Consumer Education Program To Receive TOWN & COUNTRY Your $10 enrollment in Cornell Cooperative Extension entitles you to receive a complimentary monthly issue of Town & Country for one year. For information contact: Cornell Cooperative Extension Association of Essex County P.O. Box 388 Westport, NY 12993 Phone: (518) 962-4810 Fax: (518) 962-8241 Email: essex@cornell.edu Other Agencies at 3 Sisco St.: Essex County Soil and Water Conservation District Rob Bisig and Cynthia Brannock (518) 962-8225 Essex County Agricultural Society (Fair) Scott Christian, Manager (518) 962-8650 Cornell Cooperative Extension provides equal program and employment opportunities. NYS College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, NYS College of Human Ecology, and NYS College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University, Cooperative Extension associations, county governing bodies, and U.S. Department of Agriculture, cooperating. Building Strong and Vibrant New York Communities Teen Leadership Program 4-H Teens should mark their calendars for the next Teen Leadership program meeting on November 18th at 6:00 p.m. This will be an important planning meeting for future activities in the program. We will also be participating in some challenge activities as part of our leadership training. Even if you haven’t had a chance to be involved in this program yet, please come and take part in this fun way of learning some very useful life skills. For more information contact Matt Bosley at the CCE office, 962-4810 ext. 405. Winter Forum ‘07’ We’re looking for youth and volunteers who would like to share their expertise at this year’s Clinton and Essex County Winter Forum. Last year we had Beginning Sewing, Spinning, Horse Driving and more all presented by youth and volunteers. What can you offer us this year? Each presentation session is 1 hour in length and double sessions can be scheduled if needed. Please complete the below form and return it to Mary by November 30th, 2006. Winter Forum is scheduled for January 20th, 2007 at the Keeseville Elementary School. It will run from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Winter Forum Presentation Return to 4-H Office by Nov 30th, 2006 Name_________________________________ Presentation Title________________________ Adult______ Youth_______ Number of Participants____________________ Single or Double Session Block_____________ Town & Country 1 HOLIDAY CREATIONS!! WHEN: December 16th, 2006 WHERE: 4-H Office in Westport TIME: 10-Noon Come and join us for our ‘Holiday Creation Day’. This year, Liz Cauthorn will lead us in creating chandeliers for the outdoors. This is not only a great project in its usefulness, but also a wonderful item to enter into the Essex County Fair 4-H Static Exhibit Hall in ‘2007’. Please complete the registration form below and return it to the 4-H Office. Glass baby food jars are needed for this project. Holiday Creation Registration Registration due in to the 4-H Office no later than December 8th, 2006. Name__________________________________ Age_______ Club___________________________________ Phone_________________________________ Fee: $2.00 (Make check payable to CCE) I can bring glass baby food jars____________ Number Town & Country 2 REMINDER!! WHO: 4-H Teens WHAT: Trip Application Time WHEN: Due in to 4-H Office by November 30th, 2006 *Please take the time to apply for the numerous trips that the Essex County Leaders’ Association offers all our teen 4-H Members. Deposit may be waived on individual need basis. For more information contact Mary at the 4-H Office 962-4810 ext. 407 AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM HAPPENINGS AuSable Valley Central After-School Program which includes the AuSable and Keeseville Elementary Schools was awarded a mini grant from the JC Penny AfterSchool Program and the 4-H Foundation. As an extra gift, the JC Penny After School Program also awarded youth participants each a $100.00 JVC Penny Gift Card. Laurie Davis, from Adirondack Harvest, visited each of our 3 after-school programs. This visit was in celebration of Adirondack Harvest Week. The theme for Laurie’s visit was learning how to make apple sauce from scratch. After-school participants all had the chance to take part in this very tasty activity. Town & Country 3 COMING SOON!!! OFFICER TRAINING Teen Volunteers Wanted!!! Officer Training will be held on Saturday, December 16th, 2006 from 9:00-10:00 a.m. Any teen who has held an officer’s position and would like to help with this training please contact Mary at the 4-H Office or return the bottom portion to the 4-H Office no later than December 8th, 2006. Officer Training Teen Volunteer Return to the 4-H Office no later than December 8, 2006. Name_______________________________ Club________________________________ Phone___________________ Office you would like to train (please check) _____President _____Vice-President _____Treasurer _____Secretary Please return this registration form to the 4-H Office no later than December 8th, 2006. Name______________________________ Age___________________ Club_______________________________ Phone__________________ Officer Position in your club (Check one) SIGN UP FOR OFFICER TRAINING _____President _____Vice-President _____Treasurer _____Secretary Town & Country 4 NOVEMBER 4-H CALENDAR OF EVENTS/HAPPENINGS Nov. 2nd 3rd 4th 17th 18th 21st 21st Leader Annual Orientation in Moriah from 7:00-8:00 p.m. All 4-H cookie money due in to 4-H Office by 4:00 p.m. Achievement Night Social 6:00-9:00 p.m. Leader/Volunteer Recognition Banquet 6:30 p.m. 4-H Teen Fun Night 6:00-9:00 p.m. Dairy Leaders’ Mtg. 4:00-6:00 p.m. Horse Leaders’ Mtg. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Teen Volunteers Needed!!! The Essex County 4-H Leaders’/Volunteers’ Recognition Dinner is being held on November 17th, 2006. We are looking for teens to volunteer to help with set-up, serving, and clean-up for this event. This is a wonderful way to thank our county leaders as well as earn community service hours. Please complete the form below and return it to the 4-H Office. Leader/Volunteer Dinner Teen Volunteer Please return to the 4-H Office no later than November 10th, 2006 Name___________________________ Club____________________________ Phone___________________________ Town & Country 5 ESSEX COUNTY 4-H CALENDAR ‘2006-2007’ October • 16th-Leader Annual Orientation 7-8 p.m. • 16th-27th-4-H Cookie Sales • 17th-Horse Leaders’ Mtg. 6:30-8:30 p.m. • 18th- Leader Annual Orientation 2-3 p.m. • 19th & 20th-Cobleskill Award Trip • 23rd-Leader’s Association Mtg. @ AuSable 7-9 p.m. • 24th-Leader Annual Orientation @ AuSable 7-8 p.m. • Dairy Leaders’ Mtg. 4-6 p.m. November • 2nd-Leader Annual Orientation @ Moriah 7-8 p.m. • 3rd-4-H Cookie Money due into 4-H Office • 4th-4-H Achievement Night Social 6-9 p.m. • 17th-4-H Leaders/Volunteer Banquet 6:30 p.m.-till • 18th-Teen Fun Night 6-9 p.m. • 21st-Dairy Leaders’ Mtg. 4-6 p.m. • 21st-Horse Leaders’ Mtg. 6:30-8:30 p.m. December • 16th- Officer Training 9-10 a.m. • 16th-Holiday Creation 10-Noon • 19th- Dairy Leaders’ Mtg. 4-6 p.m. • 19th-Horse Leaders’ Mtg. 6:30-8:30 p.m. January • Dairy Leaders’ Mtg 4-6 p.m. • 16th-Horse Leaders’ Mtg. 6:30-8:30 p.m. • 20th-Winter Forum 10:00-3:00 p.m. February • 3rd-Essex County Horse Bowl/Hippology • 19th-23rd-Essex County 4-H Vacation Week Programs TBA • 20th-Dairy Leaders’ Mtg. 4-6 p.m. • 20th-Horse Leaders’ Mtg. 6:30-8:30 p.m. March • • • • • 5th & 6th-Capital Days Trip 20th-Dairy Leaders’ Mtg. 20th-Horse Leaders’ Mtg. 6:30-8:30 p.m. 21st-Essex County Leadership Day 24th-Essex County Public Presentation Day • 31st-Essex County Public Presentation Snow Makeup-Day April • • • • • • TBA-Regional Horse Bowl/Hippology Day TBA Wonders of Washington Trip 9th-13th- Vacation Week Programs TBA County Public 18th-Essex Presentation Make-Up Day 17th-Dairy Leaders’ Mtg. 4-6 p.m. 17th-Horse Leaders’ Mtg. 6:30-8:30 p.m. May • • • • • • • TBA-Horse Camp 5th-Garden-In- A-Bucket 10:00-Noon 12th-Animal Crackers @ Cornell 15th- Dairy Leaders’ Mtg. 4-6 p.m. 15th-Horse Leaders’ Mtg. 6:30-8:30 15th-Award Trip Orientation 6-7 p.m. 22nd&24th-EssexCounty Environmental Field Days June • • • • TBA-Dairy Camp 19th-Dairy Leaders’ Mtg. 4-6 p.m. 19th-HorseLeaders’Mtg.6:30-8:30p.m. TBA University U & Focus For Teens Cornell Trip July & August • TBA- Summer Programs • TBA-Essex County Fair Dates • July17th-Hostess/Host& Waiter/Waitress Training 6-7 p.m. • 21st-Dairy Leaders’ Mtg. 4-6 p.m. • 21st-Horse Leaders’ Mtg. 6:30-8:30 • August 30th- September 2nd-State Fair Trip September • 30th-Progress Summary Due in to 4H Office Town & Country 6 Local Vegetable, Herb and Flower Production in the Adirondacks Saturday November 18 from 10 am to 3 pm Cornell Cooperative Extension in Westport Rob Hastings of Rivermede Farm will present a workshop on growing profitable direct market vegetables, herbs, fruit, and flowers in the Adirondacks. He will cover soil and irrigation needs, seeds and cropping patterns, using greenhouses to extend the season, and using organic production methods. Rob has also developed a business providing flowers and wreaths for special occasions. Rob has been farming in Keene Valley for over 10 years. He has a store, sells at Farmers’ Markets and to the restaurant trade. He has tried a variety of markets that work and don’t work, and will share do’s and don’ts with you. He will describe his planning processes, his operation, price setting and marketing techniques. There is a $5 charge for materials. Lunch is another $5 or bring your own Please pre-register with Anita Deming at (518) 9624810 ext 409 This program is cosponsored with the Northeast Center for Risk Management. Farm Income Tax School – One Day Thursday, November 30 Best Western, Canton and Tuesday, December 12 – Saratoga 7:45 am to 4:30 pm; $120 per person; CPE credits are available (You can carpool with Anita for the Saratoga program) Topics: Revised Production Deduction, Child Tax Credit, Depreciation and Sec 179 Expenses, Social Security Issues, Required NYS Electronic Filing, Earned Income Credit, NYS Property Tax Rebates, Energy Credits, and Tax Management and Report Recommendations Contact Anita Deming if you would like the registration packet. (518) 962-4810 ext 409 Natural/Organic/Grass-fed Sheep, Beef, Hogs, Chickens and Turkeys Saturday December 2nd from 10 am to 3 pm Cornell Cooperative Extension in Westport Peter MacDonald raises and markets grass-fed, organic livestock he calls “the big six:” sheep, beef, hogs, chickens, eggs and turkeys from his 200 acre farm in the Finger Lakes. He uses the motto “Pasture Pride” to identify and market his products and to describe his belief in restorative agricultural practices that produce clean food to return health to the land, animals and people, and in the process, restore relationship, hope, trust and community between local producers and consumers. He is NYS-licensed to slaughter poultry onTown & Country 7 farm. He markets on the web site www.pasturepride.com. Peter will describe his cultural practices, his husbandry practices and marketing. He will also speak about the costs of production and profitability. There is a $5 charge for materials. Lunch is another $5 or bring your own Please pre-register with Anita Deming at (518) 962-4810 ext 409 This program is co-sponsored with the Northeast Center for Risk Management. Dairy Producers’ Workshop on Cheese-making The Chemistry Behind Making Cheese Safely Thursday December 7th, 2006 at 10:45 AM CCE Office – Clinton County 6064 Route 22 Suite #5 Plattsburgh, NY. Also in Tompkins, Delaware, Jefferson, and Chautauqua Counties. This is the second Distance-Learning Opportunity on Farmstead Cheese Production. This workshop is to help the producer understand the process of cheese making. With this knowledge the producer can prevent costly mistakes and also learn the areas of the process they can manipulate to develop their own style of cheese. Dave Brown, veteran Food Scientist/Extension with Cornell University, will give the main presentation. We will also have site inspectors with the State Ag & Markets program to answer questions about the buildings and equipment which are required for farmstead cheese Town & Country production. The program is sponsored by Cornell Small Farms Program and the NY Farm Viability Institute (NYFVI). Contact Amy D. Ivy, (518)5617450 or adi2@cornell.edu to register. Regional Whole Farm Planning and Water Quality Management in the NYC Watershed Internet Learning Course This on-line course will focus on the water quality concerns in the NYC water supply and the relationship between of farming practices and water quality. The course will provide for selfdirected learning with before and after surveys to allow for the evaluation of learning. Large farm producers will better understand the effects of land management on water quality. Agriservice providers that take the on-line course will better understand the implications of their recommendations on water quality. The general public and students will learn what farmers have and will be doing in the NYC Watershed to protect the water supply of the nine million residents living in and around New York City. Contact John Thurgood, (607) 08657090 or jmt20@cornell.edu 8 Radisson Hotel 200 Genesee St Utica Timber Taxation Workshop Tuesday, November 7th Lowville, NY The majority of forest owners, foresters, and tax preparers have limited exposure to current information that addresses federal tax issues for private forest owners. Forest owners need to make decisions about their passive versus active role in management, determining their basis, structuring their management plan for optimal tax advantages, allowable deductions, accounting for federal cost-share payments, and more. This workshop is designed for anyone who has a role in advising or preparing federal tax returns associated with private forest land. Tax preparers (CPAs and Enrolled Agents), foresters, land trust managers, and real estate advisors at banks, are common participants. Some private forest owners actively contribute to tax preparation and would benefit from the workshop. Participants receive Continuing Education credits based on their profession: Certified Public Accountants (8.0 CPE), Enrolled Agents (8.0 CPE) and Foresters (6.5 category I). Please email any questions to Peter Smallidge at pjs23@cornell.edu In-depth Income Tax Schools November 8 and 9 7:30 am to 5:00 each day There are also courses in Binghamton, Rochester, Syracuse and Buffalo on different days. Topics include: New Legislations, Planning for Taxpayers, Individual Taxpayer Issues, Investment Issues, Estate and Gift Taxes, Domestic Production Activities, Business Entities, Retirement for Self Employed People, Business Issues, Agricultural Issues, IRS Issues, Case Rulings, Tax Aspects of Divorce and New York State Updates. $320 for training. 16 continuing education credits Contact Anita Deming for the Preregistration material – (518) 9624810 ext 409 High Tunnels Farm Tour of Two Farms in Massachusetts Wednesday, November 8, 12:00 noon to 3:30 pm High tunnels are greenhouse-like structures that offer farmers an inexpensive means to extend growing and marketing seasons, intensify production, and reduce weather-related risk. Learn how a handful of experienced farmers use these cost-effective structures to grow early tomatoes, cucumbers, salad greens, cut flowers and a wide range of fall and winter salad crops. The tour will visit two farms in Massachusetts' Pioneer Valley — Red Fire Farm in Southern Hampshire County, and the Hampshire College Farm located on the Hampshire College campus in Amherst. There is a half hour drive between the two stops. Town & Country 9 This tour, sponsored by the Regional Farm & Food Project, is made possible by a grant from the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program. Please contact Billie Best at 518-2710744 or billie@farmandfood.org Red Fire Farm: Ryan Voiland grows 25 acres of certified organic vegetables on the 50-acre farm he purchased in Granby, Massachusetts, in 2001. The harvest supplies the farm's 400 share CSA and its two farmstands. Red Fire Farm also sells to local wholesale accounts and at a weekly farmers' market. Current high tunnel production at Red Fire Farm includes summer tomatoes, early spring carrots, and winter salad greens, baby bok choy, and spinach. her data on planting dates, yields, and varieties, and will explain how she adapted Eliot Coleman's growing techniques to her operation. To register in advance call 518-2710744. 2006 Fall Dairy Conference Thursday and Friday November 9-10 Holiday Inn-Auburn, Auburn, NY Wednesday to Thursday, November 9, 2006 9 am to 4:30 pm cost $225 Topics include: Mastitis control and quality milk, Producing quality milk at Tillamook Cheese, Optimizing the performance of your milking system, Bacteria counts — what the acronyms mean and how to keep them low, Effective use of bulk tank cultures, Mastitis culture results, Use of on-farm mastitis culture techniques, How market research has influenced product development at Tillamook Cheese, Minnesota’s experience with compost bedded pack barns, Growth and innovation at Holsum Dairy: How we have successfully used and marketed post-digested separated solids for dairy cattle bedding, Chronic E. coli mastitis infections, What we have learned about Klebsiella mastitis, Controlling environmental Streptococci in your herd, Prudent antimicrobial use, Reducing mastitis and metritis by maximizing your cow’s immune system, Mastitis vaccines: Why they do and don’t work, New vaccine technology for Salmonella, and an Update on current mastitis research topics If you wish to attend the conference, register at Dairy Management Office 272 Morrison Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853. For more information contact (607) 2554478. Hampshire College Farm: Nancy Hanson farms on the Hampshire College campus for students, faculty, and other staff as a salaried employee of the college. She operates a 200 member CSA from late August to Thanksgiving. She also sells wildly popular bagged winter salad greens directly to members of the college community from late December until the first week of May, with a several week break in January. She seeds the greens from October to mid December. At the tour, Nancy will provide a primer on winter growing. She will share Town & Country 10 VEGETABLE PRODUCTION: From Greenhouse to Market A Three-Day Farmer-to-Farmer Workshop for Vegetable Farmers Monday to Wednesday December 11, 12 & 13 United Methodist Church, Saratoga Springs, NY The workshop will focus on all aspects of greenhouse production, crop varieties, field production (including soil management, tillage, & rotations), insect & disease management, recordkeeping for profitability, harvesting techniques, post-harvest handling/storage, and marketing. This workshop is designed for all levels of farmers with any size farm and any type system (conventional, organic, sustainable, etc.). Dan Kaplan; Brookfield Farm; Amherst, Massachusetts Since 1994, Dan and his family have managed this 120-acre mixed farm, with beef cows, hay, and 27 acres of biodynamic vegetable production, all of which are marketed through a successful 520-share CSA. Dan's expertise lies in his ability to manage labor, simplify record keeping, and balance good business practices with quality of life concerns. Paul Bucciaglia, Fort Hill Farm; New Milford, Connecticut Paul has had a lifelong interest in farming and was a plant scientist after graduating from Penn State's College of Agriculture. Paul rents 20 acres of land and has about 15 acres of that in organic production with a diverse mix of 40 vegetable crops. He runs a successful 300 share CSA and also sells at two farmers' markets. Some of Paul's strengths in operating a farm are in soil and weed management and in managing plant growth and development. Jim Crawford; New Morning Farm; Pennsylvania The Crawfords have been familyscale vegetable farmers in central Pennsylvania since 1972 and their 95 acres have been certified organic since 1987. They grow 50 different crops, which are uniquely marketed direct to consumers in the D. C. area. Jim has a great interest in the whole farm design and is enthuseiastic about how to operate a successful farm. Registration: Participants MUST pre-register. Please register early - space is limited. Registration costs $175 per person. Sustainable Farmers Network, c/o Sandy Arnold, 118 South Valley Road, Argyle, NY 12809. 518-6386501, arnold3@capital.net Town & Country 11 2007 NYS Farmers’ Direct Marketing Conference, The Food Less Traveled: How Good Local Food Contributes to Healthy People Thursday to Saturday January 18-20, 2007 Oswego Treadway Inn Topics include: Personal health; Economic health for farmers and communities; Environmental health; Healthy farm families; Healthy neighbor relations; Health and hospitality on the farm; Healthy farm collaboratives; and Healthy children/Healthy communities. The conference will feature preconference workshops, as well. These workshops will spend the day covering a topic of importance to farm direct marketers. These workshops include: Employee training; Food service for farm markets; Start-up bakery; CSA’s, and Livestock Marketing. In addition to the full three days of workshops and sessions, the Farmers’ Market Federation of NY will be holding a special market manager training program sponsored by USDA’s SARE program. This program is the first year of a three year program dedicated to develop professional standards for managing farmers’ markets. The NY Small Scale Food Processors will be hosting their annual meeting at the 2007 Conference. The workshops for the NYSSFPA will include: Healthy practices for healthy foods; All you need to know to become a 20C licensed kitchen; and Nutrient analysis and why it’s important. The trade show will run January 18 and 19 (Friday and Saturday) and will offer a wide variety of products for the farm direct marketing industry. You’re sure to find the packaging you need, the seeds you’ve been searching for, the perfect gift items for your stand or the special gourmet food item that will make your cashier register ring! For more information, call the NYSFDMA office at 315-475-1101 or email diane99@dreamscape.com OR call the NY Farms! office at 607-6593710 or email nyfarms@clarityconnect.com . Town & Country 12 HOLIDAY FEASTING How You Can Enjoy a Guilt Free Holiday Season By: Amy LaPierre, Registered Dietitian, Nutrition Educator For many, the Holiday season can be a time for family, food, and fun. For others, this is the season when gaining weight is a worry. Have no fear this year, just have a plan! Holiday foods should be enjoyed and also eaten in moderation. When it comes time to eating this holiday season remember these few simple rules and sail through the holidays feeling refreshed and healthy. Make sure that half of your plate is always filled with fruits and/or vegetables Make room on a quarter of your plate for your meat and/or beans The other quarter of your plate is a great place for whole grains (brown rice, whole grain pasta, potatoes, whole wheat bread, etc.) A small bread plate is the perfect size for desserts (remember, it should fit on the plate, not over the sides!) A glass of milk (or maybe eggnog) is a great way to round off a meal setting Save “extras” from meals to make sandwiches for lunch the following day Have fruit or vegetable platters out during the day to nibble on instead of cakes and cookies Follow the food safety tips on the following page to ensure a safe holiday season. After all of the meals are finished, enjoy and spend time with your family. Take a walk and look at the decorations in your neighborhood. Start up a game of touch football, basketball, or soccer. Jump in a pile of leaves. Build a snowman or snow fort (If there is snow!). Go for a hay ride or sleigh ride. Enjoy any activity your family chooses, just spend time together. By following these few simple tips all that you will fear this holiday season are the dishes. Happy Holidays! Town & Country 13 By Amy LaPierre, Registered Dietitian, Nutrition Educator Top Ten Food Handling Tips to Stay Safe this Holiday Season 1. Always wash your hands with hot soapy water for at least 20 seconds (sing Happy Birthday twice) before and after handling food. 2. Refrigerate or freeze perishable, prepared and leftover foods within 2 hours of being prepared. DO NOT leave them sitting out at room temperature. 3. Always thaw food in the refrigerator. NEVER defrost food at room temperature on the countertop. 4. Cook food to the proper internal temperature and check for doneness with a meat thermometer. Here are some basic temps: Beef (160 degrees), Chicken or Turkey Ground (165 degrees), Beef, Veal & Lamb (160-170 degrees), Pork (160 degrees), Chicken or Turkey breasts (170 degrees), Chicken or Turkey legs, thighs & wings (180 degrees). All temperatures are in degrees Fahrenheit. 5. Wash cutting boards and knives with hot soapy water after food preparation, especially after cutting raw meat, poultry, or seafood. Sanitize countertops after all food prep is finished with a diluted bleach solution or store-bought cleaner. 6. Never place food on the same plate or cutting board that previously held raw meat, poultry or seafood unless the cutting board has been thoroughly washed (tip: have separate cutting board for meats and fresh produce). 7. If no thermometer is available to determine the temperature of a food use visual signs such as: steam rising from foods, clear juices running from meat and poultry, no pink. Pork, veal and poultry are white inside, not pink or red. Shellfish is opaque and fish flakes easily with a fork. Egg yolks are firm, not runny with opaque egg whites. 8. Store raw meat, poultry, and seafood tightly wrapped on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator away from foods that will be eaten raw. 9. Always marinate foods in the refrigerator, not on the countertop. Discard leftover marinades that have been used with raw meat, poultry or seafood. 10. Replace and wash dish towels and sponges often to prevent the spread of harmful bacteria throughout the kitchen. Use paper towels to dry washed hands after handling raw foods. *adapted from Kraft Foods Town & Country 14 by Emilie Drinkwater, Essex County Master Gardener This year I learned firsthand the value of my garden journal. It was late June and I was about to uproot a twiggy, leaf-barren plant which I took for dead after a winter with no insulating snow on the ground. Just as the first roots were tearing from the ground I thought I should check my garden journal...just in case. Sure enough, I was uprooting a lovely Clethra alnifolia (Summersweet). Not only had I forgotten buying and planting it (on sale the previous fall), I had forgotten that Summersweet is a notorious late bloomer. Fortunately, this information had all made it into the journal. While there is an abundance of gardening information in books, magazines, and online, a well-kept journal may prove to be your most valuable resource: after all it is about your garden. Recording information about your garden can be as simple as jotting notes in a notebook or as detailed as computer spreadsheets or landscape design software. Whichever you choose, taking the time to record pertinent information will pay off in the long run (like when you’re about to uproot a nice shrub!). Here are some ideas about what to include: • Plant specific information. Name and variety or cultivar. Where did the plant come from? When was it planted and where? Did it grow well? Do you like it? • A map or diagram of your garden which includes aspect, proximity to house, walkways, water sources, and location of plants. Town & Country Keeping a Garden Journal • Photos taken throughout the growing season. • Weather and temperature. Wind, rain, drought, frost, etc.. • Problems. Bugs, wildlife, disease and what solutions you may have tried. What worked, what did not. • Dates and ratios of fertilizer application. • Dates of pesticide/insecticide application (if any). • Schedule for when and what may need pruning, pinching, transplanting, and dividing. • Soil. Amendments added. Mulch used. pH or soil test results. • Ideas for future plants and gardens. References: The American Horticultural Society, Northeast. DK Publishing Inc., 2003. Smith, Edward C., The Vegetable Gardener’s Bible. Storey Publishing, 2000. 15 Pat Macomber, Horticultural Program Assistant This is being written during the third week of October when my Mooers garden continues to have lots of color and different textures. If the fall continues on a rather gentle path, then much of this interesting foliage and flowers will remain into early November. Here are several lists of shrubs, perennials and grasses which are responsible for putting on this last grand show. Shrubs with red fruits Winterberry (Ilex verticillata several Cvs.) • High Bush Cranberry (Viburnum trilobum) • Sargent Viburnum (Viburnum sargentii Cvs. ‘Susquehanna’, ‘Onondaga’) Winterberry fruit • Spicebush (Lindera benzoin) • The Garden Show Goes On foliage Perennials which are flowering • • • • • • • • • Shrubs with yellow, orange or red foliage • • • • Snowbank boltonia (Boltonia asteroids ‘Snowbank’) New England Aster (Aster novae-angliae ‘Alma Potschke’, ‘Hella Lacy’, ‘Purple Dome’, ‘Honeysong Pink’) Raydon’s aster (Aster oblongifolius ‘Raydon’s Favorite’, ‘October Skies’) Heart-leaved aster (Aster cordifolius ‘Little Carlow’) New England Aster Smooth aster (Aster laevis ‘Bluebird’) Large-leaved aster (Aster macrophyllus) Calico aster (Aster lateriflorus ‘Lady in Black’) Heath aster (Aster ericoides ‘Snowflurry’, ‘Pink Star’) Japanese onion (Allium thunbergi ‘Ozawa’) Rough-stemmed goldenrod (Solidago rugosa ‘Fireworks’) • Spicebush (Lindera benzoin) Fothergilla (Fothergilla major and F. gardenii ‘Mt. Airy’) Common Witchhazel (Hamamelis virginiana) Vernal Witchhazel (Hamamelis vernalis) Ornamental grasses • • • • Common Witchhazel Perennials with handsome yellow foliage • • Switch grass (Panicum virgatum. There any several Cvs., all interesting.) Indian Grass (Sorghastrum nutans. ‘Sioux Blue’) Little Blue stem (Schizacharium scoparium) Purple Moor Grass (Molinia caerulea var arundinacea ‘Windspiel’) Absolutely magnificent with thin 5’-6’ flower stalks. Willow amsonia (Amsonia tabernaemontana) Arkansas amsonia (Amsonia hubrichtii) gorgeous golden fall Purple Moor Grass Town & Country 16 Caring For Your Tools Excerpts from a fact sheet by Charlie Howard, former Master Gardener Volunteer Considering the cost of good gardening tools these days, it pays to take care of them properly. The best way to ensure that your tools will last a long time is to give them a thorough once-over before you put them away for the winter. Prevent Rusting of Metal Surfaces: Coat all clean, sharpened, metal blades and the heads of shovels, hoes, and rakes with a light oil. This can be done in a number of ways. Consider the following and decide which is best for you. Spray with WD-40 or a silicone spray for a finishing touch. This prevents rust and keeps soil from sticking to the tool. Rub the tool with an “oil sock.” (Stuff a sock with sand or wrapped cloth. Tie a knot and dip the sock in fresh engine oil or even vegetable oil. Squeeze out the excess oil, and store the sock in a zip-lock plastic bag.) An “oil dip” can be prepared by saturating a bucket of sand with engine or vegetable oil. Dip the tool surfaces in the bucket after using thus preventing rusting throughout the year. The pail can be stored out of the way and it will last “forever.” Don’t Forget Those Handles If a tool handle is loose, check to see that any screws or bolts connecting the working end of the tool to the handle are fastened securely. Tools like axes and heavy hammers have the wooden handle end showing through the tool. A metal wedge driven into the end of the wood handle is usually required to tighten this type of handle. If the handle is broken, replace it. Replacement handles are available in many hardware stores and garden centers. It generally requires the removal of some securing screw or bolt and the shaping of the replacement handle board with shaker pegs, long nails, hooks or tool hangers and nail it to a wall in your garage or shed. Lay the tools on the board (a 1” x 4” will do nicely) as if they were already handing, then position and fasten the pegs or nails appropriately. Finally nail the board to the wall and hang the tools on or between the hangers. Do a quick examination and cleaning of your tools as you put them away. A plastic kitchen spatula by the door works great to scrape off dirt and mud. Don’t use a metal trowel for scraping – you could end up dulling both tools. Clean each tool. Clean all surfaces to remove any dirt that can harbor moisture and cause the metal to rust. If it is dirty, wash the tool with soap and water to loosen dirt and crusted material. Scrape off stubborn chunks with a putty knife or stiff wire brush. If the tool is painted, do not use the brush or it will scratch the paint. Keep Them Sharp Sharp tools perform better and are easier to use. Different tools have different sharpening requirements, too complicated to cover here. Our fact sheet (see below) has all the details. ****************** Call our office for a free copy of the fact sheet “Caring For Your Tools” or visit our local website http://ecgarding.cce.cornell.edu and click on “factsheets” on the left side of the page. Town & Country to fit the working end of the tool using a wood rasp, sanding machine or other wood removal device. A spray rubber coating (also available in a dip) is good for covering parts of tool handles. This will improve your grip on the tool, prevent splinters, reduce wear and tear on the handle, and can help you to spot the tool easily in the garden. Some Tool Storing Tips to Consider Store all tools in a dry place where you can find them in the spring. For smaller tools consider a bucket caddy. These cloth “aprons” wrap around a 5 gallon bucket, and have various numbers of pockets to store items. This keeps your hand tools in one place, and is easy to carry. Store tools upright off the floor. A simple way to do so is to fit a 17 November Garden Tips by Amy Ivy, Executive Director / Extension Educator, Clinton County Make Your Own Grape Vine Wreath Wild grapes are prolific in much of the Champlain Valley, They grow up and over most anything especially in hedgerows. If you don’t own the land, always get permission first but chances are good the landowner will be glad to have the tangling vines removed. Harvesting the vines is fun, just grab a vine and start pulling. When the vine gets stuck and you can’t pull anymore, cut it off with pruning shears and grab another vine. You should be able to gather vines anywhere from 6 to 12 feet long or more. Coil them up like rope until you need them or make the wreath right there. Grapevine wreaths are simple to make, even I can do it. Just form the vine into a circle about the size you want then continue wrapping more vines around the original circle. Use the shorter side shoots to wrap in a spiral around the ring to hold the vines together. Tuck the ends of the vine sections under other vines in the wreath and keep going until it’s as big and full as you like. These wreaths are supposed to have a sort of messy, casual look to them, that’s part of their charm. The main trick to making grapevine wreaths is to either make them the day you harvest the vines or else soak the vines in a child’s wading pool for a few hours if they become too dry to bend easily. I like the vines that still have a Town & Country reddish color to them the best, they are thinner, younger and more flexible. Last Call for Bulbs! This is your last chance to plant spring bulbs. Take a look in all your closets, you may be surprised to uncover that forgotten bag of bulbs you purchased last September. October is the ideal month to plant tulips, daffodils and the rest, but as long as you can break through the frozen surface you can still plant these spring bulbs now. It’s not the ideal time, but it’s a better option than trying to hold them indoors until next spring. Last Chance to Weed! If we get a mild day in November try to head out to your perennial flower garden for one last weeding. Try to get all the dandelions, quackgrass and ground ivy out of your gardens now while you’ve got some time and the blackflies are sleeping. Be sure to use a trowel or shovel to get the roots, not just the tops. Next spring, while your neighbors are swatting and cursing the flies and weeds you’ll be glad got ahead of those weeds this fall. I don’t add any of these weeds to my compost pile. They are all perennials and have very resilient root systems. They survive harsh conditions and would quickly take over my compost pile if I let them. The 18 only weeds I add to my compost pile are young seedlings that haven’t set seeds or developed large roots. Water Your Evergreens Evergreen shrubs continue to lose a little moisture through their needles or leaves all winter long. This moisture loss is hard on them when winter weather arrives, making them more likely to suffer from wind burn. It’s a good idea to give each evergreen a long, slow soaking before the ground freezes, especially any plants that are located in a windy site. Of course, if we have plenty of soaking rains this month, this extra watering won’t be necessary but it’s too soon to tell right now. Winter Compost One trick to keeping your home compost pile going as long into winter as possible is to stockpile a good supply of leaves next to your compost bin, under cover from snow if possible. Maintain a layer 6 to 12 inches deep of dry leaves on top of your working compost pile. Add more leaves as you add more food scraps to your pile. Covering the pile makes it easier for you to reach the loose, dry leaves and stir in your food scraps. Eventually, all but the most dedicated composters stop adding food to their piles in winter, but once the snow melts or thaws somewhat you can resume adding scraps. Always bury them under the leaves to keep them insulated and blended with these bulking agents. Christmas Cactus Can’t Read Calendars Every fall we’ll get at least one call from someone concerned because their Christmas cactus is full of buds weeks before Christmas. What are they to do? The short answer is to just enjoy the bloom and be glad the plant set buds so easily. The term ‘Christmas cactus’ is not really accurate. There are other plants called Thanksgiving cactus and Easter cactus and probably a few other holidays, too. They are named for the holidays around which they tend to bloom, but there are many variations and few actually bloom right on time. Shorter days and lower nighttime temperatures cause the plants to produce flower buds. My Christmas cactus is more of an Election Day/Mardi Gras cactus because that’s when it tends to bloom, without any help from me! Wind Protection Recent windy weather is a good reminder for anyone with evergreens in their yard to think about giving them some winter protection. It really helps to erect some kind of wind barrier for wind-sensitive evergreens including yews, rhododendrons, hemlocks and dwarf Alberta spruce. If your site is naturally protected from winter wind, you’re all set, but if any of Town & Country 19 Some Lists to Get You Thinking by Amy Ivy (just for fun, not an absolute-cast-in-stone kind of thing!) contact our office for more information on any of these topics t s tha Pest ld ed seho anag Hou op be m T lly usua sticides can pe s out r flie with uste l · C ybugs Lad oths · eal m tles · M in bee ra ugs · G elder b x o · B ders ifer Spi Con · tern Bug es Seed · W Flies s h Fruit · Mot rain · D · · No gorgeous sh ves persist a a n m · Yo ore lawn m des of colors d u stil owin for tho l have a cou g! pl s gotten e fall chores e of weeks you ha t ven’t g at h er o y et – p l an t ing lea i ves for ng bulbs, p i l e, p ut y winter ting up snow our compost w the per ind barriers fence and , ennial · Th garden cleaning up er e’ s f to read inally a litt le t piled u he garden m more time agazin p over es that the sum mer S o me t hi about ngs to like No Oak an d beec vember h l ea turn · · · · Flowers Annuals f Favorite or Cut November Chores to do in for • · · Larkspur tons Bachelor Sweet pe in Waiting Red salvia ’ Blue salvia ‘Lady Scabiosa but- as blades Sharpen mower Il next year berry ( s, sharpen ·Winter ) an mud off tool • Cle ticillata sh (Lindera and oil them u perending of the ·Spiceb • One last wee n) cially for benzoi sh Cranberry nial garden, espe ivy bu ground lus and ·High quackgrass and um opu w so n w perennials no (Vibur um) • Mark the ne p) they are ilob here a l us s p V. tr I don’t forget w pple (M ·Craba bush next spring g s) here I planted of w ·Burnin nymus alatu • Make notes uo e how many n se (E new tulips so I ca t h winter withou make it throug l the voles in my being eaten by al garden! y more daffodils • Resolve to bu oe future – daff than tulips in th rs by critte dils aren’t eaten eds er packets of se • Put all leftov e ing jar, screw th into a glass cann e red store in th lid on tightly an the winter frigerator over Town & Country Plants utdoor y BerO how with S n Fall ries i ex ver- 21 the above plants are located where the wind whistles, they will appreciate some protection. You can either set up snow fence or stretch burlap between stakes on the windward side of these sensitive plants. Timely reminder (obvious but easily forgotten): Pound the stakes in the ground now, before it freezes! You can stretch the burlap later if you like. Indoor Bulbs Paperwhite narcissus and amaryllis are two bulbs that are easy to grow indoors. They don’t need a cold treatment in order to bloom, just pot them up and watch them grow. The traditional amaryllis grows quite tall and often needs staking to keep it upright. Look for the miniature varieties if you have limited room. They don’t flop as much and often produce more abundant, though smaller, flowers. Remember that the paperwhites are exceedingly fragrant, they might be too strongly scented for a hospital room. 90th Annual Meeting for Cornell Cooperative Extension in Essex County Wednesday, November 15th CCE Essex County building in Westport Cornell Cooperative Extension is celebrating 90 years of educational programming in Essex County at our annual meeting. We are inviting all of our members to come and help us remember our heritage and to thank our volunteers and helpers. 6:30 hors d’oeuvres and snacks 7:00 presentation of Awards: Friend of Extension Awards to Catherine Stiles and Dan Connell Dairy of Distinction 6 year service awards for volunteers 7:15 Annual Reports – written copies of programming will be handed out 7:30 Brief History of Extension in Essex County 7:45 Comments and sharing from Community 8:00 Elections for Board of Directors – 4 openings available Nominations from the Board: For a second term: Dave Blades of Lewis and Bunny Goodwin from Keene For a first term: Judy Bertsche from Westport and Tom McNally from Minerva Nominations from the floor will be accepted. 8:30 Social time Town & Country 20 Thanksgiving A Sonnet for Fall Emily Selleck, Extension Educator, Horticulture My nubbly woolen coat was far too warm. My gingham dress rode high above my knees. My mother said my socks should not be torn. “My my,” I thought, and did my best to please. At Granny’s house they’d all be there to hug And proffer cheeks for kisses sweet and brief. The boys would scamper ‘round and ‘round and tug Their shirttails out – this only brought them grief! We girls would sit demurely by while aunts Exclaimed “How big you’ve grown!” and uncles beamed. Then Granny rang the bell and cast a glance Toward the feast – more food than we had dreamed! Although I missed my jeans and room at home Thanksgiving meant I’d never be alone. Did You Know? ✓ That our Website has lots of interesting and helpful information ✓ Tons of links ✓ Downloadable 4-H forms ✓ Local weather ✓ Town & Country Online ✓ Much, much more! http://counties.cce.cornell.edu/essex/ Town & Country 22 November 2006 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY 1 WEDNESDAY THURSDAY 2 Leader Annual Orientation @ Moriah 7-8pm FRIDAY 3 4-H Cookie Money due into 4-H Office by 4:00 p.m. Master Gardener Mtg. 10-12 p.m. 10 Veteran’s Day Office Closed 2006 Fall Dairy Conference Holiday Inn Auburn, NY 17 4-H Leaders/Volunteer Banquet 6:30 p.m. – till? 24 18 Ag Workshop 10 – 3 p.m. @ CCE Westport Teen Fun Night 6-9 p.m. @ CCE Westport 25 SATURDAY 4 4-H Achievement Night Social 6-9 p.m. 5 6 7 Timber Taxation Workshop @ Lowville, NY 8 9 Income Tax Schools 7:30 am to 5:00 each day Radisson Hotel Utica 11 Veteran’s Day 12 13 14 15 Annual Meeting @ CCE Westport 6:30 16 19 20 21 Dairy Leaders’ Mtg. 4-6 p.m. Horse Leaders’ Mtg. 6:30-8:30 p.m. 22 23 Thanksgiving Office Closed 26 27 28 29 30 Farm Income Tax School @ Best Western Canton Published monthly by the Cooperative Extension Association of Essex County Cooperative Extension Center Westport, NY 12993 Anita Deming, Executive Director Emily Selleck, Editor Vicki Wuest, Layout The information given is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names is made with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by the Cooperative Extension Association is implied. All Cooperative Extension programs in Essex County are provided on a non-discriminatory basis without regard to race, color, sex or national origin and provides equal program and employment opportunities. NONPROFIT PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. Postage Paid Westport, New York Permit No. 3 Ben Franklin proposed the turkey as the official United States bird Wild turkeys can fly for short distances up to 55 miles per hour Turkeys can see movement almost 100 yards away 45,000,000 turkeys are eaten each Thanksgiving University of Illinois Extension Gobbling turkeys can be heard a mile away on a quiet day Turkeys can see in color Turkeys do not see well at night Wild turkeys spend the night in trees. They especially like oak trees Eating turkey does not cause you to feel sleepy after your Thanksgiving dinner. Carbohydrates in your Thanksgiving dinner are the likely cause of your sleepiness Turkey Facts from University of Illinois Extension http://counties.cce.cornell.edu/essex/