New Resources
Are you a new or exploring farmer or just want some basic information
on agriculture? Then check out the all new...New
Farmer Resources
Cornell Website Helps Gardeners Choose Vegetable Varieties
Gardeners poring over seed catalogs this winter have a new resource to
help them choose which vegetable varieties to grow. The Vegetable Varieties
for Gardeners website (www.cce.cornell.edu/veg
) makes it easy for gardeners to compare varieties and become more aware
of the wide diversity available of varieties that are available. Gardeners
can search or browse through more than 2,000 varieties, view details for
each including how long they take to mature, and find links to seed companies
that sell the variety.
"The site is like an Amazon.com for vegetable varieties, only
we don't actually sell the seeds," says Lori Bushway, Senior
Extension Associate in the Department of Horticulture. "At Amazon's
website, you can study reader ratings and reviews to see if you want to
read a particular book. At our site, you can read gardener ratings and
reviews to see if you want to grow a particular variety," she adds.
The site was developed and is hosted by Cornell Cooperative Extension."The
best way for us to help gardeners choose varieties is to engage them directly,"
says Bushway. "We're making gardeners an essential part of the process
by gathering information in their own gardens, then sharing that information
with their fellow gardeners through the website."
The site also includes links to other Cornell gardening resources, including
online growing guides for more than 60 garden crops.
We Need Volunteers!
 Volunteer
a few hours a week to help with the VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance)
program which helps low income working families file taxes and claim the
Earned Income Tax Credit in Washington County. Volunteers are trained
in the fall. More
info ...
The AEDP initiative, Farm to Chef Express, Made Their
First Delivery to NYC on 6/23
(find out more about the program...)
Are you missing the Ag Report?
The Ag Report, our
seasonal weekly newsletter, used to be a free service to county residents
but due to budget cuts you need to put in a request to receive the Ag
Report through email or paper.
See old ag reports
Request Form
The Compost Network
Looking for compost to buy, materials to compost or someone to compost
your materials? Then check out the compost
network, a searchable database of people in all aspects of compost
production. Want to be listed? Fill out the online
form to become part of the network.
"Outsourcing Feed and Fieldwork: Sharing the Experience
of Successful Small Dairies"
Farmers in eight case studies share their experience managing their dairies
as purchase-feed operations (buying feed or hiring out fieldwork) or doing
custom machinery work. Both dairy business models help farmers of small
dairies use their resources of time, talent, and capital more efficiently.
(see more info and
download book....)
Washington County
Farm Guide
Pick up your copy at the fair, local business, or at the CCE office.
Also check out our online
version of the guide with an expanded listing. Find where to get fresh,
seasonal produce, local meats, and other farm products or pick-your-own
produce or just visit a farm and take a tour.
EMERGENCY FOOD HELP LINE
Hunger Action Network of New York State has a new service available call
the Emergency Food Help-Line. The Help-Line links New York residents with
local food resources including food stamps, food buying clubs, farmers'
markets, School Meals, and Summer Food Service Sites. The Help-Line also
provides information about local food pantries/soup kitchen locations
and provides referrals if necessary.
Please help to spread the work in your community about the Help-Line
in order to increase the number of hungry people who can benefit from
its services. The Emergency Food Help-Line can be reached at 1-866-526-2978.
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 Featured
Sites
The Small Farms Program
at Cornell University is a great resource for both farmers and people who
work woth farmers.
Growing New Farmers is
a project based out of the New England Small Farm Institute in Belchertown,
MA. It is a support program and network to aid New England new farmers
in their enterprises.
Washington County Agriculture Promotion Shirts Now Available
(see story)
Diversity in CCE
Cooperative Extension has put together a "toolbox" of resources
related to diversity issues. It can be found on the web at CCE
Diversity Toolbox
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