Cornell Cooperative Extension Tompkins County
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ccetompkins.bsky.social
Cornell Cooperative Extension Tompkins County
@ccetompkins.bsky.social
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We put knowledge to work in pursuit of economic vitality, ecological sustainability and social well-being. We bring local experience and research based solutions together, helping New York State families and communities thrive in our rapidly changing world
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This Tuesday, hear presentations from four Master Gardener Volunteers about how each went about growing native plants in their gardens, their successes, and lessons learned. This program is valued at $20, however, please pay what you are able. Sign up at ccetompkins.wufoo.com/forms/za9ql120ey7be8.
Rocks, sticks, piles of leaves, and other “messy” parts of the garden also provide habitat for beneficials that will be allies in our garden come spring. Save most garden cleanup until daytime temperatures consistently reach 50°F.
Overwintering insects need winter cover. Leave the hollow stems of late blooming perennials for beneficial invertebrates to use as a cozy home for winter.

#ecologicalgardenCCE
The book discussion will be led by CCETC Master Composter and Master Gardener Clare Jones. Clare leads reading groups for the Providence Athenaeum, orchestrates The Writers’ Room in partnership with Story House Ithaca, and founded the TCPL’s Salutations Seed Library.
Revisit this book from 1881 and discover what it has to share with us today in 2025. It explores the huge role that earthworms play in the development and transformation of the soil and its ability to sustain life. The book is short, sweet, and widely available online.
All are invited to a community book discussion of Charles Darwin’s last published work, The Formation of Vegetable Mould Through the Action of Worms with Observations on Their Habits, at CCE Tompkins!

This event is free and open to the public. Sign up online at civi.ccetompkins.org/civicrm/even...
Join us for the 4-H Fall Festival, 10 am - 3 pm on Saturday, October 18 at Ithaca's Tractor Supply Co.!

Stop by any time to visit local animals, make crafts, play games, purchase baked treats, and learn more about 4-H programs for local youth.
Winter is time for record keeping, resource gathering, and reflection. Maximize your success with ecological site planning. With the "right plant, right place" approach, your garden landscape will thrive and provide abundance and habitat in a changing climate.

#ecologicalgardenCCE
Learn more by emailing Nutrition Director Craig at [email protected].

All are welcome, and meetings are free!
The Healthy Eating Support Community is a welcoming, non-judgmental, and trauma-informed space for anyone struggling with making changes to their diet, for whatever reason, with whatever goals.

Next meeting Oct 9 4:30-5:30 pm, making sweet potato pie (gluten free) and winter squash salad.
Class topics include compost basics, options for outdoor composting, how to manage and troubleshoot, how and when to harvest, and the many ways to use finished compost.

A portion of this class will be held OUTDOORS in the compost demo site at CCE-Tompkins. Class held rain or shine.
Outdoor composting skills can help you to deal with large amounts of leaves, garden debris, food scraps and more in a productive and environmentally-friendly way! The compost will improve your soil and your garden will thrive.

Just $5 per household — sign up at civi.ccetompkins.org/civicrm/even....
Hugelkultur planting mounds add organics too. New perennial plantings also appreciate the soil boost that compost provides.
Fall is an ideal time to build new garden beds, or rehabilitate existing beds by adding compost. Sheet mulching - or lasagna gardening - is an easy, low-cost method of smothering weeds while building soil organic matter. #ecologicalgardenCC
Due to the hands-on nature of the topic, this workshop will be offered in-person only.

This program is valued at $35, however, please pay what you are able. If you cannot afford the $15 materials cost, please contact us, scholarships are available.
Participants will learn about the safety, equipment, and benefits of preserving seasonal foods. The class will also include hands-on demos where participants will get to practice canning.
If you've found yourself with too many apples for fresh eating, or if you're just curious about food preservation, join us at 5:30 pm on Tuesday, October 7, for a workshop on how to preserve apples and other seasonal foods at their peak flavor.

ccetompkins.org/events/2025/...
This event includes a presentation by Sameer Ranade, Senior Advisor for Climate Justice, Energy Climate Equity Team at NYSERDA, followed by a Q&A and group discussions. You can attend online or in person, and refreshments will be provided.
On October 1, learn about New York's Draft Energy Plan, a policy outline with recommendations for meeting future energy demands that prioritize an energy system that is reliable, clean, and affordable.

Register online at ccetompkins.org/events/2025/10/01/can-ny-have-affordable-and-clean-energy.
ccetompkins.org
Some cover crops will need to be planted in mid-summer, but you can sow seeds of some cover crops into early fall.
Cover crops are an inexpensive and efficient way to rebuild soil fertility and organic matter while protecting your soil from winter damage. There are different cover crops for different purposes such as adding soil nutrients, feeding soil microbes, or keeping weeds at bay. #ecologicalgardenCCE
By planting native plants, we can provide habitat for even the smallest creatures, and by using earth-friendly landscaping practices, we can create a healthy yard and a healthy planet . Join us for the first presentation in our Native Plant Gardening series!

ccetompkins.org/events/2025/...
Native Plant Gardening: Gardening for Life
Join us for the first presentation in our Native Plant Gardening series. Caring for our yards is the most direct way we care for the earth. By planting native plants, we can provide habitat for even t...
ccetompkins.org
Afterschool Adventures is open to kids grades 2-5 on Fridays from 2:30-5:00 PM.

Primitive Pursuits also has a special afterschool program at Caroline elementary for grades 1-5 on Tuesdays from 2:00-4:30 PM.
Learning doesn't have to stop once the school day ends! Register for Primitive Pursuits Afterschool Adventures at 4-H Acres. Our all outdoor all-weather program gives kids what they need to grow and deepen their connection with the world around them. Register at PrimitivePursuits.com/after-school.
The workday will include an overview of this research and a tour of the plot, followed by hands-on-work weeding, mulching and repairing the 10 ft tall deer fence surrounding the site.