may extension connection sullivan county 2015

Volume LXXXXVI, No. 5 Liberty, NY -:- May, 2015 (USPS) 525 - 100

Why Have My Hens Stopped Laying?

Regional Livestock & Poultry Processors

Farm Pond Fish Management

Oriental Bittersweet

Jam on It!

Youth Have Many Fair Opportunities!

Have You Heard about Mal de Debarquement

Syndrome (MdDS)?

Preventing Burns at Home When

Using Oxygen

Replenishing Worn Out Garden Soil

Volunteer Opportunities

Upcoming Programs

Three Day Master Food Preserver

Certification Training

Basic Vegetable Gardening

Native Plants vs. Invasive Species

Living at Home with Arthritis

Weeds, Shoots, & Flowers!

Intro to Poultry Farming

Intro to Commercial Vegetable Farming

CCESC Master Gardener

Annual Plant Sale

Volunteers Kaitlyn, Janice,

and William helped clean up the grounds at

CCESC in celebration of

Earth Day.

Jams and Jellies workshop held on April 18th. The participants learned about hot water bath canning and jelled products.

They each took home a jar of jalapeno pepper jelly, carrot cake jam, and a mixed berry freezer jam.

Extension Connection May, 2015

The Extension Connection Edited by: Nicole Slevin

Layout & Design by: Tracey Argent Produced at Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County

2015 Board of Directors Donna Willi..............President Earl Myers............Vice President Pamela Rourke......Secretary Glenn Pontier....Treasurer

Dawn Boyes Christopher Gozza

Sonja Hedlund Steve Mogel

Edward Moran Louisa Parker Mike Sakell

Janet Threshman Pete Tweed

Staff

Colleen Monaghan........Executive Director

Tracey ArgentSr. Administrator & HR Manager

SueAnn Boyd.....Sr. Administrative Assistant & Master Food Preserver

Susan Dollard...Community Horticulture Educator

Marylin Jones.....4-H Community Educator

Bonnie Lewis......................Dependent Care Educator

Michelle Lipari....Ag & 4-H Community Educator

Erica Lynch ....Kitchen Assistant

Melinda Meddaugh..Ag & Natural Resources Issue Leader,

SC Planning Liaison

Nicole SlevinPublic Affairs Coordinator

Tara VanHorn......Finance Manager

Sean Welsh.Youth & Family Team Coordinator

John Wilcox.....Building & Grounds Manager

Message from the Executive Director 3

Why Have My Hens Stopped Laying? 4

Regional Livestock & Poultry Processors 5

Farm Pond Fish Management 6

Oriental Bittersweet 7

An Overview of Emerging Business Models in the Local Foods Landscape

8

Jam on It! 10

Youth Have Many Fair Opportunities! 12

Have You Heard About Mal de Debarquement Syndrome (MdDS)?

12

The Extension Connection (USPS-525-100) is published monthly for $25.00 enrollment by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Sullivan County, located at 64 Ferndale-Loomis Road, Suite 1, Liberty, NY 12754-2903. Entered at Liberty, New York, as a periodical class matter. Acceptance for mailing at special rate of postage provided for in section 412, Act of February 24, 1925. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Extension Connection, 64 Ferndale-Loomis Road, Suite 1, Liberty, NY 12754-2903.

Cooperative Extension in New York State provides Equal Program and Em-ployment Opportunities. New York State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, New York State College of Human Ecology, and New York State College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University, Cooperative Extension Associations, County Governing Bodies, and the United States Department of Agriculture, cooperating.

NOTICE: Official endorsement of advertisers and their products is not intended by the acceptance of their advertisements for the Extension Connection.

Necessary Business

REGULAR OFFICE HOURS 8:30 am to 4:30 pm ~ Monday-Friday

Phone (845) 292-6180 Fax: (845) 292-4946 Website: www.sullivancce.org Email: [email protected]

Twitter @ccesullivan Facebook \ccesullivan

Preventing Burns at Home When Using Oxygen 13

Upcoming Programs & Events 14

Free Gardening Seminars, Ag Programs, MG Plant Sale 16

Ag Programs & MG Plant Sale 17

Replenishing Worn Out Garden Soil 18

CCESC Spotlights 20

Volunteer Opportunities 22

In Case You Missed It 23

Fast Facts 24

News to Use 25

Membership Exchange 26

May, 2015 Extension Connection Page 3

Finally! Spring is here! Theres so much energy buzzing around the CCE office its hard to know where to begin this month. Weve got lots of registra-tions and clinics in the works to pre-pare 4-Hers for fair, which is just around the corner; BOCES students and Master Gardener Volunteers are visiting the education center grounds almost daily to clean up our teaching gardens and greenhouses, plant seeds, and answer helpline calls as home gar-deners start to prep their garden boxes and compost piles for the season. Our capital improvement projects are on-going, and meeting rooms are booked nearly every night with educational workshops and planning meetings.

May is especially exciting for Exten-sion because we have so many great offerings to announce. May 9th well board a coach bus here at 10:45 am for the Grains to Grapes Tour, to taste the fun side of agriculture at Sullivan Countys breweries and distilleries, along with a BBQ lunch courtesy of the Rockland House. Hope to see you there! We also have CCE Home Food Preservation experts Katherine Humphrey and Judy Price coming to teach the 3 Day Master Food Preserver class. Once you earn your certificate, you can volunteer with Extension and teach your friends and neighbors how they, too, can preserve the years har-vest to enjoy throughout the year.

We receive so many calls throughout the year from homeowners who want to grow their own vegetables and home gardens that were starting the season off right by offering some clas-ses around starting your vegetable gar-den and choosing the best plants for our region. With support from our friends at Sullivan Renaissance, were offering a few free gardening seminars too! To celebrate Earth Day, CCE staff and volunteers took to our nature trail

and cleaned it up so feel free to come on by one of these days to enjoy the 1.2 mile walk.

Admittedly, were a bit overwhelmed! But all the action were seeing here is what the first three months of my ten-ure were all about. A little bit of plan-ning and preparation has brought us to a place where we can be confident that were offering programs, supports, and opportunities that the community has asked for, and that were doing it well. If you attend a workshop or program, you will see that we are asking folks to complete a new feedback form at the end of the class. This is one of the tools our program advisory committee helped us create so we can make sure were hitting the mark with our efforts, and if were not, how we can do better. The form is optional, but we really

hope youll take a few minutes to tell us what you think.

As always, my door is open to the community. I hope you continue to feel comfortable reaching out to help us understand how you see Extension contributing to the vitality of the Sulli-van County community. I can be reached at 845-292-6180, or [email protected]. If Im out in the garden, which is quite possible this time of year, please leave a message! Ill be sure to ring you back on a break.

Until next month, put your hands in the dirt and enjoy the longer days!

Colleen Monaghan, Executive Director [email protected]

Gardening with Youth.

Start teaching them when they are young to promote a love of nature and share the rewards of growing

ones own food.


View from Stone Ridge Farm with pond

A common question from small back-yard laying flock owners is "Why have my hens stopped laying?" There are many factors which can cause hens to stop laying and in many cases there are multiple causes which add up to few or no eggs.

The most common causes of de-creased egg production include: de-creasing day length, improper nutri-tion, disease, advancing age and stress.

Decreasing Day Length or Insufficient Day Length

Hens require 14 hours of day length to sustain egg production. Once day length drops below 12 hours, produc-tion will decrease and frequently stop. This happens naturally from October through February. To prevent this, provide artificial light to maintain a constant day length of at least 14 hours per day. One 40 watt light for each 100 square feet of coop is ade-quate. The lights should be added in the morning hours so the birds can go to roost as the sun sets. This prevents birds from being stranded in the dark when lights are turned out during dark hours.

Some small flock owners find it easier to leave the lights on continuously. This is not a problem as long as you do not use light bulbs over the 40 watt size. However, the time clock will help lower your electric bill.

Improper Nutrition

Layers require a completely balanced ration to sustain maximum egg pro-duction over time. Improper nutrition can occasionally cause hens to stop laying.

The most common problem is failing to provide a constant source of fresh water. This is especially a problem during the coldest months when the

water can freeze. Provide adequate water equipment so the birds always have fresh water.

Inadequate levels of energy, protein or calcium can also cause a production decrease. This is why it is so important to supply your laying hens with a con-stant supply of nutritionally balanced layer food balanced at 16% - 18% pro-tein.

Feeding whole grains, scratch feeds and table scraps will cause the birds diet to become improperly balanced.

Many times these imbalances can cause other problems like prolapse (egg blow-outs). Prolapse is caused when the bird is too fat and/or egg is too large and the birds reproductive tract is expelled with the egg. Prolapse usually cause permanent damage to the hen and is fatal in many cases.

Feeding oyster shell "free choice" (always available) is also a good idea to help insure strong egg shells.

Disease

Disease problems can occur under the best of conditions. Often one of the first signs of disease is a drop in egg production. Other symptoms of dis-ease include dull and listless appear-ance, watery eyes and nostrils, cough-ing, molting, lameness and mortality

in the flock. Remember some death is normal over the period of a year in any flock. However, if you suspect a dis-ease, contact a skilled veterinarian for help in examining your flock and get an accurately diagnosis and treatment.

Your best protection against disease is to buy healthy stock and keep them isolated from other birds. Buying adult poultry and introducing them to your flock is asking for trouble. If you wish to increase your flock, buy chicks from a reputable hatchery or hatch some of your own eggs. Adult birds can look healthy and carry diseases.

Aging Hens

Production hens can lay efficiently for two laying cycles. However, after two or three years, many hens decline in productivity. This varies greatly from bird to bird. Good layers will lay about 50 to 60 weeks per laying cycle. Be-tween these cycles they will be inter-rupted by a rest period called a molt. Poorer layers and older hens will molt more often and lay less. Removal of non-layers is recommended if eco-nomical egg production is your goal.

Stress

Any stress such as moving, handling, changes in environmental conditions or fright can contribute to or be the main cause for egg production de-clines. Common stresses include:

1. Chilling. Chickens do not handle damp, drafty conditions well. Pre-vent excessive exposure to wet, drafty conditions during colder months.

2. Handling or moving. Once the lay-ing flock is in place, limit any un-necessary moving or handling. Switching roosters or changing the

(Continued on page 5)

Submitted by Michelle Lipari, Ag & 4-H Community Educator


DHI March Herd-code

Herdowner Type Breed # Milk Fat Pro-tein

70096 Brandon Peters Dairy DHI-AP H 96.4 22602 799 689

70120 J&E Weissmann Farms

DHIR-AP H 34.8 20357 737 623

70146 Thonys Dairy DHI-AP H 56.8 18820 740 580

70374 Weissmann MShorthorns

DHIR-AP M 24.1 18263 672 568

70093 Hughson, Wilfred DHI-AP H 126.4 16412 667 525

70375 Ashluck Farm DHI-AP X 29.0 16198 554 507

70021 Glassel, Robert DHI-AP H 45.2 14834 517 449

(Continued from previous page)

pens population will also disrupt the pens pecking order and cause some temporary so-cial stress in your flock.

3. Parasites. If external or internal parasites are present, get proper diagnosis and treatment.

4. Fright. Limit the movement of children, dogs, livestock and vehicles around your flock as well as loud noises to prevent frightening the hens.

5. Predators also can stress the birds and create a decrease in production.

Other problems to consider when you see a decrease in egg collection:

1. Predators and snakes consuming the eggs.

2. Egg-eating by hens in the flock.

3. Excessive egg breakage.

4. Hens hiding the eggs when able to run free.

Source: Philip Clauer, Poultry Extension Special-ist, Animal and Poultry Sciences

Poultry: Hudson Valley Duck - Ferndale NY - USDA Processing, whole

bird only. Contact Kenia Cruz at 845-292-2500

Eklund Processing - Stamford, NY - NYS Certified, whole and parts. Contact James Eklund at 607-435-9375

KNK Poultry - Edmeston, NY - NYS Certified, whole and parts. Contact KNK Poultry at 607-965-8361

Livestock: Krantz Butcher Shop - Callicoon, NY- Custom Processing. Beef,

Pork, Deer and Sheep/Goat. Contact Gary Krantz at 845-482-5784

Eklund Processing- Stamford, NY - USDA Processing, Beef, Pork, and Sheep/Goat. Contact James Eklund at 607-435-9375

Larrys Custom Meats- Hartwick, NY- USDA Processing, Beef, Pork, and Sheep/Goat. Contact Larry at 607-293-7927

Eagle Bridge Custom Meat- Eagle Bridge, NY- USDA Processing, Beef, Pork, and Sheep/Goat. Contact Steve Farrara at 518-677-2702

NY Custom Processing- Bridgewater, NY - USDA Processing, Contact NY Custom Processing at 315-204-4084

Calling All Vegetable Farmers CCE will be rolling out a vegetable farmer brochure for the county and will need your help with up to date information. Please keep an eye out for information to be sent to your farm!


Farm ponds are found on private lands across New York State. Most of these ponds are less than an acre in area and provide recreation for the whole fami-ly. Often, fishing is a main component of farm pond recreation. To ensure a farm pond will provide decent fishing for many years, it is important for pond owners to practice good management practices.

Farm Fish Pond License Prior to stocking fish in your pond, you should obtain a Farm Fish Pond Li-cense from the New York State Depart-ment of Environmental Conservation (DEC). The license allows the licensee, his immediate family, and his employ-ees to take fish at any time, in any size, in any number, and in any manner as stipulated in his license. The farm fish pond license also serves as a stocking permit, eliminating the need to obtain a separate DEC fish stocking permit which is required to stock fish into any waters of the state. The Farm Fish Pond License is free and is good for five years. You can obtain an application for the license from any DEC Regional Office.

Pond owners should be aware that the laws governing fishing require all per-sons 16 years of age and older to have a fishing license except citizen-resident landowners and lessees or members of their immediate families actually occu-pying and cultivating farm lands. This means that guests or friends of the pond owner must have a license to fish the pond even though it is private-ly-owned. Laws pertaining to seasons, size limits, and daily take also apply to owners of private fish ponds unless a farm fish pond license is obtained.

Stocking Fish

Deciding on what fish species to place in your farm pond depends on the pond type (i.e. coldwater or warmwater).

Coldwater ponds are usually deeper, spring fed ponds whose surface tem-perature seldom, if ever, rises above 72 degrees fahrenheit. In contrast, the sur-face temperature of warmwater ponds remains above 72 degrees fahrenheit for considerable periods in the summer. Coldwater ponds are generally stocked with trout, while warmwater ponds are stocked with largemouth bass.

Trout Trout are unable to reproduce in most farm ponds and must be restocked eve-ry two years to maintain satisfactory fishing. A standard stocking rate is 400-600 fall fingerlings (5 to 6 inches long) per surface acre of water. From an angling standpoint, rainbow trout and brook trout are more suitable for stocking than brown trout.

Warmwater Fish Warmwater species of fish have an ad-vantage over trout in the farm pond situation because they can reproduce. Either a largemouth bass/ bluegill com-bination or bass/ golden shiner combi-nation are generally recommended. However, fathead minnows can be sub-stituted for the bluegill or golden shin-ers as the prey species. A standard stocking rate is 100 bass fingerlings per surface acre along with 500 bluegill fingerlings or 200 adult golden shiners. Fathead minnows may be stocked at a rate of 300-400 fingerlings per acre. Generally, bass should be stocked when pond water temperatures are equal to the hatchery water tempera-tures. Yearlings obtained in the spring should be stocked in May and June. Fingerlings should be stocked in Sep-tember and October. Bass and shiner or minnow fingerlings can be stocked at the same time. In an established pond, minnow or shiner fingerlings should be stocked a year or two prior to stocking yearling or adult bass. Bass should not be harvested until they have repro-

duced successfully, which is usually two years after stocking them as finger-lings. Therefore, they may be fished for but only a few should be removed at any one time.

Stocking bluegill with the bass pro-vides another species for the angler to enjoy, especially children. However, an intensive amount of fishing pressure must be placed on the bluegill because of its high reproductive ability. In time, if an adequate number of bluegill are not removed, they will overpopulate the pond and become stunted. Research by Cornell University indicates that 15 times as many bluegills as bass can and should be harvested. The average bass/bluegill pond can support annual har-vests of only about eleven adult bass per acre. Overharvest of adult bass will obviously tip the balance in favor of bluegills.

If the pond owner is only interested in bass or is just an occasional angler, a bass and shiner or minnow combina-tion is a better choice. While bullheads are popular with some anglers, they can overpopulate a pond and become stunt-ed. Furthermore, they are bottom feed-ers and their foraging often keeps the water muddy. Turbidity will work to the disadvantage of bass if they are present in the pond.

Stocking Permits A permit from DEC is required before stocking fish into any water of the state that is privately or publicly owned. DEC issues several permits that author-izes fish stocking, including the follow-ing: Fish stocking permit Farm fish pond license for quali-

fied ponds Fishing preserve license, or Trip-

loid grass carp stocking license.


Submitted by Melinda Meddaugh, Ag & Natural Resources Issue Leader


Celastrus orbiculatus Thunb. staff-tree family (celastraceae)

Origin: Eastern Asia, Korea, China, and Japan

Background

Oriental bittersweet was intro-duced into the United States in the 1860s as an ornamental plant and it is still widely sold for landscaping despite its inva-sive qualities. It is often associ-ated with old home sites, from which it has escaped into sur-rounding natural areas.

Distribution and Habitat

Oriental bittersweet has been reported to be invasive from Maine to North Carolina west to Wisconsin and Missouri. It oc-curs in forest edges, open wood-lands, fields, hedgerows, coastal areas, salt marshes, and dis-turbed lands. While often found in more open, sunny sites, its tolerance of shade allows it to invade forested areas.

Ecological Threat

Oriental bittersweet is a vigor-ous growing plant that threatens native vegetation from the ground to the canopy level. Thick masses of vines sprawl over shrubs, small trees, and other plants, producing dense shade that weakens and kills them. Shrubs and trees can be killed by girdling and by uproot-ing as a result of excessive weight of the vines. In the Northeast, Oriental bittersweet appears to be displacing the na-tive American bittersweet (celastrus scandens) through competition and hybridization.

Prevention and Control

Do not buy, plant, transplant Oriental bittersweet or dispose of live or dead seed-containing material. Manual, mechanical, and chemical methods can be employed to control it. Vines can be pulled out by the roots, cut repeatedly, or treated with systemic herbicides. No biolog-ical controls are currently avail-able for this plant.

Native Alternatives

Caution: Although our native bittersweet (celastrus scandens) would be an excellent plant to use as an alternative, many nurseries often confuse it with the exotic invasive bittersweet under the native label. Be cer-tain of the species you are buy-ing or choose another plant. Al-so, because of hybridization be-tween the native and exotic spe-cies, many feel it is irresponsi-ble to plant the native species when the invasive occurs in the area.

Source: nps.gov/plants

Submitted by Susan M. Dollard, Horticulture Community Educator Obtaining Fish

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation does not build, survey or stock pri-vate ponds. Since most of the operating funds in DEC's Division of Fish, Wildlife, and Marine Re-sources come from the sale of hunting and fishing licenses, field investigations, and fish stocking are only carried out on waters open to the general pub-lic.

There are a number of private fish hatcher-ies located across the state where pond owners can obtain fish. Check with your local DEC fisheries office for a listing of local hatcheries.

Dealing with Possible Problems

Sometimes pond fishing deteriorates because the pond is overpopulated with fish such as bluegills or bullheads. If this occurs, thin the fish down or elim-inate the population entirely and restock with a more desirable species. Minnow traps or a fifty foot seine are ideal for removing small fish from a pond. Use of these devices can be specified in the farm fish pond license. If you want to remove all the fish, it may be necessary to completely drain the pond. Hopefully, a drainpipe was installed when the pond was built. If not, you still may be able to si-phon water out or employ a large water pump.

Aquatic weeds are a common problem in ponds. Some weed growth may lead to greater fish produc-tion but extensive growth interferes with both fish-ing and swimming. The decay of weeds can use up the dissolved oxygen in the water and cause a fish kill during winter months. If you experience exces-sive aquatic plant growth in your pond, you can obtain a copy of DEC's publication entitled "Aquatic Plant Control in Your Pond." It provides useful information on the different methods used to control aquatic vegetation.

A helpful publication is "Fish Management in New York Ponds" (Bulletin 116) from the New York State College of Agriculture at Cornell University. You can obtain a copy by sending your request to the Distribution Center-GP, 7 Business and Tech-nology Park, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850. There is a small fee.

Source: New York State Department of Environ-mental Conservation.



In response to growing public interest in regionally-focused food systems, a proliferation of business models for expanding sales into these markets is occurring. In a recent U.S. Depart-ment of Agriculture (USDA), Eco-nomic Research Service (ERS) re-port, the most recent data and find-ings on several aspects of local and regional models were shared, but even that report noted that the con-cept of localness may vary by the audience, purpose and data of the food system dimension where local is applied (Low, et al., 2015). Given that some of the growth in regional food systems is anchored in the idea of increasing the share of food dol-lars retained by farmers, if not their allied business associates and com-munities, it seems important to better understand how different models ad-dress those goals. We propose a ty-pology of local/regional food system business models, employing repre-sentative categories to help small and medium sized farmers learn how their operations best fit the changing food marketing landscape.

Figure 1 represents a variety of the most common food system enterpris-es, both local and non-local. The typology can be divided into four quadrants using the sales volume as the horizontal dimension and the value-added (operating profit margin) per unit of sales as the vertical di-mension. The types of models are ordered, and connected by arrows, to represent common evolutionary steps that operations may take if their current marketing choice or portfo-lio evolves with plans to expand or decrease in scale, as new marketing opportunities appear or financial challenges arise. The top two quad-rants (and their subcategories) will be

the focus of this article, as they cor-respond most directly to the business ventures found in local and regional food systems, and as Low, et al. (2015) reported, these intermediated sales may also be the future for growth in these markets.

Direct Marketing As a broad category, direct marketing encompasses several marketing mod-els that have emerged as a growing segment, but with slowing growth in most recent years (Low, et al., 2015). This category represents high-margin outlets with low sales vol-umes, high input costs (including labor) and limited ability to scale up due to seasonality and low share of consumer dollars spent in these mar-kets. Online sales and roadside stands allow for the higher margins desired in direct markets but do not allow

producers to leverage the power of more collaborative markets, thus they are relatively low on the vertical axis of Figure 1.

Farmers markets, a fast growing sector of local/regional food systems whose growth has plateaued in the past few years in terms of total numbers across the U.S., have been one of the central business models for direct marketing enterprises. Although commonly cited as a great start-up marketing choice and one that improves farm gross sales (e.g., Hunt, 2007), there is some agreement that potential sales volume may be limiting to vendors, and in some cases may not cover the addi-tional inputs required by farmers mar-


Submitted by Colleen Monaghan, Executive Director

Figure 1. A Classification Scheme of Local Food Business Models



ket sales (i.e., packaging and labor requirements) (Hardsety and Leff, 2010; LeRoux, et al., 2010). An in-creasing number of farms provide their products directly to their consum-ers through community supported agri-culture agreements: a model that pro-vides more stable profit margins with an ability to scale up in areas near ur-ban consumer centers. For this reason, it is placed higher on the vertical axis of Figure 1.

Value-Based Food Supply Chains

As illustrated in Figure 1, value-based food supply chains serve as one poten-tial mechanism to scale food enterpris-es up while retaining some marketing control. Within this larger category, several models have emerged with var-ying organizational and marketing strategies which may influence wheth-er producers and their communities will benefit from their existence.

Farm direct to wholesale, where farms sell products directly to specialty retail-ers, restaurants, and institutions, may allow for long term relationships and informal contractual supply chains. Although long-term, cooperative sup-ply chains may allow the prices paid to the farmer to be sustainably higher than commodity counterparts, some tension does arise in finding a price that works for both the buying and sell-ing businesses (King, et al., 2010). Similarly, multi-farm CSAs allow the farmer to retain control over their prod-ucts (in terms of setting production levels and/or prices), but farmers use a collectively-owned centralized system to market, sell and distribute their products. The model can provide favor-able returns to producers, but one of the main challenges faced is maintain-ing equity among producers given the wide variety of volume and product type (Schmidt, et al., 2011).

Finally, food hubs are where the pro-ducer leaves all elements of the supply chain to a central organization, similar to a mainline distributor, but with gov-ernance aligned with collaborating producers missions. Fair pricing is a key distinguishing characteristic of this value chain model, but also a chal-lenge as the organization and the pro-ducer both aim to maximize profits while working in an environment of small margins. Table 1 summarizes the advantages and disadvantages of each category of the typology.

Conclusion A generalized typology of marketing choices and the associated advantages and disadvantages will assist small and medium-sized farmers respond to their own desire to grow or respond to future innovations in their local econo

my and/or market linkages in the fu-ture. The categories outlined in Figure 1 are necessarily broad, but may help enterprises identify their current posi-tion(s). And, as they move forward with future planning, this summary may direct them to the most relevant case studies, literature and market play-ers so effectively compiled in a number of directories and bibliographies devel-oped by key food system organizations.

For a more detailed discussion please see the full article on the extension website titled An Evolving Classifica-tion Scheme of Local Food Business Models:

http://www.extension.org/pages/70544/an-evolving-classification-scheme-of-local-food- business-models#.VOaQNC6Hyug


Market Orientation

Customers

Managerial

Control

Pricing Power

Market Volume

Potential

Roadside Stand and Online Sales

Local, traveling and national households

Full control High Low to high

Farmers Markets Local households,

travelers Full control High

Low to medium

CSA

Local households

Full control

Medium

Low

Farm Direct to Wholesale

Local, independent businesses, institu-

tions

Full control

Medium

Medium

Multi-Farm CSA Local households and businesses

Shared control

Medium Medium to

High

Food Hubs Local businesses and institutions

Shared to limited con-

trol Medium

Medium to High

Traditional Distributor

All buyers

Limited control and

pricing power

Table 1. Market Typology Advantages and Disadvantages


Jams, jellies, conserves, marmalades, preserves, and butter can add zest to meals while providing a good way to use fruits that are unsuitable for can-ning or freezing. All are preserved by sugar and gelled to some extent, but difference in texture and fruit are dis-tinguished one from another. Individ-ual characteristics depend upon the type of fruit used, how it is prepared, the proportions of different ingredi-ents in the mixtures, and the cooking methods used. Any of these products can be made in the traditional manner by cooking the ingredients until they have reached the appropriate tempera-ture for the gel to form. Some may have commercial pectin added to shorten the cooking time and provide uniform results from batch to batch.

Sweet spreads are a class of foods with many textures, flavors, and col-ors. They all consist of fruits pre-served mostly by means of sugar and they are thickened or jellied to some extent. Fruit jelly is a semi-solid mix-ture of fruit juice and sugar that is clear and firm enough to hold its shape. Other spreads are made from crushed or ground fruit. Jam also will hold its shape, but it is less firm than jelly. Jam is made from crushed or chopped fruits and sugar. Jams made from a mixture of fruits are usually called conserves, especially when they include citrus fruits, nuts, raisins, or coconut. Preserves are made of small, whole fruits or uniform-size pieces of fruits in a clear, thick, slightly jellied syrup. Marmalades are soft fruit jellies with small pieces of fruit or citrus peel evenly suspended in a transparent jelly. Fruit butters are made from fruit pulp cooked with sugar until thickened to a spreadable consistency. For proper texture, jel-lied fruit products require the correct combination of fruit, pectin, acid, and sugar. The fruit gives each spread its

unique flavor and color. It also sup-plies the water to dissolve the rest of the necessary ingredients and furnish-es some or all of the pectin and acid. Good-quality, flavorful fruits make the best jellied products. Pectins are substances in fruits that form a gel if they are in the right combination of acid and sugar. All fruits contain some pectin. Apples, crab apples, gooseberries, and some plums and grapes usually contain enough natural pectin to form a gel. Other fruits, such as strawberries, cherries, and blueber-ries, contain little pectin and must be combined with other fruits high in pectin or with commercial pectin products to obtain gels. Because fully ripened fruit has less pectin, one-fourth of the fruit used in making jel-lies without added pectin should be under ripe.

Caution: Commercially frozen and canned juices may be low in natural pectins and make soft textured

spreads.

The proper level of acidity is critical to gel formation. If there is too little acid, the gel will never set; if there is too much acid, the gel will lose liquid (weep). For fruits low in acid, add lemon juice or other acid ingredients as directed. Commercial pectin prod-ucts contain acids which help to en-sure gelling.

Sugar serves as a preserving agent, contributes flavor, and aids in gelling. Cane and beet sugar are the usual sources of sugar for jelly or jam. Corn syrup and honey may be used to re-place part of the sugar in recipes, but too much will mask the fruit flavor and alter the gel structure. Use tested recipes for replacing sugar with honey and corn syrup. Do not try to reduce the amount of sugar in traditional rec-ipes. Too little sugar prevents gelling

and may allow yeasts and molds to grow.

Jams and Jellies with

Reduced Sugar

Jellies and jams that contain modified pectin, gelatin, or gums may be made with non caloric sweeteners. Jams with less sugar than usual also may be made with concentrated fruit pulp, which contains less liquid and less sugar.

Two types of modified pectin are available for home use. One gels with one-third less sugar. The other is low-methoxyl pectin which requires a source of calcium for gelling. To pre-vent spoilage, jars of these products may need to be processed longer in a boiling-water canner. Recipes and processing times provided with each modified pectin product must be fol-lowed carefully. The proportions of acids and fruits should not be altered, as spoilage may result. Acceptably gelled refrigerator fruit spreads also may be made with gelatin and sugar substitutes. Such products spoil at room temperature, must be refrigerat-ed, and should be eaten within 1 month.

Preventing Spoilage

Even though sugar helps preserve jel-lies and jams, molds can grow on the surface of these products. Research now indicates that the mold which people usually scrape off the surface of jellies may not be as harmless as it seems. Mycotoxins have been found in some jars of jelly having surface mold growth. Mycotoxins are known to cause cancer in animals; their ef-fects on humans are still being re-searched. Because of possible mold contamination, paraffin or wax seals


Submitted by SueAnn Boyd, Master Food Preserver


are no longer recommended for any sweet spread, including jellies. To pre-vent growth of molds and loss of good flavor or color, fill products hot into sterile Mason jars, leaving 1/4-inch headspace, seal with self-sealing lids, and process 5 minutes in a boiling-water canner. Correct process time at higher elevations by adding 1 addition-al minute per 1,000 ft above sea level. If unsterile jars are used, the filled jars should be processed 10 minutes. Use of sterile jars is preferred, especially when fruits are low in pectin, since the added 5-minute process time may cause weak gels.

Methods of Making

Jams and Jellies

The standard method, which does not require added pectin, works best with fruits naturally high in pectin. The oth-er method, which requires the use of commercial liquid or powdered pectin, is much quicker. The gelling ability of various pectins differs. To make uni-

formly gelled products, be sure to add the quantities of commercial pectins to specific fruits as instructed on each package. Overcooking may break down pectin and prevent proper gel-ling. When using either method, make one batch at a time, according to the recipe. Increasing the quantities often results in soft gels. Stir constantly while cooking to prevent burning. Rec-ipes are developed for specific jar siz-es. If jellies are filled into larger jars, excessively soft products may result.

Canned Foods for Special Diets

The cost of commercially canned spe-cial diet food often prompts interest in preparing these products at home. Some low-sugar and low-salt foods may be easily and safely canned at home. However, the color, flavor, and texture of these foods may be different than expected and be less acceptable. In canning regular fruits without sugar, it is very important to select fully ripe but firm fruits of the best quality. Use

water or regular unsweetened fruit juices instead of sugar syrup. Juice made from the fruit being canned is best. Blends of unsweetened apple, pineapple, and white grape juice are also good for filling over solid fruit pieces. Adjust headspaces and lids and use the processing recommendations given for regular fruits. Splenda is the only sugar substitute currently in the marketplace that can be added to covering liquids before canning fruits. Other sugar substitutes, if desired, should be added when serving.

Sources: Judy Price and Katherine Humphrey, Cornell Cooperative Ex-tension Food Preservation Expert Team. So Easy To Preserve, 5th Edi-tion, University of Georgia, Coopera-tive ExtensionNational Center for Home Food Preservation, www.nchfp.uga.edu


2 pounds of peaches to yield 2 2/4 cups, finely chopped peaches

6 cups sugar

1/3 cup lemon juice

2 pouches Certo liquid pectin or Ball liquid pectin

Directions:

Wash peaches. Place in boiling water for 30 to 60 seconds to loosen skins. Place in cool water. Peel and remove pits. Chop peaches in small pieces. Measure exact amount of fruit in a bowl. Measure the exact amount of sugar into a separate bowl. Stir sugar into fruit. Mix well. Let stand ten minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir pectin into lemon juice and stir into fruit mixture. Stir constantly until sugar is completely dissolved and no longer grainy, about 3 minutes. Pour into clean plastic or glass containers, leaving inch headspace. Cover. Let stand at room temperature for 24 hours until set. Refrigerate up to 3 weeks or freeze up to one year. Thaw in refrigerator.


With the 4-H program year begin-ning October 1 and ending Septem-ber 30, 4-Hers have already com-pleted half of their year! Many have already been involved in the project work they intend to show at fair, but there is still time for county youth to initiate a new project, re-fine or develop an ongoing project to a new level, designate a livestock animal to show, or join in one of the equine programs calendar of

events.

The Sullivan County Youth Fair, organized by Cornell University Cooperative Extensions 4-H Youth Development Program, is the show-case for county youth project work. In addition to 4-H members, exhibi-tors may be non-4-H youth if they reside in areas served by Sullivan County schools, or FFA members in good standing enrolled in agri-cultural classes in Sullivan County. Exhibitors ages 5-7 years may enter cloverbud classes to receive par-ticipant awards, while youth ages 8-19 years may exhibit and show to

receive Danish awards.

Contrary to persisting perceptions of 4-H as only livestock-oriented, the 4-H Youth Fair offers evalua-tion and exhibition opportunities for classes covering every conceivable type of entry in departments such as personal development & leader-ship, communications & expressive arts, consumer & family sciences, visual arts, horticulture, environ-mental science, plant pathology, entomology, and science, technolo-gy,math & engineering in addition to the animal/livestock departments available for poultry & eggs, rabbit & cavies, pocket pets, dog, dairy, beef, goat, sheep, swine and horse as well as the Livestock Auction, the culmination of a youths market

animal project.

In addition to showcasing youth projects, the purpose of the 4-H Youth Fair is to provide an educa-tional experience for its participants and the public. All judging for both static and livestock entries offer face-to-face evaluation experiences for participating youth. Additional-ly, written commentary is provided for every static exhibit while live-stock judging provides verbal as-sessments that the public is able to hear. These types of critical feed-back are important for youth to gain

skills and deepen understanding in project work, to make the best bet-

ter.

The Sullivan County Youth Fair occurs in conjunction with the Gra-hamsville Little Worlds Fair and takes place August 11-16 this year. Cornell University Cooperative Ex-tensions 4-H program invites all county families to join the experi-ence by encouraging a young per-son to enter an exhibit or even a pet (Pocket Pet Show), participate in one of many free, hands-on activi-ties, observe youth public presenta-tions, attend an animal show to learn about different livestock breeds and what a gymkhana is, or just to enjoy a summer evening on a grassy hill watching the Bessie Bin-

go 4-H fundraiser.

Pre-registration deadline for youth livestock projects is June 1. No pre-registration is required for youth still/static exhibits. Youth Building and Animal Fairbooks are posted on sullivancce.org. For more infor-mation on entry into the fair, project curriculum, 4-H member or volun-teer enrollment, please contact Cor-nell Cooperative Extension Sullivan

County at 845-292-6180.

Submitted by Marylin Jones, 4-H Community Educator


If you have had the feeling of sway-ing, rocking, or bobbing after step-ping off a boat (commonly called motion sickness) that never goes away, in rare cases persisting months or years, you may have Mal de De-barquement Syndrome (MdDS). MdDs is associated with a number of other problems such as insomnia, headache, confusion, blurred vision, disorientation, and in some cases, anxiety and depression. The condi-tion can be debilitating. People with the syndrome feel like they are still on the ship after disembarking, with the ground moving beneath their feet and their head rocking. Paradoxical-ly, the only respite comes from rid-ing in a vehicle such as a train or a car, but the relief is temporary, and symptoms return after the ride.

While MdDS has been recognized for decades, the cause has been elu-sive, and there has been no effective way to treat it.

Now there are preliminary findings from a small study by a team of NIDCD (National Institute on Deaf-ness and Other Communication Dis-orders) supported researchers that are pointing to a promising treatment for MdDS. The findings may also shed light on more common conditions, such as motion sickness or the more typical, short-lived rocking sensation people experience after a cruise or a flight.

Preliminary findings are based on decades-old experiments by space flight scientists. In a study published in 1962, researchers placed volun-teers in a room that rotated slowly, then asked them to move their heads from side to side. The study volun-teers developed unusual patterns of eye movements hallmarks of

MdDS. This pointed to a disturbance of the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) as the cause of the eye movements. The VOR is a natural process by which your eyes compensate for head movements, keeping the image from wobbling while maintaining your spatial orientation. Without the VOR, you would have difficulty reading print when your head is moving and trouble with balance and walking.

It was suspected that MdDS was rooted in a maladapted VOR: when at sea, the VOR adapts to the new pattern of motion, but upon return to dry land it fails to realign itself. If this hypothesis was correct, then it might be possible to readapt the VOR by treating patients with an opposing set of visual cues and pat-tern of motion: just as you straighten the course of a car that has drifted to the left by turning the wheel to the right, this strategy could potentially cancel out the misaligned compo-nents of the VOR and alleviate symptoms.

After testing, the researchers con-cluded that maladaptation of the VOR was responsible for producing MdDS and that individualized pat-terns of visual stimuli and head movements can readapt it. Research is continuing to refine the therapeutic approach and scientists still dont understand why MdDS affects more women than men, why symptoms are temporarily relieved by traveling in a vehicle, or which neural networks in the brain are responsible for the illu-sory sensation of motion.

Sources: http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/inside/wtr2014/Pages/pg1.aspx U.S. Department of Health & Human Services National Institutes of Health

Submitted by Bonnie Lewis, RN, Dependent Care Educator

This article (found on MedlinePlus) stands as a reminder to use precautions when using home oxygen therapy. If a family has someone using oxygen in the house, most likely due to some form of a chronic ob-structive pulmonary disease (COPD), it puts them at a higher risk for burns a new study indicates.

Oxygen therapy is a common treatment for people with the lung disease. But there is a burn risk for patients who smoke, because having a heat or flame source near oxygen gas can trigger a fire.

Researchers looked at 685 Medicare pa-tients with COPD who suffered burns be-tween 2001 and 2010, and 2,055 patients who did not. Those who suffered burns were more likely to have been prescribed home oxygen therapy within 90 days prior to their burns.

"The benefits of oxygen in COPD patients outweigh the modest risks of burn injury," said senior study author Dr. Alexander Du-arte, a professor in the division of pulmo-nary critical care and sleep medicine at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Gal-veston.

"However, health care professionals should educate and counsel patients and their fami-lies on the potential risk of burn injury and attempt to decrease this risk before pre-scribing home oxygen therapy," he added in a university news release.

Many of the burns occurred on the face, neck, or hands. The death rate among pa-tients who suffered burns was 10 times higher than among those with no burn

injuries, the researchers found.

Overall, one out of 1,421 COPD patients who were prescribed oxygen therapy suf-fered a burn each year, according to the study published March 30 in the jour-nal Mayo Clinic Proceedings.

Those most likely to suffer burns were men, poorer patients and those with three or more other medical conditions.


Free Class with Tips on Living at Home with Arthritis

Caregivers who know a family member or friend living with the effects of arthritis can benefit from this class, with infor-mation from symptoms and warning signs to diagnosis and medical treatment.

Participants in this web seminar will be able to: Describe arthritis prevention and programs

Understand how to talk to an older adult loved one about arthritis

Take advantage of self-help aids and tools

The class will provide invaluable tips for living with arthritis, as well as helpful coping and support resources, presented by Molly Carpenter (author, speaker, trainer, and family caregiver). Carpenter holds a bachelors of science in family science with a gerontology specialization from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and a masters degree in education with a gerontology specialization from the University of Nebraska-Omaha.

Pre-registration is encouraged by calling CCESC at 845-292-6180, emailing [email protected].

Become a Certified Master Food Preserver

This course includes the scientific basis of food preservation, hands-on experience in boiling water and pressure canning, gelled products and pickling, demonstrations in freezing and drying, and discussions on other methods of preservation.

CCE Home Food Preservation Experts Katherine Humphrey and Judy Price, will teach the program, which includes pre-and post-tests. Evening study is required. Program participants will earn a certificate of completion, the first important step to becoming

a CCE Master Food Preserver.

Call 845-292-6180, email [email protected] or visit sullivancce.org

Space is limited so paid pre-registration is required no later than May 11th.

Cost of program includes a 340 page handbook, lunch, and food samples to bring home. Sorry no refunds.

3 Day Program - May 19th - 21st

8:30 am to 4:30 pm

$375.00

Extension Education Center, Liberty

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

1:00 to 2:00 pm

Extension Education Center . Liberty


Basic Vegetable Gardening

Grow Your Own Food

Attention home gardeners and new farmers!

Local farmer Adrianne Picciano, better known as the Dirt Diva, will present on how to successfully grow many different vegetables. Topics covered include: soil preparation, best planting practices, and best varieties to grow in our zone.

Pre-registration with payment is required in advance. Sorry, no refunds.

Call 845-292-6180 ~ E-mail [email protected] ~ Visit sullivancce.org

*Anyone can enroll in CCESC for $25 per household, annually. Enrollees must identify membership status at time of pay-ment to receive discount.

Thursday, May 7, 2015

5:30 to 7:30 pm

$20 Per Person or $15 Per Enrollee*


Native Plants Vs. Invasive Species

Substituting Ornamentals Over Harmful Invasives

Learn to create a more natural garden or landscape!

Renowned author and landscape architect Carolyn Summers will present on using native plants in landscaping and home gar-dens. Learn the full design potential of northeaster flora.

The lecture covers ways to substitute native plants for imported, often invasive, plants and includes information on the latest DEC regulations and prohibited plants.

Pre-registration with payment is required in advance. Sorry, no refunds. Call 845-292-6180 ~ E-mail [email protected] ~ Visit sullivancce.org

*Anyone can enroll in CCESC for $25 per household, annually. Enrollees must identify membership status at time of payment to receive discount.

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

5:30 to 7:30 pm $20 Per Person or $15 Per Enrollee*



Wednesday

May 6, 2015 6 PM to 8 PM

GARDENING TRAINING

102

Weeds, Shoots

& Flowers!

Wednesday

June 3, 2015 6 PM to 8 PM

GARDENING TRAINING

103

Designing, Digging

& Delegating!

GO FROM A BROWN THUMB TO A GREEN THUMB!

All classes will be held at the Gerald J. Skoda Extension Education Center

teaching garden located at 64 Ferndale-Loomis Road in Liberty.

Sullivan Renaissance and Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County are proud to announce a

series of FREE hands-on instructional trainings to teach the public about gardening. Learn how to care for a gar-

den from the ground up, start to finish! CCE Sullivan County Master Gardener Volunteers will teach horticul-

ture basics and explain how you can use your skills at a community gardening project near you. Whether you

are already involved in a community project or would like to volunteer - these classes are for you!

Pre-registration is required!

Register online at SullivanRenaissance.org or call (845)295-2445


Upcoming Agriculture ProgramsUpcoming Agriculture Programs

5/6 Conventional & Organic Pesticide Re-Certification Time: 9:30 am3:45 pm Cost: $35 per person/ $30 per CCESC enrollee* (lunch and credits included) This full day workshop will offer pesticide re-certification credits in NY and PA. Partial funding provided by NYS Agriculture and Markets.

5/21 Intro to Commercial Vegetable Gardening Time: 5:308:00 pm Cost: $15 per person/ $10 per CCESC enrollee* Do you want to start your own vegetable farm? Topics to be discussed include insect, disease, and weed management, soil fertility, and or-ganic certification requirements.

6/25 Intro to Poultry Time: 5:308:00 pm Cost: $15 per person/ $10 per CCESC enrollee* Michelle Lipari, CCESC Agriculture & 4-H Community Educator, will present on various topics including breed selection, egg hatching, raising chicks and adult birds, feed and nutrition, equipment, healthcare, and the regulations on selling eggs and meat.

Call 845-292-6180 or email [email protected] or visit sullivancce.org

All workshops to take place at the Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County Gerald J. Skoda Extension Education Center on 64 Ferndale-Loomis Road in Liberty, NY 12754.

Space is limited. Pre-paid registration is required. No refunds. Enrollees must identify membership status at time of payment to receive discount.

CCESC Master Gardener Annual Plant Sale

Gardeners and those who love plants will love this sale! Great quality plants and accessories at super low prices!

Enjoy a Selection of:

Perennials Herbs Natives Vegetables Annuals Raffles

Master Gardener Volunteers will be on hand to answer gardening questions and offer free soil pH testing!

Questions for the sale can be directed to [email protected] or call the CCESC office at 845-292-6180.

Like our facebook page for a sneak peek at the items for sale!

May 30, 2015

10:00 am 3:00 pm



As you know, Master Gardener Vol-unteers are home gardeners with back-yard gardens, for the most part. With the kids out of the house, my husband Tim and I have shrunk our vegetable garden down to 3 large troughs that we built right outside our kitchen door. They are raised up for accessi-bility for my daughter, whos in a wheelchair and as we age they are easier to manage. I have planted in them for the last three years, rotating crops each year, but I am concerned that the soil is wearing out.

I recently attended a class in the Art of Soil Building, with several of my fellow Master Gardeners. Now I know that alfalfa is a great cover crop, but with the small scale troughs I grow in, it seemed out of the question to try planting it. At the soil building class the instructor talked about replenish-ing your gardens and compost piles with alfalfa pellets and meal. Huh! This sounded much more doable.

So I have purchased alfalfa meal and plan to replenish my gardens with it, because alfalfa meal is an all-natural fertilizer made from fermented alfalfa plants. Its great at replenishing worn out soils when used as a soil amendment. It can also be used as an accelerant in compost piles.

Different Forms of Alfalfa

Alfalfa, a perennial flowering legume, is mainly known as an animal feed. It can be used in any of its forms:

Freshly chopped alfalfa Lightly dug into the soil

Alfalfa hay Use as mulch, or in layers as you build a lasagna gar-den

Alfalfa meal This is dried, ground alfalfa and can be sprin-kled around the garden

Alfalfa pellets Alfalfa meal formed into pellets check to be sure there are no other ingredients sprinkle around the garden

Alfalfa tea Brewed by putting a cup of meal into a 5 gallon bucket and filling with water. Let this sit for several days. It will get strong-er and more odiferous the longer you brew it. Strain the tea and water plants with it, or use it as a foliar spray.

Benefits of Using Alfalfa

1. Good Source of Minerals Alfalfa is a good source of nitrogen, along with several other minerals in-cluding:

phosphorus potassium

calcium

sulfur

magnesium

boron

iron

zinc

The N-P-K ratio for alfalfa is approxi-mately 3 1 3, depending on its source.

2. Builds Organic Matter Alfalfa builds organic matter in your soil providing nutrients to plant roots. Its high nitrogen content helps other organic material to decompose. Or-ganic matter also helps to prevent compaction, acts like a sponge and holds moisture in the soil, improves

soil structure, and helps to prevent erosion.

3. Feeds Microorganisms The microorganisms in your soil love alfalfa because of the protein, amino acids, fiber and sugars in its stalk items they need to thrive. Alfalfa hay has an almost perfect balance of car-bon to nitrogen (24:1) which soil or-ganisms require.

4. Stimulates Growth Alfalfa contains triacontanol, a hor-mone which stimulates the growth of plant roots, enhances photosynthesis, and increases beneficial microbes which help to suppress many soil-borne diseases.

5. Fixes Nitrogen Alfalfa actually takes nitrogen from the air and holds it as nodules on its roots, a process called nitrogen fix-ing. This nitrogen becomes available in the soil for other plants to use when the alfalfa plant is cut down and its roots are left in the soil, or when the plant is turned into the soil.

6. Stimulates Compost When added to your compost pile, alfalfa acts as a stimulator. It decom-poses rapidly, creating heat which helps the rest of your compost to de-compose. And your finished compost will have higher nutrient levels when alfalfa is used. Higher nutrient levels in your compost and soil means more nutrient-dense produce in your garden.

7. Controls Harmful Nematodes A study in Italy showed that alfalfa pellets significantly reduced infesta-tion of root-knot nematode on tomato plants, and cyst nematode on carrots. As an added bonus, yields for both


Submitted by Susan M. Dollard, Horticulture, Community Educator


tomatoes and carrots were in-creased in comparison to the con-trol groups.

8. Provides Drought Resistance Because of alfalfas sponge-like ability to absorb and hold mois-ture, it helps plants grown in that soil to be more resistant to peri-ods of low rain.

9. Is a Dynamic Accumulator Alfalfa roots reach down into the sub-soil up to 8 feet, bringing valuable hard-to-reach nutrients up to the soil surface where they are stored in the leaves of the plant. Using the cut alfalfa in your garden and compost adds these nutrients to the upper layers of your soil where other garden plants can use them. Alfalfa is particularly good at bringing iron to the surface, a micro-nutrient needed for chlorophyll synthesis.

10. Is a Great Cover Crop Leaving garden beds bare in the winter leaves them exposed to the harsh elements of weather. They should always be mulched with alfalfa hay or a cover crop should be planted. Also known as green manure, cover crops are generally planted in the fall and then dug into the soil in the spring to improve soil. The crop

may also be cut down at the soil level and used as mulch, rather than digging it in.

Using Alfalfa Pellets

One way of getting alfalfa in your garden is to sprinkle pellets around the root area of your ros-es. You will notice that if it gets wet it starts to look like a bunch of wooly caterpillars. Most folks scratch it into the soil or cover it with mulch so they don't have to look at it. Another way to use alfalfa is to soak 6 cups of alfalfa pellets in a 20-gallon trash can full of water - with a lid on it! This stuff will break down and start to ferment - then stink. Stir it a bit (use a broom handle) and after 3 to 5 days you have alfalfa tea - a great spring tonic for the garden. Dip out the liquid and spread it around the roots of your roses. Water it in. When you get to the sludge, add more water and let it sit for another 5 days, then dip it out again. The remains from the second batch should be put into the compost bin or spread under the roses and turned under.

Source: https://extension.unh.edu/.


Allison Bauman, lead author, is a graduate research assistant in the Department of Agriculture and Re-source Economics at Colorado State University. She can be contacted by email, [email protected].

Hardesty, S.D. and Leff, P. (2010). Determining marketing costs and returns in alternative market-ing channels. Renewable Agriculture and Food Sys-tems, 25(1): 2434. Hunt, A.R. (2007). Consumer interactions and influ-ences on farmers market vendors, Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems, 22(1): 5466.

King, R., M. S. Hand, G. DiGiacomo, K. Clancy, M. I. Gomez, S. D. Hardesty, L. Lev, and E. W. McLaughlin. (2010). Comparing the Structure, Size, and Performance of Local and Mainstream Food Supply Chains. ERR-99, US Department of Agricul-ture, Economic Research Service. LeRoux, M.N., Schmit, T.M., Roth, M. and Streeter, D.H. (2010). Evaluating marketing channel options for small-scale fruit and vegetable producers. Re-newable Agriculture and Food Systems, 25(1): 1623.

Low, S., A. Adalja, E. Beaulieu, N. Key, S. Mar-tinez, A. Melton, A. Perez, K. Ralston, H. Stewart, S. Suttles, S. Vo gel, and B.B.R. Jablonski. (2015). Trends in U.S. Local and Regional Food Systems: A Report to Congress. AP-068, US Department of Ag-riculture, Economic Research Service.

Low, S. and S. Vogel. 2011. Direct and Intermediat-ed Marketing of Local Foods in the United States. Economic Research Report-128. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.

Schmidt, M. C., Kolodinski, J. M., DeSisto, T. P., & Conte, F. C. (2011). Increasing farm income and local food access: A case study of a collaborative aggregation, marketing and distribution strategy that links farmers to markets. Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, 4(1), 157-175.

(Continued from page 9)


Business Spotlight - Sullivan County Democrat

The Sullivan County Democrat has been an important supporter of CCE Sul-livan County, in some capacity, for decades. The Democrat has shared CCE program information with its audience and provided opportunities for our staff to directly connect with the public through educational articles pertinent to the season. Throughout CCE Sullivans Centennial Campaign in 2013 and 2014, Democrat staff served on our media committee and worked closely with us to develop a special magazine to celebrate our 100 year anniversary with a per-sonal touch. From keeping CCE work in the publics eye to simply calling us to swap howdies, the Sullivan County Democrat has been supportive of our mission and vision locally.

As we turn the page on our 125th year of publication, we realize how important our roots are. The Stabbert family came to Sullivan County as farmers and ran a dairy farm in Obernburg for over 80 years! We know the importance of agriculture and the entire agricultural community, and appreciate everything Cornell Cooperative Extension does to make these valua-ble sectors of our economy so successful. Fred Stabbert, SC Democrat Publisher

4-H Member Spotlight - Eddie S.

For the second year in a row, 4-Her Eddie S. will advance to the state level Dairy Bowl event. As part of a Sullivan County contingent competing at the re-gional event on March 14, Eddie was able to fend off strong com-petition from the Orange and Ulster County teams. Eddie was ranked first place overall for individuals while his senior team captured the second place title.

Knowledge from a broad range of dairy science topics is re-quired to succeed in Dairy Bowl competitions and Eddie was able to field the rigorous questions concerning bovine anatomy, repro-duction, nutrition and health, as well as information on field, grains, forages, and dairy management.

As an eleven year member with the 4-H Moo Juicers club, dairy science has always been a special focus for Eddie. He has also rounded out his 4-H career in many a project area from commu-nity service and visual arts to woodworking. Although quiet in appearance, Eddie maintains a great sense of humor and it is evi-dent he has enjoyed his quest for knowledge and success in Dairy Bowl. We wish him all the best at the state competition in May, as he seeks an opportunity to advance to the national event.

Partner Spotlight -

SC BOCES & Sam Rogers

For nearly two years, CCE has had the won-derful opportunity to develop a partnership with Sullivan BOCES, particularly with our neighbors at the Career and Tech School. CCE has been fortunate enough to work specifi-cally with the Natural Science program under the guidance of instruc-tor Samuel Rogers. With the students tre-mendous assistance in planning and construc-tion, Sam has led the way in building a hands-on education center in the form of a greenhouse and high tunnel. Sam and his groups also provided important assistance on other projects including construction of our new EaT Kitch-en and maintenance of the nature trail that lies between CCE and BOCES. CCE appreciates all of Sams hard work and that of his group of responsible students.

Photo credit: Jason Dole


Staff Spotlight -

Marylin Jones

Marylin Jones has worked for CCESC for the past 14 years. Marylins primary focus is work-ing in the Family & Consumer Science side of the 4-H Youth Development program.

Marylin has a passion for textiles; sewing, crocheting, knit-ting, and crafting. She and her volunteers have brought these programs to the youth of Sullivan County. These youth have honed their craft enough to win ribbons at the State Fair and they have generously donated them to the Federation for the Homeless in Monticello.

Marylin and her husband have three children and reside in Neversink.

Farm Spotlight -

Aaron Burr Cidery - Wurtsboro, NY

Andy Brennan and Polly Giragosian, owners of Aaron Burr Cidery, have mastered the art of growing and forag-ing delicious cider apples. Interesting-ly enough, this or-chard is not planted in the conventional method but rather amongst the forest.

Andy does a won-derful job at pro-ducing apples by grafting, pruning, and nurturing the soil to its optimum potential. Even trees as old as 200 years are producing on this property. After all the growing and picking is complete, the process to turn these apples into hard cider be-gins, which is done by natural fermentation.

In addition, Andy and Polly opened their farm up to a CCE educational event last fall for the Orchard Management work-shop. The Aaron Burr Cidery sells its products at area farmers markets, for their cider CSA, restaurants, and even stores.


Volunteer Position Title: CCESC Afterschool Club Leader

Purpose of Position: The CCESC Afterschool Club Leader provides CCE/4-H curriculum based programming one time per week, in the after school environment, at identified school build-ings, from October - May.

Responsibilities: Works with CCESC staff on an annual calendar.

Prepares materials & facilitates weekly, curriculum based youth development sessions for up to 15 youth in the after-school setting.

Ensures that information about meetings, events, activities, other opportunities and program or policy updates are com-municated to members and parents in a timely manner.

Ensures that all member participation reports are submitted to CCESC monthly.

Keeps the 4-H Extension Educator(s) informed about club activities, special accomplishments, and problems.

Ensures that the club and its membership play an active and visible role in the community.

Ensures that volunteers, club members and their parents are aware of and follow all CCE youth protection and risk man-agement policies and emergency procedures.

Volunteer Position Title: Social Media Assistant

Description: The social media coordinator will develop and implement a social media strategy to increase overall reach and brand awareness. He/she will use social media outlets to pro-mote active CCESC campaigns, engage the public and increase online presence.

Duties and Responsibilities Identify key online channels for CCESC to establish a pres-

ence

Enhance a social media strategy to support the organiza-tions program outreach and fundraising activities, and es-tablish targets for increasing online reach

Post regular updates to CCESCs social media outlets, in-cluding news articles, blog posts, press releases, fundraising appeals, educational tips and facts, and other promotional items

Monitor activity and user interactions for all social media outlets

Adapt general CCESC campaign messaging for the different outlet-specific audiences

Go to sullivancce.org or call 845-292-6180 for com-plete position descriptions or more information.


Shooting Sports Safety Night March 26th

Thirty-two youth attended this work-shop with parents in preparation for the 4-H Shooting Sports 2015 season.

The certified 4-H volunteer instructors discussed safety and how to handle range etiquette in a firearm range set-ting. Instructors discussed some of the basics, including shooting stance, be-fore getting a chance to use the laser shot. Range events will begin early May 2015.

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Berries and Brambles March 26th

John Gorzynski, a long time local farmer from Cochecton, NY was the presenter at this workshop which was attended by over 25 people. John brought a wealth of hands on knowledge to his presentation. Partici-pants had many of their growing ber-ries questions answered. One partici-pant said, I feel like I just sat down and had a conversation with John; what a great way to learn.

Many thanks go out to John for donat-ing his time and experience to CCESC Master Gardener Program.

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Horse Communications March 28th

Sullivan County sent four youth to this regional event in Ulster County. Youth who choose to do a Horse

Communication project are doing a public presentation on an equine top-ic. One Sullivan County youth was selected to move on to the NYS com-petition held at Cornell University.

Congratulations!

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Dog Obedience March 31st

4-H Youth had an opportunity to join this six part series focused on working with dogs in a safe setting with a trained instructor. For six consecutive Tuesdays, youth worked on reading body language and trained canines with clickers. The class will wrap up on May 5, with a graduation ceremo-ny and clickers for graduates donated by Liberty Agway.

Thank you Agway and volunteer trainer Kaitlyn Smith!

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STARR Trip April 10 - 12th

The State Teen Action Representa-tive Retreat (STARR) saw six Sulli-van County youth attend along with two chaperones in Syracuse, New York. One of the Sullivan County youth, Jessica S., has been on the STARR planning committee for the past year. Youth have a chance to en-gage in workshops of their choosing on a wide variety of topics, with a dance culminating the weekend.

Taking Your Product to

MarketBecome a Food Entrepreneur

April 14th

Fifteen people attended this work-shop, which explained the process of getting the Ag & Markets permit through selling your product at mar-ket. Paula Barber, a Retired Food Safety Inspector with the NYS De-partment of Ag and Markets, and a local resident who has gone through the process from start to finish, was on hand to answer questions from all who attended.

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District Public Presentations April 18th

Seventeen Sullivan County youth had the opportunity to move on to this public speaking event, held at Ulster County Community College in Stone Ridge, NY. State Public Presentations is being held at Cornell University in May.

Intro to Farming April 23rd

Nine people attended the first session in the Beginning Farmer Series. This workshop focused on the rules and regulations of farming. Topics dis-cussed included how to get started, zoning lease options, ag assessment, writing a business plan, and marketing regulations.

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Soil, Water & Sun! April 1st

Over 40 people attended the Basic Gardening 101 class where they learned how to prepare the soil, how much to water, and proper planting location based on how much sun is needed. This class was held in partnership with Sullivan Renaissance. Part II: Weeds, Shoots, and Flowers! Will be held at CCE on May 6.

Right: Master Gardeners doing soil tests at the Soil, Water & Sun class. Great Job! Great showing of Cornell Red.

Photo credit: Diana Weiner


Alpaca wool comes in 22 natural colors, the most of any wool-producing

animal

Small pockets of air inside cranberries cause

them to bounce and float in water

The most money ever paid for a

cow at auction was

$1.3 million

If you have 3 quarters,

4 dimes, and 4 pen-

nies, you have $1.19.

You also have the

largest amount of

money in coins with-

out being able to

make change for a

dollar

The first day of spring in the Southern

Hemisphere is the first day of fall in the

Northern Hemisphere

In an average lifetime, a person

will walk the equivalent of 5 times around the equator

May is National: Nurses Day

NASCAR Day Orange Juice Day Hamburger Day

Bike to School Day Mother Goose Day

Apple Pie Day

The first railroad in

the US ran a distance

of 11 miles

between Albany

and Schenectady.

Some medications, such as antibiotics

and antihistamines, can cause extra

sensitivity to the suns rays

CCESC

Program Areas

Ag & Food Systems

Environment &Natural Resources

Community & Economic Viability

Nutrition & Healthy Families

Youth & Family Development

The first capital of the United States

was New York City

Bamboo is the

fastest-growing woody plant in the

world; it can grow 35

inches in one day

Ezra Cornell, co-founder of Cornell University, was the founder of Western Union, served as President of the

New York Agriculture Society, And was a state senator


USDAs Farm Service Agency (FSA) Offers Farm Bill Website and Online

Overview of Farm Bill Programs The Agricultural Act of 2014 (the Act), also known as the 2014 Farm Bill, was signed by President Obama on Feb. 7, 2014. The Act repeals certain pro-grams, continues some programs with modifications, and authorizes several new programs administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA). Most of these programs are authorized and funded through 2018.

For the latest on the Farm Bill pro-grams administered by FSA, please visit the Farm Bill website at www.fsa.usda.gov/farmbill. An FSA program overview please read, down-load and/or print the recently posted FSA Farm Bill Fact Sheet titled, Whats in the 2014 Farm Bill for Farm Service Agency Customers? For more information on FSA, please contact your local USDA Service Cen-ter or visit www.fsa.usda.gov.

MG Helpline is Open

Three Days a Week The Master Gardener (MG) Helpline is up and running three days a week now. Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 9:00 am - noon you can talk to a Master Gardener in person. All other times call 845-292-6180 and leave us a message. We will get back to you as soon as possible. The MGs can do soil pH tests, send out soil analysis, identify insects, identify plants and plant prob-lems, and answer all of your gardening questions with research-based infor-mation. You can also send your ques-tions to [email protected].

USDA Foodkeeper App

The USDA has an app for your iphone or droid. To find out more information visit http://blogs.usda.gov/2015/04/02/new-usda-foodkeeper-app-your-new-tool-for-smart-food-storage/

In the photo below: Left to Right, Mas-ter Gardener Volunteers, Kristin Por-ter and Sandy Nackley are working together to answer gardening questions on our helpline.

Liberty Belles Annual Auction May 19th ~ 7:00 pm

New and gently used items will be up for bid at this fundraiser for the CCE Scholarship Fund. The public is wel-come and it is suggested that you bring a friend. Call 845-292-4013 for more information.

JEMS, Inc. (Jeffersonville Enhances More of Sullivan)

JEMS, Inc. is opening an Outdoor Mar-ket in Jeffersonville, NY. The market will kick-off this year on Sunday, May 31.

JEMS is looking for interested vendors to join us in our Outdoor Market that runs every Saturday through and in-cluding Saturday, September 5.

For more information and to obtain an application, please contact: Michelle A. Gadoury, Event Coordinator 845-482-2169.


Charles Keating

Cell: 570-430-1045 Fax: 570-689-2688

Member Exchange

ANIMALS & SUPPLIES FOR SALE

Oak Ridge Farm Horses Boarded, Horse Back Riding Lessons, hay for sale. 845-482-4686

Lashside Farm. Full board or turnout. 845-292-3765

Retired Horse Boarding on 45 acre farm. Your horse will be well taken care of on our peace-ful farm. 845-482-4779

Lambs, Baby Goats and Hay 845-434-7764

Registered Polled Hereford Bulls for Sale. Bred cows. Call Stone Ridge Farm 845-439-4359

Trout for sale. 6"-8" Brook Trout. Delivered or picked up. Call Beaverkill Trout Hatchery for details. 845-439-4947

Bring us your retiring horse or those in need of rest. We will provide personalized care on our 50 acre farm at reasonable cost. Heavens Gait Farm 1-516-721-9173.

For Sale: Miniature Donkey Jacks. 845-482-4061

Goats for sale. 845-252-7434

AUTOS & OTHER VEHICLES

1938-1939 International Stake Bed Truck Model #D-30-232 Cubic Inch Engine Rating 1.5 ton chassis #D3072207 T.G.W. 13.200. Very Good Shape- Asking $1200 985-7052

Go Kart. 5 hp. Briggs & Stratton. Good condi-tion. 6 yr. old. $100 (845) 557-6090

1987 H-D Sportster, 9500 miles, excellent condition. Lots of extras $ 2200 obo. 2005 Artic cat sno-pro F7 Excellent Condition, $ 4100 miles. $3000.00

EQUIPMENT FOR SALE

John Deere 3010, Diesel, WFE, Dual Hyd. Outlets, Rops. Asking $6,000. 845-551-1649

John Deere Snow Blower 44 fits the 500 series John Deere Tractor. Brand new, used once. Call for details 845-583-7818

2013 Kobelco Excavator NEW 20 hours $85,000 [email protected]

2005 Navigator 23,000 miles $15,000 [email protected]

5ft bush hog for sale. 845-428-5005

FIREWOOD

Brad Curry. Firewood - Landscaping - Logging - Scrap Iron (845) 807-8676

Firewood delivered, Logging & Excavation 845-807-3236

MISCELLANEOUS FOR SALE

Yarn for sale. Alpaca 2 ply& core yarn 516-941-7207

2013 Kawasaki Motorcycle 650 KLR Dual Purpose on/off street legal bike, mint condi-tion, under 300 miles, loaded with options $6000.004 person peddle boat Large, Mint heavy duty $500.00 2003 Arctic Cat pantera, 2 up(seater) 2000 miles, mint condition snow-mobile $2000. Artic cat 370cc snowmobile 1000 miles- $1100. Mint condition 2 slots machines, mint working condition. Lights and sound with tokens- 120.00 each. Antique Mantle clocks (Mint) Many other items. Pete (845-557-8678) [email protected]

1983 Glassport 19' 7'' inboard/outboard, 350 Chevy and 20' dual axle trailer. Needs work. Make offer. 203 740 0167

Hot water radiators 25.5" x 15.5" to 47" [10 total] and 19" x 36.5" and 39" BO 203-740-0167

Mens size 8 chest high fishing waders with felt soles. Worn once paid $200 asking $85. 914-237-2329.

SNOWBLOWER- Agway gas dual stage 6 speed #523 23 inch wide $280 or best offer 845 791-4501

WOODSTOVE- Dutchwest cast iron Convec-tion Heater Model 2462 by Vermont Castings. 2 speed fan, extra-large for up to 25 inch logs, accessories included. $765 or best offer 845 791-4501

5 foot 3 pt. hitch Woods Finish Moore RM59. Asking $500. 434-6850

2 pairs of snow shoes-Little Bear Trappe of Aspen $45. 973-890-1747 Leave message.

2008 Meyer 7 MDII EZ Mount Snow Plow. Mint condition, well maintained and garage kept. All you need is vehicle specific mount and harness. Over $4000.00 new. Have mount for 2004-2014 Nissan Titan. Light use on small driveway. Just bought ATV with plow and no longer need truck with plow. Plow comes equipped with Plow Flowmaster Air dam for those long road trips. Helps keep truck running cool. $2000. Call or text 845-590-0140 or 845-583-6244



Member Exchange

HAY FOR SALE

HAY Square Bales - Local Delivery available 845-887-4582

Hay 1st, 2nd, 3rd square, round and wrapped. Protein 19.1 22.6 composted. Topsoil, sand, gravel and cattle. 845-985-7866

Hay square bales 845-807-2532

Round Hay Bales for sale 583-6024

Hay-2nd and 3rd cutting grass; forage analysis, 19-23% protein; $6.50

FARMERS MARKET CORNER

Muthig Farm - Maple Syrup, Maple Cream, Maple Jelly, Maple Sugar. 845 -292-7838

Justus Asthalter Maple Syrup Inc. New & used maple equipment & supplies for all size maple producers. Syrup, Cream, Candies, we ship anywhere. Sugar Hill Containers and Leader glass in stock. Call us at 845-292-8569 or email [email protected]/ www.justusmaple.com

CATSKILL MOUNTAIN HONEY Pollen, propo-lis, Royal Jelly, bee supplies & equipment. Hives supers frames from our shop. Save $$ - Jim Kile 845-647-6759

Farm fresh real food prepared and delivered weekly. Naturalcontents.com 888-551-8625

Wahldairyfarm.com Home grown Pork, Beef and Eggs. Guinea Fowl 845-887-5737

Asian Specialty Vegetables. Charlie Koh. Seon Organic Farm 631-599-0072

Nutritious and Delicious Home Made Soups and Breads delivered to your door. Woodridgesoupemporium.com

Organic Garlic for sale; reasonable prices. Call John 845-292-1195

"Dogs Luv'em" all natural Murray's chicken dog treats. 845-283-1128

All Natural Organic Sunbird Cookies. 5-6 oz.-no eggs, no dairy, handmade with Love. Gluten Free and Vegan. Kim-845-901-4706

Storys Neversink Plant Co.-Rare succulents and interesting plants. By appt. Only. John W. Story, Proprietor 845-985-5071

Korwan's Nursery Rhododendrons, perennials, trees, shrubs, and woodcarving. Landscaping 845-482-3345

Beaverkill Trout Hatchery- top quality trout, brook, brown & rainbow for sale. Trout preserve open Apr.1- Labor Day- 845-439-4947 email: [email protected]

THEODORA ORGANIC FARM Email: [email protected] 646-710-0505 No Farms, No Food

On farm vegetable and fruit stand open Satur-day 10-2. River Brook Farm, Cochecton, NY 845-932-7952

Fertrell organic fertilizers, soil amendments and complete soil testing with recommendations available. Baron Organics, Products & Support, Jeffersonville, NY 12748. 845-482-3209

FOR BETTER BUSINESS

Licensed Security Guards & Any size property patrol. Alarm & camera installation with central station. Since 1980 When you are away your neighbors will pay Reasonable rates. 845-557-8678. [email protected]

Muthig & Sons - Landscaping - Logging - Decks - Roofs - Firewood (845) 807-1711

Clown for all occasions, info @ www.misssunshinetheclown.com for all your party entertainment. 845-807-6222

Klein's Tax Service. 25+ Years Experience. (845) 292-9225

T-shirts and machine embroidery for your busi-ness, club, organization. Hats, aprons, tote bags. Local business. Mountain Bear Crafts, Livingston Manor, NY. 845-439-8050. See photos: www.mountainbearcrafts.com

Wurtsboro Veterinary Clinic- 163 Sullivan St. Box 190, Wurtsboro, NY 12790 845-888-4884 Dr. Linda Tintle, Dr. Dean Tinter, Dr. Nancy Odell, Dr. Joe DAbbraccio

Norberts Clock Repair. Antique specialist. Fair Price. For estimate/pickup 845-887-5831

Group Travel around the world with Barbaras Bunch. Call, 914-799-3362 or email: [email protected]

Old interesting barn finds? Call for free apprais-al 482-4901

Hartley Consulting, INC. Strategic Development for Non Profits. www.hartleyconsulting.com

Duke Pottery. www.dukepottery.com Pottery Studio, Art Gallery, Gift Shop. Open Year Round, Fri, Sat, Sun 11:00-5:00 or by chance. 855 Co. Rd. 93, Roscoe, NY

Clemente S Frances, Attorney at Law 845-887-6344 or 570-729-8607. PO Box 866 32 Lower Main St. Callicoon, NY 12723

O&L Digital Photo- Weddings, Sweet 16, Birth-days, Baptisms and special events. Album packages & DVD video. 845-932-5020 or 917-693-9891 www.dbase.com or [email protected]

FURNITURE & HANDMADE ITEMS

Visit Charlie Barbuti Furniture Mall for all your furniture and mattress needs. 292-4826 - [email protected]

may extension connection sullivan county 2015

Documents