May 2023 News & Events from CCE Tompkins County
A wide view of a flower garden bed, with tulips and others growing together.
With the arrival of spring, we are exciting to see things growing! From the plants in our community gardens, to the educational workshops and programs that we offer, to our new or renewed partnerships across Tompkins County — it is great to see the efforts of so many people making connections and working to ensure that our communities thrive.

We are always looking for ways to share resources, and our plans for this month will take us to local parks and public spaces for some important community events. Read more below!

We're also excited for our busiest volunteer season. The Beautification Brigade, 4-H Program Leaders, Master Composters, Master Gardeners, Energy Navigators, Nutrition Education Volunteers, and more are out having meaningful conversations, holding trainings, and planting the seeds of the future. If you'd like to join in, visit our website to learn more.
Join Us at Better Together for Mental Health!
Illustration of a green ribbon with text "Mental Health Awareness Month."
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and CCE Tompkins County is taking part in Better Together for Mental Health,  a community-wide celebration at gorgeous Stewart Park from 10 am to 3 pm on Saturday, May 13. Over 20 local organizations and agencies will take part, offering free activities, food, music, and information to help our community feel healthier and more connected.

Find the CCE Tompkins County tables to talk with our Tompkins Families! program staff, nutrition educators, parenting support and youth services staff, and others. We'll have healthy snacks, games and activities, giveaways, and a variety of helpful resources.

If you can't make it to Stewart Park on the 13th, you can still connect with us any time! Just visit CCETompkins.org/Family to learn more.
Energy & Environment Info @ the IHS Climate Action Expo
An illustration of a globe with dotted lines connecting different spots, beside text: Climate Action Expo, Sunday, May 21st, 1-5 pm, Sponsored by IHS Goat."
You'll also find CCE Tompkins County staff at the 2nd Annual IHS Climate Action Expo, hosted by the IHS GOAT (Green Outdoor Adventure Team), 1-5 pm Sunday, May 21, at Ithaca High School (via the Cayuga Street entrance). Learn about the realities of the climate crisis and how to take practical action steps such as soil building, transportation alternatives, renewable energy, best building practices, advocacy, and urban planning.

We'll feature:
Plant Sale Vendor List & Spotlight
Various small plants clustered in trays of seedlings.
A tray of various violas.
Larger potted plants in rows on a table and on the ground under it.
We’re getting excited for the Spring Plant Sale! More than 30 sellers and community organizations will be at the Ithaca Farmers Market on Friday, May 19 from 12 to 6 pm. Here's a sample of the amazing goods that will be offered!

  • West Haven Farm will have certified organic vegetable, herb, and flower starts.
  • Horsehead Woodworks is bringing trellises of all sizes and shapes along with wooden signs for your garden.
  • Shalebrook Landscaping will sell houseplants, hanging baskets, perennials, and shrubs. They are also partnering with Botanist Coffeehouse who will offer hot and cold brew coffee.
  • The Ort Family Farm will have any herb or fruit plant you can think of for sale!
An illustration of a gauge.
On Saturday May 20th, CCE Tompkins County Nutrition staff Aly Trombitas and Tina Snyder will be at the Ithaca Farmer's Market from 9 am to 12 pm offering pressure canning gauge testing. This is an opportunity for home canners to ensure that their pressure canning gauge is working correctly, which is important both for food quality and food safety.

Anyone is also invited to stop by to learn a bit more about home food preservation!
Land Donation Adds to 4-H Acres
Five people stand in a row, smiling for a photo.
Bruce Abbott with 4-H Youth Programs Leader Pete Angie, Primitive Pursuits Operations Coordinator Jed Jordan, Board of Directors President Ann Michel, and Operations Effectiveness Manager Karen Yearwood
CCE Tompkins County’s 4-H programs are all about growth, as youth participants explore and discover diverse interests. This year, the 4-H acres property itself is growing through the generous donation of a neighboring 6 and a half acre plot given by longtime supporter Bruce Abbott. 
 
The land is only a short walk from 4-H Acres at 418 Lower Creek Road, and was formerly part of a larger farm plot that was divided by the development of Route 13. Since then, it has been left to nature, making it an ideal space for Primitive Pursuits and other outdoor education programs — whether hiking, camping, foraging, or plant and animal identification. 
 
Bruce’s involvement with 4-H programs at CCE Tompkins County traces back to the 70s, when his family recognized the need for a dynamic youth program serving Ithaca’s West Village housing development. After several years of build-up with Cornell’s Human Ecology Department, the program was adopted by 4-H Urban Outreach. “Thus began a wonderful and meaningful 30-year relationship,” Bruce shared. “We created both a summer and winter curriculum, the latter focused on academics. Volunteer students from Cornell and Ithaca College worked with our children and helped them with language skills and homework…The 4-H expertise in the development of children’s interests and skills was a most important factor in our success as a large-scale housing development.”
 
Bruce cites his experiences as an Eagle scout as instilling skills and values associated with the natural environment as well as motivating this donation. “I am happy to be able to help Primitive Pursuits and whomever else enjoys the property to have the benefits of a program that adds to their personal growth, skill development, and enjoyment,” Bruce said. “I can’t think of a better use!”

Thank you, Bruce, for the donation and for sharing your thoughts!
Healthy Cooking Basics Series
A graphic of various foods with the text "Free Cooking Classes: Healthy Cooking Basics."
Join SNAP-Ed for FREE cooking classes every Thursday, May 4-June 1, from 5:30 to 7 pm. We'll cover the basics of cooking and healthy eating, focusing each week on different topics to simplify nutritious eating. Over five classes, you will get hands-on, in-depth cooking instruction.

  • 5/4: An introduction to the course and a focus on knife skills and safety and how to season foods. Recipe: Green Salad w/ Chicken
  • 5/11: How to best budget groceries and safe food handling. Recipe: Veggie Stir-Fry
  • 5/18: Making healthy meals with half a plate with fruits and vegetables. Recipe: Chili Mac and Cheese
  • 5/25: How to incorporate whole grains into your diet and how to properly measure ingredients. Recipe: Whole Wheat pancakes w/ a Berry Sauce
  • 6/1: How to choose healthy protein options and safe food handling. Recipe: Fish Tacos
#ClimateFix or #ClimateFlub? Show Us Your Photos!
A person stands with their phone pointed towards a sign reading "Native Plant Garden" and holding a card to frame the sign.
Starting on Earth Day and running for a month, our Energy Team is asking participants to highlight things in the community that either address the climate crisis or that make it worse.

Do you see neighbors gardening? Carpooling & bike sharing? Notice a heat pump, cloth napkins, local food, no straws? That’s a #ClimateFix. A rally, policy proposal? Advocacy for clean energy policy? That’s a #ClimateFix, too.

But do you see idling cars? Fossil fuel subsidies in the news? Fires, floods, droughts? When we affect the climate negatively, that’s a #ClimateFlub. When shortsighted actions come back to bite us, that’s a #ClimateFlub, too.

Take a photo for Instagram and tag it with the hashtags #ClimateFix or #ClimateFlub — in fact, the Energy Team is distributing small cards with a frame cut-out as a reminder to see the world though a climate lens.

By tagging fixes and flubs on Instagram, you’ll be entered into a contest to win prizes like gift cards, LED lightbulbs, induction stovetops, programmable thermostats, and more.

To vote and select the week’s winners, visit the new Instagram page, @TheLeapTompkins. The Leap is focused on climate action, thought-provoking ideas around the climate crisis, and inspiring initiatives both locally and globally.

So, start noticing those fixes and flubs, take photos, and vote!
Register for the Food System Grants Strategy Workshop
An illustration of a farm with text "Food System Grants Strategy Workshop. May 9, 10 am - 12:30 pm, Borg Warner Room, Tompkins County Public Library."
Tompkins Food Future and Choice Words Ithaca are hosting a free grants strategy workshop for food system organizations and changemakers on Tuesday, May 9 from 10 am to 12:30 pm in the Borg Warner Room at the Tompkins County Public Library. A light lunch will be provided. Please register using the link below and respond to the questions posed on the registration form. 
 
This session is intended for those who:
  • Are interested in gaining skills in the areas of fundraising, grant writing and reporting
  • Would you like to connect with other like-minded organizations with similar missions to explore collaborations
  • Are looking for strategies to establish more sustainable funding
  • Are seeking more balance between programmatic and development work
 
We will provide some pre-workshop resources and materials ahead of the event in May. Register online to attend.
Join Our Team!
cutout letters spelling Jobs held with push pins on a cork board

Primitive Pursuits is also hiring! If you know someone who loves the outdoors and is looking for a summer job, they may be the perfect fit. Summer 2023 positions include Lead Wilderness Instructor, Wilderness Instructor, and Administrative Intern.

All applications for regular employment with Cornell Cooperative Extension Tompkins County and other county extension associations must be submitted through the Cornell University Employment system. Instructions for applying to temporary positions will be provided in the position announcement. Visit https://ccetompkins.org/jobs for more information.
FEATURED EVENTS
Thursday, May 4, 5:00-7:00 pm

Thursdays, May 4, 11, 18, 25 and June 1, 5:30-7:00 pm

Tuesday, May 9, 10:00 am-12:30 pm

(2) Saturdays, May 13 & 20, 9:00-11:00 am

Thursday, April 20, 9:00-10:00 am

Thursday, May 18, 9:00-10:00 am

Thursday, April 20, 9:00-10:00 am

Thursday, April 20, 9:00-10:00 am

Find MORE classes listed on our website Events Calendar!
About Us

The Community Toolbox is your monthly connection to classes and events at Cornell Cooperative Extension Tompkins County. We hope you'll think of Cooperative Extension as your personal "toolbox" filled with reliable and useful information whenever there's something you'd like to know or learn! Explore our links, check out our upcoming workshops, then call us at (607) 272-2292, email tompkins@cornell.edu or drop by our Education Center in Ithaca which once again is open to the public during weekday business hours. We're here to help, with information — and people — you can trust!

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