Greetings from CCE Nassau,

This first month of 2023 has gotten off to a great start with many exciting educational activities and programs happening here at CCE Nassau. A few examples are the return of our popular 4-H Youth Development “Kids Cook” afterschool program, along with the continuation of our pesticide training courses being delivered by our Horticulture educators.

Additionally, Master Gardener Volunteers held their monthly meeting and are busy brainstorming/strategizing about avenues of improving our demonstration educational gardens here at East Meadow Farm this spring, and DPF 4-H Youth Development Camp Staff have been immersed in registration and planning for a busy and fun summer of camp activities ahead.

Moving forward our dedicated and talented CCE Staff will continue to plan and deliver single-session workshops and multi-class courses for the rest of the winter and spring, such as a Dining with Diabetes nutrition course and our Spring Gardening School series. As you peruse this January Monthly Update you’ll find descriptions and registration links for these events and many more.

Finally, the CCE Nassau Farmers Market at Eisenhower Park will be starting up in a few months, so if you or someone you know is interested in being a vendor, please reach out to nassau@cornell.edu to learn more.

As always, on behalf of the CCE Nassau Board of Directors, Staff, and entire CCE Nassau Association, we’d like to thank you for your on-going support of our important work—together we are making a difference in the lives of many local residents!

All our best,

Greg and Team

FOR ORNAMENTALS AND TURF CATEGORY 3A

February 6, 7, 8, 9 - ONLINE

March 6, 7, 13, 14 - ONLINE

8:00am - 5:00pm

This course is approved by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). Anyone supervising or applying pesticides to ornamental and turf is required to take a 30 Hour Pesticide Training Course before taking the NYS Exam to become a licensed Pesticide Applicator.

The category and course covers the following control methods and materials:

• Herbicides and Pesticides for Turf Grasses, Ornamentals, and Landscapes
• Pesticide Laws
• Pesticide Safety
• Labels
• Mixing and Storing Pesticides
• Pesticide Application Equipment
• Calculations and Calibration of Equipment
• Common Pests of Turf and Ornamentals
• Along with Other Topics of Importance to Applicators

INSECTICIDES 101

Thursday, February 2

6:00pm - 9:30pm

ONLINE

The purpose of this course is to review and strengthen the important basics for the commercial application of insecticides on ornamental plants and turfgrass and will include the identification and control of insects on lawns, trees, shrubs and other ornamental landscape plants. This course is approved by the NYSDEC for Category 3a, Ornamentals and Turf, 3 Recertification Credits and Category 3b, Turf, 1.5 Recertification Credits.

Core 101

Monday, February 27

8:00am - 12:30pm

ONLINE

The purpose of this course is to review and strengthen the important basics for the safe use of pesticides and administrative and reporting responsibilities for commercial pesticide applicators. Topics covered will include:

• The Label
• IPM
• Calibration
• Formulations
• Annual
• Reporting
• Contracts
• Safety around pesticides.

The Garden-Based Learning Short Course is designed to provide gardeners with the skills and resources to improve their home gardening techniques. Maintaining your own landscape is a cost-effective way to improve your home aesthetic, while enjoying time outdoors and exercising. Residents may also find enjoyment in growing their own fresh produce to supplement their trips to the grocery store or even share with neighbors. The Garden-Based Learning Short Course is an excellent opportunity to explore your interests in a supportive, educational environment.

$30 per each 90-minute Workshop

Register Here

If you work in commercial horticulture, or you're a homeowner who enjoys gardening, consider the benefits of enrolling in one of our Horticulture Membership programs. You'll be providing meaningful support for the important programs of CCE Nassau County while also enjoying a number of very useful benefits for yourself or your business.

Residential Membership: $30/household

Professional Membership: $50

While our Master Gardeners enjoyed some time to rest in the first months of the winter season, it never lasts long; they are already back in action as they prepare themselves for the coming growing season! This means catching up on some gardening-related reading, plotting out the gardens, “window-shopping” through seed catalogs, and ordering seeds and plants for 2023.

We are looking forward to another successful year in the gardens and the community!

This 12-week hybrid program will utilize virtual (online) interactive lectures and in-person workshop trainings. There will be a total of 3 in-person Saturday morning workshops with dates and locations to be determined. Participants will be asked to pre-register for a two-hour time slot for the Saturday workshops to accommodate small group sizes.



The interactive lectures will cover a wide array of Urban Forestry topics, from the basic biology of trees to learning how to diagnose common tree problems. Lecture topics may vary depending on the interest of participants and relevance to current environments.

Dates of Virtual Classes: Wednesday nights, February 8th - April 29th

Time of Virtual Classes: 7:00 - 8:30pm

New York ReLeaf is a partnership between the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the NYS Urban Forestry Council that works to strengthen urban forestry programs across New York State. Cornell Cooperative Extension of Nassau County works closely with the DEC and the NYS Urban Forestry Council to implement the Urban Forestry program in Long Island communities. ReLeaf consists of regional committees that bring together state agencies, municipalities, tree care professionals, not-for-profits, educators, and interested members of the public to promote urban and community forestry by sharing knowledge, technical expertise, and resources. ReLeaf’s primary activities are providing workshops, an annual conference, Arbor Day events, and volunteer events.

Educational workshops are available for municipalities, tree professionals, and homeowners to help strengthen the urban and community forestry programs in Nassau County. Our professional workshops are about one-hour in length and can be tailored to meet the needs of your audience. The cost of these interactive workshops is $150 per one-hour topic.

These one-hour workshops are available free-of-charge to municipalities thanks to the support of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation through their Urban and Community Forestry Program.

Though the Farmers Market season has come to a close, our team is busy preparing for another great market in the coming summer and fall seasons! While we anxiously wait for our favorite vendors to return to the CCE Nassau Farmers Market at Eisenhower Park for the market season, if you are interested in purchasing items from any of our market vendors, please feel free to email us at nassau@cornell.edu for contact information.

Furthermore, if you are a farmer, producer, or other small business interested in joining our team of vendors for the coming season, please email us at nassau@cornell.edu. 

Class will take place at East Meadow Farm - 832 Merrick Ave, East Meadow, NY 11554

Looking for fun, educational programs for the child(ren) in your life to enjoy during their school breaks? Our Vacation Camps are engaging, enriching, and entertaining.

Dates:

• February 21 - 24 (4 days, 8 sessions)
• April 10 - 14 (5 days, 10 sessions)

Ages/Grades: Kindergarten – 6th

Location: East Meadow Farm (832 Merrick Ave., East Meadow, NY 11554)

Times: 

• Morning Session: 8:30 AM – 12:00 PM
• Afternoon Session: 12:30 PM - 4:00 PM

Price per session: $50 (per child)

FEBRUARY: 4-day price for AM & PM sessions: $350 (per child)

APRIL: 5-day price for AM & PM sessions: $400 (per child)

Any questions, contact us at 516-832-2591 ext. 11 or email nassaucounty4h@cornell.edu

Registration for Summer Camp 2023 at DPF opened in December. We're using the Ultra Camp registration system again this year. Be sure to sign up the children in your life for another fun summer!

You can learn more about the DPF 4-H Camp for summer 2023 by attending a Virtual or In-Person tour/open house! We have 5 virtual and 4 in-person open houses scheduled over the coming months.

The next virtual open house is February 6th from 4:00-6:00pm.

Questions? You can contact Camp staff at:

dpf4hcamp@cornell.edu or 516-832-2591 Ext. 11

Taste NY was a vendor at the CCE Farmers Market at Eisenhower Park this season. You can also visit them at the Long Island Welcome Center in Dix Hills. They offer a wide variety of products ranging from snacks to oils, vinegars, and sauces. Stop by and buy local! Click the graphic to the right to Shop Taste NY

The 2023 Calendar is a day-to-day guide with "best practices" for attaining attractive flowers gardens, productive vegetable gardens and healthy lawns, shrubs and trees that thrive in Long Island climate (Zone 7). 

The Gardener's Journal includes tips and useful information from our CCE Nassau Master Gardener Volunteers. 

Each are $10 if picked up at CCE Nassau. Planting Season is approaching so get yours now!

Thank you to the local news outlets that have written about us recently!

CCE Nassau is currently looking to fill various positions. If interested in any of these openings, please click the link below for more details or to apply.

• Long Island Taste NY Market Sales Ambassador - NB
• Long Island Taste NY Market Sales Ambassador - BE
• EFNEP Nutrition Educator
• Finance Manager
• Urban and Community Forestry Educator
• Community Energy Educator
• Lead Camp Farm Assistant

Cornell Cooperative Extension actively supports equal educational and employment opportunities. No person shall be denied admission to any educational program or activity or be denied employment on the basis of any legally prohibited discrimination involving, but not limited to, such factors as race, color, religion, political beliefs, national or ethnic origin, sex, gender/gender identity, transgender status, sexual orientation, age, marital or family status, protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. Cornell Cooperative Extension is committed to the maintenance of affirmative action programs that will assure the continuation of such equality of opportunity.

Volunteers are very important to Cornell Cooperative Extension of Nassau County. Many individuals volunteer their time to a variety of Extension activities, contributing many hours each year!

Through duties as diverse as teaching others to prune trees or make compost, answering callers' questions on consumer or gardening issues, mentoring young people as they acquire new skills, or serving as board members or on committees that guide our work, volunteers represent the Extension's far-reaching roots in our community.

Prospective volunteers need to complete an application form. In addition, those who volunteer to work with vulnerable populations (children, individuals with disabilities, etc.) will be asked to consent to a criminal background screening at Cooperative Extension's expense, as a means of ensuring the safety and security both of our volunteers and of the people we serve through our programs.

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Nassau County (CCE Nassau) is committed to building healthy lifestyles and sustainable communities by conducting high quality educational programs that connect Cornell University knowledge and research to community needs for all people in the county.

An educational, not-for-profit organization founded in 1914, CCE Nassau has served many thousands of Nassau families through programs focused on horticulture, the environment, health, nutrition, food systems, renewable energy, and youth development.  

"Helping you put knowledge to work"

CORNELL COOPERATIVE EXTENSION OF NASSAU COUNTY

Eisenhower Park, SAC Building, Field 8

PO Box 148

East Meadow, NY 11554

www.ccenassau.org

E-mail: nassau@cornell.edu