Happenings August 2023

August 2023

2nd Annual Putnam Country Fest and 4-H Showcase

Rain, Rain, Go Away?

Enjoy the Hudson Valley's Natural Beauty - Virtually

Zucchini Overload?!

4-H Food Systems Teen Leadership Institute

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2nd Annual Putnam Country Fest and 4-H Showcase

The 2023 Putnam County Country Fest and 4-H Showcase, held this past weekend at Veteran's Memorial Park, drew crowds from all over the area. Attendees were treated to a variety of educational displays, live music performances and hands-on experiences that made for a fun and informative weekend for all.

The festival's emphasis on agriculture and natural resources was a hit with families and children alike, who enjoyed learning about the care and keeping of horses, ducks and other farm animals. The 4-H showcase provided a platform for local youth to showcase their talents, as well as learn about leadership and community involvement.

Live music performances kept the energy high throughout the weekend, with a range of musical styles that kept audiences entertained. In addition to the music, attendees enjoyed the NY Cruisers and a variety of food vendors offering everything from classic fair food to more adventurous options.

Overall, the 2023 Putnam County Country Fest and 4-H Showcase was a resounding success, thanks to the hard work and dedication of all involved., especially the volunteers. We look forward to next year's festival and the opportunity to continue to showcase the best of Putnam County.

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Rain, Rain, Go Away?

Sometimes it’s boom or bust when it comes to rainfall. For some Putnam County residents, the month of July brought disastrous rainfall. We’ve been getting questions on the effects of this “excess” rainfall on landscape plants. Is there such a thing as too much water when it comes to gardening?

There are two factors to consider: unique plant requirements and drainage, and it’s the latter that’s the hardest to correct for. The gardener’s dream soil is well-drained and high in organic matter. Think of a good chocolate sponge cake with an airy, fluffy texture. Similar air pores in soil allow gas exchange, so the fine white roots can breathe, and allow for moisture movement through the soil. When drainage is poor and the soil becomes waterlogged, those spaces fill with water. The root system can no longer exchange gases and literally drowns. Ironically, the symptoms are wilted leaves. Gardeners see this familiar indicator, and add additional water, inadvertently compounding the damage.

Some plants have unique requirements. Many of the herbs we grow are originally from dry, Mediterranean climates, and do best with very well-drained, nutritionally poor soils. This weather may have been tough on them if the soil where they are planted did not have good drainage. Conversely, some of the plants we love, like Buttonbush ( Cephalanthus occidentalis) and Joe-Pye weed (Eutrochium purpureum and similar species) are well adapted to standing water that drains away slowly.

You have just a few short days for water to drain from trees, perennials, and crops before the damage to the root system is irreversible. With care, root systems can slowly grow new healthy fine roots. Unfortunately, with high temperatures, plants may lose water from the leaves faster than the injured root system can draw water up. In this scenario, the plant further wilts and may turn yellow and drop leaves to reduce water loss. (See photo) You may not yet have lost the plant, so give it time to see if it can grow new roots and leaves. Keep the soil damp but not soaking, and hope the next round of thunderclouds doesn’t bring a deluge.

CLICK HERE for more information on flooded gardens and crops.

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Enjoy the Hudson Valley's Natural Beauty - Virtually

Not ready to hit the trails just yet? Cornell Cooperative Extension of Putnam County brings the forest floors and sweeping views of the Hudson Valley directly to your living room!

In these short videos, preview our favorite trails, learning a little about the area’s history, natural resources and invasive species impacts. Did you know you can trace our farming heritage in the forest, or see where historic industries reshaped the land . . . only for forests to take it back?

Why videos? Ed Illiano of Lake Carmel, program founder, says, "The hikes provide the community with a healthy opportunity to enjoy and learn about the forests all around them; the videos help to entice people to get out there and observe nature with new knowledge." Sometimes exploring a new hike can be intimidating, or maybe your body can’t quite hit the trails this season. Virtual hikes give you a taste of the trails without any worries.

Researched and presented by Master Gardener and Master Naturalist Volunteers, these hike videos were developed with help from Boscobel, the Putnam County Historian, Hudson Highlands Land Trust, Friends of the Great Swamp and Manitoga-The Russel Wright Design Center. Engaging community partners strengthens the fabric of Putnam County’s communities. Funding from the Hudson River Valley Greenway makes this program possible.

View the videos at the  CCE Putnam YouTube Channel. Then get ready to hit the trails.

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Zucchini Overload?!

One vegetable that sometimes takes over the garden is zucchini. If you find yourself with a massive harvest of this summer squash, don’t despair! There is more to do with it than making zucchini bread. (but if you want to, there is a fabulous recipe below). So, what can you do with all your zucchini?

Many people freeze grated zucchini so they can make recipes throughout the year. In order to do this safely, follow these guidelines:

• Choose young, tender squash. Wash and grate.
• Steam blanch small quantities for one to two minutes, until translucent.
• Pack measured amounts into containers (if your recipe calls for one cup, use that amount). Leave a half-inch headspace.
• Place container in cold water to cool.
• Seal, label and freeze. If it’s watery when thawed, discard the liquid before using.

If you want to use your zucchini fresh, we recommend that you substitute it for cucumbers in your favorite pickle recipe.

By Jane Hart, Michigan State University Extension

Olive Oil Zucchini Bread by Melissa Clark (Adapted)

INGREDIENTS

• Yield: One 8-inch loaf
• Butter, for the pan
• 1½ cups/185 grams grated zucchini
• ⅓ cup/70 grams light brown sugar
• ⅓ cup/80 milliliters olive oil (or other oil such as safflower or canola)
• ⅓ cup/80 milliliters plain Greek yogurt
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon/5 milliliters vanilla extract
• 1½ cups/190 grams all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon/3 grams salt
• ½ teaspoon/3 grams baking soda
• ½ teaspoon/2 grams baking powder
• 1½ teaspoons/4 grams ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon/1 gram ground nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon/2 grams finely grated lemon zest
• ½ cup/55 grams chopped walnuts (optional)

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Butter an 8-inch loaf pan.

Step 2

In a large bowl, use a rubber spatula to mix together the grated zucchini, sugar, olive oil, yogurt, eggs and vanilla extract.

Step 3

Whisk together the flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder, lemon zest and spices in a separate bowl. Fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. Fold in the walnuts if using.

Step 4

Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake for 40 to 55 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through baking. The bread will be done when a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean.

Step 5

Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove the bread from the pan and cool on a rack completely before cutting and serving.

Photo: By Leeks and Bounds via Flikr

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4-H Food Systems Teen Leadership Institute

Putnam 4-H Youth explore social justice, climate change, sustainability and healthy choices during 4-H Food Systems Teen Leadership Institute.

In July, eight 4-H Members took part in a week-long 4-H Food Systems Teen Leadership Institute, hosted by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Putnam County’s 4-H Youth Development Program. The 4-H Food Systems program guided teens through a variety of hands-on activities and experiences in an effort to cultivate an increased understanding and appreciation for agriculture and food systems within a positive youth development framework. In addition, through their participation, teens were encouraged to think more intentionally about sustainability and social justice issues related to food, as well as the environmental and economic impact of modern food systems on a local and global scale.

Throughout the week, the 4-H Teen Leaders visited a variety of key players within the food system. On Tuesday, participants toured Tops Supermarket in Carmel, NY, to investigate the roles and functions of food system professionals; on Wednesday, the group explored Long Haul Farm in Garrison, NY, and learned about sustainable farming and community supported agriculture; and on Thursday, the teens had an opportunity to visit Second Chance Foods in Brewster, NY, where they learned about gleaning and food justice issues that directly impact our local community!

At the conclusion of the program, each of the participants did a presentation based on interviews with their elders (grandparents & family members) and their relationships with food. Finally, the teens shared how learning about food systems helped them gain a deeper understanding of environmental issues and the behavioral changes they intend to make to do their part in increasing sustainability & reducing food waste!

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Last updated August 10, 2023