Happenings January 2026

January 2026

Home Hydroponics Can Help Chase Away the Winter Blues

Bug of the Month: Winter Crane Fly

Common Persimmon: A Native Gem Worth Savoring

CPSC Offers Tips to Prevent Injuries While Enjoying Outdoor Activities

4-H News: Fun Activities to Try at Home

Pet Loss Resources and Support

Leftover Chicken? Try This Easy Pot Pie Recipe

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Home Hydroponics Can Help Chase Away the Winter Blues

by Jennifer Lerner, Senior Resource Educator

Brighten up your home this winter with hydroponically grown herbs and vegetables. From ready-to-go hydroponic kits to DIY home-grown hydroponic set ups, here are the basics you’ll need for success.

Plants need water, light, air and nutrients to thrive. Hydroponic growing has all the same elements except you are growing plants without soil. Nutrients and air are dissolved in water to keep roots healthy and fed. Keeping in mind that any successful hydroponic set-up requires you deliver water, light, air and nutrients, let’s take a deeper dive into each.

Depending on the type of hydroponic system, water carries nutrients and air to the root system in different ways. Plants either stand in deep water (Deep Water Culture) or a thin film of water washes over their root systems (Nutrient Film Technique). Even within those two basic divisions there are many variations. You’ll find hydroponic kits that use expanded clay beads, buckets, troughs, or trays. A simple search online can show you dozens of cheap, easy ways to make an indoor hydroponic garden with commonly available materials. But the devil’s in the details, so here’s the first important element you won’t want to miss.

If you have ever grown a plant cutting in a glass of water, it is very similar to hydroponics. However, that simple system lacks the benefits of aeration. Roots breath and exchange gasses within their growing substrate, whether it is soil or water. Without enough air exchange, roots are starved for oxygen and build up waste products. In these conditions, they are likely to succumb to bacterial rot. The result can be rather stinky. To avoid this, your hydroponic set up should include aeration of some sort. In the case of nutrient film technique, the flow of water over root surfaces is enough exposure to air. In deep water culture an aerator of some sort is necessary. This is usually a simple, inexpensive fishtank pump.

Our second important element is lighting. Herbs and vegetables growing indoors require supplemental light. Without bright, adjustable-height lights, plants will be leggy and thin, when what you really want is robust and luscious. Hydroponic kits usually include LED lights. If you are building your own system, choose adjustable-height LED lights. There are so many to choose from, and they are relatively inexpensive and easy to find.

Lastly, hydroponic success depends on managing nutrients in solution. If you have ever used water-soluble fertilizer, you’ll be familiar with some aspects of feeding plants. In soil we often focus on Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K), relying on the soil to deliver many other micronutrients. In hydroponics, you’ll have to deliver all a plant’s nutrition in the water. Hydroponic fertilizers are available and tailored to what you want to grow. Here’s the tricky part: As the plant grows it uses nutrients, some more than others, and you can’t really tell what is left in the water. Growers use electroconductivity probes and frequent water tests to fine tune nutrition. For home growers, observing growth and leaf color can help you determine which nutrients are depleted. A simple search online can give you photo examples of each nutrient deficiency depending on the crop. You can tailor your fertilization based on those observations. In home hydroponics, you may even want to start with a fresh solution to keep things simple.

What can you grow indoors? Fast growing herbs like basil, cilantro and parsley are a great place to start. Lettuce, arugula and other salad greens are easy to grow hydroponically as well. With most of these plants you can harvest individual leaves and let the plant’s roots and stems remain to grow consecutive harvests. Are you ready to dive in?

Here are some specific resources to get you started:

A Guide to Home Hydroponics for Leafy Greens: https://www.purdue.edu/hla/sites/master-gardener/...

Small Scale Hydroponics: https://extension.umn.edu/how/small-scale-hydropo...

Hydroponics at Home: https://extension.unh.edu/resource/hydroponics-ho...

Photo by Maciej Wojnicki (CC BY 2.0)

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Bug of the Month: Winter Crane Fly

by Janis Butler, Master Gardener

Have you seen many insects this winter? Probably not, since most of them are tucked away in leaf litter or hollow stems, or snuggled underground. Not so for winter crane flies. Though they too depend on leaf litter, hollow trees, and other moist, dark places for winter habitat, they’re famous for bursting forth on mild winter days, swarming against the dazzle of sunlit snow.

Most winter crane flies are in the genus Trichocera, whose member species share an ability to thrive in cold weather and earning their nicknames: winter gnats or winter midges. How do they do it? By supercooling their bodies with proteins that function like antifreeze, allowing them to survive without having their tissues freeze. The adults also make it through the coldest months by clustering together in caves, hollow trees, abandoned buildings and other relatively warm places. When the temperature rises to the 40s (F), they seemingly come to life though they are often seen even when the temperature is as low as the upper 20s (F).

The harmless swarming flies are mostly males looking for a mate among the females who are simultaneously active and equally harmless. After finding each other, they grapple for a while and eventually drop to the ground to mate. The female lays her eggs on or near a good food supply for the emerging larvae, sometimes excavating under the snow to find it.

Ecosystem roles
The larvae hatch in early spring and begin a season of hearty eating while molting three times before fall. The tiny grubs are mostly saprophagous, meaning that they feed on decaying plant matter. As decomposers, they are valuable contributors to the food web, thriving on rotting leaves and wood, fungi, manure, carrion, and even sewage, near the spot their mother selected for them. Rodent burrows are a top choice: warmth from the rodent and food from the excrement.

Pupation takes place in fall. The timing varies widely but the appearance of adults probably peaks between October and February, which is when we get to enjoy seeing them.

Cool weather is key to their life cycle. Being active in winter is a good survival strategy because there are fewer predators around in the coldest months. In warmer months, however, and as further evidence of their ecological importance, there are plenty of critters who welcome a winter crane fly snack, either as larvae or adults. Mammals (skunks, raccoons), birds (starlings, robins, juncos, phoebes, crows and many others), frogs, toads, bats, ground and rove beetles, spiders, ants, fungi, and even some nematodes will gladly feast on them, making winter crane flies a major part of the food chain.

Not mosquitoes!
If adult winter crane flies could talk, they would beg us not to confuse them with mosquitoes, who share a similar body shape: long, skinny legs and bodies and delicate wings. And like most mosquitoes, the adults are small, only about 1/4 to 1/2 inch long. Their beautiful semitransparent wings lie flat on their backs and extend way beyond their abdomens.

The 28 recognized species of Trichocera in North America are hard to differentiate without a hand lens but all winter crane fly species have five eyes: two compound eyes with multiple lenses and three ocelli, or simple eyes, located atop their heads. The ocelli, which true crane flies lack, act as light sensors to aid in navigation and stability. Like all members of the Diptera order, winter crane flies have two wings plus a pair of halteres or vestigial wings located behind the true wings. Halteres function like gyroscopes to aid in balance and orientation during flight. Winter crane flies are smaller than true crane flies and are further distinguished from these near-relatives by their ability to fly in freezing conditions, which true crane flies cannot do.

How can we help winter crane flies?
Don’t mistake winter crane flies for true crane flies. While most are beneficial, some true crane fly species are invasive and have become a problem in lawns, where the grubs feed on grass roots, crowns and shoots, causing brown patches in lawns.

Leave leaves alone in fall to provide winter habitat.

Don’t disturb rotting logs and other woody debris if you can avoid doing so because it could be habitat for many recyclers like winter crane flies.

Photo by Steve Kerr via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)

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Common Persimmon: A Native Gem Worth Savoring

from Purdue Extension

If you’ve ever stumbled upon a tree heavy with orange fruit late in the fall—sometimes after the leaves have dropped—you might have discovered one of North America’s sweetest surprises: the common persimmon (Diospyros virginiana). Also known as “the fruit of the gods,” this native tree is as beautiful as it is bountiful and has been part of our region’s natural and cultural landscape for centuries.

Persimmons add real character to the landscape. Their glossy, oval leaves turn a rich golden hue in autumn, and their fruit—small, round, and sunset-colored—dangles like ornaments well into winter. Birds, deer, foxes, and other wildlife adore them. And yes, humans do too—once ripe! (Taste one before it’s soft, and you’ll understand why early settlers learned patience fast.)

Native to eastern and central North America, the persimmon thrives in a variety of soils and is remarkably resilient—just the kind of hardy native tree gardeners appreciate. Its deep taproot makes it drought-tolerant and helps prevent soil erosion, while its fragrant flowers provide nectar for pollinators. It’s dioecious, meaning separate male and female trees, so you’ll need at least one of each nearby to enjoy fruit production.

Historically, Native Americans and early settlers valued persimmon fruit for drying, baking, or fermenting into a flavorful drink. The wood—dense and fine-grained—was used for everything from golf club heads to furniture. Today, the tree is cherished both as a wildlife magnet and for its ornamental beauty.

So, if you’re looking to plant something native, resilient, and nostalgic, make room in your yard for a persimmon. Better yet—mark your calendar for our annual Tree and Seedling Sale at Tilly Foster Farm, April 17–18, 2026, where you can bring home your very own Diospyros virginiana. Let’s celebrate the season by planting a piece of native history!

Adapted from: The Fruit Of The Gods From An Indiana Tree? | Purdue Extension Forestry & Natural Resources

Resource: Diospyros virginiana (Eastern persimmon) | Native Plants of North America, https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_p...

Photo by vastateparksstaff via Flickr (CC BY 2.0)

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CPSC Offers Tips to Prevent Injuries While Enjoying Outdoor Activities

from U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Along with bone chilling temperatures, the winter season can bring a host of outdoor activities like sledding, skating, and skiing, as well as chores like using a snow blower. In an effort to reduce winter hazard incidents, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is urging consumers to keep safety in sight while playing or working in cold weather.

According to the latest CPSC data, in 2022, there were an estimated 124,700 winter sports-related injuries treated in emergency rooms nationwide. Of all injuries:

• 53% occurred during snow skiing and snowboarding,
• 17% during ice hockey,
• 16% while ice skating,
• 10% while using toboggans, sleds, and snow discs,
• and 4% while using snowmobiles.

Common injuries from winter sports include sprains, strains, dislocations, and fractures. But even if you are not playing winter games, caution and care must be taken while doing outdoor chores like using a snow blower. Last year there were over 4,700 snow blower-related injuries treated in the ER, with 36 percent of those injuries to the wrist, hand, and/or finger.

Many of these incidents can be avoided by following some practical safety tips while enjoying the winter wonderland.

Winter Sports Safety – Helmets Make a Difference

• Wear appropriate protective gear, including goggles, helmets, gloves, and padding.
• Wear a properly fitted helmet to reduce the risk of a head injury.
• Wear the right helmet for the activity. Check out our helmet safety publication Which Helmet for Which Activity for more information.
• Check that equipment is working properly prior to use.

Snow Blower – Clear Snow Safely

• Do NOT try to clear snow from the discharge chute of a snow blower with your hands – this is when most snow blower injuries happen.
• Read the snow blower’s manual before using it.
• NEVER leave a gas-powered snow blower running in an enclosed area. The exhaust contains poisonous carbon monoxide, which can kill in minutes.
• To avoid fire, do not add gasoline to a running or hot engine; always keep the gasoline in a gas can or portable gasoline container with a child-resistant closure to prevent child poisonings.

Check for Recalls
Check your home before bringing out winter-related products, check if your products were previously recalled.

Report any unsafe products or any incidents where someone was injured by a product to CPSC at SaferProducts.gov.

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4-H News: Fun Activities to Try at Home

from Brandy Keenan, 4-H Educator

Winter weather have you stuck indoors with nothing to do? We've got you covered. Here are some fun activities to do on a day when it's just too yucky to play outside.

Melting Ice Race
Place four identical ice cubes in separate bowls. Cover one with salt, one with sugar, one with sand, and leave the last one as a control. Observe which one melts first, second, and so on, to see how different substances affect the melting rate.

Source: Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls

Homemade Ziplock Bag Ice Cream
Get the wiggles out while making this recipe.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1 cup half and half
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ cup salt – the bigger the granules the better, kosher or rock salt works best, but table salt is fine
• Ice cubes (enough to fill a gallon size bag about half full
• 1-pint size Ziploc bag – durable freezer weight is best
• 1-gallon size Ziploc bag – durable freezer weight is best

Directions
1. Combine the sugar, half and half, and vanilla extract in the pint size bag and seal it tightly.
2. Place the salt and ice in the gallon bag then place the sealed smaller bag inside as well. Seal the larger bag.
3. Now shake the bags until the mixture hardens (about 5-10 minutes).
4. Feel the small bag to determine when it’s done. Take the smaller bag out of the larger one.
5. Open and add any mix ins you might desire (crushed candy, flavorings, fruit etc.)

You can eat the ice cream right out of the bag and clean up is easy! Serves one.

Source: CCE Lewis County

Salt-Dough Ornaments

Salt-dough is a type of playdough that hardens when baked, making it perfect for ornaments and keepsakes. Typically, you roll out the dough, cut shapes with cookie cutters, bake and decorate. It’s simple, affordable and endlessly customizable. Michigan State University Extension offers this easy-to-follow recipe:

Ingredients

• 1 cup flour
• ½ cup salt
• ½ cup water

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 250 degree Fahrenheit.
2. Combine flour and salt; mix well.
3. Add water and stir until fully combined.
4. Sprinkle flour on a table or parchment paper. Knead dough until soft and easy to handle (add flour if sticky).
5. Roll dough to ¼-inch thickness using a lightly-floured rolling pin.
6. Cut out shapes with cookie cutters; transfer to an ungreased baking sheet.
7. Use a straw to poke a hole for hanging.
8. Bake for 2–3 hours or until completely dry.
Cool completely before decorating with paint, glitter or other embellishments. For durability, seal with clear acrylic varnish to protect against moisture.

Creative variations
Handprint keepsakes: Press children’s hands into the dough before baking for a lasting memory.
Stamped designs: Use stamps (with or without ink) for unique patterns.
3-D creations: Shape dough into small sculptures—just bake longer for full drying.

Source: MSU Extension

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Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine Offers Pet Loss Resources and Support

from Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine

The death of a pet can have a profound effect on individuals, families and other animals. We invite you to review the information on this page and access any of the resources that speak to you.

The experience of grieving

Grieving the loss of a companion animal can be a complicated process. Pets offer us love, companionship, joy and comfort. They occupy a very special place in our lives. Their death or illness is naturally a source of substantial grief and sadness.

Grief can begin before, during or after a death. The grieving process involves physical, intellectual, emotional, social and spiritual levels. We all respond differently to loss and there is no “normal” way to grieve the loss of a pet, nor is there a prescribed timeline that grief will follow.

The following are some ways that one may experience grief, in no particular order.

Physical: Crying, nausea, fatigue, body aches, changes in appetite, weight loss or gain, sleeping more or difficulty sleeping, feeling tense or jittery, restlessness;

Intellectual: Difficulty focusing or performing usual tasks of daily life or work, denial, sense of unreality, feeling preoccupied by the loss;

Emotional: Anxiety, sadness, anger, frustration, guilt, numbness, loneliness, embarrassment, hopelessness or helplessness;

Social: Feeling withdrawn, difficulty engaging with your usual activities of interest, wanting to spend more or less time with friends and family, feeling isolated in your grief, seeking distraction from your emotions; and

Spiritual: Bargaining with or feeling anger toward your higher power, questioning your religious or spiritual beliefs, searching for meaning in this loss, questioning the afterlife.

All of these are considered a “normal” part of the grieving process. Grief is a gradual journey which rarely follows a simple, straight path. It is perfectly normal to have a journey with grief that is more of a winding road with setbacks along the way. Your emotions may fluctuate from day to day, or even moment to moment. Be kind with yourself as your body and mind navigate this loss.

No one needs to face grief alone. There are many supportive resources to help, some of which are listed below.

Suggestions for coping

Allow yourself to grieve. Do not rush the process, though it may be uncomfortable. Be patient and kind with yourself. You have just gone through a significant loss.

Surround yourself with compassionate people who understand the significance of your loss. Set boundaries with anyone who is not supportive of your grieving process.

Allow yourself to cry. Tears are cleansing and release emotions when we are feeling overwhelmed.

Express your emotions in words, writing or art. Find memorialization ideas online.

Take advantage of available resources like pet loss support phone lines, online support groups, books, a grief counselor and so on.

Children and pet loss

Be mindful that children comprehend death differently than adults do. Their reactions and grieving journey will look different from an adult and will vary depending on their age. Rather than hiding information from a child, welcome them to involved in the conversation about the illness or death of a pet. Be honest and allow them to ask questions, even if you don’t have all the answers. Listening is the most important thing. It is okay to let your child see you sad and allow them to express their emotions, too. Allowing them to be part of memorializing the pet through creative processes like drawing a picture, writing a story or sharing memories can be healing for both the child and family.

Connect with others through hotlines, chats and support groups.

The Cornell Pet Loss Support Hotline

Our hotline is staffed by volunteer veterinary students who have undergone extensive training with professional grief counselors. The very first pet loss support hotline was set up in 1989 at the University of California at Davis, and we have used their guidelines in the construction of our own.

The Pet Loss Support Hotline is available via Google Voice to support you Monday-Friday 6-9 p.m.; Saturday 12-9 p.m.; and Sunday 12-9 p.m. at 607-218-7457. Google Voice will prompt you to enter your name before connecting. To remain anonymous, you can say “anonymous” or just enter your first name. Please check back frequently as our hours may change depending on volunteer availability.

Please note: The Cornell Pet Loss Support Hotline is not a mental health hotline. If the concerns voiced over a call are beyond topics related to pet loss and pet grieving, volunteers will help you find appropriate resources for your needs.

If you are looking for resources to address thoughts about suicide, self-harming or harming others, contact 800-273-8255 or visit the Suicide Prevention Lifeline website.

Call 911 or your local emergency services for help if you are experiencing a mental health emergency.

Online chat groups and other resources

The Argus Institute’s Human Animal Bond Trust: A pet loss group that meets Thursdays 6:30-8 p.m. MT via Zoom

Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement: Offering chat rooms and video support groups

Michigan State University Veterinary Medical Center: A pet loss support group that meets the second and fourth Wednesday of the month from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Visit their website or email vsw@msu.edu

Lap of Love: Zoom support groups for pet loss or anticipatory grief, behavioral euthanasia, unexpected loss, individual sessions, as well as a pet loss course. Appointment dates and times vary.

The Pet Loss Support Page: Providing resources on pet loss, quality of life, euthanasia, bereavement and more

HoofBeats in Heaven: Groups and chats about horse loss.

Facebook: Facebook has many informal groups for pet loss. Type “pet loss”  or a related term into the search bar on the Facebook page. You will find many people who want to connect with others who have had a loss.

Grief in companion animals
Companion animals can form close attachments and may display changes in behavior consistent with grief when another pet in the home dies. Surviving pets may seek out attention more often, be more reactive to environmental stimuli, appear anxious or withdrawn or have changes in their daily routine (such as eating, playing, sleeping). While this may be a response to the loss of a companion animal, it can also be in response to changes in the emotions and routine of the humans in the home.

Be aware that any persistent change in your pet’s behavior warrants a physical exam by a veterinarian. You should not assume it’s related to grief. Of particular note is if your pet is not eating or drinking, or has any changes in urination or defecation, including accidents in the house.

To help your pet with the changes associated with the loss of another pet, the following is recommended:

• Keep your daily routine as consistent as possible.
• Be a secure base for your pet. While you can certainly comfort them, you should also be reassuring and calm.
• Engage them in activities they enjoy (such as exercise, food toys, or positive reinforcement training).
• Be patient, it may take weeks to months for things to be “back to normal.

We hope these resources will be helpful to you during this difficult time. Materials on this page were compiled by the Cornell University Hospital for Animals veterinary social worker and our medical directors.

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Leftover Chicken? Try This Easy Pot Pie Recipe

from Josephine Quiocho, Nutrition Educator

Leftover chicken and frozen veggies help this chicken pot pie come together quickly.

Ingredients

• 1 2⁄3 cups frozen mixed vegetables (thawed)
• 1 cup cooked chicken (cut-up)
• 1 can cream of chicken soup, reduced sodium (10 3⁄4 ounce, condensed)
• 1 cup baking mix, reduced-fat (example: Bisquick)
• 1⁄2 cup milk (non-fat)
• 1 egg

Directions

1. Pre-heat oven to 400 °F.
2. Mix vegetables, chicken, and soup in ungreased, 9-inch pie plate.
3. Stir remaining ingredients in a mixing bowl with fork until blended. Pour over vegetables and chicken in pie plate.
4. Bake 30 minutes or until golden brown.
5. Let cool for 5 minutes and serve.

For nutrition information, please visit SNAP-Ed NY.

Source: snapedny.org/recipes/easy-chicken-pot-pie/

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Last updated December 31, 2025