Food Preservation Lunch & Learn Series Thursday, February 19, 2026 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm Online Event CCE Putnam Ag and Food Systems Coordinator Ruby Koch-Fienberg will be teaching three Thursday Food Preservation Lunch and Learn classes via Zoom.Jan. 29 - Winter Ferments: Dive into the delicious world of bubbles, brine, and bold flavors at our Winter Fermentation Lunch and Learn Zoom Series! Learn the basics of safe home fermentation, explore different fermentation styles, and get hands-on with hearty winter crops like cabbage, carrots, and root vegetables to create your own crunchy, tangy ferments. Leave with the confidence, recipes, and inspiration you need to keep preserving local winter produce all season long.Feb. 19 - Beginners Guide to Canning and Food Preservation: Jump-start your food preservation season with our February 19th webinar, “Beginner’s Guide to Home Canning.” This session is all about building confidence with the canning process itself: you’ll learn how canning keeps food safe, the difference between boiling-water and pressure canning, which foods belong in each method, and how to avoid common mistakes. With clear, research-based guidance and plenty of time for questions, you’ll finish feeling ready to safely can jams, pickles, tomatoes, vegetables, and more as the harvests start rolling in—no prior experience required.March 19 - Planning Your Garden for the Jar: Plan your garden with preservation in mind in this practical workshop on “Planning the Garden for the Jar.” Learn how to choose varieties, schedule succession plantings, and match crops to the best preservation methods—water bath canning, freezing, and drying—so you can stock your pantry with homegrown foods all year long.The price is $5 for each class or $10 if you sign up for all three classes.*All online classes are recorded by Cornell Cooperative Extension Putnam County for educational use and possible dissemination.  $5 each or 3 for $10 Ruby Koch-Fienberg, rek247@cornell.edu, 845-278-6738x222 Registration: http://weblink.donorperfect.com/Food_Preservation_Lunch_and_Learn ========================================= Owl Prowl Friday, February 20, 2026 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm Tilly Foster Farm, 100 Route 312 , Brewster, NY 10509 Join us on Feb. 20 for a visit from a real owl at the Restore and Regenerate Forest at Tilly Foster Farm in Brewster. Chris Evers and an owl ambassador from Animal Embassy will join us to teach you more about these amazing animals. Activities are outdoors and will include a woods walk where participants will look and listen for local owls with Bedford Audubon Volunteers and Soldiers2Scientists staff. Veterans and their families are especially welcome. Join us for an evening prowl to learn more about these amazing hunters. Registration is required.Presenter Biography: Christopher Evers is a naturalist specializing in wildlife conservation and environmental education. In 2002, Chris founded Animal Embassy, dedicated to exotic animal rescue/adoption and environmental education. Chris brings over 25 years of experience teaching children, working with nature centers and nonprofit environmental organizations, and developing educational programming. Tiered pricing: $20, $30, $40 Jennifer Lerner, jjs95@cornell.edu, 845-278-6738 ext. 216 Registration: https://cornell.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3L6UsU1Yo0eEZcq ========================================= Spring Emergence – Living with American Black Bears Saturday, March 7, 2026 10:00 am - 12:00 pm Clearpool Model Forest, Green Chimneys Clearpool Campus 33 Clearpool Road, Carmel, New York 10512 Spring emergence of curious bears can lead to more sightings. Learn about bears & tips to coexist responsibly & avoid unwanted encounters.Have you ever seen a black bear or witnessed the evidence they were nearby? Join us to learn the bare necessities of living responsibly with black bears roaming the neighborhood. Hear from a NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation Wildlife Biologist about black bears lifestyle and habitat, while learning safety tips and best practices to coexist with bears while avoiding unwanted encounters at home or on the trail. Participants will have access to educational handouts provided by CCE, NYSDEC and BearWise! Stick around after the presentation for an optional short hike to look for wildlife enhancements and bear activity with CCE!Presented by: NYSDEC Wildlife Staff, CCE Columbia – Greene, CCE Putnam $25 Registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/spring-emergence-living-with-american-black-bears-tickets-1978897126576?aff=oddtdtcreator ========================================= Aspiring Farmers Day Saturday, March 14, 2026 9:00 am - 3:00 pm Join us for Aspiring Farmer Day, a hands-on learning event designed to help beginning and prospective farmers take the next step in their agricultural journey. Hosted by Cornell Cooperative Extension Putnam County and the ENYCHP team, this day offers a chance to learn directly from regional experts and connect with other new farmers.Perfect for anyone considering a farm start-up or expanding an existing operation.Cost for the event is $30 per person.Rain Date: March 21 $30 Ruby Koch-Fienberg, rek247@cornell.edu, 845-278-6738x222 Registration: http://weblink.donorperfect.com/2026_Aspiring_Farmer_Day ========================================= Food Preservation Lunch & Learn Series Thursday, March 19, 2026 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm Online Event CCE Putnam Ag and Food Systems Coordinator Ruby Koch-Fienberg will be teaching three Thursday Food Preservation Lunch and Learn classes via Zoom.Jan. 29 - Winter Ferments: Dive into the delicious world of bubbles, brine, and bold flavors at our Winter Fermentation Lunch and Learn Zoom Series! Learn the basics of safe home fermentation, explore different fermentation styles, and get hands-on with hearty winter crops like cabbage, carrots, and root vegetables to create your own crunchy, tangy ferments. Leave with the confidence, recipes, and inspiration you need to keep preserving local winter produce all season long.Feb. 19 - Beginners Guide to Canning and Food Preservation: Jump-start your food preservation season with our February 19th webinar, “Beginner’s Guide to Home Canning.” This session is all about building confidence with the canning process itself: you’ll learn how canning keeps food safe, the difference between boiling-water and pressure canning, which foods belong in each method, and how to avoid common mistakes. With clear, research-based guidance and plenty of time for questions, you’ll finish feeling ready to safely can jams, pickles, tomatoes, vegetables, and more as the harvests start rolling in—no prior experience required.March 19 - Planning Your Garden for the Jar: Plan your garden with preservation in mind in this practical workshop on “Planning the Garden for the Jar.” Learn how to choose varieties, schedule succession plantings, and match crops to the best preservation methods—water bath canning, freezing, and drying—so you can stock your pantry with homegrown foods all year long.The price is $5 for each class or $10 if you sign up for all three classes.*All online classes are recorded by Cornell Cooperative Extension Putnam County for educational use and possible dissemination.  $5 each or 3 for $10 Ruby Koch-Fienberg, rek247@cornell.edu, 845-278-6738x222 Registration: http://weblink.donorperfect.com/Food_Preservation_Lunch_and_Learn ========================================= Putnam County Tree & Shrub Seedling Sale Tuesday, February 17, 2026 6:00 am - 5:00 pm Online Event Online orders accepted until Friday, March 27All orders are pick-up onlyPickup Dates: Friday, April 17, and Saturday April 18 Tilly Foster Farm, Brewster NYThe Annual Putnam County Tree and Shrub Seedling Sale is back!Cornell Cooperative Extension and Soil and Water Conservation have teamed up again to offer a wonderful selection of trees and shrubs. The seedling sale has a long-standing tradition of planting trees and shrubs that create habitat and protect water quality. Trees reduce the amount of storm-water runoff, which reduces erosion and water pollution while stabilizing shorelines, reducing the effects of flooding. And our selection of plants includes native trees, shrubs, and perennials that support birds and pollinators.Why native plants?Plants native to our area provide food and shelter for nesting birds and nectar and pollen for specialist pollinators like many of our native bees. Our backyards, gardens, and parks can provide vital habitat for pollinators and birds, especially if we choose native plants well suited to our growing conditions. We will once again have a selection of cost-effective native plant plugs. These small perennial starts are a thrifty way to get a head start on creating your backyard habitat. From shade to sun, we have you covered. Be sure to shop before the deadline of March 27. Plants will be sold online only, on a first-come first-reserved basis, and there are limited quantities of seedlings.Start your fruitful landscape.You'll find thornless blackberries and Red Lake currants and other native shrubs that produce fruit. Shiro plums and Georgia peaches, selected for disease resistance, are a great start to your home orchard.Note: TREES & SHRUBS ARE BARE ROOT. These must be planted the weekend of receipt. Keep in a cool, dark place, with a damp root-covering such as wet newspaper. Bareroot planting reduce the chance of transporting invasive organisms, and reduces plant prices, a savings we pass on to you. Jennifer Lerner, jjs95@cornell.edu, 845-278-6738 ext. 216 ========================================= The Birds Are Back in Town Saturday, March 28, 2026 8:00 am - 12:00 pm Tilly Foster Farm, 100 Route 312 , Brewster, NY 10509 Spring Migratory Bird CountThe birds are back in town! Join us as we look and listen for migrating birds as they pass through our on the way to their summer nesting quarters. Tilly Foster Farm’s fields and forests offer diverse viewing opportunities for observing these awesome creatures. Volunteers from Bedford Audubon and staff from Soldiers2Scientists will be on hand to help you navigate the world of birding.Registration Opens Soon! Tiered Pricing: $0, $10, $20 Jennifer Lerner, jjs95@cornell.edu, 845-278-6738 ext. 216 =========================================