Aspiring Farmers Day Saturday, March 14, 2026 9:00 am - 2:15 pm North Salem Community Center, 3 Owens Road , Croton Falls, NY 10519 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.Breakout Learning Sessions include: Vegetable Production Basics for New Growers with Teresa Rusinek, ENYCHP — Foundational insights for new vegetable growers including site preparation, soil health fundamentals, crop planning and rotation strategies, season extension basics, and pest management for small-scale operations. Ideal for those starting their first market garden or adding vegetables to an existing farm.Small Fruit Success: Growing Berries in the Hudson Valley with Heather Kase, ENYCHP —Introduction to small fruit production covering variety selection for the Hudson Valley climate, site assessment and soil preparation, planting systems and spacing, first-year establishment and care, and common pest and disease challenges. Perfect for those considering adding perennial berry crops to their farm plan.Growing Grapes for Wine and Fresh Market with Jeremy Schuster, ENYCHP — Growing grapes in the Hudson Valley for wine production or fresh market sales. Topics include site selection and vineyard planning, variety recommendations for the region, trellising and training systems, pest and disease management specific to grapes, and harvest timing and quality considerations. Turning Farm Dreams into Viable Businesses with Liz Higgins, ENYCHP — Comprehensive session on farm business fundamentals including developing a business plan, understanding farm finances and recordkeeping, pricing strategies and profit margins, marketing and branding basics, and accessing capital and grants. Essential for anyone turning their farm idea into a sustainable business.Getting Started with Poultry and Small Livestock with Brandy Keenan, CCE Putnam — Introduction to raising poultry and small ruminants (sheep and goats) on small-scale farms. Topics include breed selection for various purposes (eggs, meat, fiber, dairy), housing and infrastructure requirements, feeding and nutrition basics, flock and herd health management, pasture management and rotational grazing, and navigating local regulations and zoning. Designed for beginners interested in adding livestock diversity to their farm operation.There will be a drop-in Q&A and one-on-one consultations with representatives from key agricultural support agencies. Bring your specific questions about funding opportunities, conservation programs, technical assistance, land-use planning and local resources.Perfect for anyone considering a farm start-up or expanding an existing operation.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 ========================================= Garden Planning: Planting a Pollinator Garden Wednesday, March 25, 2026 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm Online Event This virtual presentation provides participants with an overview of planting a pollinator garden. You will learn the whys and hows of planting for pollinators. *All online classes are recorded by Cornell Cooperative Extension Putnam County for educational use and possible dissemination. $5 suggested donation Amanda Colley, amc399@cornell.edu , 845-278-6738 ext. 221 Registration: http://weblink.donorperfect.com/Planting_a_Pollinator_Garden ========================================= 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!Pre-shopping Flyer Visit our online shop: https://cceputnam.square.siteCornell 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. Tiered Pricing: $0, $10, $20 Jennifer Lerner, jjs95@cornell.edu, 845-278-6738 ext. 216 Registration: https://cornell.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0TaQ8xRCfseasqa ========================================= Seed to Supper Wednesday, April 15, 2026 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Putnam Valley Library, 30 Oscawana Lake Rd , Putnam Valley, NY 10579 This class is perfect for beginners!Whether you have a yard, porch or windowsill, you can grow your ownvegetables and herbs at home. Discover how to plan, grow, and eat from your own garden! Learn to cultivate healthy plants and manage weeds and pests along the way. The program is free and families are welcome!Children ages 4 and older are welcome, but space is limited. There are separate classes for adults and children.Refreshments will be provided.For those who feel more comfortable registering over the phone, call our office at 845-278-6738. All calls are confidential.¡Esta clase es perfecta para principiantes!Ya sea que tenga un patio, un porche o el marco de una ventana, usted puede cultivar sus propios vegetales y hierbas en casa. ¡Descubra cómo planificar, cultivar y comer de su propio jardín! Aprenda a cultivar plantas saludables y a controlar la maleza y las plagas en el proceso.¡El programa es gratuito y las familias son bienvenidas! Se aceptan niños de 4 años en adelante, pero el espacio es limitado. Habrá clases separadas para adultos y para niños.Se ofrecerán refrigerios.Para quienes se sientan más cómodos registrándose por teléfono, llamen a nuestra oficina al 845-278-6738. Todas las llamadas son confidenciales. Free Amanda Colley, amc399@cornell.edu , 845-278-6738 ext. 221 Registration: https://cornell.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9EsfHWt45zAKXoG ========================================= Seed to Supper Wednesday, April 22, 2026 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Putnam Valley Library, 30 Oscawana Lake Rd , Putnam Valley, NY 10579 This class is perfect for beginners!Whether you have a yard, porch or windowsill, you can grow your ownvegetables and herbs at home. Discover how to plan, grow, and eat from your own garden! Learn to cultivate healthy plants and manage weeds and pests along the way. The program is free and families are welcome!Children ages 4 and older are welcome, but space is limited. There are separate classes for adults and children.Refreshments will be provided.For those who feel more comfortable registering over the phone, call our office at 845-278-6738. All calls are confidential.¡Esta clase es perfecta para principiantes!Ya sea que tenga un patio, un porche o el marco de una ventana, usted puede cultivar sus propios vegetales y hierbas en casa. ¡Descubra cómo planificar, cultivar y comer de su propio jardín! Aprenda a cultivar plantas saludables y a controlar la maleza y las plagas en el proceso.¡El programa es gratuito y las familias son bienvenidas! Se aceptan niños de 4 años en adelante, pero el espacio es limitado. Habrá clases separadas para adultos y para niños.Se ofrecerán refrigerios.Para quienes se sientan más cómodos registrándose por teléfono, llamen a nuestra oficina al 845-278-6738. Todas las llamadas son confidenciales. Free Amanda Colley, amc399@cornell.edu , 845-278-6738 ext. 221 Registration: https://cornell.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9EsfHWt45zAKXoG ========================================= Seed to Supper Wednesday, April 29, 2026 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Putnam Valley Library, 30 Oscawana Lake Rd , Putnam Valley, NY 10579 This class is perfect for beginners!Whether you have a yard, porch or windowsill, you can grow your ownvegetables and herbs at home. Discover how to plan, grow, and eat from your own garden! Learn to cultivate healthy plants and manage weeds and pests along the way. The program is free and families are welcome!Children ages 4 and older are welcome, but space is limited. There are separate classes for adults and children.Refreshments will be provided.For those who feel more comfortable registering over the phone, call our office at 845-278-6738. All calls are confidential.¡Esta clase es perfecta para principiantes!Ya sea que tenga un patio, un porche o el marco de una ventana, usted puede cultivar sus propios vegetales y hierbas en casa. ¡Descubra cómo planificar, cultivar y comer de su propio jardín! Aprenda a cultivar plantas saludables y a controlar la maleza y las plagas en el proceso.¡El programa es gratuito y las familias son bienvenidas! Se aceptan niños de 4 años en adelante, pero el espacio es limitado. Habrá clases separadas para adultos y para niños.Se ofrecerán refrigerios.Para quienes se sientan más cómodos registrándose por teléfono, llamen a nuestra oficina al 845-278-6738. Todas las llamadas son confidenciales. Free Amanda Colley, amc399@cornell.edu , 845-278-6738 ext. 221 Registration: https://cornell.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9EsfHWt45zAKXoG ========================================= Seed to Supper Wednesday, May 6, 2026 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Putnam Valley Library, 30 Oscawana Lake Rd , Putnam Valley, NY 10579 This class is perfect for beginners!Whether you have a yard, porch or windowsill, you can grow your ownvegetables and herbs at home. Discover how to plan, grow, and eat from your own garden! Learn to cultivate healthy plants and manage weeds and pests along the way. The program is free and families are welcome!Children ages 4 and older are welcome, but space is limited. There are separate classes for adults and children.Refreshments will be provided.For those who feel more comfortable registering over the phone, call our office at 845-278-6738. All calls are confidential.¡Esta clase es perfecta para principiantes!Ya sea que tenga un patio, un porche o el marco de una ventana, usted puede cultivar sus propios vegetales y hierbas en casa. ¡Descubra cómo planificar, cultivar y comer de su propio jardín! Aprenda a cultivar plantas saludables y a controlar la maleza y las plagas en el proceso.¡El programa es gratuito y las familias son bienvenidas! Se aceptan niños de 4 años en adelante, pero el espacio es limitado. Habrá clases separadas para adultos y para niños.Se ofrecerán refrigerios.Para quienes se sientan más cómodos registrándose por teléfono, llamen a nuestra oficina al 845-278-6738. Todas las llamadas son confidenciales. Free Amanda Colley, amc399@cornell.edu , 845-278-6738 ext. 221 Registration: https://cornell.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9EsfHWt45zAKXoG ========================================= Seed to Supper Wednesday, May 13, 2026 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Putnam Valley Library, 30 Oscawana Lake Rd , Putnam Valley, NY 10579 This class is perfect for beginners!Whether you have a yard, porch or windowsill, you can grow your ownvegetables and herbs at home. Discover how to plan, grow, and eat from your own garden! Learn to cultivate healthy plants and manage weeds and pests along the way. The program is free and families are welcome!Children ages 4 and older are welcome, but space is limited. There are separate classes for adults and children.Refreshments will be provided.For those who feel more comfortable registering over the phone, call our office at 845-278-6738. All calls are confidential.¡Esta clase es perfecta para principiantes!Ya sea que tenga un patio, un porche o el marco de una ventana, usted puede cultivar sus propios vegetales y hierbas en casa. ¡Descubra cómo planificar, cultivar y comer de su propio jardín! Aprenda a cultivar plantas saludables y a controlar la maleza y las plagas en el proceso.¡El programa es gratuito y las familias son bienvenidas! Se aceptan niños de 4 años en adelante, pero el espacio es limitado. Habrá clases separadas para adultos y para niños.Se ofrecerán refrigerios.Para quienes se sientan más cómodos registrándose por teléfono, llamen a nuestra oficina al 845-278-6738. Todas las llamadas son confidenciales. Free Amanda Colley, amc399@cornell.edu , 845-278-6738 ext. 221 Registration: https://cornell.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9EsfHWt45zAKXoG =========================================