SUNY Cortland Sustainability Week 2012

Lots of great talks and films for this year’s Sustainability Week.  Some highlights include the positive film YERT - Your Environmental Road Trip, which follows a group of young people as they travel the 50 states sharing positive solutions.

Don’t miss Cortland County’s Earth Day Festival (Sunday, April 22) a great family learning event “the Cortland Blooms Festival” at the Cortland County Office Building.  Free workshops, music by Colleen Kattau and Some Guys, local BBQ sandwiches, local farmers market, CSA sign-up, a kids corner, and more!

Monday April 16^th

“Swaying Instability”

An art Exhibit by Scott Oldfield exploring the dialog between human life and the natural world

Open all week at the Beard Building on Main St.

CHE 125 - Chemistry and the Environment Student Presentations 1:50 to 2:40 pm Van Hoesen B0140 (Open to Campus Community)

Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing Hazardous Waste Sites in New York State Nuclear Energy / Nuclear Wastes

“Saving Civilization: The Global Fight Against Devastating Climate Change”

Keynote Address 7:30 – 9:00 pm Sperry Center, Room 105

Dr. Steven Leibo, Professor of Modern International History & Politics at the Sage Colleges.

Green Rep: Swap Shop

7:30 – 9:00 pm

Corey Union Function Room

Join the Cortland Green Reps to help reduce our impact on the environment by recycling and re-using clothing.

Tuesday April 17th

STARS: Tracking SUNY Cortland’s Progress Towards Sustainability

12:00 – 1:00 pm The Colloquium Faculty Lounge (Old Main)

Nasrin Parvizi, Associate Vice President, Facilities Management

Tim Slack, Director of the Physical Plant

Doug Roll, Physical Plant Energy Manager 

Showing of “Green Fire: Aldo Leopold And A Land Ethic For Our Time”

1:40 – 3:00 pm The Colloquium Faculty Lounge (Old Main)

A documentary film highlighting why many consider Leopold to be the “father of the modern environmental movement” and illustrates his continuing influence on projects that connect people and land at the local level.

Showing of “YERT: Your Environmental Road Trip”

7:30 – 9:30 pm Sperry Center, Room 204

Called to action by a planet in peril, three friends hit the road - traveling with hope, humor, and all of their garbage - to explore every state in America in search of the extraordinary innovators and citizens who are tackling humanity's greatest environmental crises.

Wednesday April 18th

Wellness Wednesday Farmer’s Market

11:00 am – 2:00 pm Neubig Hall

Enjoy offerings from local vendors and learn more about the food and other products available from Cortland County farms and businesses. Bring cash and you can purchase: vegetables, seedlings for planting, aquaponics, baked goods, personal care and cleaning products, and photography.

Sponsored by the Student Affairs Sustainability Committee with assistance from ASC.

CHE 125 - Chemistry and the Environment Student Presentations 

1:50 to 2:40 pm Van Hoesen B0140 (Open to Campus Community)

Global Warming / Climate Change

Transformations Concurrent Session II

3:00 – 4:00 pm Sperry Center, Room 205

Moderator and Faculty Mentor: Kathy Russell, Professor and Chair, Philosophy

Hydrofracking around NY Waterways

David Colletti, Professional Writing

Wind Power: An Alternative Side to the Hydrofracking Debate

Kelly Caulfield, Adolescence Education - Spanish

Hydrofracking is Unethical

Allison Drasser, Childhood Education

Sport and Sustainability

3:00 – 4:00 pm Bowers Hall, Room 140

Dylan Gioia, Sport Management Sarah Schmidt Zipp, Instructor, Sport Management 

Thursday April 19th

Alumni House Cleanup Day

Lynn Parks ’68 SUNY Cortland Alumni House on Tompkins Street

9:00 am – 4:00 pm

Students and alumni are invited to stop in for a tour of the house and to help with projects such as spreading mulch, improving brickwork, general yard cleanup, and cleaning and caring for antiques, windows, drapery, and woodwork. Stay as long as you wish. All help is appreciated!

Earth Week Sandwich Seminar

12:00 – 1:00 pm Jacobus Lounge (Brockway Hall)

“Eating Sustainably at SUNY Cortland and Across the County”

Michelle Brackin, Assistant Executive Director of Auxiliary Services Corporation

Beth Klein, Professor Childhood / Early Childhood Education

Christine Applegate, Cortland County Local Agricultural Promotions Subcommittee Co-chair

*** Free refreshments will be provided on a first come - first serve basis. ***

Foxey Brown and The Rise Of Natural Resource Conservation In NY State

Charles Yaple, Professor Emeritus, Recreation, Parks and Leisure Studies Department

1:40 – 2:40 pm Bowers Hall, Room 140

Hoxie Gorge: An Outdoor Classroom for Sustainability

4:00 to 6:00 pm

A tour of the 169-acre Hoxie Gorge Nature Preserve guided by two faculty from the Biology and Geology departments. Following an overview of ongoing research, the discussion will focus on carbon sequestration; biomimicry, and nutrient cycling.

(Note: You must sign up in advance by contacting the Center for Environmental and Outdoor Education at 607- 753-5488 or emailing outdooredinfo@cortand.edu.)

Energy and Sustainability Talk

7:30 – 9:00 pm Sperry Center, Room 204

“Utility Scale Wind Power: Separating Fact from Fiction”

Brice Smith, Associate Professor and Chair of Physics

Friday April 20th

Alumni House Cleanup Day

Lynn Parks ’68 SUNY Cortland Alumni House on Tompkins Street

9:00 am – 4:00 pm

Students and alumni are invited to stop in for a tour of the house and to help with projects such as spreading mulch, improving brickwork, general yard cleanup, and cleaning and caring for antiques, windows, drapery, and woodwork. Stay as long as you wish. All help is appreciated!

4th Annual Outdoor Gear Sale and Fender Blender: Bike Your Own Smoothie SUNY Cortland Recreation Association 1:00 – 5:00 pm

Community Bike Shop Building next to the Lusk Field House

CHE 125 - Chemistry and the Environment Student Presentations 1:50 to 2:40 pm Van Hoesen B0140 (Open to Campus Community)

Pollution of the Oceans Alternatives to gasoline-powered cars Environmental impacts of food production

Sunday April 22nd (Earth Day)

Community Bike Project Bike-A-Thon: Ride for Earth Pride!

10:00 am Registration / 10:30 am Ride begins

Community Bike Shop Building next to the Lusk Field House

Contact jennifer.miller@cortland.edu for details

Cortland Blooms 

11:00 am – 3:00 pm Cortland County Gymnasium (46 Greenbush St)

Interactive student and family festival featuring exhibits on topics such as recycling, composting, backyard gardening, and renewable energy.

Sponsored by Sustainable Cortland, the Cortland County Soil and Water Conservation District and the Local Agricultural Promotion Committee.

Earth Day Clean-up at the Lime Hollow Center for Environment & Culture 1:00 – 4:00 pm Lime Hollow Visitor Center, 338 McLean Rd

Help prepare trails for the spring and summer season. Projects include wetland restoration, invasive plant removal, and tree planting.

All Events Are Free and Open to the Public!

Buying Local: Keep it up!

Homer,  NY

I've written many times about buying local.  I've listed benefits of buying local (see this), and I've suggested items to buy and places to go to support local producers and growers. The good news is, it seems that people are trying to shop local.  This article, "Independent Businesses Report Strong Holiday Sales", provided results from a survey of 1,768 Independent Businesses that found that holiday sales were up 6.7 % on average for independent retailers (overall sales were up only 4.1 %).  In addition,  independent retailers surveyed reported that public awareness of the benefits of supporting locally owned businesses had increased in the last year, and communities with active "Buy Local" campaigns operated by a local business organization had higher local sales.  Here the Cortland Downtown Partnership has a Buy Local campaign and the Cortland County Chamber of Commerce ran a Holiday "Buy Local" assistance program this past season.

A friend posted a link to "Why Shop Local?" on their FaceBook page, and I thought it was worth repeating:

Cortland, NY

"When you buy from a small local business you are not paying for a third vacation home for some CEO.  You are paying for dance lessons; you are buying a little-league uniform.  You are putting food on a family's table and sending a student to college.  You are helping the American Dream come true for somebody in our community.  Somebody you probably know.  Shop local!"

Let's keep up the good work!

Sustainable Cortland Events

Sustainable Cortland has planned a winter reading discussion series "Soup and Sustenance".  The first event is this Thursday (January 26) from 6:00-7:30 at the Beard Building (9 Main Street) in downtown Cortland.  The January book choice is "Folks This Ain't Normal" by Joel Salatin of Polyface Farms, Inc.   Joel has been described as "America's Most Influential Farmer". Books are available at a discount from Mando Books in downtown Cortland.

Please feel free to join us even if you haven't had a chance to read all the books, as there will certainly be interesting discussions, and of course great soup and homemade bread!  RSVP is not necessary, but would be helpful for planning.  Please email sustainablecortland@gmail.com to let us know if you are planning on coming.  Hope to see you there!

Have a Sustainable Holiday!

Courtesy of Jeannine Gettis

Remember to think "local" and "sustainable" this holiday season.

By buying local:
More of your money stays in our community
You support the development of local jobs
You reduce environmental impact
You are rewarded with better service!
You invest in our community (encourages new local businesses!)
You help build local economic resilience

Don't forget about locally made products like soaps and green cleaning supplies from Lime Hollow Naturals and lotions and shampoo from Cold Brook Farm. Great gift ideas of locally grown food or locally made products are also available in the area at shops like Oh My Goodness Health Food Store in Homer.  Or, how about some gift certificates to local services (like Hearts Content Healing and Pure and Simple Yoga)?

For more ways to help support your local businesses this season, check out the Cortland Historic Downtown Partnership newsletter for special events and ideas.

Cortland County Sustainable Living Tour 10/8/11

Twin Oaks Dairy Tracking Solar PV System

Uttech Property

Please join us for the first annual Cortland County Sustainable Living Tour on October 8, 2011.  The day includes two tours.  Tour highlights will include: Straw bale and earth-berm construction, solar thermal, solar photovoltaic, geothermal, sustainable gardening, passive solar, LEED Silver building standards, and energy retrofits.

For more info please go to: cortlandgreenhomes.wordpress.com  or contact Beth Klein (607-753-5682) solarbeth@gmail.com

TOUR 1: Businesses and Organizations

10:15-11:00 Cortland YWCA, Cortland  - solar PV system

11:30-12:30 SUNY Cortland Professional Studies Building, Cortland – Meets LEED Silver standards, geothermal heating and cooling, and more

1:00-2:00 Lime Hollow Center for Environment and Culture Visitor Center, Cortland – Geothermal, solar PV system, and other green building techniques.

Tour 2: Farms and Homes

9:15-10:00  Twin Oaks Dairy, Truxton – tracking ground mount solar panels

Klein garden and Solar PV system

10:30 – 11:30 – Klein home, Solon  - ground mount solar PV system, solar thermal hot water system, on-demand hot water, wood stove, root cellar.  Jon Wood of Cortland and owner of  Green Sun Solar  will be on hand to talk about his solar thermal installation here.

12:00 – 1:30 –  Northland Sheep Dairy, Freetown/Marathon
Karl and Jan North Home: Earth-berm construction and passive solar, and more.
Donn Hewes and MaryRose Livingston Home: Straw bale construction, passive Solar, and more.

2:00-3:00 – Uttech home, Lapeer – Solar PV, solar thermal hot water, wood stove and more

Uttech Solar PV controllers

Moving Cortland Week Sept. 18-24!

Lots of great sustainability events planned for "Moving Cortland" Week Sept. 18-24! Our community's role in the world-wide Moving Planet event  - A Day to Move Beyond Fossil Fuels!

Events include: hiking trips, energy films (End of Suburbia and Escape from Suburbia, Gasland and Split Estate) incentives to ride the bus, walk and bike around Cortland, and lots more!

Healthy Now and Way2Go Cortland, two grant programs affiliated with Seven Valleys Health Coalition, and the Cortland County sustainability group have planned a weeklong event from September 18 - 24 to promote locally produced food & products and healthier, more sustainable transportation options.

"Moving Cortland: A Week to Move Beyond Fossil Fuels" will focus on walking, bicycling, riding the bus and eating/buying local products.

Activities include:

1. A bingo-type card where individuals will be able to choose various activities (hike a trail, ride the bus, attend a farmers market, attend an energy presentation, etc.) and will get a stamp when the activity is completed. When they get "bingo" they will be able to enter their card into a drawing for prizes donated by local merchants and organizations

2. "Get Caught Moving" - we will have spotters during that week looking for those who display a Moving Cortland armband. They will receive a coupon good for produce at a farmers market in the county.

3. There will be volunteers who will be available on a reservation basis to act as a "Bus Buddy" for people who need help navigating the public transit system.

For more information and to find out where to pickup/drop-off bingo cards and armbands, go to Seven Valleys Health Coalition

Check out the bingo game card for specifics on events, available at locations throughout Cortland or download from: Moving Cortland Bingo Card

Canning Workshop

If you've always wanted to learn how to can, here's your opportunity.  Cooperative Extension is offering a hands-on workshop THIS Saturday (Sept. 17th) from 9-noon at the Cortland County Office Building (Basement room B-1).  Please pre-register ASAP by calling Sharon VanDeuson, Cornell Cooperative Extension, at 607-753-5078.  There is a small charge of $5 to help with materials costs.

Preserving the Harvest Presentation

Chris Applegate at the Virgil Market

Please join us for "Preserving the Harvest" on Wed. August 17th, from 7:00-9:00 PM at the New York State Grange Headquarters in Cortland (just off of Clinton Avenue). In this free workshop Chris Applegate will present information on "putting food by" for the winter.  Methods to be discussed include canning, freezing, dehydrating, root cellaring, pickling and fermenting.  Chris is an organic grower and food safety educator.  She has been a professional cook restaurant owner and college dining manager.  She currently manages the Virgil Farmers Market.  For more info please contact the Cortland County Soil and Water Conservation District at 607-756-5991.

Chris is an excellent speaker and very knowledgeable.  I encourage anyone thinking about preserving food as well as those who already do to come to this session.  She'll be able to answer all kinds of questions.

Finally some fruit!

Apples

Barlett Pear

Asian Pears

Mulberries

Grapes

hazelnuts

making strawberry jam

After many struggles with growing fruit (clay hardpan dirt, too much rain, not enough rain, several late frosts after too early springs, pests, etc) we are finally seeing some rewards - but we still have our challenges this year.  This season we are finally getting a number of pears and apples.  Our cherries were looking good this spring, until we had a ton of rain just as they were getting ripe, so they all split on us.  Blueberries did not have enough rain while they were ripening, so many shriveled or are very tart. Our grapes are doing mixed, many looked great, some are shriveling, others look like they may make it.  Mulberries are doing very well, if I can beat the birds to them that is.  We are getting a lot of apples this year as well, although they are small, those we already have harvested seem to be sweet. Also this season we are getting our first hazelnuts, and harvested a bunch of currants (white and black).  Our strawberries did great early on, but our everbearers didn't like the drier and hotter than normal weather we had much of July.  Our Elderberries are not doing well this year, although last year we had a bumper crop. In talking with others, they have also had a mixed success this year both with fruit and garden veggies.  Some explain how they narrow down what grows best, others plant a variety as they've found (as have we) that some years some things do great and others don't and other years it is the reverse.  As climate change effects become more dramatic here in the Northeast, I expect this will become even more complicated.

Senator Gillibrand meets with Cortland County Farmers and Residents

The Knapp Family with Senator Gillibrand

This past Friday morning, on a beautiful Central New York day, I had the pleasure of visiting Cobblestone Valley Farm in Preble, NY.  Since the Knapp Family (Maureen, Paul, Casey, Blaise and Evan) provide us with most of our locally grown beef, chicken, turkey, pork and strawberries, we had been to their farm many times. On this day, they were hosting a "listening session" with Senator Kirsten Gillibrand who is serving on the Senate Agriculture committee and conducting a listening tour about agricultural issues that her citizens would like addressed in the next farm bill.  Senator Gillibrand was impressive as she took charge of the meeting and had obviously done her own research on key issues as she responded and questioned individuals as they presented questions and comments.  The Senator was joined by Darrel Aubertine, the Commissioner of the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets.

Casey Knapp introducing Senator Gillibrand

One of the issues raised was federal subsidies for corn-based ethanol - which besides being a food source used for fuel, is also usually grown in non-sustainable manners, is a net energy looser (it takes more energy to make it than we get out of it as a fuel) and as my husband said to the Senator "it is wrecking my chain saw, ruining my gas mileage and I get to PAY for the privilege!" Another issue raised was that of famers needing to be paid enough for their products so they can pay employees a decent wage, pay for their costs of production and make a little profit so that they can continue to grow our food.  Other issues included a request for support for the development of regional food systems and markets, and also labeling of GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms) products.

The latter question was asked by Heather Hawkins, co-owner of Green Hills Market in Syracuse.  We chatted for a while afterwards and I was very impressed with her depth of knowledge of healthy foods, and her dedication for her family grocery store to offer quality food.  She went to the Future of Food conference in DC and also watched (as did I) the TEDxManhattan conference in January on Changing the Way We Eat.

Senator Gillibrand and Commissioner Aubertine

I also bumped into Neil Brody Miller who developed the iPhone (iPad/iPod) app called Farmshed.  This free app  as Neil says on his website "puts all of Central New York's local food producers at your fingertips.  Browse through comprehensive directories of regional farms, CSAs, farmers markets, natural food stores, locavore restaurants, and more. .  .  Why Central New York?  Because we live, work, and eat here.  We believe that buying local does a world of good for the region, and that supporting local farmers and food producers puts fresher, more nutritious food on our tables, strengthens community-based economies and local food cultures, and builds closer personal relationships between producers and consumers."  Of course this includes Cortland County!  Neil also said that they were coming out shortly with  a web-based app that would also work on your PC and other portable wireless devices, so check the Farmshed website for more info.

The Garden Grows, the Weeds Grow Faster!

unfortunate garden streams

peas and onions, oh my!

Wow, it seems like in the blink of an eye we went from winter to weeds that are 3 feet tall!  Overall it has been a bit damp this spring with the garden being pretty swampy.  We did manage to get our potatoes in - during a stretch of a few days of sunny dry weather and they are beginning to show themselves. Other things went in the raised beds.  These includes copious amounts of onions and shallots.  I broke a companion planting rule and planted my peas with my onions.  I am tired of critters always eating the peas down - so thought perhaps the onions might help deter and figured it was worth the risk. So far the peas look like they don't mind being with the onions.  In fact, it is time to give them something to climb on.

broccoli, cabbage and spinach

We also put in some cabbage, broccoli, spinach, kohlrabi, beets, carrots, turnips rather early using our hoops and agribon.  Now that it has warmed up they are really taking off.  So far we elected to not  put in too many fragile things - only a few tomatoes so far.  And this year we are trying out Karl's new "modular" tomato cage design made from PVC pipe and tacked in the ground with a little rebar (Did I mention we get what seems like gale force wind around here?) He's also designed some for pole beans, too.  Which I'll show in a later post.

Karl's PVC tomato cages

The rest of the tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, cucumbers, squash and herbs are still in the greenhouse waiting both for our last frost date to pass (June 1 for us) and also for the garden to dry up a bit.  The good part about the damp weather is that most of the fruit trees have beautiful blooms and all the perennials are looking terrific (and all the weeds are, too).  Hopefully we won't get a late frost (like we have the last couple of years) and these blossoms will give us some fruit this year!

veggies in the greenhouse

 pink crabapple blooming

Sustainability Week Events

Next week on the SUNY Cortland Campus is Sustainability Week.  Below is a list of events.  All events are free and open to the public.  Sessions address issues such as sustainable food, local foods, renewable energy, climate change, etc.  Hope to see you there!

Saturday April 16th from 8:30 to 11:00am:  

Sixth Annual Community Cleanup Day
Meet at the Chamber Parking lot at 37 Church St.
Organized by the Cortland Downtown Partnership, the City of Cortland, the Cortland Chamber of Commerce, the SUNY Cortland Institute for Civic Engagement, and SUNY Cortland AmeriCorps

“Fresh from the Farm” Little York Farms at 5668 U.S. Route 11, Homer, NY. from 9:00am to 2:00pm
A NEW opportunity to buy locally grown and processed foods including: local pasture-raised beef, free range eggs, honey, herb plants, real maple syrup, semi-soft cheese, homemade beef soup, and baked goods.   
Organized by Healthy Now Cortland County (For more information call 607-591-9727)


Sunday April 17th From  9:30 to 1:30pm 

A Trip to the Seneca Meadows Landfill
Meet at the loading dock behind Bowers Hall
Organized by the SUNY Cortland Environmental Science Club


Monday April 18th  

SUNY Cortland Sustainability Week Keynote Address 7:30 - 9:00 pm Sperry Hall 205
“Pedaling Climate Change: A bike trip from Delaware to Oregon, talking about climate change”
Dr. David Goodrich, former Director of Climate Observations at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and former director of the Global Climate Observing System Secretariat in Geneva, Switzerland


Tuesday April 19th  Sustainability Week Sessions at SUNY Cortland Campus

1:40-2:40 pm in Bowers 155: The Environmental Impact of Tobacco: Working toward a Tobacco-Free Campus
The SUNY Cortland Tobacco Advisory Committee

3:00-4:00 pm in Bowers 155: A Not-So Temperate Environment and How it Affects Forests (and People, too)
Neil Pederson, Doherty Associate Research Scientist, Tree-Ring Laboratory, LDEO & Columbia University

4:00 to 6:00 pm Hoxie Gorge: An Outdoor Classroom for Sustainability: A tour of the 169-acre Hoxie Gorge Nature Preserve guided by two faculty from the Biology and Geology departments. Following an overview of ongoing research, the discussion will focus on carbon sequestration; biomimicry, and nutrient cycling.
(Note: You must sign up in advance by contacting the Center for Environmental and Outdoor Education at 607-753-5488 or emailing outdooredinfo@cortand.edu.)

7:00pm in Sperry Hall 205:  Annual Connie Wilkins Bird Lecture
“The Surprising Behavior of Crows”
John Marzluff, Professor of Wildlife - Habitat Relationships and Avian Social Ecology & Demography at the University of Washington in Seattle
Organized by the Lime Hollow Center for Environment and Culture and the SUNY Cortland Biology Club


Wednesday April 20th Sustainability Week Sessions at SUNY Cortland Campus

1:40-2:40 pm in Bowers 155
Doubt mongering in environmental issues A presentation by the ENS 486: Environmental Science Seminar class

3:00-4:00 pm in Bowers 155
Local Foods Movement: Learn about the local foods movement in our area and how you can get involved!
Beth Klein, SUNY Cortland; Christine Applegate, Co-Chair Cortland County Local Agricultural Promotions Committee ; Heather Birdsall, Cortland County Cornell Cooperative Extension; and more.

7:00-9:00 
Screening of “The Greenhorns” a documentary film exploring how young people are making a difference in America’s sustainable food movement. 
A discussion led by young, local farmers and beginning farmer mentors will follow the film.
Sperry Hall 105


Thursday April 21st Sustainability Week Sessions at SUNY Cortland Campus

12:00 – 1:00 pm Earth Week Sandwich Seminar 
“Sustainable Heating at SUNY Cortland Using Biomass and Geothermal Energy”
Matthew Rankin, Senior in Biological Science
Jacobus Lounge (Brockway Hall) 

1:40-2:40 pm in Bowers 155
Student Actions for Sustainability A presentation by the Environmental Science Club (C-SAVE), the New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG), and the SUNY Cortland Recreation Association (SCRA)

3:00-4:00 pm in Bowers 155
The Technical and Economic Success of Renewable Energy in Central New York
Melissa Kemp, Director of Halco Renewable Energy

7:30 - 9:00 pm:  Energy and Sustainability
“The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Accident: Lessons for U.S. Energy Policy in the Era of Extreme Energy” Sperry Hall 105
Brice Smith, Associate Professor and Chair of Physics and author of Insurmountable Risks: The Dangers of Using Nuclear Power to Combat Global Climate Change


Friday April 22nd
Student/Staff Events in Honor of the 41st Anniversary of Earth Day
Build Your Own Wind Turbine Physics & Engineering Club 11:30 am - 1:30 pm Under the Sustainability Week tent between Bowers and Sperry Halls
The Facts About Fracking New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPRIG) 12:00 - 3:00 pm Under the Sustainability Week tent between Bowers and Sperry Halls
Earth Café 2050 Environmental Science Club (C-SAVE) 12:00 - 3:00 pm Under the Sustainability Week tent between Bowers and Sperry Halls
Local Foods Resources and Composting Made Easy Cortland Faculty, Staff, and Community Members 11:30 - 3:00 pm Under the Sustainability Week tent between Bowers and Sperry Halls
3rd Annual Outdoor Gear Sale and Fender Blender: Bike Your Own Smoothie SUNY Cortland Recreation Association 12:00 - 5:00 pm Community Bike Shop Building next to the Lusk Field House

4:30 – 7:00 pm   Earth Day Open House
Center for Gender and Intercultural Studies (CGIS), Environmental Justice Committee and the Gas Drilling Awareness for Cortland County community group (GDACC)
Beard Building 9 Main Street Cortland, NY 13045
The Open House will include a screening of the film "My Name is Allegheny County." The film chronicles the way in which residents actively organized resistance to siting a low level radioactive waste dump in Allegheny County. Jim Weiss and Paul Yaman, two residents active in the resistance in Cortland County, will speak after the film.
The program will also highlight the need for greater activism to promote the use of clean, safe, and affordable energy.

Gardening has Started!!!!

broccoli, kale, brussels sprouts and cabbage seedlings

shallot and leek seedlings

Time for starting gardening has come!   Although we are mostly doing it indoors at this point.  We now have shallots, leeks, cabbage, broccoli, spinach, peppers, kale, brussels sprouts, eggplant and some cherry tomatoes started in containers on a shelf in an east facing window.  More seeds will be started soon.  Chives are coming up in the herb bed now that the snow has mostly melted away.  This slow warming trend is nice (even if it is slow I think we are all tired of winter!).  I just hope it means that we'll continue our gradual warm-up and won't have any mid and late spring cold snaps like the last couple of years.  It would be nice to have some apples, plums and pears blossoms NOT get frozen this year!

SPRING THINGS

Has it really been since October that I made time to add to this blog?  Where does time go?  Anyway - here is news that might be of interest to readers:

First,  make sure that you plan to attend a great workshop for gardeners to be held April 9th from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm at the Port Watson Mini-Conference Center (131 Port Watson Street, Cortland)!  For only $5 you can attend workshops on food preservation (by Chris Applegate!), vegetable growing, native and alien plants, and summer perennials.  The keynote speaker is Elaine Norris speaking on "Growing Your Own Food"  Please  call the Seven Valleys Health Coalition at (607) 756-4198 to register ASAP or go to their website where you can download the registration form http://www.sevenvalleyshealth.org/

Second, there will be some sustainability related events announcements soon from both the SUNY Cortland Sustainability Week Planning Committee and the Sustainability Track.  Multiple movie and speaker events are being planned.  So please stay tuned for more info.

Third, Fresh From The Farm! Saturdays, April 9 - May 14, 9 am - 2 pm, Little York Farms, LLC, 5668 US Route 11, Homer (3 miles north of Homer Village). A NEW opportunity to buy locally grown food!

• Local pasture-raised beef - CNY Beef
• Herb plants - Frosty Morning Farm
• Baked goods - Chris Applegate
• Free range eggs - Barbara Clark
• Semi-soft cheese - Kelley McGarr
• Homemade beef soups - Kory’s Place
• Sweet baked goods - Fleurette Clough
• Real maple syrup - Delavan Farms
• Honey - various vendors
• Adding more vendors weekly!

If you have compostable food waste to dispose of, we will take it! Compostable bags available for sale. Cash, personal check or EBT accepted. Bring the kids and visit the animals at Lone Birch Stables and enjoy some refreshments. Another initiative by Healthy Now Cortland County. For more information call 607-591-9727.

Spring is on the way - someday:)

October Updates from the Homestead

New York Asters in the Garden

Some of the 2010 squash and pumpkin harvest

Swiss chard and purple kohlrabi

Potatoes in the bin and shelving unit.

The harvest months really seem to fly by; especially when combined with the beginning of the school year (which conspires to keep me from making posts).  There has been a lot going on in the County and I hope to get caught up with sharing that news in the next few weeks.  I thought I'd start by reflecting a little on what has been happening around the homestead.  We had a pretty good garden year.  Tomatoes did well - especially after last year's blight took most of them. We harvested lots of potatoes and squash.  Despite a couple of pretty mean frosts/freezes, thanks to our frost cloth we still have some swiss chard, kohlrabi, celery, cabbage, kale, and leeks out in the garden.  We did not do a fall planting of carrots and greens like usual (we just ran out of time and energy). We did manage to get new potato bins built for the root cellar. These are designed to provide lots of airflow and easy for us to monitor and pick out any that might be going bad throughout the winter.

Our solar thermal system being installed.

We've also been enjoying our new solar thermal system that we had installed this summer.  It should provide 80-90% of our hot water needs (100% in the summer months a little less on those dark, damp days of fall, winter, spring).

The farmers market season closes this month, with tonight being the last Homer Market.  There has been discussion about a virtual local winter market - more on that as it develops.  Also as you look for places to get winter veggies and NYS apples, please check out the Farmshed blog and the FREE app for iPhone (works on iTouch and iPad, too) which will map for you local farmers markets, CSA's, U-Pick Farms, local food stores and restaurants serving local foods.  Neil Brody Miller of New Woodstock has developed this resource specifically for Central New York (with potential plans to go national later).