Reestablishing Hops in the North Country

Story Title "Reestablishing Hops in the North Country" Program Franklin - Ag & Natural Resources - Horticulture Educators Rick LeVitre Is this related to an Equal Yes Program/Employment Opportunity? Executive Summary The “Reestablishing Hops in the North Country” Project engaged hop growers, brewers, maltsters, scientists, cooperative extension personnel, state agency officials, business planning consultants and other stakeholders in three workshops this past program year The purpose in providing these educational opportunities is to improve capacity and confidence to produce hops, unveil economic opportunities for partnering farm businesses, and increase supplies of New York State-grown brewing ingredients Issues/Needs and New York State was predominant supplier of hops from 1840 to 1920 Audiences Franklin County had the 3rd largest production In NYS Northern New York is well-suited for and well-known for hops cultivation, large yield and high quality Today, there are few hops grown In Clinton, Essex, Franklin and St Lawrence Counties {estimates are, anecdotally, 10-15) In 2012, NYS created a farm brewery license requiring purchase of 20% of hops from NYS producers escalating to 90% requirement by 2024 NYS grown hops supplies are insubstantial to supply demand An angel investment group is interested in hops production Business and community leaders are excited as they view agriculture start-ups as economic development; working landscapes augmenting tourism and potential for brew pubs and improved downtown business growth Extension Responses Expanded data base of hops growers, those with intent and brewers living in and around Franklin County Set up an exhibit at Franklin County Fair, Adirondacks Lake Region Business Expo, Malone Area Chamber of Commerce Business Expo and Rotary explaining the project, asking for contact info of those interested Applied to various organizations and local businesses for funding to support research and education Held a kick-off dinner to determine interest for "Reestablishing Hops in the North Country" which was attended by 26 Individuals from Franklin and Clinton Counties - 10 growers, brewers, ready to start, community leaders, and investor Conducted a “Growing Hops 101” day-long program in May with NYS CCE Hops Specialist Steve Miller and Harvest New York Regional Specialis In August, Colorado State Specialist Ron Godin presented "Hops - Summer Tips, Pest Issues, Producer Panel & More!" at Paul Smith's College (PSC) Attendees included hops growers, barley growers, malters, economic development leaders PSC and Sodexo Services put on a beer pairing dinner as well Next two days were devoted to site visists by Dr Godin to local hop yards in Franklin and Essex County Accomplishments and Growers were ecstatic over local interest and support of growing a crop of Impacts historical importance to the area Also felt far removed from expert help and were excited to participate in local educational events Many learned new horticultural practices related to hop production Some, however, learned that growing hops was either too intensive or too expensive to pursue further This in itself was a valuable lesson Several businesses are in conversation with investors to open breweries in the area and to support increased growth of hops production Collaborators Angel investors of Point Positive, State Hops Specialists in NYS, CO, VT The Coudsplitter Foundation, local hops growers, PSC, The VIC, Local Businesses, Chamber of Commerce, Franklin County Economic Development Office Special funding sources Cloudsplitter Foundation - $28,000 (if any) Local Businesses - +/-$1000 Angel Investor - $1000 Story Title Agroforestry: Cultivating Shiitake Mushrooms; Growing ‘Wild Simulated’ American Ginseng Program Franklin - Ag & Natural Resources - Horticulture Educators Richard L Gast Is this related to an Equal No Program/Employmen t Opportunity? Executive Summary Practicing proper woodlot and/or forest stewardship enables landowners to achieve important goals and benefits without compromising the ability of their land to meet the needs of the future Issues/Needs and Cornell University Associate Professor of Horticulture Ken Mudge once Audiences described agro-forestry as “a multidisciplinary approach to agricultural production that achieves diverse, profitable, sustainable land use by integrating trees with non-timber forest crops.” Production of either woods-cultivated or wild simulated ginseng can be pursued either as a hobby or as a means of producing significant income over time Woods cultivated ginseng is grown in a forested environment in tilled beds under natural shade, while wild simulated ginseng is grown in forests in untilled soil Growing ginseng using either of these methods usually requires little or no work after planting and there are markets for both The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation estimates that that ginseng cultivation and harvesting on private woodlands in New York State generates over $3 million annually, and that the value of out-of-state harvested ginseng bought and sold by New York dealers each year exceeds $50 million Since 2006 Ken Mudge and coworkers at Cornell University have been conducting research on shiitake and other specialty forest mushrooms at the Arnot Forest near Ithaca, N.Y This research has focused on four broad areas including substrate tree species, seasonal consideration, laying yard management, and cultivation of lion’s mane mushrooms Shiitake mushrooms have been grown in the U.S only since the early 1980s so the process of cultivating shiitake mushrooms is still in its relative infancy Forest cultivation of shiitake mushrooms can generate income, diversify farm and forestry enterprises, add value to forestry by-products and create opportunities for timber stand improvement Releasing crop trees by thinning or removing low-grade and / or excess small diameter trees (culls) from timber stands has long been considered an important management practice for achieving healthy and sustainable forests and other ecosystem management objectives But conventional hardwood markets have offered little or no economic incentive for the removal of low-quality hardwood trees In fact, low-grade and small diameter trees are commonly left behind after a timber harvest, a practice known as high grading, which results in unproductive land, where a future return from saw timber can take a minimum of 50 – 75 years or more to realize On the other hand, a landowner who chooses to properly manage a timber stand by removing culls and releasing crop trees can use the removed material for shiitake mushroom production and generate ongoing profit from the sale of sustainably cultivated mushrooms The result is short-term payback for longterm management of woodlots and private forest land According to 2010 – 2011 USDA National Ag Statistics Service information, US demand for Shiitake mushrooms is on the rise 6,702,000 pounds of shiitake mushrooms were grown in the United States last year The farm gate value of the crop was $19,223,000 Extension Responses The Akwesasne Mohawk Tribe expressed interest in providing members of their community with opportunities to learn about Shiitake mushroom cultivation and growing (wild simulated) American ginseng Franklin County Extension contacted retired Greene County Agriculture and Natural Resources Program Leader and NY State specialist for American Ginseng Production for Cornell University Cooperative Extension, Bob Beyfuss, who agreed to provide both workshops in the course of a one-day curriculum Working with two of his colleagues, Bob lead the presentation on growing ginseng, including hands-on inoculation, and his two colleagues, Anna Plattner and Justin Vergottini-Wexler lead the program on cultivating shiitake mushrooms, including on-site visual Site assessments for ginseng cultivation, and the oyster mushroom cultivation program The workshop took place on May 26 Accomplishments and Oyster mushroom inoculation on corn husks proved very successful with the Impacts harvest being distributed among most of the participants TP inoculation was not as successful The results of the shiitake hardwood bolt inoculation is yet to be seen, but things appear to be very promising, with workshop participants keeping the bolts adequately moist The Tribe plans to inoculate more bolts with Shiitake and to continue growing oyster mushroom This will, more than likely, become an annual, ongoing project, with Extension oversight The presenters thoroughly enjoyed themselves with Bob Beyfuss expressing, “Thanks for the opportunity to present to these nice people!” via email He provided me with power points and his ginseng resource list on a thumb drive Collaborators Akwesasne Mohawk Tribe Special funding sources (if any) Story Title Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program Program Franklin - Nutrition Education Local Educators Vanetta M Conn Is this related to an Equal Program/Employment Yes Opportunity? Executive Summary The Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program addresses the physical, emotional and psychological impacts and symptoms of aging and chronic diseases such as the many forms of arthritis Issues/Needs and As people age, many experience decreased range of motion due to arthritis, Audiences rheumatic diseases or other musculoskeletal conditions Incorporating social engagement and exercises adapted to seated, standing or on the floor, the program meets the needs of participants with differing capabilities and joint involvement Extension Responses In conjunction with Franklin County Office for the Aging, CCE Franklin provided two series of Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program (AFEP), one meeting twice a week at the Malone Adult Center in northern Franklin County and one in the south end of the county at the Saranac Lake Adult Center that met once each week Each session is concluded with a stress reduction exercise Accomplishments and A caption in the October Senior Outlook, the monthly newsletter of the Impacts Saranac Lake Adult Center, read: “Having fun and exercising all at the same time.” Unlike many exercise programs, chit chat during the AFEP is encouraged Talking assures breathing and increases the social value of the program It is a time to get together and maintain or increase range of motion, muscle strength, balance and coordination Participants report less joint pain and increased sense of well-being GC shared that she incorporated class exercises that stretched her toes and feet Now she experiences much less cramping in her feet CC reported and demonstrated significant increase in balance by maintaining a balance position for several minutes Pleased with her increased sense of well-being, CC frequently invites and encourages others to join the program JR expressed concerned about an upcoming stress test The educator provided JR with a copy of one of the relaxation exercises The following week JR reported that the exercise helped her to cope with the test Program participants encourage each other during the program and invite friends to join them Collaborators Franklin County Office for the Aging, Malone Adult Center, Saranac Lake Adult Center and Eastern Adirondack Health Care Network Special funding sources Franklin County Office for the Aging Eastern Adirondack Health Care (if any) Network supplied training for two educators and support materials Story Title Branding CCE Franklin Program Franklin - *Current/Emerging Issues* Educators Vanetta M Conn Pat Banker Andrew Carpino Casey L Sukeforth Is this related to an Equal Yes Program/Employment Opportunity? Executive Summary A consistent identity or brand increases public and community awareness of CCE Franklin In turn, CCE Franklin provides positive impact to residents through a variety of programs and informational articles Issues/Needs and Franklin County citizens desire and need a link between numerous research and Audiences evidence based programs, emerging and expanding research and additional sources of credible, valid and reliable information Extension Responses CCE Franklin provides local programming in schools, on farms and at various venues throughout the community To increase awareness and provide direct communication of past and future programs, CCE Franklin works to create a consistent presence or brand via local publications, our website, Facebook and Twitter We share information from numerous credible sources and help local citizens benefit from the Land Grant College system Accomplishments and Members of CCE Franklin staff provide weekly news articles to ten different Impacts local and regional publications These news articles report on upcoming programming and detail past programs to share the value of CCE Franklin programs with local community members Other topics include updates to help local farmers understand current trends in weather and pests in order to make timely decisions regarding planting, fertilizing, pest management and harvesting crops Information on food safety, physical activity, and other nutritional information including recipes increase the well-being and safety of children, parents, seniors and individuals in our community The bi-weekly articles from our Horticulture educator are greatly anticipated, read as community favorite For members of our community who not receive or read local publications, CCE Franklin updates our website with these articles and other timely communications Over the past year, website visits have increased significantly Updates on our website are shared via social media outlets including Facebook and Twitter As an indication of brand recognition and value, our following on these outlets continue to grow and increase Facebook posts and videos increased awareness of CCE Franklin many fold Videos from the Dairy Day Parade reached in excess of 1,300 views Collaborators Malone Telegram, Press Republican, Indian Times, Tupper Lake Free Press, Watertown Daily Times, Observer-Dispatch, Adirondack Daily News, Adirondack Almanac, Champlain Weekly, the Sun Community News, County Association-Based Shared Web Platform Project Special funding Franklin County Legislators sources (if any) Story Title Building Bike Safety Throughout Franklin County Program Franklin - Nutrition Education Local Educators Vanetta M Conn Is this related to an Equal Program/Employment Yes Opportunity? Executive Summary Youth who own the proper safety equipment and use it, who know and utilize the knowledge and laws that govern riding bicycles and knowledge of bike safety practices can use their bicycles safely for recreation and transportation Riding bicycles increases physical activity Issues/Needs and The parents of youth in Franklin County often lack resources to provide Audiences their children with the proper and required safety equipment for riding their bikes Rules of the road apply to bicycles in the same manner as they other vehicles Not all parents and caregivers realize the increased safety in following the rules of the road and being predictable when riding bicycles Extension Responses CCE Franklin provided bicycle safety education and bike helmet fitting in several venues throughout Franklin County while working with Malone Complete Streets, Franklin County Public Health, the North Country Healthy Heart Network and the Franklin County Transportation Safety Board Youth and adults learned how to properly fit bike helmets and how a properly fitted helmet protects the skull and brain They learned the importance of wearing bright colored clothing in order to increase visibility to motorist and why they are expected to riding on the right and walk on the left hand side of the road Accomplishments and At one rural school, just over one hundred youth each received a properly Impacts fitted bike helmet The youth with educator guidance partook in fitting their own helmet and assisting classmates to the same This hands on education enabled them to share with their adults how to assure that any needed replacement would be properly fitted or assist in the fitting of a sibling’s helmet Youth illustrated their understanding of the need for bright colors by requesting yellow helmets over the other choices of blue or red Volunteers and representatives from the Franklin County Transportation Safety Board assisted CCE Franklin when additional helmets and education were provided at two summer bike rodeos Several adults approached educators with requests for helmets so that they could be good examples to local youth by wearing helmets when they rode their bikes Collaborators Malone Complete Streets, Franklin County Public Health, the North Country Healthy Heart Network, St Regis Falls Central Schools, Malone Recreation Park and the Franklin County Transportation Safety Board Special funding sources (if Franklin County Board of Legislators Helmets provided through Safe any) Routes to School grant obtained by Franklin County Public Health and the North Country Healthy Heart Network Story Title Mentee Becomes Site Coordinator Family Program Franklin - 4-H Youth Development Educators Abby Langdon Daniel Rexford Sweet Steve M McDonald Is this related to an Equal No Program/Employmen t Opportunity? Executive Summary The Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Program (OJJDP) grant was awarded to Cornell University Cooperative Extension and subsequently sub- awarded to Franklin County CCE 4-H to establish a Youth and Family with Promise (YFP) Mentoring program at Salmon River Central and the St Regis Mohawk School The short term goals are to assist at risk youth academically and socially and to explore additional interests to redirect their attention from crime and drugs In addition, the grant afforded an opportunity to provide family night outings as means to strengthen family bonds Issues/Needs and Like many rural communities, the families and youth of the Mohawk Nation and Audiences Non-Native communities in which we serve, are limited by their lack of economic stability and the lack of a cohesive family atmosphere More often than not children will be residing in a single parent/guardian family dwelling; weekends with a separated a parent and/or be under the care of a tóta (Mohawk for Grandmother) The Love our Family Pasta Bash was created to provide families an opportunity to come together and enjoy an atmosphere of open communication In one unfortunate situation, a family did not “remember” to attend the Family Night Outing Therefore, the child (Jayden) was let down and was tremendously distraught with his parent’s lack of attendance Specifically, Jayden is a very high risk 5th grade student that is a product of his “unhealthy” family’s lack of stability Jayden struggles in school with completing academic’s and often times makes up a story to cover for his inadequacies Extension Responses In February of 2016, the 3rd annual Love Our Family Pasta Bash (Family Night Outing) was held at the Salmon River Central School Cafeteria Building on previous events, the 4-H Mentors and Mentee’s youth worked together to prepare for this event with Mentee’s setting their “family” table in anticipation of each of their families to arrive for the evening event In an effort to console Jayden, whose family did not attend, site coordinator(s) welcomed Jayden to sit at the “4H Family Site Coordinators” table Accomplishments Saddened as he was, Jayden was at first reluctant to sit with the 4-H Family Site and Impacts Coordinators By creating a welcoming and loving connection, Jayden did sit at the 4-H Family Site Coordinators table Unlike other Family Night outing participants, Jayden assisted with cleaning up Perhaps for the first time in his young life, Jayden felt that he was a part of a family As a result of this evening, Jayden’s attendance to the 4-H Mentoring Afterschool program was steady Although he continues to have an “unhealthy” family life, Jayden has first-hand experience with 4-H Mentors and Site Coordinators that cannot be taken away The 4-H Mentoring program has instilled in this young man that there are people in life who care and are willing to go out of their way to help others like himself to believe in self-worth Collaborators Salmon River Central School, Office of Justice Juvenile and Delinquency Program (OJJDP); Franklin County Cornell Cooperative Extension 4-H Program Special funding Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, National 4-H sources (if any) Story Title Program Makes Accommodations for Special Needs Youth Program Franklin - 4-H Youth Development Educators Steve M McDonald Is this related to an Equal No Program/Employme nt Opportunity? Executive Summary 4-H Youth Development department of Cornell Cooperative Extension Franklin County works with host district and parents to makes accommodations for a program participant with Asperser Syndrome Issues/Needs and Asperger Syndrome (AS) has been identified with Autism Spectrum Disorder Audiences (ASD) according to estimates from CDC’s Autism and Development Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network Asperger Syndrome is one of a distinct group of complex neurodevelopment disorders characterized by social impairment, communication difficulties, and restrictive, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behavior Special needs youth, especially those diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome, can find the after school setting difficult at times of chaos Such was the case of one nine-year-old program participant of the Bulldog Hour (Chateaugay Central) Staff noticed that this young lady would physically and emotionally fall apart when over stimulated such as check-in, snack time, and times of mass dismissal Her disruptive behavior during the busiest times of programming was difficult on staff and peers alike Extension Responses A meeting was set up with all stakeholders including; CCE Franklin, District Administration, Classroom Teacher, School Phycologist, Special Education Teacher, and parents Early in the meeting, parents were visibly relieved to see that parties were there for the betterment of their child’s needs Collaboratively we set a policy in place to ensure this young lady was safe during after school hours, yet able to retreat to a “quiet zone” during those times proven to be difficult to cope Essentially, upon school dismissal, she would “check-in” and then immediately go to the computer lab where the school Librarian would watch her until Bulldog Hour participants disseminated to their small group locations/activities From here, she would be given options with regards to participation Staff would encourage her, but not force her to participate Special independent, projects, tailored for her interests (Geckos, Cats) would be given to her Staff would periodically introduce her into whole group activities in an effort to further develop her coping strategies learned by School Phycologist and Special Education Teachers Chateaugay Central School District Special Education Teacher, Jessica Johnston provided professional development to Bulldog Hour staff on “Understanding Youth with Special Needs” Accomplishments Following the implementation of the afore mentioned practices the student and Impacts blossomed She appeared to enjoy the extra independence she was granted and there were no more disruptions (from her) during programming Periodically staff would schedule time for her to give a presentation on her “special topics/projects” in front of the entire group further developing both her communication skills and social inhibitions Staff were able to use the “special accommodations” to educate other program participants on Asperger Syndrome and special needs in generals Parents of this program’s participants truly appreciated our efforts to accommodate their daughter and emailed a heartfelt “thank-you” District/Association ties strengthened as we collaboratively worked together in the best interest of this family Additionally, CCE Special Education Teacher, Jessica Johnston has offered assistance with techniques, best practice with regards to other special needs youth attending programming Collaborators Chateaugay Central School District, Office of Children and Family Services, Jessica Johnston (CCS Special Education), Sheila Simenson (parent), Heidi Sample (CCS Elementary Principal), Loretta Fowler (CCS Superintendent), Suzie Jones-King (CCS School Counselor) Special funding sources (if any) Story Title Renovating Old Apple Trees; Restoring Old Neglected Orchards - Backyard Fruit Growers Apple Tree Pruning Class and Demonstration Program Franklin - Ag & Natural Resources - Horticulture Educators Richard L Gast Is this related to an Equal No Program/Employmen t Opportunity? Executive Summary In order to assist a growing number of homeowners and landowners interested in backyard and small orchard apple production, an apple tree pruning class and workshop, designed to help would-be tree pruners learn how to it right, was offered, in April, by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Franklin County Issues/Needs and If there is one thing this North Country has plenty of, it's apple trees that haven't Audiences been pruned, sprayed, or maintained in any way, shape or form, for years And while the trees may bear fruit, the apples are often small, misshapen and scabby People often contact Extension to ask about what they can to better the quality of the fruit from, and improve the vigor of, older apple trees in their yards, landscape, or old neglected orchards on their property Many not even have a basic understanding of pruning techniques (what kinds of cuts to make) or why we prune; nor are they familiar with the tools used for pruning Extension Responses Employing proper pruning practices will increase the yield and improve the quality of the fruit of trees in all stages of growth In order to assist homeowners interested in backyard apple production and home orchard restoration, an apple tree pruning class, demonstration, and hands-on workshop, designed to help would-be tree pruners learn how to it right, was offered, in April, by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Franklin County The workshop was co-hosted by the Almanzo and Laura Ingalls Wilder Association at the Wilder Farm and Museum, in Burke Accomplishments Feedback on the workshop was extremely positive Many attendees immediately and Impacts employed what they’d learned; pruning and shaping their unkempt fruit trees to make them more productive, as well as more attractive Several were very excited about the work they were doing or had done; happily letting me know about their accomplishments One attendee has applied what he learned to an old stand of trees and is planting a new orchard, as well We’ve been in touch during the summer about his progress and have addressed issues including concerns that some of his trees were exhibiting leaves that appeared to him as though they may be showing symptoms of fire blight infection Upon further inspection, it was determined that the blackening of leaves associated with fireblight was not present in the veins and vascular tissue The marginal leaf burn and slight browning he was seeing was attributed to delayed drought stress combined with late-season changes in physiology; something that has since been reported in several locations across the state Collaborators Almazo and Laura Ingalls Wilder Association ALIWA), Local Volunteers Special funding sources (if any) Story Title Review of Container, Square Foot, Raised Bed, and Companion Gardening for Migrant Families Program Franklin - Ag & Natural Resources - Horticulture Educators Richard L Gast Is this related to an Equal Yes Program/Employmen t Opportunity? Executive Summary Empowering displaced individuals and families with limited resources to produce high-quality food for their families can be a key component of selfsufficiency Issues/Needs and Migrants are individuals who are disconnected from home communities; absent Audiences from a permanent place of residence for the purpose of seeking or retaining temporary, often seasonal employment Theirs is a somewhat nomadic lifestyle that follows the availability of work from location to location and that is often associated with poverty and ongoing economic insecurity They tend to be individuals with limited skills and opportunities, who fill the needs of industries seeking temporary, low-cost labor Seasonal employment of farm laborers by migrant workers is often an integral part of farming success in the North Country In 2014, a group of migrant workers and their families expressed an interest in obtaining and / or brushing up on their gardening skills for a variety of reasons, including higher quality, fresher vegetables to eat, saving money, and purposeful exercise Their appeal was presented to Franklin County Extension by case worker representatives of the North Country Migrant Education Program, who came to Extension last year, and again this year, to ask if we could provide a review of the practices learned at past programs, along with ongoing support; i.e providing follow-up assistance with pests and problems experienced during the growing season Extension Responses A productive beginner vegetable garden can be a key component of individual self-esteem and improved family self-sufficiency By once again providing an afternoon of research-based knowledge and hands-on skill-learning about using intensive gardening techniques (i.e containers, raised beds, companion and succession planting) and by being available to provide follow-up assistance when problems occurred, Franklin County Extension was able to further the smallscale home vegetable gardening success of this group of migrant workers and their families Accomplishments At the workshop, some of the participants raised the issue of ‘organic’ gardening and Impacts and the fact that they were able to produce their own food ‘organically’; essentially thanking me for providing an ongoing program that fosters and supports efforts by these newer growers to provide fresh, healthy, ‘naturally grown’ foods for their families with remarkably low cost This is a huge benefit for these consumers, who recognize the benefits of naturally grown foods, but are unable to afford the added cost of buying ‘organic’ produce at the markets Some participants said that they were able to increase their production last year over 2014, with anticipation that they would be able to maintain or improve production this year Several used the tomatoes and peppers that they’d grown to make homemade salsa and other dishes Most of the participants reported to their case worker that they’d had modestly to tremendously successful small garden produce production again, this year Collaborators Bonesteel’s Gardening Center in North Bangor Special funding sources (if any) Story Title Silviculture Workshop - An Introduction to Timber Harvesting Techniques and Practices and Forest Regeneration Program Franklin - Ag & Natural Resources - Horticulture Educators Richard L Gast Is this related to an Equal No Program/Employment Opportunity? Executive Summary Woodlands require management, if they are to achieve their full potential; and how landowners manage their piece of the forest ecosystem today can impact that forest for generations Issues/Needs and Forest products industries represent more than percent of the State's total Audiences manufacturing output, contributing nearly $4 billion to our gross economic output and employing over 61,000 people And of the more than 18.5 million acres of forest in New York State, more than 80% is privately owned Silviculture is, in essence, the growing and cultivation of trees It focuses on practices within forest stands, which are used to preserve and to better the stand’s productivity, thereby helping land managers achieve their objectives Silviculture may be compared to gardening in that it often involves practices such as weeding, thinning, and pruning, and utilizes measures which protect trees and plants from insects, disease, and other natural elements Just as there are many reasons for harvesting trees, there are many different harvesting methods Each method has its benefits, drawbacks, and conditions under which it is the most suitable way to harvest trees Most forest and woodlot owners are aware of the potential for income from the sale of timber harvested from their property Unfortunately, many are completely unaware of the harmful, long term environmental and financial impacts that can come from poorly planned timber harvesting Extension Responses In order to provide an opportunity for forest and woodlot landowners and managers (and those looking to purchase forestland) to learn more about harvesting practices and their impacts on forest regeneration and long range conservation planning, and how those practices may be useful in managing a forest timber stand for sustainable harvest management and improvement, Cornell Cooperative Extension, using a site at the Paul Smiths College Visitors Interpretive Center (VIC), provided a class on forest harvesting and regeneration methodologies on sites where for two summers (1998 and 1999), the US Forest Service worked with Paul Smith’s College on extensive vegetative surveys to gather baseline ecological data on five-acre plots of northern hardwood forests and, in the winter of 1999 / 2000, treatments were carried out on seven of the plots to implement a representative sample of silvicultural systems, including clearcutting, shelterwood, two-aged group selection, single tree selection and no-cutting (on control plots) Second entry treatments were initiated, as prescribed, in 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015 With the assistance of Peter Smallidge, State Extension Forester with the Cornell University Department of Natural Resources, who lead the program, attendees were able to experience an onsite, in-the-forest training on harvesting They looked at several plots where silviculture treatments including: selection cutting to produce a two-aged forest, where all of the largest and a few medium sized trees are cut, leaving a 30 to 50 year old stand and openings that promote vigorous understory growth clearcutting to release the buried seeds of trees that thrive in full sun, such as black cherry, along with brambles and stump sprouts that provide an abundance of food for wildlife and insects select cutting of individual trees, favoring shade tolerant species, in which most of the largest trees are removed select cutting of groups of trees, favoring species that need more sun than the original forest and creating small, temporary areas abundant in wildlife food plants ‘shelterwood’ or regeneration cutting, in which a large percentage of the canopy trees are removed and trees desired in the future forest are favored Accomplishments and All of the sustainable management strategies observed and discussed at the Impacts workshop are timber harvesting practices commonly used in New York State By being able to observe firsthand how the forest responded over time to these various silviculture practices and what the plots, which are being harvested sustainably, look like years after a harvest, those in attendance were able to leave with: an enhanced comprehension of what their sites will look like soon after and more than a decade after certain timber harvesting practices are initiated - an appreciation for the principals of land use and stewardship a much clearer picture of what their options are and what the likely outcomes will be a greatly-increased understanding what it means to apply a forest management plan that employs well-planned timber harvesting to create a sustainable flow of forest timber and greater overall sustainable profitability, producing revenue at regular intervals, (every ten or fifteen years) forever, from a woodlot or forest stand (vs a harvest that is based upon short term economic considerations that, all too often, gives rise to timber harvests that result in long term negative environmental impacts and that degrade the future timber value of forest lands) and a realization of just what the impacts of applying sustainable approaches to timber harvesting will have on their timber stands, wildlife habitat, the watershed, the aesthetic beauty, the recreational opportunities, and the spiritual renewal that their forest property offers Collaborators Paul Smiths College (PSC), the PSC Visitor's Interpretive Center (VIC), State Extension Forester Special funding sources (if any) Story Title Successful Rural Skills & Homesteading Conference Program Franklin - Ag & Natural Resources - Horticulture Educators Rick LeVitre Is this related to an Equal No Program/Employment Opportunity? Executive Summary The Adirondack Center for Working Landscapes (ACWL), held an extremely successful Homesteading and Rural Skills Conference with over 1,000 people attending Spectators came to the Paul Smith's College VIC to observe and participate in a multitude of activities from cider pressing to logging demos to preserving foods From wild edible walks to considering alternative energy for the home to growing hops, hundreds of people enjoyed the sunshine, the fall colors and took in the multitude of presenters and vendor offerings Issues/Needs and The Adirondack-North Country is uniquely positioned to serve as a model for Audiences diverse and vibrant working landscapes Rooted in a culture of stewardship and entrepreneurial spirit, Paul Smith's College, the VIC and Cornell Cooperative Extension advance a multi-sector vision that connects the region's "foodsheds" and "woodsheds" as integrated components of the working landscape Beyond sustainable agriculture and forestry, the Adirondack Center for Working Landscapes (ACWL) highlights additional related sectors such as education, agri-tourism, biomass development, education, and sustainable food system development Extension Responses Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) Franklin County brought to the partnership its long history of research based education in agriculture, food systems, food nutrition and safety and youth development education through outdoor skills Accomplishments and Educational displays, action exhibits, agricultural demonstrations and classes, Impacts conducted by CCE staff and volunteers, appealed to a wide range of interests and included topics such as: canning, dehydrating jerky, cider making, bow building, renewable energy, raising livestock, poultry processing, foraging for wild edibles, small-scale farming, heating with firewood and primitive skills, cow milking, sheep shearing, beekeeping, soil science, starting a small farm, spinning wool, mushroom identification and growing, growing hops and beer making, tree pruning, exercise and fitness, draft horses, soap making, and blacksmithing and more Over 1,000 people form over the North Country and beyond attended the day's event Collaborators Paul Smith's College, The VIC, PSC Clubs, Adirondack Harvest Volunteers, Local farmers, Sodexo, Friends of the VIC, Local businesses, Local media Special funding sources (if any) Story Title Summer Day Camp: The root to success for parents and youth alike! Program Franklin - 4-H Youth Development Educators Abby Langdon Steve M McDonald Is this related to an Equal No Program/Employme nt Opportunity? Executive Summary 4-H Youth Development department of Cornell Cooperative Extension Franklin County provides a local summer day camp packed with STEM projects, critical thinking and team building activities, and physical activity The camp is affordable and attainable for families of all incomes with the help of other local community action agencies and scholarships Issues/Needs and “When school's out, kids are actually more likely to engage in obesity-related Audiences behaviors such as watching more television, consuming more sugar and eating fewer vegetables, and their exercise levels barely budge, according to a study from Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health.” (www.mailman.columbia.edu) “Researchers concluded that the school environment plays an important role in helping kids maintain healthy behaviors and suggested school-based obesity prevention efforts go beyond the school year, in the form of summer meal and activity programs.” (www.mailman.columbia.edu) “Research shows that children who participate in quality afterschool programs have higher school attendance, academic achievement, and are less likely to be involved in risky behaviors during the afterschool hours” (ocfs.ny.gov, 2015) There are 2,125 single parent households with children under 18 years of age in Franklin County (Census.gov, 2010) Single parent households have more trouble obtaining quality childcare (ocfs.ny.gov, 2015) Extension Responses Partnering with NYS DOH (Departments of Health) CCE obtained certification to provide a comprehensive and affordable summer day camp for the county community The day camp included 10 different weekly choices of curricula, including Archery, GIS/Geocaching, Wilderness Education, Jr and Sr RASP (Recreation and Sports Play), Arts & Crafts, DDY (Dance Drama & Yoga), and many more The camp operated from 7:30a-4:30 pm Monday- Friday providing a safe and fun environment for youth 5-12 to learn and grow socially and emotionally during the summer months Camp counselors of all ages and backgrounds were hired to fully meet the needs of the diverse interests of youth involved Partnering with the local YMCA and JCEO of Franklin and Clinton counties helped make it possible for this camp to succeed JCEO provided breakfast and lunch for youth everyday as well as scholarships for families in need The Greater Malone YMCA provided curriculum for classes and activities associated with physical activity along with assisting in pre-program development and certifications Accomplishments The directors of Camp Akalaka for the 2016 summer were delighted to be and Impacts informed of one specific youth’s success during camp The parent of a 10-yearold male, who attended the camp for the entire 10 weeks it was in session, told directors how thankful she was for the program The parent has another son who is older and who was released from a juvenile detention facility around week of the camp season She was afraid her younger son, who had been attending camp, may also be tempted to engage in risky behaviors His being able to attend Camp Akalaka did away with her fears The parent shared with directors that she believed if her older son had had the opportunity to attend a camp like Camp Akalaka he would not have been tempted to engage in the behaviors and crime he had Directors were told that, due to the parent’s income, it was difficult for her to work full time and find a safe, affordable and educational place for her older son to attend during the summer months Camp Akalaka was the perfect solution for this family The directors even noticed a positive behavior change of the young camper throughout the summer Collaborators The NYS Department of Health, The Greater Malone YMCA, Joint Council for Economic Opportunity of Clinton and Franklin Counties (JCEO), Village of Malone Special funding sources (if any) ... often an integral part of farming success in the North Country In 2014, a group of migrant workers and their families expressed an interest in obtaining and / or brushing up on their gardening skills... for the Aging seeks funding in order to sustain this program in the coming year When facilitating the Growing Stronger program, I repeatedly hear from participants the many benefits that they... critical thinking, reading, inquiry, and investigation into the ecosystems and natural resources of this North Country / Adirondack region and how species introduced into these environments, either