Growing veggies, preserving food

JAMESTOWN, N.Y. — Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County’s Agriculture Program will offer 2 workshops this week as part of their 2016-2017 L.E.A.F. (Learn. Empower. Achieve. Farm.) Workshop Series. “Using Greenhouses to Grow Vegetables” will be presented on Thursday, February 16th from 6pm to 8pm at the Ag Center. Then, on Saturday, February 18th from 10am to 12pm a workshop on “Basics of Home Food Preservation” will be held.

“Using Greenhouses to Grow Vegetables” will be Thursday, February 16th’s Workshop Topic, to be held from 6pm to 8pm at the Ag Center. Eat (or sell) home grown produce 12 months of the year! In this session participants will learn about different season extension structures such as greenhouses, high tunnels and row covers used to grow vegetables. Crops include greens, tomatoes, cucumbers and more. Site selection, structures, crop nutrition and pest management will be covered. Bring your ideas and questions! Judson Reid, Extension Vegetable Specialist with the Cornell Vegetable Program, will be the leader of this interactive workshop. He has worked for Cornell Cooperative Extension for several years, and focuses on cultural practices, small farm operations, and season extension techniques through his work.

On Saturday, February 18th from 10am to 12pm at the Ag Center, there will be a workshop entitled “Basics of Home Food Preservation”. Come and learn all about preserving your bountiful harvest! This workshop will provide an overview for safely canning, freezing and drying foods including the basics of the necessary equipment, trusted sources for recipes and important food safety information. Samples of preserved foods will be available for taste-testing. The instructor will be Cheryl Wahlstrom, a registered dietitian who is also a CCE Master Gardener and Master Food Preserver.

The L.E.A.F. Workshop Series is open to the general public, including homesteaders, beginning farmers, established farmers looking to diversify and grow, agriculture enthusiasts, and everyone in between! The 2016-2017 Workshop Series features 23 workshops to be held in October and November of 2016 and February of 2017. This season’s L.E.A.F. Program is made possible through the generous support of the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation.

Each workshop will be 2 hours long and led by an experienced instructor. The cost to attend is only $5/family/workshop and light refreshments will be offered. The L.E.A.F. workshops are designed to be interactive, so participants are encouraged to bring their questions and ideas to this collaborative environment! All of the workshops will be held at the Frank W. Bratt Agricultural Center located at 3542 Turner Road in Jamestown, NY.

Pre-registration is required prior to the workshop to allow for adequate time to prepare printed resources and materials. Interested participants can register online by visiting www.cce.cornell.edu/chautauqua/leaf1617, by emailing kaw249@cornell.edu, or by calling 716-664-9502.

The L.E.A.F. Program is one of many programs offered by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County (CCE-Chautauqua) in line with the County’s 20/20 Comprehensive Plan. CCE-Chautauqua is a community based educational organization, affiliated with Cornell University, Chautauqua County Government, the NYS SUNY system, and the federal government through the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. For more information, call 716-664-9502 or visit our website at www.cce.cornell.edu/chautauqua. Cornell University Cooperative Extension provides equal program and employment opportunities.

—Katelyn Walley-Stoll, Farm Business Management Educator
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County

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