UNH Extension

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UNH Extension

strengthens people and communities in New Hampshire by providing trusted knowledge, practical education and cooperative solutions. UNH, U.S. Dept.

For over 100 years, UNH Extension’s innovative, energetic and connected staff and volunteers have been developing and promoting contemporary, practical education to meet New Hampshire’s needs. As a public institution, the University of New Hampshire welcomes conversation and civil discourse within the comments section on certain UNH social media platforms. These sites provide forums for thoughtful

discussion of potentially opposing ideas. However, the university expects such comments to be respectful, aimed at fostering understanding and communicated constructively. The university reserves the right to hide or delete comments that include:

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Thank you for being a part of the UNH community.

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Nondiscrimination Statement
The University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension is an equal opportunity educator and employer. of Agriculture, and New Hampshire counties cooperating. Our programs and policies are consistent with pertinent Federal and State laws and regulations prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, familial/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity. Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, and American Sign Language) should contact UNH Extension’s main office at (603) 862-0806 or USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. To file a UNH or UNHCE discriminatory harassment complaint, use the UNH Incident Report Form at https://www.unh.edu/diversity-inclusion/civil-rights-equity-office/incident-report-form or call 603-862-2930. To file a USDA program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found at https://www.usda.gov/oascr/how-to-file-a-program-discrimination-complaint, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain all of the information requested in the form. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; fax: (202) 690-7442; or email: [email protected].

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Accommodation Statement for Events
Accommodations available, including language access services, upon request before an event at https://unh.how/request

06/01/2026

Got a gardening question? Don’t ask Siri, ask Thelma. 📞🌱

At UNH Extension Yard & Garden's Infoline, Master Gardener volunteer Thelma Brown helps New Hampshire gardeners tackle everything from jumping worms to dying beech trees — one phone call at a time.

“It’s fun and challenging,” says Brown. “Sometimes people have multiple questions or want to delve deeper… Sometimes they want to tell stories.”

Whether you’re dealing with pests, plants, soil, trees or mystery garden problems, there’s a real person on the other end of the line ready to help.

Call the Yard and Garden Infoline at 877-EXT-GROW (877-398-4769), Monday–Friday from 9am to 1pm.

Read full story in UNH College of Life Sciences and Agriculture spring issue of Thrive magazine, link in comments!

05/29/2026

there are two types of ticks? There are hard ticks and soft ticks. The ticks most commonly found in New Hampshire are hard ticks, named for the tough, shield-like structure on their backs called a scutum. The word “scutum” is Latin for shield.

Understanding the type of tick you’ve found can help you better understand your risk after a bite.

UNH Extension’s Tick Testing Service identifies tick species and tests for disease-causing pathogens, with results often available within three days.

Learn more or order a test at the link in the comments.

05/28/2026

Question of the Month:

Q: How can I tell if a worm I’ve found on my property is an invasive jumping worm?

A: Jumping worms can be difficult to identify by appearance alone, but their behavior is distinctive. These worms are brown to grayish in color with a smooth, white band near the head that completely encircles the body.

If disturbed, jumping worms writhe powerfully, move in a fast snake-like motion, and may even lose their tails as a defense mechanism.

You’re most likely to find them in gardens, compost piles, or nearby woodlands, usually in the upper few inches of soil. Rapidly disappearing mulch or a noticeable reduction in leaf litter can also be signs that jumping worms are present.

If you dig into the soil, you may notice grainy castings and worms quickly slithering away.

Start looking for adult jumping worms in June. While adults do not survive the winter, their offspring overwinter in cocoons and reach adulthood by mid-summer.

UNH Extension Yard & Garden

05/26/2026

Can you dig up lady slippers?

The pink lady’s slipper (Cypripedium acaule) is one of New Hampshire’s most recognized wildflowers — and our official state wildflower since 1991. While it’s techinally legal to dig them up on your own property, it’s strongly discouraged.

These native orchids grow in very specific soil and climate conditions and rely on a symbiotic relationship with fungi to survive.

When transplanted, they often don’t make it, especially outside of the sandy, acidic soils they need. In many cases, plants decline or die within a few years.

Pink lady’s slippers also take a long time to establish, often a decade or more before blooming, and do not propagate easily from seed.

The best way to enjoy them is to leave them where they are and appreciate them in the wild.

05/22/2026

If you love being outdoors and want to learn more about New Hampshire’s natural communities, the Natural Resources Stewards program may be just what you’re looking for.

UNH Extension’s 2026 Natural Resources Stewards course is an 11-week hybrid program held on Fridays from September 11 through November 20 in the Keene region.

Participants explore topics including tree health, invasive species, soils, water quality, pollinator habitat, wildlife, and ecologically friendly landscapes through a combination of online learning and hands-on field experiences.

Most classes will take place in parks and reserves around Keene, giving participants the opportunity to learn directly in the field while exploring how trees, plants, soil, fungi, water, wildlife, and people are connected through ecosystems.

This is the first time the course will be offered in this part of the state. The Keene area presents a unique opportunity to study how communities are responding to widespread red pine decline and working toward more diverse and resilient urban forests and parks.

Applications are now open for the 2026 Natural Resources Stewards course. Learn more at the link in comments.

05/20/2026

Looking to make your garden more impactful this season? Consider becoming a certified pollinator-friendly garden.

On World Bee Day, it’s a good reminder that supporting pollinators starts close to home. 🐝

New Hampshire is home to a wide range of pollinators, from bees and butterflies to lesser-known species like wasps, flies, and beetles. Unfortunately, many of these species are declining due to habitat loss.

We are currently relaunching our pollinator certification program, which will begin accepting applications on June 6.

Once certified, you’ll receive a certificate and have the option to purchase a Pollinator-Friendly Garden sign to display.

It’s a simple way to support pollinators and make a difference right at home.

If you want to learn more and meet our Master Gardeners, come to the Pollinator Fest at New Hampshire Audubon! More details in comments.

05/19/2026

Supporting mental health matters. 💙

UNH Extension offers a variety of free, online trainings designed to build awareness, strengthen skills, and help you take action in your community.

June 9 - Youth Mental Health First Aid (9:00am–4:00pm)

Learn how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges in youth, and how to connect them to the right support.

June 16 - Awareness. Interaction. Direction. (10am–11:30am)

A 90-minute training focused on recognizing mental distress and confidently approaching and supporting someone in need.

June 17 - Adult Mental Health First Aid (9:00am–4:00pm)

Gain practical skills to identify, understand, and respond to mental health or substance use challenges in adults using a proven 5-step action plan.

Learn more and register at the links in the comments.

05/18/2026

Did you know the purple lilac (Syringa vulgaris) is New Hampshire’s state flower?

In 1919, the state selected the lilac because it “symbolizes the hardy character of the men and women of the Granite State.”

Some of the oldest living lilacs in North America may be right here in New Hampshire, including plantings at the Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion—a state park and National Historic Landmark—believed to date back to around 1750.

Beyond its history, lilac is also a popular landscape plant across the state. With the right care, it can thrive for generations.

Looking to plant or maintain lilacs? Check out our tips at the link in the comments.

05/15/2026

When the Albers family realized, their outdoor adventures were starting to feel repetitive, they didn’t just look for something new. They found a challenge that changed how they explored the world together.

Wildside Challenges, one of UNH Extension’s fastest-growing 4‑H programs, invites families, youth, and adults to step outside their comfort zones. Built around simple, flexible, and largely screen free outdoor challenges, Wildside meets people where they are and encourages them to stretch just a little further.

For the Albers’ three children, Wildside became a reason to explore new parks, try unfamiliar skills, and see their own backyard differently. They’ve identified and removed invasive plants, learned about ice safety on winter ponds, and traveled to parts of New Hampshire they may never have visited otherwise.

Each challenge comes with a goal, a sense of purpose, and a patch earned — not for being the best, but for showing up and following through.

That accessibility is key. Wildside attracts participants with a “moderate appetite for adventure” and has helped bring new audiences into 4‑H, while also energizing longtime members. In just five years, the program has grown to represent nearly one-third of NH 4‑H participation.

Wildside reminds us that growth doesn’t require extremes. It requires curiosity, connection, and willingness to try something new. Sometimes, realizing your potential really is like stretching your limbs.

NH 4-H Program

05/14/2026

Ticks are active across New Hampshire, and understanding your risk starts with good information.

In a recent episode of our Shared Soil podcast, hosts Kendall and Rebecca sit down with Extension Diagnostic Service Program Manager Shyloh Favreau to discuss tick safety, personal protection, and the growing threat of tick-borne diseases in New Hampshire.

The episode covers:

How to properly check for ticks after spending time outdoors
Clothing and repellent strategies to reduce exposure
Why blacklegged ticks are a concern in New Hampshire
How the UNH Tick Testing Service works and what results can tell you

UNH Extension’s Tick Testing Service identifies tick species and tests for pathogens, with results often available within three days. The service is available year-round and can help inform next steps after a bite.

Listen to the full episode and learn more about UNH Extension’s tick testing service at the links in the comments.

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Durham, NH
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