CCE Rensselaer County

08/31/2026

Rensselaer County 4-H is at Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center . Thank you to ScottsMiracle-Gro

08/30/2026

Junior Chefs Contest at the Fair
We will again have a Junior Chefs competition for all youth (ages 5-18) at the Schaghticoke Fair. On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 11:00am and 2:00pm, youth are invited to participate in a cooking contest. The winner from each contest will then be eligible to compete for the Top Junior Chef title on Monday at 3:00pm. Youth do need to register for the contest at least one hour before, registration will be limited due to space and equipment limitations. Youth may compete as individuals or as a team of two. For more information, please contact [email protected]

08/30/2026

08/28/2026

Plant of the Week: Woodland to***co
Are you ready for the big and bold? Nicotiana sylvestris, also known by its common names such as Flowering To***co, night scented to***co, South American to***co, or woodland to***co, is part of the nightshade family (Solanaceae). The plant has large leaves and lovely clusters of very fragrant white pendent flowers. As the plant is native to Argentina, in the eastern US it is grown as an annual as it is only hardy to Zone 10. N. sylvestris can grow to a height of 3-5 feet and 2 feet across with broad leaves 18” long. Because of its height and its wonderful fragrance, particularly in early evening, N. sylvestris was often used in Victorian gardens along paths and walks so the flower scent can be enjoyed. Woodland to***co should be used in groups towards the back of your garden. Mix the plant with other plants like cleome, cosmos, tall verbena, late blooming shrub roses and ornamental grasses.

08/27/2026

08/26/2026

2026 Luminary Roadshow with Trees for Graziers in New York
Friday, September 4, 2026 | 10:00 am - 3:00 pm | 2129 Co Rd 153, Salem, NY
(sliding scale fee for farmers)
Questions? Contact Rachel Moody: [email protected] | 518-649-0267
Event details and registration: 🔗https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2026-luminary-roadshow-with-trees-for-graziers-in-new-york-tickets-1994544794171?aff=odcleoeventsincollection

08/25/2026

Preserve Summer Produce by Freezing It

August and September are peak harvest months, and farmers markets are overflowing with fresh vegetables and berries. But what happens when summer ends? Freezing is the easiest way to preserve produce and enjoy your farmers market finds all year long.

Freezing is simple and keeps produce nutritious. Here's the basic approach for most summer items:

Berries: Wash and dry completely. Place on a baking sheet in a single layer and freeze until solid, then transfer to freezer bags.

Vegetables like zucchini, summer squash, peppers, snap beans, and broccoli: Blanch briefly in boiling water, cool in ice water, drain well, and freeze in bags.

Corn: Blanch whole cobs or kernels, cool, and freeze.

Tomatoes: Freeze whole or chopped in bags. Great for soups and sauces later.

Tips for success:

Use freezer bags or containers designed for freezing to prevent freezer burn.

Label everything with the date.

Remove as much air as possible from bags before freezing.

Most frozen produce keeps well for eight to twelve months.

For exact blanching times and detailed instructions, visit the National Center for Home Food Preservation at nchfp.uga.edu.

Frozen produce is perfect for soups, stir-fries, smoothies, and baked goods. You're not wasting food, you're investing in winter meals.

Learn more about food preservation at foodsafety.gov

08/21/2026

Plant of the week: Sweet Pepperbush/Summersweet Clethra

Want a flowering shrub that’s a hit with pollinators as well as admired by gardeners? Consider sweet pepperbush. Also called summersweet, it is botanically known as Clethra alnifolia. It is a tough, deciduous native shrub, which can grow up to 10 feet tall, and is known for its attractive vertical flower spikes. The bottlebrush-like flowers are white or pink, and have an intense sweet and spicy fragrance. It does well in full sun to partial shade and prefers moist, acidic soil. It is hardy in Zones 3-9. In the autumn, the leaves turn a bright golden yellow or copper-brown. The flowers provide abundant nectar for August pollinators, and the plant has good resistance to deer.

08/20/2026

Communities across NY are experiencing warming temperatures, rising sea levels, and extreme weather events, but often have limited capacity to take action. The Cornell Climate Stewards program trains and empowers volunteers to support their communities with this work. Participants learn about the science and best practices for addressing the issues affecting their communities and complete a local volunteer stewardship project. Previous projects have included organizing a public education event, creating pollinator gardens, and supporting a local resilience taskforce – there are many options to choose from! Participants receive training and support from educators at their local Cornell Cooperative Extension office. Join nearly 200 stewards and educators in 35 counties today! Apply today: Classes begin September 10th and run thru December 3rd. Thursday nights with live online classes from 6-8pm

The form to complete to participate in the statewide training is below.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSce6ih_byM0vxM092ckOJCZ3End_j7c6ji4GiPRHh-05xmUFg/viewform

If anyone has any questions, please contact – [email protected]