Watershed Wake-up Call

REMINDERS: Get in the Guide! Enrollment open for new and renewing Pure Catskills members through April 30 (lots of perks) 

1. We want to know what you think about an online store for Pure Catskills products. Visit our Facebook Page and give us the thumbs up/down and product suggestions. 

Did you know...the Watershed Agricultural Council has a YouTube Channel? Check out the soils commentary by Dan Kittredge, speaker at the upcoming March 8 workshop at Rainbeau Ridge Farm.  

 

SPOTLIGHT ON PURE CATSKILLS MEMBER: Silver Heights Farm Nursery, 216 Eggler Rd., Jeffersonville, 12748, (845) 482-3608, www.silverheightsfarm.com

They specialize in annuals, perennials, seedlings and starters suitable for the Catskills, herbs and flowers, heirloom and open-pollinated vegetables and fruit. Certified organic, they also offer over 300 varieties of tomatoes. Their growing practices are simple: insecticide free, certified organic, low-spray, pesticide-free and heirloom varieties. They are open Thursday through Saturday, 10 am - 4 pm; by chance Monday through Wednesday, 10 am - 3 pm. Closed Sundays.

They also have a farmstand and a greenhouse nursery where they will be hosting the next Catskills CRAFT meeting on March 3 at 1 p.m. Nursery owner Trina Polonero and her crew will show CRAFT members:

• How to seed up lettuces and greens using small hand tools that can be home-made and speed up the jobs many-fold;
• The difference of seeding up and planning for the field versus for a retail situation, as these are quite different; and
• The importance of record-keeping in greenhouse situations.

The Catskills Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training (CRAFT) provides opportunities for beginning farmers to connect and learn from existing farmers who offer up their time, talents and experience to help prepare the next generation of agricultural entrepreneurs. CRAFT provides farmer-to-farmer learning and access to the social network and culture of local farmers. Catskills CRAFT 

• Delivers a broader experience to beginning farmers than they can receive alone;Provides a peer base to help beginning farmers connect with others who share similar goals;
• Increases the skill base in sustainable agriculture.

The first CRAFT program was founded in upstate New York in 1994. In 1997, ten farmers from northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin founded a second CRAFT program in the Upper Midwest. Since then, many more local farmer-led CRAFT alliances have sprouted up across the US and Canada.

MORE ON EVENTS:

www.shapingyouth.org

FEBRUARY 23 & MARCH 1: Investments and Managing Windfalls at CCE Resource Center in Hamden from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Cost is $10 and includes lunch and materials. Sponsored by CCE-Delaware County and the Council, contact Judy Morse, CCEDC (607) 865-7161 to register.  These two classes to help farmers and individuals manage assets and income.  Today's class is introductory and helps you learn more about various kinds of investments, review the terminology and definitions of various products, investigate individuals’ risk tolerance and be of a general nature so that a basic understanding is gained.  Owen Kennedy, Farm Family Life and Insurance, will lead this session.

Next week on March 1 again from 11 a.m.. to 3 p.m., Managing Windfalls talks about how to manage lumps of money that individuals may receive through one-time payouts such as easements, inheritances or land sales. Al Davino, Delhi, will outline the basis for developing a plan to make sure that large windfalls are managed properly using his years of experience in financial planning. In addition, a tax professional will be on hand to answer questions about income taxes.

FEBRUARY 22 & 24: Group Housed Dairy Calf Symposium at two locations (Tally Ho Restaurant, Richfield Springs and Holiday Inn Southside, Oneonta).Sponsored by Cornell Cooperative Extension and Cornell PRO-DAIRY, cost is $30. Mail in registration or contact Kim Holden, CCEDC (607) 865-7090.

FEBRUARY 28: Dairy Farm Barn Meeting at Albano Dairy from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Free but RSVP to Kim Holden, CCE-DC (607)865-7090.

MARCH 1: Easement Program Committee Meeting, 44 West Street, Walton from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. (Agenda)
 

MARCH 10: Landowners and Your Woods: A Forest Management Primer at the Agroforestry Resource Center in Acra from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.. Cost is $10/person, $15/family. Mary Spring, professional forester, will provide basic concepts of best forestry management practices, forest management planning  and the value of working with a forester. Come dressed for the weather, as the outdoor component is held in the Siuslaw Model Forest. To register, contact CCE Greene County (518) 622-9820.

MARCH 22: Are You Ready for the Next Disaster? Public Officials Workshop at Margaretville Fire Hall, 3rd Floor. Sponsored by Catskill Watershed Corp., this session is open to regional public officials. (845) 586-1400.

SAVE THE DATE:  April 19 at SUNY-Delhi the screening of Living Downstream followed by a discussion panel. From 12:30 to 1:45 p.m. in the Okun Theater in Farrell Hall on the SUNY-Delhi campus. Living Downstream is a cinematic feature-length documentary based on the acclaimed book by ecologist and cancer survivor Sandra Steingraber, Ph.D.
 

Environmental Film Series at 76 Main! in Stamford every Thursday at 7 p.m. Price of admission is freewill donation.

 

Thursday, May 3: Vanishing Bees

Thursday, May 10: What's On Your Plate?
Thursday, May 17: Tapped
Thursday, May 24: Dirt! The Movie
Thursday, May 31: Windfall (I believe you said this one would be available)
Thursday, June 7: The Greenhorns
Thursday, June 14: Reclaiming Our Water
Thursday, June 21: Good Wood
Thursday, June 28: Truck Farm

Catskills FarmLink has an 83-acre share/partnership property available in Berne (just above Rensellearville). Acreage includes 18 acres of open fields, some limited maple sugar bush and about 65 acres of woods available. The landowner is open to a number of working situations including lease, trade and partnership opportunities. Their only requirements are that potential partners use organic growing methods. Rustic seasonal housing is available for the right person with options for year-round living. Shoot them a call to discuss other options such as produce, small livestock or poultry operations, even a micro-brewery and growing hops or grains.

Tune in every week, Thursday at 7:15 a.m., on WIOX Community Radio 91.3FM. In the meantime, follow us on Facebook for the latest on the Watershed Agricultural Council and Pure Catskills or visit our blogs, You & Your Watershed and Pure Catskills Local.

Watershed Wake-Up Call

REMINDERS:

Get in the Guide! Enrollment open for new and renewing Pure Catskills members through April 30 (lots of perks)

We want to know what you think about an online store for Pure Catskills products. Visit our Facebook Page and give us the thumbs up/down and product suggestions.

 

SPOTLIGHT ON PURE CATSKILLS MEMBER:
Fresh eggs, pork, poultry and vegetables from Stony Creek Farm, Walton run by Kate and Dan Marsiglio. (607) 821-4089 or by email: info@stonycreekfarm.org

GRANTS: (Find more information on our Disaster Assistance Page)

1)   Sign-Up for NRCS Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWP) Funding extended to March 31. Work with Quentin Gahan at NRCS office in Walton (607) 865-7090. Targeted towards municipalities, $31.5 million is available to local units of government and communities to restore streams include the protection of threatened buildings, bridges or roads from continued streambank erosion and stream down-cutting.EWP funding bears up to 75 percent of the construction costs. The remaining 25 percent must be obtained by the local sponsor. Grants range from a minimum of $300,000 to a maximum of $500,000 per county for eligible projects.
 

2) Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) for agricultural producers and rural small businesses: $25.4 million available for grants (varied due dates) and guaranteed loan programs (due June 29) that support renewable energy systems (due March 30), efficiency measures, feasibility studies (due March 30) and energy audits (due February 21).

3) Business Flood Recovery Grant Program from Empire State Development: awards up to $20,000 to farms, small businesses, nonprofits and multi-dwelling housing owners from a $21-million pool. (518) 292-5340 or email floodrecovery@esd.ny.gov (due March 16).

4) $3.2 million in available grants through the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to help farmers across the state reduce their energy use, save on operating costs, and cut greenhouse gas emissions through more efficient use of energy. The program will provide financial incentives to support 75 percent of the cost of electricity and gas efficiency investments. Farms that are eligible for the grants include: orchards, dairies, vineyards, maple producers, egg and poultry farms, grain, specialty crops, and others. Upgrades covered in the grants include: process improvements, lighting upgrades, and high-efficiency fan, pump, and motor systems, and other measures. Small farms could be eligible for free energy audits to assist in identifying energy efficiency projects.For more information about the Agriculture Energy Efficiency Program 1-800-732-1399.

5) USDA FSA ECP Emergency Conservation Program (due March 1): 607-865-4005 Awarding $4-million throughout 25 counties, for debris from farmland, repair the severe damage to land, restore fences, and repair conservation systems.

6) Agricultural and Community Recovery Fund (ACRF), the Capital On-Farm Needs Component: Open till the money runs out. Grants of up to $20,000 per eligible farm for capital losses like repair or replacement of fixtures and equipment needed to maintain agricultural operations. The combined impacts of Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee had a devastating effect on New York State agriculture resulting in an estimated 200,000 acres of cropland damage and $73 million in agricultural damages to crops, buildings, equipment and land resources.

7) LAST CALL FOR APPLICATION FOR USDA New York Conservation Program grants (due February 17):

Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP);

Chesapeake Bay Watershed Initiative (CBWI); and

Agricultural Management Assistance Program (AMA)

EVENTS:

FEBRUARY 16: Managing Windfalls at CCE Resource Center in Hamden from 1 to 3 p.m. Cost is $10 and includes lunch and materials. Sponsored by CCE-Delaware County and the Council, contact Judy Morse, CCEDC (607) 865-7161 to register.

FEBRUARY 22 & 24: Group Housed Dairy Calf Symposium at two locations (Tally Ho Restaurant, Richfield Springs and Holiday Inn Southside, Oneonta).Sponsored by Cornell Cooperative Extension and Cornell PRO-DAIRY, cost is $30. Mail in registration or contact Kim Holden, CCEDC (607) 865-7090.

FEBRUARY 28: Dairy Farm Barn Meeting at Albano Dairy from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Free but RSVP to Kim Holden, CCE-DC (607)865-7090.

MARCH 1: Easement Program Committee Meeting, 44 West Street, Walton from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

MARCH 10: Landowners and Your Woods: A Forest Management Primer
at the Agroforestry Resource Center in Acra from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.. Cost is $10/person, $15/family. Mary Spring, professional forester, will provide basic concepts of best forestry management practices, forest management planning  and the value of working with a forester. Come dressed for the weather, as the outdoor component is held in the Siuslaw Model Forest. To register, contact CCE Greene County (518) 622-9820

MARCH 22: Are You Ready for the Next Disaster? Public Officials Workshop at Margaretville Fire Hall, 3rd Floor. Sponsored by Catskill Watershed Corp., this session is open to regional public officials. (845) 586-1400.

SAVE THE DATE:  Environmental Film Series at 76 Main! in Stamford every Thursday at 7 p.m. Price of admission is freewill donation.

 

Thursday, May 3: Vanishing Bees

Thursday, May 10: What's On Your Plate?
Thursday, May 17: Tapped
Thursday, May 24: Dirt! The Movie
Thursday, May 31: Windfall (I believe you said this one would be available)
Thursday, June 7: The Greenhorns
Thursday, June 14: Reclaiming Our Water
Thursday, June 21: Good Wood
Thursday, June 28: Gaia: The Living Planet

 

Tune in every week, Thursday at 7:15 a.m., on WIOX Community Radio 91.3FM. Follow us on Facebook for the latest on the Watershed Agricultural Council and Pure Catskills.

 

 

Watershed Wake-Up Call

KUDOS CORNER: 

With the help of Ellen Stewart, Madalyn Warren, Farmer in residence at Roxbury Community Garden just outside the Roxbury Central School,  was awarded a $500 grant for adding fruit trees and bushes to the plot this year. Since 1998, Kids Growing Food, a program of New York Agriculture in the Classroom, has helped create and support over 325 school food gardens, providing K-12 students throughout New York with hands-on food growing experiences. By making connections to food, farming, and nutrition, the “garden classroom” provides food-based learning, integrating math, science, language arts, and social studies, helping teachers meet core curriculum requirements. Growing food at school helps students gain an understanding of how the local food system works and serves as a link to local farmers, businesses, and others involved in agriculture.

GRLIC and Andes Sprouts Society is sponsoring a call for design submissions for the Roxbury Central School Community Garden human-powered irrigation project due March 15.

REMINDERS:

Get in the Guide! Enrollment open for new and renewing Pure Catskills members through April 30 (lots of perks)

We want to know what you think about an online store for Pure Catskills products. Visit our Facebook Page and give us the thumbs up/down and product suggestions.

GRANTS: (Find more information on our Disaster Assistance Page)

1) Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) for agricultural producers and rural small businesses: $25.4 million available for grants (varied due dates) and guaranteed loan programs (due June 29) that support renewable energy systems (due March 30), efficiency measures, feasibility studies (due March 30) and energy audits (due February 21).

2) Business Flood Recovery Grant Program from Empire State Development: awards up to $20,000 to farms, small businesses, nonprofits and multi-dwelling housing owners from a $21-million pool. (518) 292-5340 or email floodrecovery@esd.ny.gov (due March 16).

3) $3.2 million in available grants through the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to help farmers across the state reduce their energy use, save on operating costs, and cut greenhouse gas emissions through more efficient use of energy. The program will provide financial incentives to support 75 percent of the cost of electricity and gas efficiency investments. Farms that are eligible for the grants include: orchards, dairies, vineyards, maple producers, egg and poultry farms, grain, specialty crops, and others. Upgrades covered in the grants include: process improvements, lighting upgrades, and high-efficiency fan, pump, and motor systems, and other measures. Small farms could be eligible for free energy audits to assist in identifying energy efficiency projects.

Past NYSERDA programs demonstrate that a typical dairy farm can save 20 to 30 percent of its energy bill with cost-effective energy efficiency improvements at an average seven-year payback. The Agriculture Energy Efficiency Program can provide a typical dairy farm with $2,700 to $4,000 per year in savings from a farm investment of $4,800 to $7,000.

For more information about the Agriculture Energy Efficiency Program 1-800-732-1399.

4) USDA FSA ECP Emergency Conservation Program (due March 1): 607-865-4005 USDA’s Farm Service Agency in New York will allocate nearly $4-million throughout 25 counties, including all eight watershed counties,to help farmers rehabilitate land damaged by recent flooding. Funding will allow farmers to remove debris from farmland, repair the severe damage to land, restore fences, and repair conservation systems damaged by last year’s flooding.

5) Agricultural and Community Recovery Fund (ACRF), the Capital On-Farm Needs Component, will provide funding up to $20,000 per eligible farm for capital losses caused by Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee. The ACRF Capital On-Farm Needs Component is designed to help pay for capital losses, such as the repair or replacement of fixtures and equipment needed to maintain agricultural operations. Funding for this program will be provided in the form of grants for 50 percent of eligible costs up to $20,000 per farm. Program guidelines and applications for the Capital On-Farm Needs Component, as well as other ACRF components: the ACRF Conservation Component, ACRF Farm Operation Match Component, and the ACRF Main Street Component.

The combined impacts of Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee had a devastating effect on New York State agriculture resulting in an estimated 200,000 acres of cropland damage and $73 million in agricultural damages to crops, buildings, equipment and land resources.

6) USDA New York Conservation Program grants (due February 17):

Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP);

Chesapeake Bay Watershed Initiative (CBWI); and

Agricultural Management Assistance Program (AMA)

EVENTS:

FEBRUARY 11: Basics of Maple Syrup Production at Agroforestry Center Acra from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Cost is $10. Contact CCE Greene County (518) 622-9820.

FEBRUARY 15: No Food, No Farms Rally at the State Capitol in Albany from 9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. Cost is $10 and includes lunch. Contact American Farmland Trust New York State Field Office at (518) 581-0078.

FEBRUARY 16 & 23; MARCH 1, 8, 15, 22, 29

4-H Tractor & Machinery Certification Course at CCE Resource Center, Hamden from 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. Cost is $40 and includes $25 course book.Sponsored by CCE-Delaware County, contact Judy Morse, CCEDC (607) 865-7161 to register.

FEBRUARY 16: Managing Windfalls at CCE Resource Center in Hamden from 1 to 3 p.m. Cost is $10 and includes lunch and materials. Sponsored by CCE-Delaware County and the Council, contact Judy Morse, CCEDC (607) 865-7161 to register.

FEBRUARY 22 & 24: Group Housed Dairy Calf Symposium at two locations (Tally Ho Restaurant, Richfield Springs and Holiday Inn Southside, Oneonta).

Sponsored by Cornell Cooperative Extension and Cornell PRO-DAIRY, cost is $30. Mail in registration or contact Kim Holden, CCEDC (607) 865-7090.

MARCH 22: Are You Ready for the Next Disaster? Public Officials Workshop at Margaretville Fire Hall, 3rd Floor. Sponsored by Catskill Watershed Corp., this session is open to regional public officials. (845) 586-1400.

SPOTLIGHT ON PURE CATSKILLS MEMBER:

Farm Fresh Eggs at La Basse Cour Farm Store and Bed & Breakfast

Owners: Diane Frances & Larry Hepner

3228 Gunhouse Hill Road, South Kortright, NY 13842

PH: (607) 538-9707

Tune in every week, Thursday at 7:15 a.m., on WIOX Community Radio 91.3FM. Follow us on Facebook for the latest on the Watershed Agricultural Council and Pure Catskills.

Watershed Wake-Up Call LInks

Gwen Deysenroth

THIS WEEK ON THE WAKE-UP CALL:  
Welcome two new Directors to the Watershed Agricultural Council: Gwen Deysenroth of ByeBrook Farm Bloomville and Wayland "Bud" Gladstone of SW Farm Andes.

Big thanks to Jim, Bill and Diane Eklund at Eklund Processing in Stamford for hosting a terrific meat-processing plant tour.

Get in the Guide! Enrollment open for new and renewing Pure Catskills members through April 30 (lots of perks)

EVENTS:

Bud Gladstone

FEBRUARY 2: Easement Program Committee Meeting: Today, 1p.m. Walton office; also check out the Program's 2011 Annual Report outlining their successes last year.

FEBRUARY 4: “Anthropogenic stream alteration: Effects on brown trout habitat, behavior and physiology," a research  presentation from 1:45 to 3 p.m. in the Student Lounge, Vanderlyn Hall, Ulster County Community College, Stone Ridge. Sponsored by Ashokan Stream Management Program

FEBRUARY 11: Basics of Maple Syrup Production at Agroforestry Center Acra from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Cost is $10. Contact CCE Greene County (518) 622-9820.

FEBRUARY 22 & 24: Group-housed Dairy Calf Symposium in Richfield Springs and Oneonta.

MARCH 8 & APRIL 13: Bio-Nutrient Rich Crop Production Workshop with Soils Guru David Kittredge of Real Food Campaign

GRANTS:
1) Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) for agricultural producers and rural small businesses: $25.4 million available for grants and guaranteed loan programs that support renewable energy systems, efficiency measures, feasibility studies and energy audits. 

2) Business Flood Recovery Grant Program from Empire State Development: awards up to $20,000 to farms, small businesses, nonprofits and multi-dwelling housing owners from a $21-million pool. (518) 292-5340 or email floodrecovery@esd.ny.gov; application deadline is March 16.

3) The 2012 I Love NY Agriculture Art & Writing Contest for grades Pre-K through 6 is accepting entries through Friday, April 13th, 2012. 

4) USDA FSA ECP Emergency Conservation Program due March 1: 607-865-4005 USDA’s Farm Service Agency in New York will allocate nearly $4-million throughout 25 counties, including all eight watershed counties,to help farmers  rehabilitate land damaged by recent flooding. Funding will allow farmers to remove debris from farmland, repair the severe damage to land, restore fences, and repair conservation systems damaged by last year’s flooding. The ECP Signup for this funding is now through March 1, 2012 for anyone who has not already signed an application with their local FSA office. If you have already reported damage to the local FSA office since the storm you should still contact the office to ensure that your application is complete prior to the March 1, 2012 signup deadline. USDA offers additional programs to help farmers and ranchers recover from damages caused by natural disasters.  These programs include the Emergency Loan Program, Federal Crop Insurance and the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program. More information on ECP and other disaster assistance programs is available at local FSA service centers.

5) USDA New York Conservation Program applications due February 17 for:

• Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP);  
• Chesapeake Bay Watershed Initiative (CBWI); and  
• Agricultural Management Assistance Program (AMA)

SPOTLIGHT ON PURE CATSKILLS MEMBER:

Eminence Road Farm Winery operated by Jennifer Clark, Andrew Scott and Lester Hankins. Eight wine vintages, created in a converted cow barn, is naturally fermented and bottled by hand unrefined and unfiltered.

Address	3734 Eminence Road, Long Eddy, NY 12760 · Get Directions
Phone	1 845.887.6280
Website	http://www.eminenceroad.com/
	Visit the farm on Saturdays or at the Farmers' Markets in Liberty (Fridays); Barryville (Saturdays); Callicoon and Roscoe (Sundays).

OF INTEREST:  GRLIC and Andes Sprouts Society sponsoring a call for design submissions for the Roxbury Central School Community Garden human-powered irrigation project; due March 15

Tune in every week, Thursday at 7:15 a.m., on WIOX Community Radio 91.3FM. Follow us on Facebook for the latest on the Watershed Agricultural Council and Pure Catskills.