Celebrating our Volunteers with tamales

Our volunteers make it all possible here at the Extension Learning Farm. We recently gathered to celebrate the dedication and year’s accomplishments of all three Ag and Food System volunteer programs (Master Food Preserver, Energy Navigator and Master Gardener). From teaching classes, answering 1-1 questions, attending events for outreach and more- these are active, capable folks! For a change of pace, it was fun to simply gather and enjoy time together. Extension organized a tamale-making activity in the Harvest Kitchen for any volunteer who thought that would be an enjoyable treat, then a larger group came together for a shared potluck lunch and conversation. Check out the slideshow below for a few shots of the action.

At our 2nd annual Volunteer Appreciation event, we recognized Ken Kogut with the Fruition Service award for his spirited contributions, his continuous learning, and his 30+ hours spent helping us build a new High Tunnel last fall. Thank you, Ken!

  • Linda mixing the dough for the meat tamales, a mixture of corn masa, lard, salt and water.

We look forward to widening the circle of volunteers. There is a new group of Master Gardeners whose training will finish in April, and openings for Energy Navigators trainings starting in mid-February and mid-April, find more here. The Master Food Preservers just secured May 13-15, 2025 for a training too so keep your eyes peeled for registration opening!

Indoor/Outdoor Garden Calendar: Monthly Tips for North Country Growing Success

Timing is key when it comes to growing and taking care of plants! For example, pruning at the wrong time of year can make plants more vulnerable to diseases or pests. On the flip side, if you time your amaryllis’ forced dormancy just right, you can have them blooming in time for the holidays! And did you know that garlic is actually planted in the fall, unlike most of our veggies and herbs? Fall is also the perfect time to divide and transplant spring-blooming perennials.

graphic of person pruning a dormant plant
Timing pruning of our plants increases their chance to thrive.

The Master Gardener Volunteers (MGVs) at CCE of St. Lawrence County understand just how important timing is, especially in Northern NY’s Zone 4. To make it easier for gardeners of all experience levels—whether you’re growing plants indoors or outdoors—we’ve put together a monthly calendar filled with helpful tips. Gardening is a year-round activity and having a monthly list can help you stay on top of your chores and make sure you don’t forget anything important! 

The calendar covers everything from planning and planting to harvesting and storing, along with maintenance tasks. Whether you’re tending to fruits, veggies, herbs, flowers, or houseplants, it  is a great reminder and a valuable resource. Plus, many tasks come with extra tips, suggestions, and links to online resources for more detailed guidance. Below are a few examples from the first months of the year:

In January:

Inventory seeds, seed-starting supplies and miscellaneous garden supplies such as row cover Seeds will usually last several years if stored properly. You can test seeds for germination if you are unsure if the seed you have is still viable. High Mowing seeds has a useful chart on seed viability.
Have friends who also garden? If you have extra, ask them if they would like some. Maybe they’ll also have extra seeds to share

In February: Read more Indoor/Outdoor Garden Calendar: Monthly Tips for North Country Growing Success

Easy Climate-Smart Lawns

Did you know there are some easy climate-smart ways you can make your lawn attractive while improving the benefit to the broader landscape? Turns out less-is-more when it comes to lawncare. Read on for the most important approaches to achieve a resilient, healthy lawn that gives back by providing ecosystem services for humans and other creatures.

Mow Higher. Mow Less.

Turns out grass knows how to grow, but we could use some tips on how to mow and fertilize it a little better. Lawn research has shown that grass grows better when we mow it higher and when we remove only one third of the grass blade height at a time.

To give an example, imagine you go away on a May vacation for a week and don’t get to mow your lawn until the following weekend. It’s been growing for two weeks during a month when grass growth is usually very fast. You grab your trusty mower, set it to a 2-inch mowing height, and leave behind a swath of heavy (smothering) grass clippings and a scalped lawn. After you rake up the wet lumps of heavy clippings, you might notice that you are looking at yellow growth that was previously protected from the sun by the grass blades you just mowed off… not a pretty sight. But what you can’t see is worse—cutting off more than 1/3rd of the grass blade stunts root growth.

shows grass clums as a result of mowing too much of the total grass height at once

Now imagine your trusty mower is set as high as it can go—with the blade about 3.5 inches from the ground. This should ideally allow you to cut off just one third of the grass height, like a trim rather than a crew cut. You might have to come back to it in a week, but the grass would thank you by continuing to grow healthy blades and thick roots.

Why do we aim to cut the grass no shorter than 3.5 inches, or as high as the blades can go? Taller grass grows deeper roots. Deep roots make the lawn more resilient during drought, and taller grass outcompetes weeds. Mowing higher also reduces the frequency of mowing by 20-25% and that saves time, fuel, and wear and tear on equipment. So set your mower to its highest setting. 

Does mowing less often sound good to you? Plan your mowing around grass growth rather than on the calendar. When grass is growing fast you may have to mow weekly. But as the season gets hotter or rain is less frequent, you can mow less often. Stick to the one third mowing rule and wait until the grass grows high enough to mow. In the hot months of summer that period can be several weeks between mowing. If you are worried about your lawn having occasional tall stems or weeds, try string trimming around the edges to keep things looking neat between those longer mowing intervals. Read more Easy Climate-Smart Lawns