Ebony Horsewomen, Incorporated is a non-profit equestrian facility in the North End of Hartford that has been empowering Hartford, Bloomfield, and Windsor residents through equine programs for over 36 years. Patricia “Pat” Kelly is the program founder and CEO. The programs offered by Ebony Horsewomen include youth development, mental health, and Equine Assisted Psychotherapy. An […]
As seas rise, communities can turn retreat into opportunity
Kristin Walker, project engineer for the USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service, explains on Oct. 22 how the former home site is now being planted with native species to create a flood plain habitat. Story and photos by Judy Benson Retreat isn’t defeat. It’s deliberately stepping back to make a better future. “Retreat is very difficult, […]
Finding the Right Livestock Fence with Dr. Joe Emenheiser
Fences are built to keep some animals in, and other animals out! For centuries they have allowed us to domesticate livestock and build permanent settlements. UConn’s new Statewide Livestock Extension Educator, Dr. Joe Emenheiser discusses how you can find the right fence for your animals and what to consider when planning for fencing! Learn more […]
Trails 101 Video Series Helps New Users Enjoy CT Trails
This time of the year, Connecticut residents are heading outside to enjoy the cool fall temperatures and beautiful New England scenery. Connecticut offers a wealth of outdoor spaces from city parks to rural area trail systems where people can engage in all types of activities such as hiking, biking, and nature watching while adhering to […]
Food Safety Tips For Your Holiday Turkey
The holidays are a time to enjoy your family and friends— Avoid putting a damper on the holiday fun because of unsafe food handling and cooking practices. Follow these tips to play it safe this holiday season: http://bit.ly/Turkey_FoodSafety. Los días festivos son días para disfrutar en familia y con amistades— Evite poner un amortiguador a la […]
Diego Marks: Engineering His Future
The Goshen Fairgrounds in Litchfield County stretches out in an expanse of open space, rings, and buildings that host the annual fair and other events. On Sunday, September 27th vehicles towing tractors slowly started arriving for the first annual Litchfield County 4-H Garden Tractor Pull. UConn 4-H, Extension’s youth development program in the College of […]
Chilling Injury Affects Turf Across Region
John Inguagiato, Ph.D. and Vickie Wallace, UConn Michelle DaCosta, Ph.D. UMass Turf managers and homeowners have been puzzled by the sudden appearance of unusual tan, blighted patches that showed up last week between Tuesday and Friday (Nov. 3 – 6). Reports have been widespread throughout Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. The symptoms appear as round […]
Extension Team Developing Game to Help Consumers Understand Food Labels
The Extension Foundation selected a team from UConn Extension in the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources for the New Technologies in Agricultural Extension catalyst program. Team members are working with wrap-around services from eXtension to develop an interactive learning experience for consumers on navigating food labels in grocery store aisles. Conflicting information causes […]
Carol LeBlanc: 50-Years of Service to the UConn 4-H Program
A volunteer is defined as someone that donates their time to participate in a cause or program. UConn 4-H is the Extension youth development program and has thousands of volunteers across Connecticut that help us provide programming to over 18,000 youth, annually. Since 1970, Carol LeBlanc has been a UConn 4-H Volunteer with the Snoopy’s […]
Jack and Mavis Collins: 90-Years of Combined Service to the UConn 4-H Program
A volunteer is defined as someone that donates their time to participate in a cause or program. UConn 4-H is the Extension youth development program and has thousands of volunteers across Connecticut that help us provide programming to over 18,000 youth, annually. Jack and Mavis Collins of Enfield have been volunteering with the UConn 4-H […]
Mystic Aquarium and CVMDL are Enhancing Animal Health and Learning Experiences
Visiting an aquarium transports people to another world, an underwater world filled with many different plants and animals. Mystic Aquarium in Mystic, Connecticut cares for 5,000 animals from over 355 species, from octopus to beluga whales and sea lions. Studying these animals offers a unique opportunity to learn about conserving these species in the wild, […]
New High Resolution Land Cover
CLEAR is happy to announce the arrival of new high resolution statewide land cover — 1 meter pixel resolution and 17 classes. Check it out here.
Connecting and Transforming Communities with Rich Mutts
Rich Mutts ’06 (CLAS) graduated from UConn with a bachelor of arts in human development and family sciences. The New Haven school system quickly hired him. As his career progressed, he knew that he wanted to do more to make positive changes in the community. In 2016, Rich had the opportunity to join the Meriden […]
How to Roast Pumpkin Seeds!
Written by UConn Dietetics Student Hannah Waxler The Fall season brings to us a favorite squash!! Pumpkin! Did you know it’s a squash? Pumpkin and the spices that seem to flavor it best are added to just about everything: pumpkin coffee, pumpkin muffins, and of course, pumpkin pie! As delicious as pumpkin treats are, did […]
Extension Program Receives USDA-NIFA Grant to Help Beginning Farmers Prosper
Beginning farmers in Connecticut are changing the face of agriculture. With their values driven, sustainable-minded farming practices, they are filling the direct-to-consumer marketplace with high quality food grown intensively on small parcels. Since 2012, UConn Extension, part of the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources, and its partners have responded to the growing number […]
Fall is Here – Stay Hydrated
Written by UConn Dietetics Masters Student Shawn Lada We may be having cooler days now, but it is always important to stay hydrated. Keeping your body hydrated helps your heart, brain, muscles, and joints to stay healthy, along with keeping you regular and preventing urinary tract infections! During hotter days and summer months your body […]
Sarah Bailey Receives Mehlquist Award from CT Hort
Congratulations to Sarah Bailey, coordinator of our UConn Extension Master Gardener Program on receiving the 2020 Mehlquist Award from the Connecticut Horticultural Society. “… Sarah’s reach and impact on Connecticut’s gardening community has been significant. Sarah’s work to transition the MG class to an online platform in 2018 helped bring the Program into the […]
Valley View Farm is Connecticut Dairy Farm of the Year
New England Green Pastures Connecticut Dairy Farm of the Year 2020 It is indeed a pleasure to announce that Ben and Tim Learned, owners of Valley View Farm, in North Stonington are the 2020 Outstanding Connecticut Dairy Farmers of the Year for the New England Green Pastures Award Program. Ben and Tim have accomplished the […]
Stephen Gustafson Names Northeast 4-H Volunteer of the Year
Congratulations to Stephen Gustafson, Tolland County 4-H Volunteer, who has been selected by National 4-H Council to receive the Northeast Volunteer of the Year award for 2020. Steve helped create and is the leader of the Paca Pals 4-H club. The Paca Pals are an alpaca club. The club meets at the Round Hill alpaca […]
Lesson on climate change and marshes created for high schools
UConn Professor Beth Lawrence collaborated with two high school teachers to create a salt marsh-climate change teaching module for high school students. In the “Impacts of Climate Change on Long Island Sound Salt Marshes” module, students learn about the natural and anthropogenic impacts of climate change on salt marshes, delve into how scientists are studying […]
What to do during a drought
During a drought, it is important to conserve as much water as possible. Making small changes in our daily routines can go a long way. There are also other things we can do to help reduce the impact of a drought. Watch to learn more about what you should do. More information for residents are […]
What to Eat (and Drink) Before, During, and After Exercise
Article by Mackenzie Lane, UConn Dietetics Student Do you ever stop to think about taking a bite of a granola bar before your morning jog? Or force yourself to skip a mid-hike snack so you can feast at the next meal? Or think post-workout meals will make you gain weight? No need to look any […]
Fairfield County 4-H Grows True Leaders: Youth Garden Club Serves the Community
Throughout the summer, 20 youth in the 4-H Community Garden Club have managed a one-acre garden in New Milford. They were led by leaders Anna Loor and her daughter Amira. Each youth worked eight hours every week at the garden and during 4-H time, learned the principles of seeding, planting, weeding, harvesting and garden pests. Critical thinking […]
Wrapping Hay Bales with Zach Duda
Zach Duda, a UConn Extension summer intern with Litchfield County 4-H shows us the hay bale wrapping process.
Flight of Honeybee with Zach Duda
Zach Duda, our UConn summer intern with the Litchfield County 4-H program shares the Flight of a Honeybee with us. You can head out and see if you can find some honeybees to watch their flight.
Aquatic Invasive Species – Video Interview with Jim Straub Hosted by Lindsey Kollmer
Lindsey Kollmer, a summer intern with our Connecticut Sea Grant program and UConn Extension, interviews Jim Straub. They discuss the management of two invasive aquatic plants in Massachusetts, water chestnut and hydrilla, to potentially gain knowledge of successful techniques that can be used in Connecticut to control these plants.
Another Summer Chapter for a Climate Corps Student
By Sarah Schechter, UConn Class of 2021 In the fall of my sophomore year at UConn, I enrolled in EVST 3100 – “Climate Resilience and Adaptation: Municipal Policy and Planning.” This is a course about climate change that allows students to look at real world problems and learn how to solve them in a classroom […]
Planting a Seed with Zach Duda
Zach Duda, our UConn Extension summer intern with Litchfield County 4-H shows us how to plant a seed.
Food Safety with Megan Davenport
Megan Davenport, a UConn Extension summer intern with Hartford County 4-H teaches us about food safety and why it’s important for you and your family. Learn about the four guidelines to food safety, date labels, and much more.
Virtual Story Series: The Tiny Seed – Read by Zach Duda
Zach Duda, one of our UConn Extension interns with the Litchfield County 4-H program reads The Tiny Seed in a virtual story series. Youth can learn all about seeds and growing plants with Zach.
Sugar Sweetened Beverages and You
Sugar sweetened beverages are prevalent throughout society, although they are not the best choice from a nutritional standpoint. Learn what a sugar sweetened beverage is, why they present nutritional challenges, and what are better alternatives. Video created by Caroline Thiede, UConn Allied Health Sciences student.
Dealing with Wind and Storm Damaged Trees
Article by Tom Worthley, UConn Extension This week on Tuesday, August 4, 2020, a striking example of one of those “severe weather events” we hear about from time to time occurred in CT. Tropical Storm Isaias, is being compared in the media to Super Storm Sandy and other severe storms in 2011 and 2012 in […]
Baking 5 Ingredient Bagels with UConn EFNEP
UConn Extension Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program cooks! Learn to make this easy, fast, and only 5 ingredient bagel! YUM!
In a Paradise Threatened, Teaching Girls to Be the Change They Want to See
Tessa L. Getchis, aquaculture extension educator and aquaculture extension specialist for Connecticut Sea Grant and UConn Extension for the last 20 years, spent last August through December in the Dominican Republic with her husband Ryan and their two school-aged daughters. While past trips to this island nation had been vacation-length recreational time, this was an […]
Virtual Story Series: Blueberries for Sal – Read by Zach Duda
Zach Duda, one of our UConn Extension interns with the Litchfield County 4-H program reads Blueberries for Sal in a virtual story series. Youth can learn all about blueberries, how to pick them, and what we can use them for.
There is Still Time to Garden
August is just around the corner, and somehow you never got your vegetable garden started. Perhaps you had a wonderful early-season harvest but didn’t plant any later-season crops. The garden bed is just sitting there, empty except for weeds. Don’t think the garden season is over! There are plenty of short-season crops and cold-tolerant veggies […]
Pollinators
Zach Duda, one of our UConn 4-H interns talks pollinators with us! A Bee Hotel can help attract more pollinators to your garden. Watch and learn how to make your own.
How do I use a soaker hose in my garden?
Gina, one of our UConn Extension Master Gardeners explains how to use a soaker hose in whichever type of garden you have, whether it’s a traditional garden or a raised bed. For more information and gardening resources visit https://mastergardener.uconn.edu/ .
Dairy Handling and Restraint with Megan Davenport
Megan Davenport, a UConn Extension summer intern with Hartford County 4-H, teaches us about dairy cattle handling and restraint.
The Hay Making Process with Zach Duda
Zach Duda, a UConn CAHNR student and a summer intern with Extension’s Litchfield County 4-H program walks us through the haymaking process. We often see cattle, horses, sheep, and goats consuming hay, but if you ever wondered how it was made, Zach has the answers for you.