Sherwood Island State Park in Westport was Connecticut’s first state park. It is 238-acres of beaches, wetlands, and forest that serves as a public recreation area. Improving Habitat for Wildlife Work & Learn is a year-round outreach project that teaches Master Gardeners, interns and the public to create, improve and maintain a natural habitat for […]
Sustainable Landscapes
Designing sustainable landscapes across urban-rural interfaces
Shellfish Habitat Restoration
The COVID-19 pandemic hit the aquaculture industry particularly hard. It was facing catastrophic sales losses that would have forced many out of business. Connecticut Sea Grant Extension helped keep industry members afloat during the pandemic by involving them in shellfish habitat restoration work. We kept people working at a time when the shellfish marketplace collapsed […]
Extension Donor Support is Growing Statewide Programming
The work of UConn Extension serves thousands of people across Connecticut. UConn Extension educators work in all 169 cities and towns helping Connecticut residents to solve problems in their communities and provide transformational learning experiences to program participants. This couldn’t be done without the financial support of generous donors, many of whom have experienced Extension […]
Sustainable Landscape Tips
Question: What are important considerations for plant selection when designing a sustainable landscape? Answer: Proper plant selection is the most important step in designing a sustainable landscape. “Right plant, right place” is the fundamental principle for the environmentally sound management of landscapes. Plants should be selected for not only aesthetic value, but also because they […]
Ana Legrand: Educator Spotlight
Creating Sustainable Landscapes Through the Interactions of Plants and Insects Educator Spotlight: Ana Legrand Ana Legrand built her career around helping people understand the benefits that insects provide. Legrand is an entomologist and UConn Extension educator in the Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture. Entomology is the study of insects, and it plays a […]
#DoOneThing theme of 2021 #DontTrashLISound campaign
The Connecticut Sea Grant program, joined by volunteers from Save the Sound, the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk and other groups, will launch the fifth annual #DontTrashLISound campaign with a cleanup at Sherwood Island State Park in Westport on Aug. 16. This year’s campaign, run by the Connecticut and New York Sea Grant programs with support […]
Updated App, New Rules & Soggy Summer: Time For a Rain Garden
Story and photos by Judy Benson July’s wet weather may have dampened plans for beach days and barbeques, but it’s also a reminder of an environmental problem homeowners can help solve in their own yards. The excess of rainfall—about twice the amount normally seen so far this month—means more stormwater tainted with lawn chemicals, oil […]
New Normal with Extension Programs
Extension educators rose to the challenge and virtually shared our programs and educational outreach over the past year and a half. While we will continue incorporating virtual educational opportunities, we are eager to resume in-person programs as well. A few of our educators share what the new normal with Extension will be for their programs. […]
Songbird Alert
CVMDL (Drs. Mishra, Reinhardt, and Frasca) in UConn CAHNR are working with wildlife biologists of the CT DEEP to investigate this illness of songbirds; it is a disease concern throughout the mid-Atlantic and Northeast. CVMDL – the Connecticut Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory – is coordinating sampling and testing with CT DEEP, who are working with […]
What should I do if I hear chainsaws in the forest? – #AskUConnExtension
Tom Worthley, one of our Extension foresters, explains what you should do if you hear chainsaws in the UConn Forest or in a forest near your home. Have more questions? Connect with one of our specialists today. Extension specialists are here to help you, your family, and your community. We have answers to your questions […]
Volunteer Spotlight: Dr. Lynn Keller
UConn CAHNR Extension typically holds Bug Week in July; however, this year Extension has designated July as Bug Month. The UConn Extension Master Gardeners and Master Gardener interns participate. Bug Month is an educational outreach activity that promotes insects in the environment (bugs.uconn.edu/). Volunteers like Dr. Lynn Keller make this educational event fun and successful. […]
Sen. Blumenthal Seeks Funding for CT River Hydrilla Control
Sen. Richard Blumenthal announced on June 3 that he is leading an effort to secure $100 million over four years in federal funding for a multistate effort to control hydrilla in the Connecticut River watershed. In an event at Harbor Park in Middletown, Blumenthal said he is seeking an urgent fiscal year 2022 appropriation for […]
N-Sink Online Tool
A New Way of Looking at Nitrogen Pollution Extension educators from the Center for Land Use Education and Research (CLEAR) and their partners have developed an online tool that helps land owners and land use decision makers better understand the direct connection between their land and nitrogen (N) pollution in coastal waters. The tool, called […]
Frontlines of Extension
Meet Some of our Staff Extension serves over 124,265 individuals statewide every year. Our staff are essential to the success of our Extension programs— ensuring that participants, volunteers, and educators have what they need. We’re pleased to introduce you to a few of the faces on our frontlines. Maria Camara Haddam Office “I support all […]
CT Trail Census
A Yearly Review The Connecticut Trail Census (CTTC) is a volunteer-based program that brings transparent trail use data to the community and state through a network of infrared trail counters statewide and through implementation of trail-based user surveys. CTTC was created four years ago, and the data generated each year is instrumental in helping with […]
UConn Environment Corps
Connecting Students to Communities Riverfront climate resilience. Low impact development practices to reduce stormwater runoff. Brownfields redevelopment grant proposals. Forest resilience planning. The impact of sea level rise on marinas. What do all these things have in common? They are all the focus of projects conducted for Connecticut communities by undergraduates enrolled in the Environment […]
New Interactive Tool Will Guide Shellfish Restoration in LIS
Oyster habitat in Long Island Sound is a bit like sunny summer days at the seashore—generally speaking, the more the merrier. These native bivalves help keep the Sound clean by filtering excess nutrients and shoring up shorelines with colonies that create structure and buffer wave action, while also creating habitat for juvenile fish and other […]
LIS Blue Plan now in hands of CT Legislature
The Long Island Sound Blue Plan, a marine spatial plan for what many consider the state’s most valuable natural resource, has been voted out of the state Legislature’s Environment Committee and awaits a vote in the full House and Senate. Read about the plan and why many believe it should be approved in articles by […]
Extension Impacts – 2020
Extension is a part of UConn’s College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources (CAHNR). We have over 100 years of experience strengthening communities in Connecticut and beyond. Extension programs cover the full spectrum of topics aligned with CAHNR’s strategic initiatives: Ensuring a vibrant and sustainable agricultural industry and food supply Enhancing health and well-being locally, […]
What is Extension – New Video Released
UConn Extension connects thousands of people across Connecticut and beyond each year, with the research and resources of the University of Connecticut’s College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources. We are comprised of more than 100 educators and a vast network of volunteers. UConn Extension works collaboratively to build more resilient communities through educational initiatives […]
CTSG-led Project Looks to Help Unlock Potential of Seaweed
Story and photos by Judy Benson Connecticut Sea Grant will lead a three-year, multi-state initiative to create the economic and business framework needed to spur the fledgling domestic kelp industry into the mainstream. Supported by a $766,650 federal grant announced today, the project will involve nine East and West Coast states where nascent seaweed aquaculture […]
CTSG, Avalonia project looks to prepare forest for the future
By Judy Benson Stonington – Battered by coastal storms and infestations of wooly adelgids, gypsy moth, winter moth and emerald ash borer, sections of the 200-acre Hoffman Evergreen Preserve will now serve as a living lab and demonstration site for how land managers can help forests adapt to climate change. “We want to increase the resilience […]
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 […]
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 […]
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.
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.
Tree Mortality
UConn Collaborates on Gypsy Moth Cleanup Connecticut residents are all too familiar with the damage wrought by gypsy moths in recent years, particularly in the eastern part of the state. In Windham County, for example, one of the most severely affected areas over the past few years, Canterbury first selectman Christopher Lippke puts the death […]
Environmental Conditions Online
Your One Stop Shop for Maps and Geographic Information cteco.uconn.edu Technology has expanded the mapping world. No longer are maps static and flat. They are now interactive, zoom able and clickable. They allow focus on a location or a question and enable us to explore our backyard, town, state and world. The Connecticut Environmental Conditions […]
Educator Spotlight: Cary Chadwick
Bringing Geospatial Science and Technology to Communities Cary Chadwick is an Associate Extension Educator focused on geospatial science and technology at the Center for Land Use Education and Research (CLEAR), part of UConn Extension. She joined UConn in 2006. Cary coordinates the Geospatial Training Program (GTP) at CLEAR. The GTP provides hands-on training in geospatial […]
Connecting Towns and UConn Students
UConn received a $2.25 million grant from the National Science Foundation to expand and study a new public engagement program that combines teaching, service learning, and Extension outreach. The program is called the Environment Corps and focuses on using STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) skills to address important environmental issues like climate adaptation, brownfields […]
Partner Testimonials
Partnerships are at the foundation of Extension’s work statewide in all 169 towns and cities of Connecticut. We integrate with agencies and non-profits in communities in a variety of ways. “Our partnerships strengthen Extension, and in turn increase our statewide impact. Our innovative collaborations allow Extension and our partners to reach respective goals together.” ~ […]
Plant Diagnostic Lab Offers Hot Water Seed Treatment
Our Plant Diagnostic Laboratory now offers hot water seed treatment. What is it? Watch Abby Beissinger, our plant diagnostician, explain how hot water seed treatment works and can help you. Hot water seed treatment is supported in part by a UConn CAHNR Innovation in Extension Programming Award and a grant from the New England Vegetable […]
No-till Vegetable Production: Soil Health, Weed Control, and Crop Yields
Article by Shuresh Ghimire, Extension Vegetable Specialist, UConn Extension Building healthy soils, integrating cover crops, and managing weeds are key elements of vegetable farms. The use of no-till and cover crops provide a wealth of soil benefits thereby improving the productivity of the farming systems. However, due to limited agricultural land, farmers often have increasing […]
Operation Community Impact: 4-H Helps Distribute Milk Statewide
UConn 4-H, the youth development program of Extension in the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources is organizing Operation Community Impact. This afternoon, 4-H members and volunteers are working with community partners and the UConn Extension Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) to deliver 7,200 half-gallons of milk donated by Dairy Farmers of […]
Litchfield County 4-H Helps Distribute Dairy to Families in Need
Litchfield County 4-H to Help Distribute Yogurt and Sour Cream to Families in Need Background Facts: Because 30% of the fluid milk gets sold to restaurants, schools and institutions that are now closed, there is a huge surplus of fluid milk on the market now that cannot be further processed into more shelf stable products […]
¿Puedo Regar Mis Vegetales Con El Agua De Un Barril De Lluvia?
Por Joan Allen Publicado originalmente por el Centro de Educación del Hogar y Jardín de UConn La colección de agua de lluvia en barriles a través de los techos de las casas está creciendo en popularidad debido a los beneficios ambientales y prácticos. Estos barriles pueden ayudar al entorno porque desvían el agua que puede […]
Ask UConn Extension Your Questions
UConn Extension has collaborated with our partners, communities and stakeholders for over 100 years. We are proud to serve all 169 cities and towns in Connecticut. The worldwide pandemic involving COVID-19 (coronavirus) has produced unprecedented challenges in the UConn community and around the world. Our services continue during this challenging time. We are still delivering the […]
Journey of A Climate Corps Student
Posted on January 24, 2020 by Juliana Barrett By Sarah Schechter Major Choices I entered UConn as a Natural Resources Major, knowing I wanted to focus on the environment, but unsure of the exact path I wanted to follow. When choosing classes during my orientation session in Summer 2017, it was recommended that I take […]
What is that Brown Bug in my House?
“Those are stink bugs, Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs to be exact. They come into homes in the fall to spend the winter in a resting state. They come in through attic vents, cracks and crevices, down chimneys and can crawl under siding making their way inside. They do not damage, nor do they eat or […]
New option for taking nitrogen samples
Posted on January 24, 2020 by Amanda Ryan There wasn’t a cheap and simple way to take field measurements of Total Nitrogen (TN). Samples had to be sent to a lab – until now! To help reduce water quality testing costs, CT DEEP agreed to allow MS4 communities to use less expensive field tests for […]