New And Beginning Farmer Seminar Saturday, January 17, 2026 9:30 am - 4:00 pm Agroforestry Resource Center (Business Office), 6055 Route 23 , Acra, New York 12405 Are you a new or beginner farmer just getting started? Join us for a series of presenters from CCE and different organizations, learn what resources are available, and how to get started. Topics include: Ag Climate Resiliency Program, Agroforestry Practices and Resources Available in the Region, Raising Backyard Chickens for Beginners, How to get Started in Beekeeping, Sustainable Soil Health Management: Cover Crops and Reudced Tillage, Growing Small Fruit, SARE Grant Programs and Resources. Includes lunch, handouts, and books provided by SARE.Register for New And Beginning Farmer Seminar $35 ========================================= MLK Jr. Day - Office Closed Monday, January 19, 2026 12:00 pm - 12:00 pm ========================================= 4-H Mindful Movement Thursday, January 22, 2026 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm Extension Education Center, 479 Route 66 , Hudson, New York 12534 Please join us for a two-part series for youth to expand their knowledge on mindfulness with movement! This series is made possible by funding from the Columbia County Youth Bureau and is open to youth ages 5 and up. Parents/Guardians are welcome but not required to stay for the program. All youth must enroll in 4-H to participate. Due to the generous support of our sponsor, enrollment fees are waived for Columbia County Youth who are not already enrolled and would like to participate in 4-H Mindful Movement.The series will demonstrate age-appropriate ways to reduce stress, regulate emotions, and promote relaxation through techniques and activities involving body movements. The series will focus on different movements and body positions that help youth improve their balance, flexibility, and strength. Youth will be encouraged to participate in techniques such as yoga, walking meditation, visualizations, stretching and breathing exercises in a fun and creative way!Cost: All youth must enroll in 4-H to participate. Due to the generous support of our sponsor, enrollment fees are waived for Columbia County Youth who are not already enrolled and would like to participate in 4-H Mindful Movement.Registration deadline: January 20, 2026. Registration is required. To register please call 518-622-9820, ext. 102. Megan Gardner, mg2287@cornell.edu, (518) 622-9820 ext. 114 ========================================= 4-H Mindful Movement Thursday, January 29, 2026 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm Extension Education Center, 479 Route 66 , Hudson, New York 12534 Please join us for a two-part series for youth to expand their knowledge on mindfulness with movement! This series is made possible by funding from the Columbia County Youth Bureau and is open to youth ages 5 and up. Parents/Guardians are welcome but not required to stay for the program. All youth must enroll in 4-H to participate. Due to the generous support of our sponsor, enrollment fees are waived for Columbia County Youth who are not already enrolled and would like to participate in 4-H Mindful Movement.The series will demonstrate age-appropriate ways to reduce stress, regulate emotions, and promote relaxation through techniques and activities involving body movements. The series will focus on different movements and body positions that help youth improve their balance, flexibility, and strength. Youth will be encouraged to participate in techniques such as yoga, walking meditation, visualizations, stretching and breathing exercises in a fun and creative way!Cost: All youth must enroll in 4-H to participate. Due to the generous support of our sponsor, enrollment fees are waived for Columbia County Youth who are not already enrolled and would like to participate in 4-H Mindful Movement.Registration deadline: January 20, 2026. Registration is required. To register please call 518-622-9820, ext. 102. Megan Gardner, mg2287@cornell.edu, (518) 622-9820 ext. 114 ========================================= Maple Sector Energy Efficiencies Webinar Thursday, January 29, 2026 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm Online Event Join CCE Columbia-Greene, Adam Wild, Cornell Maple Program, Ryan Staychock, Environment/Natural Resources Educator for Cayuga, Schuyler, and Seneca CCE, and Maple Producer, along with Ag Energy, to learn Energy Efficiencies for Maple Production. Whether you're a small operation or a large producer, this webinar is for you! Get informed on equipment upgrades and recommendations for maple energy efficiency. Hear from a maple producer who successfully implemented custom modifications.Register for Maple Sector Energy Efficiencies Webinar Free Ashley Schoenborn, als543@cornell.edu, 518-622-9820 x 113 ========================================= Art Reception - Flattened But Not Forgotten by Tasha Depp Saturday, January 31, 2026 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm Agroforestry Resource Center (Business Office), 6055 Route 23 , Acra, New York 12405 Join us for the opening of Tasha Depp's show at the Agroforestry Resource Center.About the ArtistDepp escaped from high school in Virginia to Cooper Union School of Art in NYC where she found her people and earned her BFA in painting and then a little later an MFA from Rutgers University. Depp traveled to India in 1991 where she did a 2 month residency at the Kanoria Center in Ahmedabad. The time in India clarified Depp’s commitment to “not knowing,” and moral uncertainty (long before the cultivation of fake news). A Cape Cod dune shack residency was pivotal in her decision to leave NYC for the Catskill area where she embarked on adventures in parenting, bee-keeping, and running a car on vegetable oil for over 200,000 miles. Currently, Depp lives in Kiskatom where she has a large vegetable garden, an incredible view of the Catskills running along her back yard, and a studio in a barn. She is a teaching artist at Fishkill Correctional Faciltiy for Rehailitation Through the Arts in addition to teaching in the College Program at Greene Corrections and Brookwood Juvenile Faciltiy through Columbia Greene Community College where she also teaches Computer Graphics on campus.  Free Deven Connelly, dvc34@cornell.edu, (518) 622-9820 ex 120 ========================================= Hemlock Health Monitoring Plots & Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA) Tuesday, February 10, 2026 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm Frost Valley YMCA, 2000 Frost Valley Road , Claryville, NY 12725 Hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) poses a serious threat to New York’s forests. One important conservation strategy is identifying and conserving hemlocks that may show natural resistance. In this session, participants will be introduced to The Nature Conservancy’s Trees in Peril project, which uses long-term monitoring plots to help locate potentially resistant hemlocks. The program will also cover the basics of hemlock ecology, how to identify HWA, and how monitoring plots support hemlock conservation and research efforts.Register for Hemlock Health Monitoring Plots & Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA) $15.00 per person William McCall, wdm72@cornell.edu ========================================= Master Forest Owner – Become a Volunteer, Zoom Info Session Thursday, February 19, 2026 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm Online Event Are you interested in enhancing your knowledge and becoming a Cornell Master Forest Owner (MFO) Volunteer? We are now accepting applications for our 2026 MFO Volunteer Training. Join us for a free info session on Zoom to learn what the MFO program is,what to expect for the training course, the in-person field day, volunteer MFO tasks, and what it really means to be volunteer MFO in the Catskills and Lower-Hudson region.Learn how to become a volunteer and make a difference by supporting informed decision making by visiting woodland owners on-site to share available resources based on your knowledge and experiences. Peer-to-peer visits encourage landowners to engage in woodland activities and work towards achieving their goals and improving forest management through best practices. There will be plenty of time for questions. Woodland owners and enthusiasts welcome!Register for Master Forest Owner – Become a Volunteer, Zoom Info Session Free Shane Stevens, ss3666@cornell.edu, 518-622-9820 ex 118 ========================================= Backyard Chickens 101 Webinar Thursday, February 19, 2026 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm Online Event Join Cornell Cooperative Extension Ulster & Columbia-Greene educators to learn the basics of raising poultry for eggs, including breed selection, brooding basics, housing, and infrastructure needed. Speakers will cover nutrition, reproduction, and health and disease management for your flock, as well as considerations for selling eggs from your small flock.Bring your questions, as there will be time for Q&A and a discussion of resources for further learning.Register for Backyard Chickens 101 Webinar Free Ashley Schoenborn, als543@cornell.edu, 518-622-9820 x 113 ========================================= 2026 Philadelphia Flower Show Group Trip Monday, March 2, 2026 6:45 am - 8:00 pm This year’s PHS Philadelphia Flower Show, themed Rooted: Origins of American Gardening, celebrates the stories, cultures, and traditions that connect us through gardening. Experience breathtaking floral artistry, immersive garden exhibits, and creative displays that explore how people and plants have shaped American gardens across generations.Held inside the Pennsylvania Convention Center, the 2026 Flower Show coincides with the 250th anniversary of American independence — offering visitors a chance to reflect on how our shared gardening roots continue to grow and inspire new legacies today. Enjoy incredible displays, expert demonstrations, and a vibrant marketplace filled with unique plants, tools, and treasures to bring home.Skip the drive and travel in comfort with our group!Your registration includes round-trip coach bus transportation from the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Columbia and Greene Counties to the Philadelphia Convention Center and your Flower Show admission ticket. Meetup Location: CCE Extension Education Center, 479 NY-66, Hudson, NY 12534 Meet at: 6:45 AM Bus departs: 7:00 AM sharp Arrive at Show: Approximately 11:00 AM Depart from Philadelphia: 4:00 PM (please meet at the bus by 3:45 PM) Return to Hudson: Around 8:00 PMYour Flower Show ticket includes: Access to world-class horticultural exhibits and design competitions Live gardening and floral demonstrations Marketplace shopping and food vendors Convenient bus drop-off and pick-up right at the Convention CenterJoin us for a day filled with beauty, inspiration, and the joy of gardening!Learn more about this year’s theme: Rooted: Origins of American Gardening.Register for 2026 Philadelphia Flower Show Group Trip $115 per person No refunds; if you are unable to attend, you’re welcome to send someone in your place. ========================================= Spring Emergence – Living with American Black Bears Saturday, March 7, 2026 10:00 am - 12:00 pm  Clearpool Model Forest, Carmel Campus , 33 Clearpool Rd , Carmel, NY 10512 Have you ever seen a black bear or witnessed the evidence they were nearby? Join us to learn the bare necessities of living responsibly with black bears roaming the neighborhood. Hear from a NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation Wildlife Biologist about black bears lifestyle and habitat, while learning safety tips and best practices to coexist with bears while avoiding unwanted encounters at home or on the trail. Participants will have access to educational handouts provided by CCE, NYSDEC and BearWise! Stick around after the presentation for an optional short hike to look for wildlife enhancements and bear activity with CCE!Register for Spring Emergence – Living with American Black Bears $25 Shane Stevens, ss3666@cornell.edu, 518-622-9820 ex 118 ========================================= Maple Festival 2026 Sunday, March 8, 2026 10:00 am - 1:00 pm Agroforestry Resource Center (Business Office), 6055 Route 23 , Acra, New York 12405 Experience a taste of the sweet world of maple sugaring at CCE’s Agroforestry Resource Center. This event will provide participants with the opportunity to tour our own sugar shack, see a demonstration tree tapping, and taste fresh sap. Visit with Taste NY staff and local venders to purchase all things maple. A maple-inspired pancake breakfast may also be available during the event.Sign up for reminders and updates. Free Tracey Testo-Smith, tet35@cornell.edu, (518) 622-9820 ext.119 ========================================= Spring Gardening Day 2026 Saturday, March 28, 2026 8:00 am - 3:30 pm Hudson Junior High School, 215 Harry Howard Ave , Hudson, NY 12534 Spring Gardening Day is back! Join us for a full day of learning, inspiration, and community for gardeners of all levels.Admission: $45Event Highlights: Learn from Columbia-Greene Master Gardener Volunteers and staff across multiple workshop tracks, including gardening basics, garden maintenance, food and non-food gardening, and wildlife & habitatOpportunities to meet local vendors, explore plant and tool demos, and participate in raffles supporting Spring Gardening DayDelicious lunch and baked goods prepared by Master Gardener VolunteersNetworking and connection with fellow gardening enthusiastsClosing Keynote: Carolyn Summers of Flying Trillium will wrap up the day with a talk focused on native plants. Learn more about Carolyn SummersWorkshop Tracks (subject to change): Gardening Basics – Seed starting, composting, and planning your gardenGarden Maintenance & Management – Invasive plants, soil health, and pest identification & managementFood Gardening – Herbs, vegetables, and small-scale forest gardeningNon-Food Gardening – Plants for dyes and other uses, native trees & shrubs, and caring for perennialsWildlife & Habitat – Nuisance wildlife, attracting birds, and light pollution impactsWhether you’re just starting your garden or have years of experience, Spring Gardening Day has something for everyone. Come celebrate gardening, community, and the joy of growing things! $45 Xandra Powers, amp422@cornell.edu, 518-828-3346 x106 Registration: TBA ========================================= Memorial Day - Office Closed Friday, July 3, 2026 12:00 pm - 12:00 pm ========================================= Indigenous Peoples' Day Monday, October 12, 2026 12:00 pm - 12:00 pm =========================================