Starting a Garden from Scratch Tuesday, March 21, 2023 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm Clarkstown Community Learning CenterContact Marion Arbuco at marbuco@ccsd.eduStarting a Garden from ScratchWhether you live in a condo or house, you can create the garden of your dreams; it's easier than you think! This presentation provides you with inspirational tips and techniques for site and soil preparation. Garden styles such as traditional beds, raised beds, vegetable gardens, and containers are also included. You will gain confidence so you can create and maintain that dream garden you are longing for. Whether it is a vegetable garden that delivers home produce or a colorful flower garden that attracts butterflies and hummingbirds, this program will help you reach your gardening goals. ========================================= The Invasion of the Spotted Lanternfly Wednesday, March 22, 2023 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm New City Library Contact Karen Vetrano at kvetrano@newcitylibrary.orgThe Invasion of the Spotted Latenfly Learn about Spotted Lanternfly and how it can affect our local ecosystems, as well as agricultural crops. Find out about Spotted Lanternflies presence in Rockland County and what you can do about it in your landscapes.  ========================================= 2023 Board Meeting Wednesday, March 22, 2023 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm About the BoardPeople support decisions they help to make, and Cornell Cooperative Extension believes strongly in shared leadership through locally elected Boards of Directors and active program development committees.Cornell Cooperative Extension of Rockland County is governed by a 13 member Board of Directors that consists of 13elected community volunteers and a representative from Cornell University. It includes people from towns throughout Rockland County who bring their knowledge of community needs and concerns to the governance of this organization. Our board sets policy, hires staff, prioritizes educational programs and works with Extension's educational staff to ensure program effectiveness.Program Committees for each of our issue areas guide the direction of the workshops, classes and other services that we offer the residents of Rockland County, and review the effectiveness of our efforts. Our programs have evolved over the years to reflect changes in values, ethics, community norms, family structures, mobility and the economy in direct response to this grassroots community involvement.CCE-Rockland is delighted to have active and diverse Board of Directors and Program Committees, which are key to achieving strong and meaningful community impacts! If, as you read more about how we are governed, you believe you have a contribution to make to our programming as a volunteer, please get in touch! We welcome your input and ideas!2023 Board Meeting Dates (open to the public) January 25February 22March 22April 26May 24June 28July 26August - no meetingSeptember 27October 25November - TBADecember 6Meetings are typically held on the fourth Wednesday of the month, starting at 5:30 pm.Meeting Time & LocationImportant Change Due to Public HealthAll meetings are open to the public and are held in person at 10 Patriot Hills Drive, Stony Point. If a meeting must be held via zoom due to inclement weather and you would like to attend, please email Deirdre Hayman at dh577@cornell.eduPaper ballots will be available at the meeting but may be requested in advance by emailing Deirdre at dh577@cornell.edu or calling 845-429-7085, ext. 117. ========================================= Making Maple Syrup - The Challenge Thursday, March 23, 2023 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm Haverstraw Kings Daughters Public Library Contact Tara Morris at Tmorris@rcls.orgMaking Maple Syrup - The ChallengeIs there anything going on with the sugar maple trees in the winter? Lots more than you’d think! Come with us on a make believe trip to the woods and find out. We will show you the necessary tools to use in taking sap from the trees and cooking it up to make some yummy maple syrup. There will be a tasting part to compare the flavor or real maple syrup to other sweeteners. Hosted by the Master Gardeners of the Rockland County Cooperative Extension,the STEM oriented program will use beautiful photos, songs, an action poem and a bingo game to delight the kids. Through these fun activities they will be reinforcing their new facts. As always the participants will go home with a fun bag of information and paper/pencil activities, plus a prize goes to the bingo winner. ========================================= Raised Bed Vegetable Gardens Tuesday, March 28, 2023 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm Clarkstown Community Learning CenterContact Marion Arbuco at marbuco@ccsd.eduRaised Bed Vegetable GardensThis program will demonstrate how raised-bed vegetable gardens will improve soil conditions to obtain maximum crop yields. The discussion will include making raised beds, planting companion crops, rotating crops, and germinating seeds at home. A discussion of buying nursery grown plants for your vegetable garden is important to successful crops. Part of the program will include utilizing various garden materials to combat adverse weather conditions and preparing the vegetable garden for winter. ========================================= Making Maple Syrup - The Challenge Tuesday, March 28, 2023 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm Valley Cottage Library Contact Meredith Nicolich at mnicolich@rcls.orgMaking Maple Syrup - The ChallengeIs there anything going on with the sugar maple trees in the winter? Lots more than you’d think! Come with us on a make believe trip to the woods and find out. We will show you the necessary tools to use in taking sap from the trees and cooking it up to make some yummy maple syrup. There will be a tasting part to compare the flavor or real maple syrup to other sweeteners. Hosted by the Master Gardeners of the Rockland County Cooperative Extension,the STEM oriented program will use beautiful photos, songs, an action poem and a bingo game to delight the kids. Through these fun activities they will be reinforcing their new facts. As always the participants will go home with a fun bag of information and paper/pencil activities, plus a prize goes to the bingo winner. ========================================= Fertilizer Law Certificate Program 2023 [Now Online] Wednesday, April 5, 2023 9:00 am - 10:00 am CCE Rockland Education Center, 10 Patriot Hills Drive , Stony Point, New York 10980 The next session will be held on April 5, 2023. The Fertilizer Law class will be offered as a webinar until further notice. For more information and to register, visit our online registration portal. CCE prioritizes the health, safety and well-being of the communities we serve. Given the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19, and due to an abundance of caution, our Fertilizer Law class on April 1 has been postponed until further notice. The Fertilizer Certificate Program is a required course to obtain the Home Improvement Contractors Certificate; which is required to conduct business in Rockland County. The course is also referred to as The Turf Management Course. This class has a direct connection to the Clean Water Act of 1972 through Phase II Stormwater Regulations. The class addresses the environmental effects of turf management and the impact that fertilizer creates on open state waters and stream systems. Explanations of fertilizer formulas are given along with the proper way and time period to apply fertilizer. Alternatives to traditional lawn and yard care are presented as a way to reduce fertilizer use and prevent run-off from stormwater. A review of the law is covered and how it applies to both landscapers and retail business sales. The class ends with a review of resources to utilize with in Rockland County in relationship to non-point and point pollution prevention Cornell Cooperative Extension of Rockland County will be offering Fertilizer Law Certificate Program(s) the first Wednesday of every month. The Fertilizer Law Certificate Program is qualified through Rockland County to those interested in becoming certified. The cost  $65.00. Although payment can be made on the date of the class, Registration in advanced is required! Certificates of completion are prepared ahead of time and distributed at the conclusion of the class. This Certificate is the document required by the County. Registration Information:Register online for March 1, 2023For more information or help with registration, contact:Ernesto LeonAdministrative Assistantel456@cornell.edu 845-429-7085 x117 *As of February 2023 the cost for Fertilizer law will be $65.00 $65.00 Cash or Check Ernesto Leon, el456@cornell.edu, (845) 429-7085 Registration: https://pub.cce.cornell.edu/event_registration/main/events_landing.cfm?event=April5FertLaw-4-5-23_239 =========================================