Thanks to social media and the growing popularity of self-sufficiency, canning and preserving is enjoying a renewal of interest. To me this is amusing because we’ve always been fans of this sort of activity. For over 50 years, Mom was an ambitious preserver of all things grown on our farm (and often...

June being National Dairy Month conjures up all of the delicious foods that we enjoy that fall into the dairy category: cheese, ice cream, whipped cream, cream cheese. The list is extensive – but one of the mainstays in everyone’s kitchen is butter. Butter has an interesting and varied history over ...

Homeowners have many options at their disposal if they want to improve their homes. A focus on the exterior can be a promising and rewarding way to direct renovation dollars. Curb appeal has a significant impact on how a home is viewed. Manicured landscapes, updated windows and doors and well-lit la...

Summer is the unofficial season of vacations, especially for families. School is not in session in summer, and kids’ often busy schedules may grind to a halt in summer, when sports leagues, dance classes and other activities go on hiatus. School closures and a largely empty obligation schedule makes...

On June 21, the USDA’s Forest Service took a step to advance a commitment to conserve old growth forests by publishing a draft environmental impact statement for the proposed National Old Growth Forest Plan amendment. The proposed amendment is available in the Federal Register and will be open for p...

As temperatures rise and hot, humid days are upon us, the Connecticut Department of Agriculture is reminding pet and livestock owners to take action to keep their animals safe this summer. This is also the time of year for extreme weather such as thunderstorms and hurricanes, and celebrations which ...

In an effort to cut both grass and injury rates, the Childhood Agricultural Safety Network (CASN) is launching a national lawn mower safety campaign that asks if youth are “Mow Ready.” Despite improvements in engineering and safety features, pediatric lawn mower-related injury rates have remained co...

This spring, the Seed to Supper program, organized by Cornell Cooperative Extension Madison County, blossomed into a remarkable success, transforming lives and gardens across the community. Over the course of six weeks, around 50 enthusiastic participants gathered at various host sites to learn the ...

Bees are critically important pollinators to support and protect. Along with other insects, bees are essential components of agriculture by pollinating fruits, vegetables and other crops. Pollinator habitat is declining as a result of large-scale agriculture and urbanization. This trend destroys nat...

Vienna sausages are so outdated. You want to give guests to your home something filling and flavorful? Check out the recipe below. Savory Cranberry Cocktail Meatballs Makes about 7 dozen For the meatballs: 1 lb. 80% – 85% lean ground beef 1 lb. ground pork ½ medium onion, peeled and finely minced 2 ...

Food is many things. It nourishes our bodies, delights our senses and gives us something to gather around. Food is also a powerful cultural symbol, reflecting traditions, values and histories of communities around the world. But for a researcher in the Virginia Tech College of Agriculture & Life Sci...

The summer months are a time when many of us enjoy lawns. From playing sports to picnicking, lawns can be an important part of our summer experience. With all of this activity, lawns can be sensitive to overuse, and soil compaction may become an issue. What is soil compaction? It’s when the amount o...

It’s tempting to write about spring still, but I have to remind myself that it’s now June and we will soon be in the thick of summer. There shouldn’t be any doubt about that in the context of quickly climbing temperatures, but it’s been an odd transition. We haven’t had much of a “spring” this year ...

The start of spring brings the beginning of another growing season for Northeast farmers. Farmers and home gardeners alike have been busy tilling up their fields and sowing different seeds. You may be itching at the chance to pick that first fruit of the season or to find the farm stand with the fre...

The “Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner.” brand serves up burger recipes and tips to keep grills fired up all summer long. With the weather heating up and cookouts on the horizon, grill masters everywhere are sharpening their skills and preparing to kickoff summer with beef on the grill. In fact, most men...