Bishop Sheen

HOMEOWNERS
In Chemung, Schuyler and Yates Counties
Access to Home is a NYS program that provides grants to make modifications to the homes of those with disabilities. Modifications will be made to enable persons with disabilities or frail elderly to remain or return to their homes. This could include ramps, doorways, bathroom showers, grab bars, etc..

Qualifications include the following:
1. A deed to the single family home.
2. Or a bill of sale for mobile homes.
3. Property taxes paid.
4. Homeowners insurance.
5. A referral from your service provider or doctor.
6. Be income eligible as indicated below.

#Persons Income

1- $22,140
2- $25,320
3- $28,440
4- $31,620
5- $34,140
6- $36,660
7- $39,180
8- $41,760

Funded by: Access to Home and Rural Development

For application or information contact Bishop Sheen Housing Foundation- 585-657-4114
Or Sheen2@rochesters.rr.com

Hearing and speech impaired customers can call NY State Relay number at 1-800-662-1220

Bishop Sheen Ecumenical Housing is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Upcoming Events in Agriculture January

Upcoming events in the Agriculture, Natural Resources
and Horticulture in the South Central New York Region


AGRICULTURE

January 17th 2009, 10:00 am to Noon- Getting the Most from Grazing
Schuyler County Cornell Cooperative Extension Human Services Complex Auditorium
323 Owego Street, Unit #5 Montour Falls, NY
If you are looking to increase the benefits that you and your animals receive from grazing, then this meeting is for you! Fay Benson, Grazing Educator with Graze NY will cover the basics of a well-managed grazing system and share other information that will help you raise healthier animals. Fay will also discuss the multiple health benefits of pastured raised products. John Wickham of the Schuyler County Soil and Water Conservation District will also be on hand to go over the services they provide to grazers.
Please pre-register (in case of bad weather cancellation) by contacting:
Schuyler County Cornell Cooperative Extension
Cathy Barnes 607-535-7161 - cab377@cornell.edu

January 31, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm - Profits from Pastures: Genetic Selection, Management and Marketing for Grass-fed Beef in the Northeast - The Century House, Latham, NY (Albany County) - Speakers include Bill Hodge, Georgia cattleman, grazier, and University of Georgia Extension Beef Specialist, and Kathleen Harris, Director of the Northeast Livestock Processing Service. Also Kit Pharo and Dr. Allen Williams. Mark your calendar now - cost is $40.00 per person for early registration up to December 20th, after December 20th, $60.00 per person. Includes light morning fare, lunch and handouts. For more information, contact Tom Gallagher, Cornell Cooperative Extension Albany County at 518-765-3500 or Morgan Hartman at blackqueenangus@yahoo.com. Sponsored in part by NYS GLCI and others.

February 7 and 14 – Beginning Farmer Series – How to get started in farming or move your young operation to the next level. Human Services Complex; 323 Owego St; Montour Falls. Email bjc226@cornell.edu for more information.

February 10-12, 2009- Empire State Fruit & Vegetable Expo Syracuse, New York Oncenter Convention Center, Syracuse NY • February 11 & 12, 2009
Becker Forum • February 10, 2009 • Holiday Inn Liverpool. Visit
www.nysaes.cornell.edu/hort/expo/ for more details or call Please contact NYSVGA
Phone/fax: 315-687-5734 info@nysvga.org

HORTICULTURE

January 7-9th 2009 Empire State Green Industry Show- Welcome to the 2009 Emprie State Green Industry Show which combines the conference and trade shows of the NYS Turfgrass Association, NYS Nursery and Landscape Association, Inc., and NYS Arborists-ISA Chapter, Inc. This year the theme is “Go Green, Grown Green”! For details please call 1-800-873-8873 or visit www.nysta.org.

January 23-25th- Organic Farming and Gardening Conference- “Meals Without Wheels”. More than 80 workshops to choose from, addressing all aspects of a regional organic food system. We all play a role in creating this system, and the conference is a great chance to come together and share out knowledge and experiences. For more information please contact Kate Mendenhall NOFA-NY Projects Coordinator
585-271-1979 eMail Event Organizer or web www.nofany.org.

NATURAL RESOURCES

Monday, January 12, 2009- 6:30pm - 8:30pm Two Presentations on the Impacts of Gas Exploration
Tioga Central High School Auditorium (click here for directions)
27 5th Avenue
Tioga, NY 13845
"Surface Impact Considerations for Forest and Farmland"-Brett Chedzoy
"Economic and Social impacts from Natural Gas Development"-Jeffrey Jacquet

Wednesday, January 28, 6:30-8:30 pm Beginner Maple Producer Workshop
Ontario County Cooperative Extension Center, 480 N. Main Street, Canandaigua NY Stephen Childs, NYS Maple Extension Specialist at Cornell University; will present a workshop covering a variety of aspects of maple syrup production including: why make maple syrup, tree identification, tree health, tapping, sap collection and handling, boiling, energy efficiency, finishing and grading syrup, canning, marketing and regulations. This workshop is aimed at the small or beginning maple producer and would be useful to the homeowner looking to tap a few trees in the backyard. Fee: $10.00 per family. To register or for additional information, contact Ontario County Cooperative Extension at 585-394-3977 x 427 or x436 or email: nea8@cornell.edu. This workshop also will be offered on February 28 at Hamley's Maple, 1242 Oak Hill Rd, Barton, NY. Contact: Brett Chedzoy at Schuyler County Cornell Cooperative Extension, bjc226@cornell.edu, or 607-535-7161 for more information

February 21, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm – Winter Meeting of the NY Forest Owners Association, Southern Finger Lakes Chapter – Presentations on the latest topics related to wildlife and forests. Spencer-Van Etten High School Auditorium, Rt 34. Contact Brett Chedzoy at bjc226@cornell.edu for more information.

February 26, 27, and 28-NY FARM SHOW - Helping Farmers Produce More from Their Woodlots Got Trees? The New York Forest Owners Association, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Cornell Cooperative Extension, and SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry will present a series of free forestry programs. The New York Farm Show is annually held at the State Fairgrounds in Syracuse. The Farm Show has many exhibits displaying information, equipment, and items of interest to landowners as well as farmers. Landowners who own woodland as part of their property can get information on many subjects that will help them enhance the value of their woodlots for timber, wildlife, and recreation. For further information contact: James Christensen 315-472-5323, or Charley Porter 315-298-7467 ckporter@gw.dec.state.ny.us, or John Druke 315-656-2313 jcdruke@twcny.rr.com.

Gas Leasing Coalitions in Schuyler

“Throughout this past fall, a dedicated grass-roots group of Schuyler landowners, with support from Schuyler Farm Bureau and Schuyler CCE, has diligently worked towards forming our first Gas Leasing Coalition. Empire Energy Consultants, which also represents the Steuben County Landowner Coalition, was chosen by the group to represent Schuyler’s initial coalition. The Schuyler Coalition will allow landowners to pool their land into units that can be competitively bid out to legitimate companies. If you choose to sign a lease that is negotiated Empire Energy Consultants, they will receive a fee of $20 per acre for their services, paid directly by the company that you sign with. The collective bargaining power of Schuyler’s coalitions will likely allow landowners to obtain compensations and lease terms that would not otherwise be made available to individuals. However, leasing through a coalition is not a quick process, and consequently may not be an option for some. You can even join the coalition if your land is currently leased, though a new lease generally cannot be signed until the previous one expires.



Starting in late January, there will be a series of five public meetings around the county to present the coalition to interested landowners. For locations and dates, please visit http://counties.cce.cornell.edu/schuyler or http://empireenergyconsultantsllc.org”





Brett Chedzoy
Cornell Cooperative Extension - Schuyler County
Agriculture and Natural Resources
bjc226@cornell.edu
office: 607-535-7161
cell: 607-742-3657

Upcoming events in the Agriculture, Natural Resources and Horticulture in the South Central New York Region

AGRICULTURE

February 10-12, 2009- Empire State Fruit & Vegetable Expo Syracuse, New York Oncenter Convention Center, Syracuse NY • February 11 & 12, 2009
Becker Forum • February 10, 2009 • Holiday Inn Liverpool. Visit
www.nysaes.cornell.edu/hort/expo/ for more details or call Please contact NYSVGA
Phone/fax: 315-687-5734 info@nysvga.org

NATURAL RESOURCES

Thursday, Friday, and Saturday February 26, 27, and 28-NY FARM SHOW
Helping Farmers Produce More from Their Woodlots Got Trees? The New York Forest Owners Association, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Cornell Cooperative Extension, and SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry will present a series of free forestry programs. The New York Farm Show is annually held at the State Fairgrounds in Syracuse. The Farm Show has many exhibits displaying information, equipment, and items of interest to landowners as well as farmers. Landowners who own woodland as part of their property can get information on many subjects that will help them enhance the value of their woodlots for timber, wildlife, and recreation. For further information contact: James Christensen 315-472-5323 kchriste@twcny.rr.com, or Charley Porter 315-298-7467 ckporter@gw.dec.state.ny.us, or John Druke 315-656-2313 jcdruke@twcny.rr.com.

Your Christmas tree can help the environment!

Instead of putting your Christmas tree in the trash after the holiday, put it to good use for the environment.
Sinking your Christmas tree in the pond causes fish to gather in these areas and improve the fishing. Fish can be found hiding in the branches; others feed on aquatic insects found among the branches. Some fish will seek the shade during hot and sunny days.
Grouping three or four trees together to make a larger habitat for your fish is recommended. Young bluegill, crappy and catfish are drawn to these areas to feed and for protection.
Place one large brush pile for every 2-3 acres of water is a good rule. In 10-12 feet of water is the best placement of brush but no deeper, this is as far as small fish will venture. Attaching a stone or cement block to tree will help them to stays vertical in the water.
Other uses include placing your tree near the bird feeder. This protects the birds from predators that prey on them while eating. The tree also protects them from the harsh winter winds. No bird will pass up an evergreen tree to frolic and eat.
Christmas trees are also an excellent source of protection for other wildlife. Place a group of trees in a fence row will protect rabbits, quail and other birds from predators. Placement is important so place them where two habitats come together like a field and a woodlot.

Roger Ort-Horticulture Program Assistant Cornell Cooperative Extension

Buying Local

Buying Local for Fun and (Community) Profit

This year’s winter holiday season offers potential shoppers an opportunity to strengthen local businesses and communities. By now, hopefully most of us have heard about the importance of spending our money locally. Not convinced? A 2006 report commissioned by Maine Businesses for Social Responsibility and completed by the Institute for Local Self Reliance documented the job creation, entrepreneurship and tax benefits of locally-owned businesses to the rural mid-coast region of Maine. The economy of Upstate New York is similar in many ways, and the findings in the Maine report that locally-owned businesses tend to support higher-wage jobs, generate more local economic activity and demand less in tax-payer funded social programs are generally applicable.

Maintaining a diverse local economy in difficult economic times can make a community less vulnerable to a downturn or collapse in a single sector. The initial out-of-pocket cost for buying locally might be a bit higher, but keeping those dollars circulating through the local economy and encouraging job creation through entrepreneurship can offer benefits through lower taxes and a more attractive market for investment and growth. Perhaps in the spirit of both the holiday season and a nationwide concern about our financial priorities, buying less overall to spend more locally makes sense.

If you are interested, where do you start? Try low-tech first, and pick up a copy of the Hilites, Pennysaver or Shopper. This can be a great place to locate u-cut trees and seasonal wreaths. Prefer shopping online? Try the website Local Harvest, where you can search by zip codes for locally-grown farm produce, livestock and handcrafted items available for purchase. The South Central New York Agriculture Program of Cornell Cooperative Extension publishes a guide on foods produced in the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes region , and New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets offers an online Farm Fresh searchable locator.

Food and farm items not your thing? If you are looking for something in particular, but don’t see it, you can also try asking a retailer that carries similar items. There are also multiple outlets for artwork, often directly from the artist themselves. Take a tour of the websites of member artists at The ARTS Council of the Southern Finger Lakes, or contact an artist featured in the Greater Ithaca Art Trail. Some seasonal outlets, like Skyland Farm Gallery and Café, offer holiday hours.

However, supporting the local economy through holiday shopping isn’t just about stuff. If you feel strongly about an organization, event or local amenity, you can often make a donation or provide a gift membership. Options include (but are certainly not limited to): Friends of the Catharine Valley Trail, the Schuyler Health Foundation, or a 2009 Empire Passport that covers admission to our many state parks.

Reviving an economy in times of a recession is not simple, and certainly local buying isn’t going to solve all of our financial woes. However, consciously supporting a diverse local economy can certainly help and it can be fun to boot. So help your community profit and prosper in 2009, and resolve to buy more locally.

Give ENERGY STAR products this Holiday Season!

Do you want to help your loved ones save an extra $700 this year? You can by giving gifts that keep giving throughout the year by purchasing ENERGY STAR products for those on your list. ENERGY STAR products use less energy than standard products, saving money throughout the entire year. Stereos, phones, computers, printers and even battery chargers for power tools can be found with the ENERGY STAR label. Please visit this ENERGY STAR website for specific gift ideas for everyone on your shopping list.