Getting Ready for Spring by Garden Planning & Seed Starting
Here in the Mohawk Valley of upstate New York, where the winters are long and the growing season is short, seed starting for vegetable gardens is a great way to insure gardening success and expand your harvest. With a climate characterized by chilly springs and unpredictable frosts, starting seeds indoors offers gardeners a head start […]
Herkimer County Local Foods Map
Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) Herkimer County produces the Herkimer County Local Foods Map each year. It began in 2002 as a ‘Farm Produce and Tourism’ map, switching over to exclusively local food in 2009. The objective of creating this map has been to connect producers with consumers of local foods that are grown/produced in Herkimer […]
New Year – New Opportunities
New Year’s resolutions abound in January. Come March, many of us are feeling dissatisfied with our progress toward these resolutions. I would like to propose a more satisfying approach to behavior change, which is really what we are talking about here. According to the science of human behavior, successful resolutions involve a three-step process: cue, […]
Herbs
Herbs are the edible green or leafy part of a plant, typically a low growing shrub. This includes parsley, chives, marjoram, basil, thyme, caraway, dill, oregano, rosemary, sage, savory and celery leaves. They can be used fresh or dried. Herbs appeal to our senses of sight, smell, and taste. They also have beneficial effects on […]
What a Crock…of Sauerkraut!
A large crock of sauerkraut sat in our basement when I was growing up, a round wooden board was placed in the mouth of the crock holding the kraut below the brine level and a towel covered the top of the crock. How cabbage became sauerkraut was a mystery to me, why didn’t it just […]
September is Food Safety Education Month
Summer picnics may have come to an end, but the need to keep our foods safe for consumption knows no season. Foodborne illness claims the lives of 3,000 Americans each year. You may wonder how this can be, given that we live in such a technologically advanced world. It is a combination of conditions including […]
Pick Apart a Pickle
By Barb Brenner, Certified Master Food Preserver If you run out of topics to talk about this summer at a family gathering, I have one for you that will get anyone talking. Talk about pickles. Go ahead ask what their favorite pickle is, where they purchase it or how they make it. Dill, sweet, or […]
The Story of Teas
A daily cup of tea is an enjoyable experience around the world. Yet, we seldom reflect on the fact that this is a ritual that has been going on for thousands of years. How and where did it all begin, we might ask? There are a few theories that tea began in China, under the […]
Food and Nutrition Insecurity
Food and nutrition security is important for all. This blog will explain what food and nutrition insecurity is, who experiences it, and what is being done about it. Enjoy! According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), there is an association between food insecurity and poor nutrition, with individuals who report being most food insecure […]
‘Tis the Season
We will soon be in the “’Tis the Season” time of year, with its holiday shopping, gatherings with family and friends and a myriad of eating opportunities. In addition to having extra treats at home, many of us will be enjoying luncheons and cookie platters at work. It is a tempting time of year to […]