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Building Resilience on the Farm: The Farm Family Assistance Program

At Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) Herkimer County, we understand that farmers face unique challenges that extend far beyond the fields. The Farm Family Assistance Program was born from a small mental health grant through CCE Herkimer County and Herkimer County Mental Health. It has since grown into a broader initiative addressing key areas of risk for […]

From Fay’s to Food

When I was a child, my grandparents had a shop called Gil’s in the Ilion Fay’s Mall. I absolutely loved going to work with them and visiting with all the different shop owners. For a brief period, they also opened Grace’s Alli Café, which was next door to Gil’s. Fast forward over 25 years later, […]

Food Security and Emergency Preparedness

Food security is a critical aspect of disaster preparedness. Emergencies like floods, tornadoes, pandemics, and storms can disrupt food supplies. One of the first steps in creating a food security plan is to understand the local needs, including the specific food security challenges and vulnerabilities of the population. With Herkimer County being number one in […]

Growing Better Tomorrows

Over the past decade, Herkimer County has been seeing, and benefitting, from community gardens sprouting up. Through cross-pollination, the idea has spread in Ilion, Frankfort, Herkimer, Mohawk, Little Falls, with hopefully more to come.  “It is our belief that everyone should have a garden. We strive to give this space to the community to volunteer […]

The Future is Bright for Local Foods in Herkimer County

The future is bright for local foods in Herkimer County! The 2024 rollout of the mobile market Veggie Van program has proven to be a successful model, helping to expand access to area residents who were otherwise unable to travel to a farmers’ market. With increased opportunities for local agricultural produce to reach area residents, […]

Strengthening Local Food Systems Through Farm-to-Institution Programs

In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the importance of local and regional food systems in building resilient, sustainable communities. As we face global challenges such as climate change, economic instability, and public health crises, the need to support and strengthen these systems has never been more critical. One of the most […]

Gardens and Food Security

Jessica Ladley “Jessica Ladley of West Winfield awoke one perfectly weathered day to find that her lawn had erupted into the most magnificent garden…” …that’s the way I wish to begin this story, and so I have. Standing within the boundaries of marigolds, time slowed as I snapped a photo of a bee lighting on […]