Water Retention & Nutrient Cycling in Urban Gardens

April 26, 2025


Join us for this very exciting hands-on workshop! We will be adapting and applying sustainable agricultural methods to our urban garden context. Designed for community gardeners and urban growers, we are focusing on accessible, functional methods that make it easier for us to have bountiful harvests while our climate becomes hotter, drier and more unpredictable.

Crafted for all levels of gardeners from beginner to advanced! 

This workshop will look at:

• "Low til" methods in the context of raised garden beds
• Intercropping for preserving soil health and long harvests
• Accessible Mulches for urban gardeners
• Biodegradable Mulching Alternatives

Plus...an Introduction to BioChar!!

Hands-on Demonstration of all Techniques:
During this 2-hour long workshop, there will be a hands-on demonstration of how to use these methods step-by-step. Starting with a demonstration of low til methods and then a biochar application into the soil, attendees will work with a biodegradable mulch alternative and then transplant both cover crop starts and vegetable seedlings into the mulch. The hands-on portion of this workshop puts together all we've discussed and shows how it can be practically adopted into your own garden!

Refreshments:
Light refreshments will be provided. 

Cost and Registration:
This event is FREE! Pre-registration is required. Register online!

Intercropping with Mushrooms

October 14, 2025
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Poughkeepsie, NY

Join us for an afternoon of hands-on learning at Pershing Community Farm, led by Urban Agriculture Specialist Yolanda Gonzalez.

2025 Agroforestry Field Day Series -- Agroforestry Implementation and Management

October 23, 2025
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Highland, NY

Interested in incorporating agroforestry practices into your farm? Join us for a series of workshops co-hosted by CCE Ulster, Orange, and Harvest NY with Mastwood Farms, Black Creek Farm and Nursery and Scenic Hudson. 

On October 23, we'll return to Erik Schellenberg's farm, Black Creek Farm and Nursery, for a Fall tour of their agroforestry plantings. Erik will talk about harvesting and managing plantings while we see some seasonal crops and installations of different ages and types. There will be time for questions and discussion as we wrap up the series. covered.

Soil Health 101 for Community Gardens -- A Bilingual Workshop

October 24, 2025
11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Staten Island, NY

Join Urban Agriculture Specialists, Karen Guzman and Yolanda Gonzalez, as they discuss the importance of soil health and testing your soil as you prepare for the incoming growing season. They will go into strategies for best practices when it comes to soil health management and highlight the current soil testing program through NYSDAM and CCE. This workshop will be in both Spanish and English.

New Produce Auctions in NYS!

With the opening of the new Augusta Produce Auction on August 19th, New York State now has 11 produce auctions! See the new map of produce auction locations across the state and contact information.

New York Urban Farms Sustainable Pest Management Fact Sheet Series

Cornell Cooperative Extension has partnered with dozens of urban farms across New York State to demonstrate and evaluate sustainable pest management strategies. Together with farmers, we found success using control methods that prevent or reduce crop losses through exclusion strategies, crop timing, host resistance, the introduction of beneficial organisms, and more. Regardless of management strategy used, common requirements for success include a knowledge of the pest and disease complex, preventative deployment and commitment to the process. The New York Urban Farms Sustainable Pest Management Fact Sheet Series includes case studies highlighting pest management techniques that New York urban farms have found valuable.