Vegetable IPM: Gardening From the Ground Up

April 27 - April 28, 2021


Join the New York State Integrated Pest Management Program and other garden lovers the mornings of Tuesday, April 27, and Wednesday, April 28 for important information related to vegetable gardens.

Open to the public via Zoom. Registered participants will receive a flash-drive containing all resources mentioned during the conference upon completing an evaluation after the meeting.

COST
In order to make this meeting accessible to as many people as possible, we invite participants to pay what they can afford:
• $10 (a subsidized rate)
• $15 (covers the cost of the meeting)
• $20 (supports others who wish to attend)

We'd love your attendance. If the subsidized rate poses a barrier, please email Debra Marvin. ALL registrants who complete an emailed evaluation after the meeting will be mailed a flash drive with all meeting resources.

REGISTRATION LINKS
To pay with a Credit Card
To pay with a Check

AGENDA
Morning 1:  Tuesday, April 27
8:30 Gather that morning beverage, get comfortable, and join in for a morning filled with information to fuel this year's dreams of growing your own vegetables.

8:50 Welcome and Introductory Remarks from Cornell Cooperative Extension and the New York State Integrated Pest Management Program

9:00 Keynote: What's the Draw of Gardening? - Don Gabel, Director of Plant Health, New York Botanic Garden

9:30-9:55 IPM and Organic: What do They Mean for Home Gardeners? - Abby Seaman, Vegetable IPM Coordinator, NYSIPM Program

10:00-10:05 What's Bugging You & Don't Get Ticked, New York: Resources from NYSIPM - Joellen Lampman, School and Turfgrass IPM Extension Support Specialist, NYSIPM Program

10:05-10:10 Gardening Through the Seasons - Jennie Cramer, Horticulture Program Manager, CCE Tompkins County

10:15-10:40 Setting Up the Garden (Planning for Success) - Steve Reiners, Professor and Horticulture Section Chair, School of Integrative Plant Science Horticulture Section, Cornell AgriTech

10:40-10:50 Break; Get up and stretch if you haven't already

10:50-11:15 From the Ground Up - Soil is Key (Test? Amend?) - Joseph Heller, Urban Conservationist, USDA

11:20-11:25 Composting - Adam Michaelides, Compost Educator, CCE Tompkins County

11:30-11:55 Choosing Resistant Varieties, Seed Starting, Buying Transplants - Sharon Bachman, Agriculture & Natural Resources Educator, CCE Erie County

12:15-12:45 Lunch Chats: Join others for an informal chat, question and answer session over 'virtual' lunch tables. Limited seating per breakout room. Registered attendees will receive an email the week before the conference to choose their preferred topics, first-come…first served. Topics hosted and monitored by Guest Speakers, Cornell Cooperative Extension and New York State Integrated Pest Management Staff.

Morning 2: Wednesday, April 28
8:30 Settle in for today's great topics

8:50 Welcome from Cornell Cooperative Extension and the NYS Integrated Pest Management Program

9:00-9:25 Scouting, Monitoring- How to ID Insect and Disease Pests - Marion Zuefle, Vegetable Educator NYSIPM Program

9:30-9:55 Watering, Weather, Irrigation and Weather Stations - Dan Olmstead, NEWA Coordinator (Network for Environment and Weather Applications), NYSIPM Program

10:00-10:05 Cornell Garden-based Learning: Using Cornell Cooperative Extension's Online Resources - Ashley Helmholdt, Extension Associate, School of Integrative Plant Science Horticulture Section

10:05-10:10 Permaculture Design Resources - Ashley Helmholdt, Extension Associate, School of Integrative Plant Science Horticulture Section

10:15-10:40 Weeding Smarter, Not Harder - Bryan Brown, Integrated Weed Management Specialist, NYSIPM Program

10:40-10:50 Break

10: 50-11:15 Beneficial Bug Basics - Amara Dunn, Biocontrol Specialist, NYSIPM Program

11:20-11:25 Paying for Home Garden installations? - Leigh McGonagle, CNLP / Owner & Designer at Poplar Point Studio

11:30-11:55 Non-Traditional Gardening: Urban Settings, Imported Soils, and Container Options - Yolanda Gonzalez, Urban Agriculture Specialist, CCE Harvest New York

12:00 Thank you for your attendance: We'll follow up with an online survey. Please complete the emailed survey so we can mail your flash drive full of the great information and links provided by the conference!

Spring Gardening at Bissel Gardens

April 9, 2026
11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Bronx, NY

Join us at Bissel Garden for a hands-on spring kickoff workday from 11:00 AM-3:00 PM! Help us wake the garden up for the season as we clear debris, plant early spring crops, and dive into the essentials of building healthy soil. Urban Garden Specialist Karen Guzman will lead the workday, guiding participants through conversations on crop planning, soil health, and seasonal planting. Whether you're a new gardener or a seasoned grower, come help set the garden up for a productive year ahead!  

Earth Day Garden Workshop

April 20, 2026
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Farmingdale, NY

Celebrate Earth Day and welcome the growing season by learning how to make the most of your space as spring wakes up the garden. Join Cornell Urban Garden Specialist Karen Guzman for an interactive, hands-on session focused on building strong foundations for a productive year. This workshop will cover the state-wide soil testing program and why soil health is essential for long-term success, along with strategic crop planning techniques that help increase productivity and maximize the space in your garden. 

Air-Pruned Raised Bed Workshop Series

April 23, 2026
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Brooklyn, NY

Join Connor Youngerman of Cornell Small Farms and the team at The Opportunity Hub for a hands-on, train-the-trainer workshop introducing Air-Pruned Raised Beds (APRBs) from construction to implementation. Designed to equip forestry practitioners, educators, and community leaders with the skills to replicate this model. This session will cover APRB design, recommended urban tree species, installation techniques, and basic troubleshooting. Participants will not only learn the fundamentals of APRBs as a tool for growing a diverse range of urban tree species but will also gain the knowledge and confidence to teach others how to build and manage them. 

Community Garden Leadership Program - Application Open Now!

The Cornell Community Garden Leadership Program is a year-long online program that prepares individuals to enhance their leadership skills to strengthen community gardens throughout New York State. The program equips community gardeners with management best practices and operational skills to improve garden sustainability. The program also connects gardeners to regional resources, professional development opportunities, and a statewide community garden leadership network.

Register for a virtual information session to learn more about the program and discover if this program is the right fit for you. Each information session is typically 45min-1hr.

Session Dates: 

Community Gardens Soil Testing Program Accepting Applications

Soil testing supports the growth and expansion of community gardens by protecting the health and safety of the food produced in these gardens. CCE Harvest NY, in partnership with the NYS Department of Agriculture & Markets (AGM) and the Cornell Soil Health Lab, is offering eligible, food-producing gardens in New York State the opportunity to send soil samples for testing without charge.

The soil test will analyze samples for heavy metals and nutrient levels. Test results help gardeners make appropriate plans to produce high quality fruits, vegetables, and flowers. Technical support and education for participating growers will be available from the CCE Harvest New York team. Learn more about the 2026 Community Gardens Soil Testing Program.