Harvest of the Month Marketing Materials

Becky O'Connor, Farm to School Coordinator, WNY & Finger Lakes
Harvest New York

October 13, 2020
Harvest of the Month Marketing Materials

The Harvest of the Month posters, newsletters, and infographics were originally created for Buffalo Public Schools Farm to School program by a graphic designer to help highlight and promote the consumption of locally-grown, raised, and produced foods. Buffalo F2S team partner, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Erie County, developed content for the newsletters and infographics. Buffalo Public Schools agreed to share the materials with any F2S program that would like to use them, and Harvest New York created generic versions of the materials which are available below for download. The materials can be edited and adapted for your district or program's use.  For questions, more information about editing and printing the materials, or for the Adobe InDesign files, please contact Becky O'Connor, Harvest New York's WNY Farm to Institution Coordinator.  

There are many ways to use the Harvest of the Month Materials to highlight and promote the consumption of local foods. In Buffalo Public Schools, posters are displayed inside cafeterias, or in the hallways leading to lunch rooms. Infographics are placed atop lunch tables, highlighting the Harvest of the Month menu item being served. Newsletters are shared with families and households via email or as printouts. The materials have been made available to teachers, who can use them in their classroom instruction. 

Special thanks to Buffalo Public Schools for sharing these resources; graphic designer Julian Montague for creating the materials; and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Erie County's SNAP-Ed nutrition educators for developing newsletter and infographic content.





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Upcoming Events

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. 

Air-Pruned Raised Beds 101

April 24, 2026
3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Upper Manhattan, NY

Join Connor Youngerman of Cornell Small Farms and NYRP's Parks & Urban Agriculture teams for an introduction to Air-Pruned Raised Beds (APRBs) from construction to implementation. APRBs have been shown as an excellent method for growing a suite of urban tree species and hold great promise as a tool for forestry practitioners in NYC. This workshop will explore the in's and outs, including design, appropriate tree species, and basic troubleshooting (i.e. weeding). Participants will also get to help build and plant out two APRBs at NYRP's field facility.

Announcements

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: 
  • April 9 at 10am
  • April 14 at 12pm
  • April 22 at 5:30pm
  • May 7 at 12pm
  • May 11 at 5:30pm
Register for an Information Session HERE! 

**Please note: the program application closes on June 15th and will be sent to all who register for an information session.  


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.