Photo Courtesy of Wells Horton, Sherburne NY
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ABOUT SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION Please Note: The Office Will Be Closed in Observance of the Following Holidays in 2024
New Year's MONDAY, JANUARY 1 Martin Luther King Day MONDAY, JANUARY 15 Presidents' Day MONDAY, FEBRUARY 19 Memorial Day MONDAY, MAY 27 Juneteenth WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19 4th of July THURSDAY, JULY 4 Labor Day MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 2 Columbus Day MONDAY, OCTOBER 14 Veterans Day MONDAY NOVEMBER 11 Thanksgiving THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28 Day after Thanksgiving FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29 Christmas WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25 Please note that this is a general informational website. If you have specific questions regarding the watershed, please feel free to email info@ocswcd.org and we will do our best to respond to your inquiry. TREE SALE 2024 IS NOW CONCLUDED AS A REMINDER, ORDER PICK UP WILL OCCUR APRIL 18,2024 AT THE SALT MUSEUM. PLEASE FOLLOW THE SIGNS TO ENTER THE LOT. SWCD THANKS YOU ALL FOR MAKING THIS EVENT A SUCCESS!!! From SOFSA Our team is excited to announce the kickoff of our 2024 webinar series at the Northeast USDA Regional Food Business Center! On Monday, March 25, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ET, we will be welcoming university researchers, governmental agency representatives and community-based leaders to discuss critical needs and economic development opportunities within our local and regional food systems. The Center team will also provide updates on this year’s funding opportunities, along with exploring how the five-year USDA grant program can leverage and support existing research, grant programs and community-led initiatives. The link to register for the event is: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUvcumtrzwjGNAIHENbtlOZKNBDjp8g63Xp. Panelists: Dr. Brian Schilling – Director, Rutgers Cooperative Extension Leah Rovner – Project Director, New England Feeding New England Claire Hawkins – Director, Natural Resource Markets & Economic Development, Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry Laura Ginsburg – Center Lead, Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center Amanda Pitman – Program Manager, Cornell Center for Regional Economic Advancement 700 BLOCK OTISCO STREET ANNUAL OCCRA CLEAN UP AND COOK OUT Join the Otisco St 700 Block neighbors for the annual OCCRA Earth Day cleanup. Meet at the 711 Commons Lot at 1 pm, we'll clean the lot rear end, the street, the adjoining intersections, and as far down the adjoining blocks as you want to go. Will have the grill fired up for hot dogs, and veggie burgers! Urban and Small-Scale Growers Meeting Build community, engage in production-focused workshops, and share resources. Building soil productivity Insect and disease management Growing vegetables, berries, and tree fruits ...and more! Small-scale and urban growers, community garden leaders, and ag service providers join us on: FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 2024 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM Massachusetts Avenue Project Farmhouse 387 Massachusetts Ave, Buffalo, NY 14213 Cost: FREE, includes lunch. Pre-registration is required because space is limited! Register today! Visit CVP.CCE.CORNELL.EDU for more information. BID PROPOSAL Sealed bids for furnishing Farm to School Products will be received at the Office of the Purchasing Director, 421 Montgomery Street, Syracuse, NY 13202 until two (2) o’clock P.M. (local time) on March 21, 2024. A prebid meeting will be held via Zoom. This can be a call in or video. Bidders’ attendance at this meeting is strongly recommended to understand the scope of the project. Prebid Zoom meeting date: March 12, 2024 Prebid Zoom meeting time: 10:00 am Link: https://cornell.zoom.us/j/95989783876?pwd=TW0rZlhNVVl0Yy9kY3d1NWlwbUY5dz09 The Syracuse City School District reserves the right to reject any or all bids. No Bid Security is required. No Performance Security is required. Bidders must use the proposal form and envelope furnished by the Division of Purchase or an envelope that is clearly marked with your company name, the bid reference number and the date the bid is due when submitting their proposals. Envelopes must be sealed when submitted. Faxed bids are unacceptable. Required for department: Syracuse City School District Food and Nutritional Services Daniel Hammer Director Running annually for over 3 decades, the Hard Hat Expo is the preeminent construction trade show in the Eastern United States. The Hard Hat Expo stands as a cornerstone event for the construction community - bringing together industry professionals, suppliers, experts and enthusiasts from across the Eastern United States. The journey began in 1985 with a vision to create a platform that fosters innovation, collaboration and growth within multiple aspects of the construction industry. The Expo brought that vision to life; it has evolved into an annual “can’t miss” destination for networking, learning and showcasing cutting-edge products and technologies. Attendees are comprised of municipal superintendents and public works managers, heavy construction and highway construction companies, excavation companies, utility contractors, road and highway maintenance (including snow and ice management), landscapers and hardscapers, aggregate producers, paving companies, corporate maintenance and grounds keeping, land clearing/logging and demolition contractors. Key highlights of the Hard Hat Expo include:
The Hard Hat Expo looks forward to welcoming you to the event, where we can celebrate the past, embrace the present and shape the future of the construction industry. Wed, March 20, 2024 9:00am - 4:00pm Exposition Center NY State Fair Grounds The Home & Garden Show, one of the largest events of its kind in the Northeast, is where Central New Yorkers go to for the best advice and services needed to build, improve, and maintain their home. Produced by the Home Builders & Remodelers Association of CNY, the Home & Garden Show showcases hundreds of businesses in the residential construction and landscaping industry. A one stop shop that allows patrons to meet industry professionals, learn about the latest products & services, gather ideas, comparison shop companies, and even set appointments for project estimates. DATE AND TIME
Image Courtesy of Wells Horton Photography
From Country Folks Magazine 3/7/2024 Adding agritourism to your maple operation“Maple syrup holds a special place in the hearts and imaginations of the American public. It’s a unique tradition in the Northeast, and it really draws the public interest every year,” said Aaron Wightman. Wightman is a Cornell Extension associate in the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment and serves as the statewide maple specialist and co-director of the Cornell Maple Program. Because of the unique draw of maple syrup, Wightman believes that maple producers have an opportunity to create meaningful and profitable agritourism experiences for the public. It does, however, require careful planning to ensure a safe and successful visitor experience. Provide Historical Context In Wightman’s opinion, maple syrup producers should provide historical context for their visitors. He said, “If you can make some connection to the actual sugaring activities that took place on your farm in the past, that’s especially interesting to people who are visiting your specific sugarbush.” Producers should share personal sugaring history but also try to provide some overall historical context such as the Indigenous production of maple syrup and innovations in technology which have changed the industry over time. Capitalize on the Aesthetics Maple sugaring operations are often places of peace and beauty that other agricultural enterprises may lack. In order to take advantage of the idyllic settings, Wightman suggested providing visitors with viewpoints in the sugarbush where they can stop and enjoy themselves. Tours (self-guided or guided) are also a possibility, although producers should be aware the additional foot traffic may create mud. Wood chips along the walking trails should be considered. Regardless of what visitor experience is created, signage should provide clear instructions for the visitors, including where to park. Additionally, sugarhouses offer an opportunity to captivate customers, but they should be well-lit with clean decor. “If you’re not into the interior decorating thing it might be helpful to find someone who is,” Wightman said. Know Your Customers One goal of maple agritourism is to sell maple syrup and maple products. Understanding customer demand is an important aspect of creating a profitable event. Wightman said households in New England spend $86 annually on maple products – 45% of that is fluid syrup with the rest representing products such as candies, maple cream, maple-coated nuts or maple barbecue sauce. According to the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets, the breakdown of package size preference is 31.9% quarts, 27.2% pints, 12.6% no preference, 12.1% half gallons, 8.9% gallons and 7.3% half pints. Wightman wants maple syrup producers to be aware of these buying trends and encouraged producers to offer a range of products to help drive sales. Producers should also be aware that what consumers like about maple syrup and maple products may not align with the producer perspective. A recent study by the New York State Maple Producers Association found that consumers are not persuaded by the idea that maple products are healthier than cane sugar. The study also found that they don’t like being scolded for consuming imitation maple syrup. What they were persuaded by is the fact that maple syrup is a pure, single ingredient product that can be used in a variety of ways. Producers can capitalize on this idea by providing recipes that use maple products in novel ways. Captivate the Customer “Another interesting facet of maple production is just the processes involved. People are really fascinated by all these strange phenomena like the pressurization cycle in trees that causes sap to flow,” Wightman said. Other processes – tapping, setting up tubing or buckets, using reverse osmosis and watching a steaming evaporator – can also be demonstrated to engage and educate visitors. Some operations have gone as far as building a viewing platform above the evaporator. Providing visitors with hands-on experiences related to maple production are likely to make them stay longer and potentially make purchases. One idea Wightman suggested is to set up some drill bits and tapping tools and allow visitors to tap a piece of wood or stump. Another idea is to set up a station with some tubing and fittings so they can understand the mechanics of tubing. Another hands-on experience is to provide giveaways such as spouts, coloring books and samples. Avoid the Pitfalls Sugarhouses are often located in remote areas with confusing directions. Wightman advised that when advertising an event to provide clear instructions and to alert people that their GPS may not work. Signs can also be placed along the route. Producers should also anticipate that parking areas can quickly become muddy and consider surfacing these areas with stone. Having a few round bales on hand to cover up muddy areas may also be helpful. “Once people are on your farm it’s also helpful to direct them with signs that point where to go. Organize your tourism event so that there’s a sequence of stops so people can go in a specific direction – stops one, two, three, four, five – and then end at the cash register. It prevents confusion with crowds and people see all the sites,” Wightman said. Finally, at any agritourism event the safety of the visitor should always be at the forefront. Maple products need to be made in accordance with the highest standards of safety and quality. Wightman also recommended protecting guests by doing a walk-through and looking for possible hazards. Some specific safety actions include roping off hot surfaces around the evaporator, eliminating slipping hazards and securing off-limits areas. Sugaring Off Sundays Enjoy a full pancake breakfast along with contemporary and historic maple sugaring demonstrations, activities for the kids, and much more. Sundays: March 3, 10, 17, 24 Breakfast: 8:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Activities: 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Shops: 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Pricing: Adults/Teens (ages 13+): $15 / $14 members Kids (ages 6-12): $10 / $9 members Lil’ Ones (ages 5 and under): FREE Reservations are not required. Join friends and family for another season of Sugaring Off Sundays at The Farmers’ Museum in Cooperstown, New York. The weekly event begins March 3 and continues each Sunday through March 24 offering contemporary and historic maple sugaring demonstrations, activities for the kids, and much more. A full pancake breakfast including scrambled eggs, sausage, and home fries is served from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and features local syrup provided by the Otsego County Maple Producers. All other activities run from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. There is fun planned for everyone each Sunday throughout the museum grounds. Taste hot maple syrup poured over snow, known as jack wax. Children can learn how to tap maple trees. See Bump Tavern’s kitchen in action as our interpreters prepare maple cake baked in a restored 1870’s cook stove. Watch our talented craftspeople in the Blacksmith Shop each Sunday—creating a waffle maker based on an example found in our collection. Make a stop at the pharmacy or the print shop, and the schoolhouse. Warm up as you ride the Empire State Carousel inside its heated enclosure. Wagon rides around the historic village run from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (weather permitting). Visit our farm animals at the Children’s Barnyard. Todd’s General Store will be open with hand-crafted items that will transport you back in time. Both museum stores are open from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The Otsego County Maple Producers are on-site to talk about maple sugaring and offer local maple products for sale. Delicious, locally produced maple syrup is served at the Sugaring Off Sundays pancake breakfast. Sugaring Off Sundays are held March 3, 10, 17 and 24 with breakfast from 8:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. and maple sugaring activities 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Admission prices: Adults/Teens (ages 13+): $15 or $14 for members, Kids (ages 6-12): $10 or $9 for members, Lil’ Ones (ages 5 and under) are FREE! Price includes admission to museum, maple sugaring demonstrations, and a full pancake breakfast. Reservations are not required. This event is sponsored in part by Bank of Cooperstown. Tick Study Cornell Cooperative Extension of Onondaga County is now recruiting 50 property owners to take part in a study involving mice, the dominant mammalian reservoir host for the Lyme disease bacterium. Potential participants would have over 1 acre of land, see regular animal activity (aka deer multiple times a week), and the property would have or be adjacent to a wooded area.
Eggstravaganza Join us for an egg hunt – Beaver Lake style! Children will love the challenge of searching for realistic looking eggs of wild birds. Once all the eggs have been found we’ll explore the science of eggs with fun activities and experiments. Children ages 3-10 accompanied by an adult. Two sessions will be offered on Saturday, March 30: 10-11am or 1-2pm. Due to limited space, please only sign up for one time slot. Registration: $6/Child-Member; $7/Child-Nonmember. Registration fees do not include park admission ($5/vehicle). BEAVER LAKE NATURE CENTER 8477 East Mud Lake Road Baldwinsville, NY 13027 In Case of EmergencyIn case assistance is needed at an agricultural spill, and it's after office hours (4:30 p.m.) you can call Mark Burger directly at 315-415-5057.
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Onondaga County Soil & Water
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Our mission is to promote excellence in the wise use of our rural/urban natural resources.
Our vision is to live in a society in which future generations will have natural resources necessary to sustain and enrich their quality of life.
The Onondaga County Soil & Water Conservation District prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status.