CCE Chautauqua Announces Fall LEAF Workshops

JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK (October 18, 2023) -- Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County’s LEAF (Learn, Empower, Achieve, Farm) workshop series is back again with a selection of low-cost farm and homestead education classes.

The interactive lessons are open to everyone; they are created with a goal of providing support to Western New York farmers and to anyone interested in agriculture. A wide range of topics are included in the series each year, from crafting value-added products to marketing and business planning for small- to mid-sized farms.

Workshop registration fees range from $5.00 to $15.00 per person to cover material and refreshment costs, and early registration is appreciated. For more information, visit https://chautauqua.cce.cornell.edu/events or contact Agriculture Program Coordinator Rose Clarke (rmc339@cornell.edu, 716-664-9502 x 202).

Come learn something new and exciting!

Leather Tooling 101

Wednesday, October 25, 2023

6:00 – 8:00 pm

JCC Carnahan Building (241 James Ave. Jamestown, NY)

$15/person

Have you ever wanted to learn the art of leather crafting? This is your chance! In this workshop, led by 4-H volunteer and club leader Nancy Johnson, participants will learn and practice basic leather tooling and stamping skills to complete a simple project, like a key ring or book marker. These skills will prepare you to create larger projects, such as belts, on your own.

--

Farm Marketing: Developing Your Brand

Thursday, October 26, 2023

6:00 – 8:00 pm

JCC Carnahan Building (241 James Ave. Jamestown, NY)

$5/person

Every farm business needs good marketing to develop a customer base. Join marketing and communications professional Kristen Kovatch Bentley for the first of two sessions to learn more about how to make sure your brand works as hard as you do to tell your story.

--

Marketing Local, Marketing Social

Thursday, November 2, 2023

6:00 – 8:00 pm

JCC Carnahan Building (241 James Ave. Jamestown, NY)

$5/person

You’ve developed your farm business brand, but now what? In this second marketing session for farm businesses, marketing and communications professional Kristen Kovatch Bentley will guide you through local and social marketing opportunities to help your brand stand out from the crowd.

--

Wool Felting

Tuesday, November 7, 2023

6:00 – 8:00 pm

JCC Carnahan Building (241 James Ave. Jamestown, NY)

$5/person

Transform local wool into your new favorite fall decoration! Combine crafting with textile science in this fun session with Victoria Boehmer, owner of Dragonwood Ranch and The Tybout House yarn store in Warren, PA. Participants will make a felted leaf, which makes a lovely ornament or can be strung together with more leaves to make a fall garland.

--

Preparing Fruit Trees for Winter

Thursday, November 9, 2023

6:00 – 8:00 pm

JCC Carnahan Building (241 James Ave. Jamestown, NY)

$5/person

This class is for anyone interested in growing trees or small fruits such as apples, peaches, brambles, strawberries, blueberries, and grapes. Megan Luke, Erie County Extension Educator, will focus on preparing existing plantings for the winter season, with tips on selecting and applying mulch, preventing snow damage, pruning, and dormant spray applications. There will also be some discussion of site assessment and cultivar selection for spring plantings, and how & where to source bareroot plants. Class will begin and end with a Q & A session to address specific concerns of attendees.

--

Native lawn options

Tuesday, November 14, 2023

1:00 – 3:00 pm

JCC Carnahan Building (241 James Ave. Jamestown, NY)

$5/person

Traditional turfgrass lawns provide little benefit to native biodiversity, are significant sources of air and water pollution, and require huge investments of time to maintain. In this enlightening webinar, we will discuss a visionary lawn paradigm shift – one where lush, low-growing native grasses and forbs take center stage. Explore the journey behind Cornell Botanic Gardens’ native lawn, from its inception to the multitude of benefits it brings, and the invaluable lessons it has taught us. Join us at Jamestown Community College for an in-person viewing of the webinar followed by a discussion with Carol Markham, Conservationist at the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy, who will share local resources.

--

Equine Seminar: Healthy Mare Pregnancy

Tuesday, November 21, 2023

6:00 – 8:00 pm

JCC Carnahan Building (241 James Ave. Jamestown, NY)

$5/person

The Cornell Equine Hospital, the New York State 4-H Horse Program, and Cornell Cooperative Extension are proud to host the Equine Seminar Series. These monthly virtual talks are presented by experts on important equine health and management topics. This month’s session features Dr. Mandi de Mestre answering the question, "Is there anything I can do to prevent pregnancy loss in my mare?" Join us at Jamestown Community College for an in-person viewing of the webinar followed by discussion.

--

Candle Making

Wednesday, November 29, 2023

3:30-5:30 pm

JCC Carnahan Building (241 James Ave. Jamestown, NY)

$10/person

Bring some light into your winter home or handmake a holiday gift! Chautauqua County Extension Ag Coordinator Rose Clarke will help participants make their own candle and feature local sources of beeswax. Participants are encouraged to bring leftover wax from burnt candles to be melted and reused.

The LEAF series is one of many programs offered by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County (CCE-Chautauqua). CCE-Chautauqua is a subordinate governmental agency with an educational mission that operates under a form of organization and administration approved by Cornell University as agent for the State of New York. It is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The association is part of the national cooperative extension system, an educational partnership between County, State, and Federal governments. As New York’s land grant university Cornell administers the system in this state. Each Cornell Cooperative Extension association is an independent employer that is governed by an elected Board of Directors with general oversight from Cornell. All associations work to meet the needs of the counties in which they are located as well as state and national goals. For more information, call 716-664-9502 or visit our website at www.cce.cornell.edu/chautauqua. Cornell University Cooperative Extension provides equal program and employment opportunities.

Last updated October 18, 2023