2007 Program Highlights Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County ccetompkins.org 2007 Board of Directors & Program Advisory Committ ees

Association Of•• cers Richard Coogan, Christine Barksdale, Mimi Thuesen, Association Cris Donovan,

At-Large Board Members Josephine Allen Kirsten Gabriel Shawn Martel-Moore Patrick McMahon Duane Randall, Greg Stevenson,

Agriculture & Environment Chaw Chang, John Fleming, Christine Ashdown Sharon Garland Barry Goodrich Chris Grant Shuly Gross Carol John Jeanine Kirby Howard London Wendy Schultz

Consumer & Financial Education Don Funke, Theresa Olaf-Bennett, Marian Deats Chris Crosby Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (center) poses with Reality Check youth David Dier René Funke members and Coordinator Gayraud Townsend (left). The group travelled to Barbara Nellenback Kevin Nickerson Washington to educate Congressional representatives about the impact on Patrick Woods youth of smoking in films. See full article, page 16. Nutrition, Health & Safety Bonita Davis, Ronald Benson Srijana Bajracharya Jean Bowering Alison Buell Cindy Easton Soledad Exantus Ardyth Gillespie Julia Lapp

4-H Youth Development Our Mission: To strengthen youth, George Trutt, Jr., Tilly Garnett, Susan Durnford Cris Donovan adults, families and communities Joann Gruttadaurio Matthew Leftwich through learning partnerships Pamela Markham Madhavi Reddy that put knowledge to work. Family & Community Development Susan Hatch, Christine Barksdale Beth Jenkins Richard Lansdowne Kathy Lind Susan Monagan Wanda Vrede Elizabeth Wolff Arlene Woolley COVER: CCE-Tompkins’ “Dragoneers” team in the 2007 Ithaca Dragon Boat Race (photo by George Gull); planting seeds at Ithaca Children’s Garden (photo by Leigh MacDonald-Rizzo), pumpkin painting at the Kid’s Harvest Festival and other scenes of Tompkins County (photos by Sandy Repp). 2 1 Message from the Executive Director

Dear Friends,

Another calendar year has ended, and I am pleased to report to you on the good work that Cooperative Extension has accomplished for the residents of Tompkins County in 2007. In this publication, we’ve profi led some exciting projects undertaken recently by our staff in agriculture, family and community development, nutrition, and 4-H youth development. Each in some way illustrates the central theme of our mission to “strengthen youth, adults, families and communities through learning partnerships that put knowledge to work.” And, like all that we do here at Cooperative Extension, each originates in the priorities of the communities we serve and is “grassroots” driven in the truest sense of the word.

As part of the statewide Cooperative Extension system, one of our inherent “learning partnerships” is with Cornell University. Our proximity makes it particularly easy for us to tap into the vast and diverse talents of its faculty, staff and students, to engage them in tackling their community’s needs and concerns by providing meaningful avenues for direct local involvement. These learning partnerships with our campus colleagues help to bring cutting-edge ideas into our homes and communities, making “ Tompkins County a better place for all of us to live, while yielding research that responds to real life issues. Collaborations Collaborations are central to our work at CCE, and I hope that as you read the following pages, you’ll notice -- as are central I did -- the extent to which our programs create and build upon “learning partnerships” – both across our own program issue areas (as in the “Healthy Food for All” program profi led on page 12) and more broadly across the many sectors that to our work make up our community. We work together with a population that is both forward-looking and eager to develop creative local solutions to the economic and social challenges that our county shares with others in upstate New York. Working collaboratively not only ensures that the widest possible range of local voices will be refl ected in our programs, but it makes at CCE... economic sense, too. Partnering with others helps build local capacity, create synergy, increase effi ciency, and generate greater value for Tompkins County residents from the tax, grant, and contract dollars that provide our support. You, the reader, Some of the measures that we believe illustrate CCE’s economic value include: dollars local government saves through the contracted services CCE provides; grants and contracts CCE brings into the county from outside funding are one of our sources; and the local jobs that are created through those programs. Again this year, these numbers are signifi cant, as the pie charts on the back cover show. County tax dollars make up just under 18% of our budget, and enable us to most important attract or “leverage” an additional $3104,206 so that each tax dollar invested in CCE effectively results in a return of $5.70 to the people in our county. When volunteer time and in-kind contributions are added in, CCE is able potential to create an 11-fold return in educational resources for each Tompkins County tax dollar received.

You, the reader, are one of our most important potential collaborators. CCE continues to be an organization collaborators.” where people can bring their ideas on ways to address priority issues, to connect with community resources, and to get help in making their ideas more far-reaching. I hope that in the future, when you identify an issue that is important to you or to your community, you will consider whether that issue fi ts with Cooperative Extension’s mission, and if so, would also consider coming to talk with us. Our resources include: a corps of over 1600 dedicated volunteers who devote an average of 45 hours each per year on issues they care about; a staff that offers programs in every town in the county, reaching about half of our population each year; and linkages to over 350 different partner businesses and organizations throughout the county.

The accomplishments profi led here would not have been possible without the time and talents of many volunteers, and a supportive community. We are grateful for the confi dence and support of the people of Tompkins County, and of our County Legislature. Without all of you, we could not provide the programs and services we do. Helping to create a strong and vibrant Tompkins County is our goal and, as you read through the following pages, I hope you will conclude that our programs are delivering on the annual promise we make to the residents of Tompkins County. With sincere thanks and good wishes,

Ken Schlather Executive Director ccetompkins.org 3 Culinary Passport & Farm Trail Promote Local Foods in August

the Tompkins County Visitors awareness of the many channels Bureau partnered to develop a through which local can be pur- Culinary Passport that would chased,” she added. encourage the public to patronize The Culinary Passport and area restaurants featuring local the Buy Local Campaign were foods during August 2007. featured on three local television Fifteen restaurants agreed shows, one radio program, to join the promotion by creating and in three newsprint articles. at least one dish featuring Restaurants increased the local products for the month of visibility of locally produced foods August. Each was listed in the on their menus and chalkboards passport with their address, phone number, website, an If everyone in example of a representative entrée, and a pricing key. Tompkins County The Tompkins County SUPPORT LOCAL FARMS & RESTAURANTS spent 10% of their Visitors Bureau paid for design and printing of the passports, grocery dollars AUGUST 1-31, 2007 which were free and available on local foods, it at locations throughout the county. Diners who ordered a would generate ITHACA AREA dish featuring local products 16 million dollars at a participating restaurant received a stamp in their of economic value passport. Those with 5 or for our region. more stamps at the end of August could enter a drawing – educating the public about its for one of seven different availability. Before the promotion, Since the prize packages donated by many residents were unaware of Campaign began in 2005 with participating restaurants and the availability of locally produced support from CCE-Tompkins, Finger Lakes wineries. foods at participating restaurants. the month of August has Restaurants in the promotion “Those who support local farms been promoted as a time for were: ABC Café, Carriage House are likely to dine out at restaurants businesses and individuals to Café, GreenStar Cooperative that serve local foods if they know feature and enjoy local foods. Market Deli, Ithaca Bakery, Juna’s of this feature,” Gerhart added. uying Two new efforts sponsored Café, Le Petit Café at La Tourelle Forty-fi ve people completed B by CCE-Tompkins and its Resort and Spa, Moosewood and returned their passports local foods community partners during this Restaurant, Olivia, Smart Monkey for the prize drawing, however year’s 3rd annual Café, Taste of Thai Express, restaurants reported that many helped to increase Taverna Banfi at Cornell’s Statler patrons carried the passports and keeps money awareness among consumers Hotel, Watercress, and Willow asked for stamps. Conversations of different avenues for buying in Ithaca; Hazelnut Kitchen in with restaurateurs and requests circulating locally, while also reconnecting Trumansburg; and Rogue’s for additional passports at some them on a personal level with the Harbor in Lansing. locations showed that many more in our farms that grow their food. “Building and solidifying people used the passports than Many people who purchase relationships between restau- were refl ected by the number of community. local farm products through rants and farms is important contest entries. CSA programs or at farmers’ to strengthening our local food The program will be repeated markets do not realize that system,” says Lael Gerhart, again in August 2008, but the they also can “Buy Local” former Community Foods Edu- number of stamps required to by dining at restaurants that cator at CCE-Tompkins. “Spe- enter the drawing will be reduced source their menus from cial promotions like the culinary from fi ve to three to make it easier area farms. To promote this passport increase the visibility of for people to meet the contest concept, CCE-Tompkins and the Buy Local concept and public criteria, continued on p. 20 4 Annual Building Tour Highlights Tompkins’ Growing Green Economy Over 600 people took part included earthen fl oors and cir- by event co-sponsor Ithaca locally in the 2007 Green Build- cular rooms. Green Building Alliance (IGBA) ings Open House on October Several tour options were whose members now number 6th, making this the most suc- available. From 10 a.m. to 4 over 40, up from a dozen just two cessful tour in the event’s de- p.m., individuals could take a years ago. cade-plus history. Sponsored self-guided tour visit- by CCE-Tompkins and the Ithaca ing any of the sites. Green Building Alliance, this free Homeowners were on event showcased 26 homes and hand to answer visi- businesses in Tompkins, Tioga tor questions as were and Schuyler Counties that em- experienced green ploy green building practices or builders who could renewable energy technologies. offer expert analysis. Sites on the tour featured Members of the Ithaca a variety of green building tech- Green Building Alli- niques and materials and in- ance led shuttle van cluded fi nished homes, both new tours for those prefer- and renovated, as well as those ring a guided tour. Van in various stages of construction. tours were offered for Examples of techniques that a nominal fee and pro- could be seen included: grid-tied vided visitors with a and off-grid solar photovoltaic more in-depth analy- systems, wind turbines, passive sis of a fewer number solar design, solar hot water, of homes. Guided bi- geothermal heating and cooling, cycle and motorcycle This straw-bale home in Freeville was under construction during the 2007 Tour, instantaneous hot water, ma- tours also were of- allowing visitors a view of many construction details. sonry stoves, natural materials, fered. timber framing, straw bale con- The wide variety of tech- IGBA is a not-for-profi t trade struction, non-toxic fi nishes, and niques shown in the participating association comprised of local recycled or reclaimed materials. sites and the fl exible event itiner- small businesses and individu- Homes varied in style from ary allowed people to focus on traditional to contemporary and their particular areas of interest Event att endance featured many highlights. A within green building practice. Newfield home used RASTRA Even so, not all of the 26 sites has increased each building blocks made of recycled could be visited during the time year, illustrating materials that fi t together similar available, and some visitors sug- to Legos to create an adobe-like gested expanding the tour to a the growing look. Homes in Lansing and En- full weekend, with half the sites awareness of fi eld featured literal “green roofs” open on each of the days so ho- covered in living plants. These meowners would still only need green building... living roofs help regulate building to make a one day commitment. temperature and reduce storm- Changing the event structure in als whose goal is “to help make water runoff. this way could make it a “desti- healthy, environmentally sound, Owners of well-insulated nation event” for visitors from far energy effi cient homes an option homes with energy efficient beyond our region. for anyone building or remodel- appliances realized substantial Event attendance has in- ing.” Members agree to a set of savings on energy bills, and creased every year, illustrating green building principles, which many produced more electric- the growing awareness of green includes a commitment to “place” ity than they consumed through building and its place in the pro- by sourcing materials locally and photovoltaic systems using the gressive movement of sustain- using locally produced renewable power of the sun. Other homes able technology and strategies. energy, for example. Green build- typifi ed the term ‘green building’ So too has the number of ers support the local economy by offering unique architecture “green” companies in Tompkins from sawmills to independent and alternative living spaces that County increased, as evidenced hardware continued on p. 19 ccetompkins.org 5 New Initiative Encourages Emerging Community Leaders Many people agree on the formal community leadership many opportunities to fully ex- need to build a diverse group of roles. plore their own abilities. As one community leaders and engaged NLI is a collaboration between participant noted in an early ses- citizens who are representative Cornell Cooperative Extension of sion, “I’m here because I want to of the entire community. But they Tompkins County, Greater Ithaca know why people keep telling me Activities Center, the I’m a leader.” Multicultural Resource NLI participants attended a Center and Tompkins series of 12 group sessions in Community Action. 2007, addressing topics such as Margo Hittleman is asset-based community devel- NLI’s coordinator and opment, project planning, com- brings to the project munication skills, public speak- over 25 years of expe- ing, creative problem-solving, rience in community- understanding and accessing based leadership and community resources, managing program development, confl ict, supporting yourself and as well as advanced others, and navigating systems study and experience that have not traditionally been in adult education. inclusive of diverse voices. They Hittleman explains were introduced to established that research and pro- community leaders and organi- gram evaluation (by zations, and they explored local the Kellogg, Ford, and avenues for greater involvement. Annie E. Casey foun- Several established com- Margo Hittleman, Natural Leaders Initiative Coordinator, with group members. dations, for example) munity leaders – including the show that leadership mayor of Ithaca – shared their say it is diffi cult to fi nd enough development initiatives designed own “leadership journeys”; oth- people to step into those leader- specifi cally to address the needs ers volunteered as coaches and ship roles, particularly from un- of under-represented groups can mentors to the participants as der-represented groups. At the successfully engage new groups they carry out their projects. Child “ same time, there is a large, un- of citizens in formal public lead- care, supper and (if needed) There’s tapped pool of informal leaders, ership. The program was de- transportation to each session people without formal leadership veloped on this evidence-based were provided. no other titles or roles who have a demon- foundation. NLI participants also worked strated passion, commitment and In 2007, the fi rst group of 12 on community “action projects” aptitude for improving community emerging leaders was recruited of their own choosing. They re- door of entry life. With targeted support and the through the collaborators’ ceived help identifying and de- opportunity to develop their skills networks. All were from low/ fi ning projects, mapping and le- for what and confi dence, these “everyday moderate income backgrounds veraging community assets and leaders” could move into broader and three-quarters were African- resources, planning and taking we’re doing,” leadership roles. American, Latino or Asian- action, and documenting project The Natural Leaders Initiative American. The group ranged in impact. All projects were done in says one (NLI) bridges this gap, helping age from 20s to 50s and included collaboration with community or- to foster community vitality by equal numbers of men and ganizations, enabling participants participant. developing the diverse leadership women. to learn about building collabora- potential inherent here. Launched Members were drawn both tions, increasing their networks, in January 2007, NLI offers from the City of Ithaca and ru- and identifying new leadership emerging leaders from low/ ral towns. They were all people opportunities. moderate income communities whom others look to for help solv- One participant organized the and communities of color the ing problems and “getting things fi rst monthly Pre-K ‘Family Fun chance to expand their leadership done.” And all were passionate Nights’ at her child’s rural school skills and knowledge, build about improving community life. in order to help make the school self-confi dence, enlarge their But many did not see themselves more “family-friendly.” She has networks, and move into more as “leaders” and had not had committed continued on p. 18 6 Students “Voice their Choice” on Healthy School Lunch Selections “Fiesta Tacos” and “Taco- New York Coalition for Healthy supporting businesses. Licious” were just two of the School Food, and the Greater Challenges to making healthy creative names proposed by Ithaca Activities Center. menu changes include: rising Positive local elementary, middle, and Positive marketing and labor and health insurance costs high school students for a new student buy-in are key to making for food service staff; limited marketing vegetarian bean taco that they successful healthy menu changes, availability of whole grain breads tried and voted on during taste- according to Dale McLean, Food and pastas at affordable prices or and student tests held at several area after- Service Director for the Ithaca City in appropriate quantities; lack of school programs in Fall 2007. School District which serves an variety within USDA-mandated buy-in are Over 260 votes were gathered average of 3,000 school lunches domestic food products; and in taste-testing events in October each day. The taste-testing project student preferences for unhealthy key to making and December that included was envisioned as a way to foods. students at Fall Creek and engage both kids and adults “We are very lucky in the Northeast Elementary Schools, in the move to healthier menu Southern Tier to have a group of successful Boynton and Dewitt Middle items. Several possible entrées really great food service directors Schools, Ithaca High School, were suggested for taste-testing who are working hard and in healthy menu and the Greater Ithaca Activities by members of the partnership, many cases doing much better Center. Ithaca School District and bean tacos were chosen as a than some other districts around changes. food service staff prepared and variation on a familiar and already the state,” says Amie Hamlin, delivered the tacos for the tastings, popular student food. Executive Director of New York then modifi ed and retested the Students were enthusiastic Coalition for Healthy School Food recipe based on student feedback about both the bean tacos and the and a member of the partnership. before adding it to the district taste-testing process. Some were “These directors are doing things school lunch menu. hesitant to try vegetarian This new initiative to involve tacos, asking “Where’s students in developing healthier the meat?” They loved menu items results from the the results, however, efforts of the Healthy School especially in a second Food Partnership, formed in July tasting when they were when CCE-Tompkins educators asked to compare tacos who work in agriculture, nutrition made with canned and community development beans and those made discovered that they were having from local beans grown separate discussions with school by Cayuga Organics food service personnel about the in Brooktondale. (The challenges of providing healthy local beans won.) A and/or local foods. The educators’ “Zesty Turkey Stir Fry” efforts were combined, and school recipe, recommended and community partners from by Trumansburg School across Tompkins County were Food Service Director invited to join forces to help Deb Bush, will be tested improve school foods. in early 2008. Since then, the Healthy School School food Food partnership has grown to directors value this up- Fall Creek Elementary’s after-school program was one site that taste-tested the include school representatives front approval, which new vegetarian bean tacos in Fall 2007. and food service directors from may help to reduce the fi nancial risk like offering whole grains...and five school districts (Ithaca that accompanies the introduction farm-to-school programs to bring City, Dryden, Lansing, South of healthier menu items. While students fresh and local produce, Seneca, and Trumansburg) and all local district wellness policies salad bars, and plant-based other local partners, including address cafeteria and á la carte entrees.” But, she continues, “until representatives from the foods in some manner, school we address the whole school food GreenStar Cooperative Market, food service programs are not environment, cafeterias have an the Day Care & Child Development subsidized by district budgets unfair disadvantage. Class parties, Council of Tompkins County, the but instead must function as self- fundraising, continued on p. 17 ccetompkins.org 7 From Poets to Press Corps: 4-H Provides New Experiences A two-year grant from the During the July 2007 trip, newsletter. This youth press New York Life Foundation that chaperone Tilly Garnett – a corps (with minimal oversight concluded in 2007 enabled long-time 4-H volunteer – be- from Chip Malone, 4-H Educa- Tompkins County 4-H to came acquainted with two of tor from Genesee County, and target clubs and activities to the youth participants, G-Quan CCE-Tompkins’ chaperone Booker and Lito Patrice Lockert Anthony) deter- Marte. The young mined what stories needed cov- men shared with erage, conducted interviews, Garnett some po- took photos and produced the etry they had written, newsletter. and she encouraged An unexpected highlight of them to enter their the week was an opportunity to work in the upcoming interview New York’s Governor Tompkins County 4- during his visit to the Fair. The H Youth Fair. When governor viewed exhibits in the Garnett informed the 4-H Youth Building and spoke young men that their with teens about the “Choose fair entries would be Health” initiative they had pre- due within days after sented. He then met the mem- returning to Ithaca, bers of the 4-H Press Corps, they spent the return and answered their questions bus trip from Wash- on his plans to address child- ington, D.C. writing hood obesity, the accessibility new poems. of health care, and on how they On judging night as teens could promote healthy Lito Marte (left) and G-Quan Booker interview Governor Elliott Spitzer in the 4-H in July, Garnett drove lifestyles. His responses to the Pressroom at the New York State Fair in August 2007. the young men and students were covered in the youth who previously were then-volunteer Patrice weekly newsletter. under-represented in local 4- Lockert Anthony to 4-H Acres, Since returning to Tompkins H programs. Each summer where the annual 4-H Youth Fair County, the young men and the grant funded a week-long is held. Booker and Marte read Lockert Anthony have been trip to Washington, D.C. for their poems before Peggy Ad- involved in forming the Poets local 4-H teens and their adult ams, a local writer who served & Scribes 4-H Club in order to chaperones, to take part in as evaluator of creative writing continue to pursue their inter- a “Citizenship Washington submissions for this year’s fair. ests in poetry, creative writing, Focus” event held at the Both young men received 4-H and publishing. National 4-H Center. Blue Ribbons for their entries, “The story of G and Lito is a For many of these teens, and Booker’s poem was chosen wonderful example of how teens this was their fi rst trip outside the to advance to competition at the became engaged in meaningtul Ithaca area and their fi rst visit to New York State Fair in Syra- activities to strengthen their own our nation’s capitol. For others, cuse, where it subsequently lives, and to contribute to their it provided a chance to gain in- received a Blue Ribbon in state community,” says Brenda Car- dependence since they travelled competition. penter, 4-H Club and Volunteer without thier parents. For over Remarkably, when the Coordinator for CCE-Tompkins. a month before the trip, they young men arrived at the State “As a result of being involved in prepared for this leadership op- Fair, there still were openings the Citizen Washington Focus portunity by taking part in work- for student reporters in the 4-H trip, G has become a regular shops on Youth Community Ac- Press Corps, and Booker im- visitor to the 4-H offi ce, and has tion, a signature 4-H program in mediately signed up. During made many new friends around which youth explore governance the next four days, he worked the county and the state. Lito systems and develop skills that collaboratively with several 4- was empowered to enroll in equip them to initiate and create H youth from other counties to TC3. He successfully com- positive change in their commu- produce an issue of “The Clover pleted his fi rst semester in the nities. Connection”, the 4-H State Fair fall, and is continued on p. 20 8 2007 FARM CITY DAY: 10 Years of Celebrating Tompkins County Farms!

In 1998, Tompkins County’s by the Tompkins County Dairy fl edgling Agriculture and Farmland Princess and her court. Protection Board, in collaboration The event has featured farms with CCE-Tompkins, was from across Tompkins County searching for a farm to host Farm in its ten-year history, including: City Day, a newly conceived Ainslie Farm, Ithaca (1999); Carey event that would offer the public Farm, Groton (2000); The Melon a chance to visit a working farm Foundation (2001) and Hardie and learn about agriculture. Lewis Farms (2002) both in Lansing; and Linda Stuttle of Lew-Lin Farm Jerry Dell Farm, Dryden (2003); in Dryden stepped forward that Fouts Farm, Groton (2004); year and were the fi rst to open Freebrook Farm, Freeville (2005); their farm to visitors for a day, and Clear View Dairy, Groton taking on faith that it would be (2006). a worthwhile experience. It was, Financial support for Farm City and when the tenth anniversary of Day comes from the agricultural this now-popular event arrived in community, and the event has built 2007, it again returned to its roots strong collaborations between on the Lew-Lin Farm. CCE-Tompkins and other ag Nine years of Farm City agencies and organizations: Day have introduced thousands Tompkins County Soil & Water of area residents and visitors to Conservation District, Tompkins the realities of farming. Children County Farm Bureau and the delight in learning the relationship Tompkins County Dairy Princess between corn plant tassels and Program are key contributors. the “silk” on an ear of corn (pollen Area businesses provide from the tassels is dropped by support, typically by donating wind, insects or birds onto the silk, goods for the Farm City Day Silent each stand of which fertilizes what Auction which funds the county’s then becomes a kernel of corn Ag-in-the-Classroom program. on the ear), one of the questions Auction proceeds support the included in the purchase of new resources and . This scavenger- the hiring of college work-study hunt style activity leads families in students who develop programs an exploration of Farm City Day, for agricultural education in the turning up interesting “ag facts” in county’s elementary schools. every corner of the event. Since it’s inception in 1998, Farm City Day remains a free, Farm City Day has played an family oriented, non-commercial important role in helping the public event that now attracts 750 to 1000 understand farming. With less than visitors to the host farm. The public 2% of the population involved with typically can view 50 different agriculture, and at a time when exhibits, hands-on activities and many people are moving into demonstrations, and can take rural areas, accurate agricultural a guided “hay-ride” tour of the education is crucial to positive farm. Perennial favorites include relationships between farmers and the sheep and Border Collie their non-farm neighbors. Farm exhibition with local shepherd and City Day meets this vital need. herd dog trainer Sharon Garland, For more information, or to a visit from “Ronnie Raindrop” become a supporter of the 2008 from the Tompkins County Soil & Farm City Day, contact Debbie Water Conservation District, and Teeter at 272-2292 x151 or email free dishes of the giant ice cream [email protected]. ☼ Scenes from 2007 Farm City Day sundae concocted each year ccetompkins.org 9 MRC Sponsors Talking Circles on Race and Racism Dialogue is a simple yet Laura Branca of Training For members of the City of Ithaca’s powerful tool that empowers Change (TFC) Associates in Diversity Team, who considered people from both disenfranchised Ithaca. The two agreed that an how to offer additional circles to and privileged groups to create ideal circle would include 12 the city workforce for expanded positive change. In Syracuse, participants who would refl ect dialogue on race and racism. an even balance of A fi fth circle was facilitated white people and for the Cultural Climate people of color, and Committee at Dewitt Middle a mix of men and School, to provide the group with women. They hoped uninterrupted time to discuss to include participants issues of racism in education with a range of and how to provide leadership to perspectives and their school. degrees of insight into “While participants may racism, and people initially feel anxious or uncertain, with a commitment once the Talking Circles begin, to change as well the relief of having a safe and as those taking their respectful environment in which fi rst steps to explore to exchange thoughts, and gain issues of racial insight and encouragement identity and how toward useful action, makes racism operates. people want to continue and go The sessions would farther,” says Cooper. be free and refresh- The facilitators provided ments provided. excerpts from readings to Audrey Cooper, Executive Director of the Multicultural Resource Center (left) Cooper recruited stimulate the conversations with Laura Branca of TFC Associates, at the Multicultural Resource Center. participants through and, although participants were a press release, com- not obliged to read them, their dialogues to end racism have munity contacts, and through thoughts and responses were led to urban/rural school partner- an announcement at a listening welcomed. ships, teen-led dialogues, forum hosted by State Assembly The small group size allowed The ultimate university initiatives, rising member Barbara Lifton in late for an intimate atmosphere and morale in the jails, and corporate Fall 2006 at the Greater Ithaca the participants began sharing outcome can commitments to end structural and Activities Center (GIAC). personal experiences almost cultural racism. The Multicultural Community response was immediately, demonstrating a be an increased Resource Center (MRC) believed overwhelmingly enthusiastic, strong need to talk about racial that Talking Circles could lead and demand quickly exceeded identity, racism and to elicit to similar successes here in available spots, with the result support from others. The groups awareness of, Tompkins County. that MRC hosted fi ve talking required minimal intervention A talking circle is a frank circles that reached more than 70 and facilitation, and used working and an ability and respectful on-going dialogue participants in 2007. While each agreements and reminders for that offers a group of people an of the groups was larger than the people to share ‘air time’. to challenge, opportunity for self-refl ection, to ideal 12 members, participants “The sessions intentionally share experiences, fi nd support, were asked to talk in pairs and were not structured as racism in the and to infl uence each other’s fours to ensure that everyone workshops or trainings,” said perspectives and attitudes. The had a chance to speak. Cooper. “While the facilitators community. ultimate outcome can be an The circles each met for 3 were all experienced trainers on increased awareness of and an to 5 two-hour weekly sessions. dynamics of racism and diversity, ability to challenge racism in the Three circles were open- we agreed instead to guide the community. enrolled by a diverse selection of circles instead of instructing, A series of Talking Circles on interested community members which created a space for self- Race and Racism were planned that included elected offi cials, discovery and learning through for Spring 2007 by Audrey Cooper, activists, parents, and others. A one another’s stories and Executive Director of MRC, and fourth circle was comprised of perspectives.” cont. on p. 17 10 More Kids in the Woods: U.S. Forest Service Supports Outreach Eff ort

Research points to a serving these communities have multitude of benefi ts that children observed that the youth often gain from exposure to nature. hold negative attitudes towards These can include higher levels nature (e.g., it is uncomfortable, of concentration, increased ability frightening, boring, or of little to control impulsive behavior, value) greater resilience against stress The goal of and adversity, more creative is to introduce these play, and more responsible young people to the Finger Lakes environmental behavior later in National Forest, and to natural life. Yet from 1981 to 1991, outdoor areas that they can explore in activities such as backpacking, their own neighborhoods. The fi shing, hiking, hunting, and visits project employs the curriculum to national and state parks and of Primitive Pursuits, an 8-year forests have declined nationally old environmental education at rates from 1 percent to 1.3 program offered through 4-H percent per year. Youth Development at CCE- To help counteract this trend, Tompkins. the U.S. Forest Service has The curriculum teaches begun offering a matching grant ecology, field natural history, called “More Kids in the Woods” personal empowerment and aimed at increasing outdoor peer mentoring in the context of recreation and National Forest wilderness survival and ancestral use by youth. Of 250 applicants living skills. Activities include for the national grant in 2007, teambuilding challenges, wildlife 24 proposals were chosen, tracking, shelter building, aidless including a joint submission by navigation, storytelling, gathering two programs at CCE-Tompkins: and preparing wild edibles, Primitive Pursuits and 4-H Urban crafting primitive tools and more. Outreach . Primitive Pursuits provides The grant funds this curriculum to 300 youth each , a project that year in the Ithaca area. The targets teens and pre-teens who program’s effectiveness has been live primarily in two subsidized featured several times in the local housing developments in down- media, and is regularly praised by town Ithaca: West Village and parents and educators. Parkside Gardens Apartments. During the project’s first Both sites are home to a large session in Fall 2007, 18 youth proportion of families with aged 9 to 15 met weekly at West limited resources, who come Village Apartments, where a large from diverse ethnic and racial patch of woods on the property backgrounds or who belong to was used to teach wild edibles, recent immigrant groups. Many shelter-building, and teamwork. target population youth do not One activity, making fire by have transportation or access friction, was so popular that the to natural areas beyond walking youth didn’t want to stop. By the distance from their apartments, end of this eight-week session, or they lack adult role models all the participants were taking to involve them in outdoor part in singing and drumming ac- activities. In addition, agencies tivities. continued on p. 20 Scenes from Urban Forest Adventures 1. See: Fact Sheet #1: Benefi ts of Nature For Children’s Health, April 2007, compiled by the University of Colorado’s Children Youth & Environments Center, online at: http://thunder1.cudenver.edu/cye/ and: Oliver R. W. Pergams and Patricia A. Zaradic, Evidence for a fundamental and pervasive shift away from nature-based recreation, Proceedings from the National Academy of Sciences, published February 4, 2008. ccetompkins.org 11 Collaborations Support “Healthy Food For All” CSA Program

Accessing fresh nutri- nancial resources. Grants and lations. Nineteen of the house- tious produce is often a barrier other donations were secured holds renewed participation to for underserved populations who to subsidize CSA shares for 36 receive an additional 12 weeks of may not have the fi nancial re- households to receive a variety produce sources to purchase fresh, local of fresh, local, organic produce The Community Supported farm products. A lack of famil- at a price they could afford ($32/ Agriculture model is an example iarity with the variety of produce month) for 12 weeks in 2007. of how farms can remain eco- grown locally and ways to pre- Participating farmers joined the nomically viable by connecting pare it are additional barriers to fundraising effort and raised directly with consumers. CSA he adopting a healthy diet for many. funds to provide an additional 12 members enjoy fresh, qual- T Building upon a successful 2006 weeks of CSA shares for the sub- ity food, help preserve farmland Community pilot initiative, members of the sidized participants. and connect to their food source. nutrition and agriculture staffs By partnering with communi- Farm fresh food becomes the at CCE-Tompkins continued to ty based organizations, churches conduit through which new rela- Supported develop the and schools, project staff were tionships are established. subsidized CSA program in able to identify and enroll a di- Agriculture 2007. verse group of participants in the 36 households CCE-Tompkins part- program. They were further able received a variety model is an nered with the Full Plate Farm to establish a way for program Collective (comprised of three participants to use Food Stamps of fresh, local, example of farms) and the Early Morning for payment of their portion of the organic produce Organic Farm to offer subsidized share cost. The 36 participating at a price they how farms Community Supported Agricul- households included 59 children ture shares and free cooking and and 105 adults, with 15 of the could aff ord for can remain nutrition classes to Tompkins households representing people County residents with limited fi - of color or differently-abled popu- 12 weeks in 2007. In addition, small-scale sustain- economically able farmers are often low-in- come residents themselves. viable by Participating CSA farms re- ceive income from the subsi- connecting dized shares and have the op- portunity to provide produce directly with to members of the community who would not normally be able consumers. to afford or may not be familiar with the benefi ts of eating fresh, local, nutritious, and organic pro- duce. Collaborators on the project included the Greater Ithaca Ac- tivities Center, Baptized Church of Jesus Christ, 4-H Urban Out- reach, Beverly J. Martin Elemen- tary School, CCE-Tompkins’ Nu- trition Program, Full Plate Farm Collective, and Early Morning Organic Farm. Financial sup- port was provided by the Ithaca Health Alliance, GreenStar Co- operative Market, United Way of Tompkins County, Cargill Inc., the Park Foundation, and NESARE. ☼ 12 Ithaca Childrens’ Garden Pilots “Seed-to-Salad” Curriculum

For the past four years, the the colors and textures of lettuc- Ithaca Children’s Garden (ICG) es and greens to create intrigu- has engaged young people in ing geometric patterns. Families growing salad gardens of their were invited to a Saturday morn- own at the Children’s Garden site ing work party to prepare the in Cass Park. In Spring 2007, gardens for planting. through an Ithaca Public Educa- In May and June, the focus tion Initiative grant with teacher was on gardening. In addition Kelly Craft at Northeast Elemen- to developing horticultural skills tary, ICG was able to expand its needed to plant and care for the successful Seed to Salad Program plots, students explored the sci- to a school-based program. ence of garden ecology and the Seed to Salad takes a multi- nutritional content of the veg- disciplinary approach to garden- etables they were growing, while ing in which youth engage in gar- being active outdoors in the gar- den-based activities that include den. language arts, science, math, To celebrate the June har- art, nutrition, physically activity, vest, students planned a Salad and horticulture. The cornerstone Party for the entire school. They of the program is a high level of also initiated a salad bar in the meaningful youth participation cafeteria during the last few and decision-making. days of the school year. Both All Seed to Salad Program the party and salad bar were a activities took place outside of hit with students and teachers class time: before school, during alike. Students expressing in- recess, and after school. Work- terest in making the salad bar a ing across grade levels, Seed permanent part of lunch time at to Salad in February engaged their school. students in planning a Involving students in mean- assembly for the ingful decision-making was the entire school. The 20 students thread that ran throughout the involved developed the activities many activities that comprised for the assembly, helped recruit the Seed to Salad pilot. Many parent volunteers, and wrote, di- original plans changed due to rected, and starred in an original youth input, resulting in a better, play, . more interesting, highly educa- During the assembly, all stu- tional program in which students dents voted on the vegetable va- felt ownership and pride in their rieties they wanted to see grown accomplishments. in the salad gardens. Beforehand ICG will offer a training in students conducted a February 2008 for educators in which they identi- who wish to implement Seed fi ed vegetable varieties to nomi- to Salad in other schools or nate and created persuasive youth programs. Contact Leigh campaign posters, slogans, and MacDonald-Rizzo at 272-2292 speeches in an effort educate or email [email protected] or the entire school on the merits of [email protected] with certain varieties. The third grade questions or for more informa- classrooms tallied the votes. tion. In April, students focused on Ithaca Children’s Garden is designing and planting 11 garden an independent 501(c)(3) orga- Northeast Elementary School students participated plots. Instead of planting tradi- nization that was developed and in the Seed to Salad Program in Spring 2007. tional rows, youth designed their is now housed at CCE-Tompkins. 3’x3’ plots as quilt blocks, using ☼ ccetompkins.org 13 Young Philanthropists Raise Funds for Parents Apart® Program

Two second-grade girls at was checking coats and pass- Apart® advisory committee. South Hill Elementary are putting ing hors’ d’oeuvres at a birthday “We are delighted to receive their money where their hearts party. “We made almost $100,” this wonderful donation which are, by starting a small busi- Clarkberg said. “People gave us will mean so much to children of ness that allows them to raise really big tips when they found our Parents Apart® participants,” funds for local charities, including out we were raising money for said Steinkraus. Hatch in turn the SPCA.” acknowledged the girls’ generos- To date, the girls ity with the gift of a book. have earned and do- nated almost $600 to Parents Apart® local non-profi ts that they research and is a 6-hour select. Their most workshop for recent gift was $126 to Cornell Coop- parents or erative Extension of guardians who Tompkins County for the want ot learn program. ways to help their is child(ren) cope a 6-hour workshop for parents or guard- with the adults’ ians who want to separation and learn ways to help their child(ren) cope divorce. with the adults’ sepa- ration and divorce. Stratton’s mother, Amanda Spaulding, was developed collab- the program at is coordinator of the program. oratively in 1998 by Cornell Co- Cornell Cooperative Extension of The girls specifi cally asked that operative Extension of Tompkins The girls Tompkins County. their donation be used to buy County, CDRC, Cornell Law IndiAnna Stratton and Thea gift books for the children of School, Citizens Concerned for specifi cally Clarkberg, both 7, are the proud participants. They Children/Law Guardians Offi ce, proprietors of “Shiny Clean”, a also have made donations to Family Court, The Advocacy asked that cleaning service that has tack- Tompkins County S.P.C.A., Hos- Center, Tompkins County Bar led a variety of dirty jobs ranging picare & Palliative Care Services Association, and other commu- from cars and silverware, to a of Tompkins County, and Loaves nity organizations. their donation 100 lb. bell. & Fishes of Tompkins County. As of January 2007, Stratton and Clarkberg start- Like many philanthropists, workshops are being be used to ed “Shiny Clean” the summer Stratton and Clarkberg enjoy pre- coordinated by CCE-Tompkins after they fi nished kindergarten. senting their donations in-person County, after 6 years with the buy gift “We were cleaning lots of things to program staff. Although their Community Dispute Resolution around our houses,” Stratton gift to Cooperative Extension Center (CDRC). books for the says, “and I asked Thea, ‘How was made up of small bills and For more information on come we like cleaning so much change, the girls created a large workshops, children of and we don’t have a business?’” poster board “check” that they visit “parenting” under “Family” Thea’s father Larry Clark- presented to Anna Steinkraus, at www.ccetompkins.org or Parents Apart® berg helped the girls make busi- Parenting Education Coordina- contact Amanda Spaulding at ness cards, and when neighbors tor at CCE-Tompkins, and Susie 607-272-2292 ext 243 or email and adult friends learned of their Hatch, chair of CCE-Tompkins’ [email protected]. participants. enterprise and its charitable pur- Family and Community Develop- ☼ pose, job offers began arriving. ment Program Committee and a Their most lucrative assignment volunteer member of the Parents 14 Volunteers Help Expand GrassRoots Festival Composting Eff orts

When Cornell Cooperative “There’s a lot of levels of About half of the 34 com- Extension of Tompkins County composting going on here,” said posting program volunteers at (CCE-Tompkins) volunteer John Adam Michaelides, Coordinator the fairgrounds were trained Sullivan fi rst approached Finger of CCE-Tompkins’ Compost as Master Composters in an Lakes GrassRoots Festival Education Program. extension workshop offered organizers in 1995 with the idea Large blue collection bins annually from February to April. to compost at the festival, he and white plastic reportedly was told, “You can’t do five-gallon compost that -- we have children here.” buckets dotted the Now in its 13th year, the festival site, and composting program has grown smaller covered to collect more than 5 tons of containers were material during the four-day distributed in festival music and dance festival. Almost camping areas this 13,000 people attended the 2007 year and collected festival, held July 19-22 at the by volunteers. Trumansburg Fairgrounds, north “It’s a way to reach of Ithaca. more people and go “To see the pounds add up out where they are,” is pretty amazing,” said volunteer Michaelides said. Jenny Pronto as she and Cornell The total collected graduate student Dan Pendleton at this year’s festival collected compost on the site. was 10,040 pounds. “On Our Way to Zero Waste” Program volunteers signs touted the latest evolution collected 8,275 of the festival’s composting pounds of compost at effort, which accepted more GrassRoots in 2005 CCE-Tompkins’ compost education booth at the 2007 GrassRoots Festival. types of materials than in and 6,630 pounds the past; the materials otherwise in 2006. The decrease was The volunteer force grows every would have gone into landfi lls. attributed in part to less waste year, Michaelides said, and they (Other festival volunteers from festival food vendors. also work at the Ithaca Festival in collect trash, recyclables and “One year we composted June, Apple Harvest Festival in Compost returnable containers and donate over 2,000 pounds of bagels and October and a Compost Fair held bottle-deposit proceeds to local bread,” Michaelides said. “We in conjunction with Ithaca Earth collected at charities.) were able to tell the vendors, Day in April. The GrassRoots performer which helped to eliminate waste CCE-Tompkins holds free the 2007 hospitality area was geared to on that end.” composting classes at Ithaca serve approximately 13,000 In past years, most compost- Community Gardens, the last Grassroots meals during the festival, with ing was done on the festival site, Saturday of the month from not one regular trash can in sight. in up to 25 welded-wire cylindrical June to October. Also, worm Everything used by hospitality compost bins layered with straw. composting (vermiculture) Festival visitors -- napkins, plates, cups, This year, the compost went classes “are very popular - forks and spoons -- was entirely offsite to Cayuga Compost, which - people jostle for position totalled compostable, along with their delivered 62 of its blue 64-gallon in the classes,” Michaelides food scraps. Each year, CCE- collection bins to the fairgrounds. said. “A worm bin, or a couple of 10,040 Tompkins volunteers collect The commercial facility’s bins, can really take care of all compost and staff an information compost pile generates enough your scraps -- they make really pounds. tent at the festival to educate the heat (in excess of 130 degrees) good compost.” public about home composting. to process animal bones and The outreach mission includes meat, cooking oil, dairy products ☼ Compost Theatre, featuring and biodegradable plastics made volunteer actors who use stories, from vegetable starch. All of these props and costumes to educate were collected at the festival for small children (and parents). the fi rst time. ccetompkins.org 15 Reality Check Educates Lawmakers on the Impact of Smoking in Films

Educating the public about from tobacco companies or from rules and devised a strategy marketing practices used by big events that promote tobacco use. that entailed educating legisla- tobacco companies to get young The teens also have encouraged tors on the harms of glamoriz- people to smoke--and address- local healthcare providers to re- ing and normalizing depictions ing those practices locally–have move magazines containing to- of smoking in movies. The idea been the focus of teens involved bacco advertisements from their was that, once educated, these with , a statewide offi ce waiting rooms. State and National legislators youth-based media literacy pro- These efforts provide oppor- would lend their voice to the gram founded in 2001 by the New tunities for participants to acquire call for Smoke Free Movies. substantial leadership skills: they For several months, learn to work together, become youth leaders effective public speakers, meet from around the state held a other youth from around the series of conference calls with state, and take action that can the consultants to discuss the have an impact on the lives of steps involved in effecting the others. proposed policy change. After By far their largest and most much preparation, the teens visible effort has been a were eager to go to Capitol Hill, Although meet legislators, and deliver violence, language and sexual the pitches they had practiced. situations have long been con- In April 2007, nine mem- sidered in the national movie bers of Tompkins County’s rating system, tobacco smoking and three chaperones was not addressed. According traveled to Washington, D.C. to to research from the American meet with Congressional repre- Reality Check youth members and Tompkins County Coordinator Legacy Foundation, a non-profi t sentatives and ask for their sig- Gayraud Townsend (left) pose with Congressman Maurice Hinchey created with money from tobac- natures on a letter to Dan Glick- outside his Washington, D.C.office. co litigation in the U.S., tobacco man, President of the MPAA, is featured in 75% of G, PG and asking that the ratings system York State Department of Health. PG-13 rated movies and in 90% be revised to include smoking. Locally, is housed of R-rated movies. Congressman Martin Meehan of within the 4-H program at CCE- After four years of grass- Massachusetts authored the let- obacco is Tompkins and, like other sites, roots activities, including local ter, and the teens hoped that their T is funded by annual grants from events focusing on the infl uence D.C. trip would help to gather ad- monies received through New of smoking in fi lms and an exten- ditional endorsements. featured in York State’s tobacco litigation. sive letter-writing campaign to Once they arrived, the group Tompkins County the Motion Picture Association went to the Downey McGrath 75% of G, PG members stress that they of America (MPAA) which deter- Group offi ces for an informal are not “anti-smoker” but instead mines movie ratings, lunch with former Congressman and PG-13 work to de-normalize and de- youth decided it was time Tom Downey and John Olinger, glamorize tobacco through edu- to educate members of Congress Executive Vice President of the rated movies, cational events and action proj- on this issue and ask for their DMG. They spoke with Downey ects. To help reduce or prevent support. In 2006, the statewide and Olinger about Washington and in 90% tobacco sales to minors, the teens programs pooled funds to hire and the purpose, methodology, undertook a (for the Downey McGrath Group, a and effectiveness of lobbyists. of R-rated “point-of-purchase”) in which they Washington, D.C. based me- Later, the teens were escorted to visited local convenience store dia consulting fi rm, to help with the Capitol Building where they owners and asked them to vol- this initiative. CCE-Tompkins met with local representatives movies. untarily decrease, rearrange or provided leadership and ad- Congressmen Hinchey and Ar- remove tobacco industry adver- ministrative oversight for the curi. The teens took turns pitch- tising around their stores. For a effort. ing the smoke free movie rating effort, they The Downey McGrath Group system, and both local represen- encouraged organizations to sign researched effective ways to ac- tatives enthusiastically agreed to a pledge not to accept donations complish a change in the MPAA endorse continued on next page 16 Reality Check, from p. 16 School Lunch, from p. 7 Circles, cont. from p. 10 the initiative. The youth also met vending machines, food used as Evaluations were over- with staffers from the offi ces of a reward, and school stores all helmingly positive, and most Senators Clinton and Schumer. compete with the cafeteria, and participants wanted the circles to With Downey as their guide, even the snack line in the cafeteria have had more sessions or longer the group had access to many competes with the meals. ...How meetings. Participants reported offi ces and areas that otherwise can we expect our kids to make personal changes and new or would have been off-limits to good choices in an environment strengthened relationships, as them. They encountered legisla- that surrounds and tempts them they took steps toward further tors from all over the country, and with soda, sports drinks, cookies, dialog, learning, and action. even had a chance to give an ice cream, potato chips, and other For example, in the fi rst talking ‘elevator pitch’ about their effort unhealthy food daily?” circle, two participants who were to Speaker of the House Nancy The Healthy School Food involved in local government -- Pelosi. While in D.C., the youth partnership is organized and and of different racial identities also met with staff of the national facilitated by the Whole Community -- improved their working Coalition for Tobacco Free Kids Project, a community-based relationship and left wanting and learned about how the mis- childhood obesity prevention to take further steps in ending sions of the two groups are com- project that is housed at Cornell racism. patible. Cooperative Extension of Tompkins The Multicultural Re- On May 10th, shortly after County. For more information, or source Center (MRC) is an in- the teens’ return to Ithaca and to receive the Whole Community dependent 501(c)(3) housed at after Congressman Meehan’s Project newsletter ‘Reality Bites’, CCE-Tompkins that provides letter was mailed, the MPAA an- contact Shira Adriance at 272- education, creates dialogue and nounced that it would consider 2292 or [email protected]. ☼ supports community leadership fi lm depictions of smoking among toward inclusion and celebration the criteria for assigning movie of diversity in Tompkins County. ratings. For more information on how to The Tompkins County and host, co-sponsor, or participate other state groups in up-coming circles, contact Au- are continuing to lobby the MPAA drey Cooper, Director, MRC at for more comprehensive restric- 272-2292 or [email protected]. tions on smoking in fi lms. As it ☼ currently stands some smoking is still permissible as long as it isn’t deemed “pervasive”, how- ever the Harvard School of Public Health determined after thorough study that there is no “safe” level of smoking depictions in fi lms. The Tompkins County group is also turning it’s attention to more local matters, including an increased attention to P.O.P. ad- vertising and to new legislation in the City of Ithaca that would prohibit smoking on all city prop- erty. Teens from the core group also continue to recruit youth to the cause by sponsoring teen fo- cused events and delivering pre- sentations about the tobacco in- dustry to middle and high school audiences. For more information, or to get involved with Reality Check, contact Megan Tifft at 272-2292 or [email protected].☼ ccetompkins.org 17 Leaders, cont. from p. 6

to leading this successful pro- gram for the next three years and became an active member of the school’s PTA. Another partici- pant coordinated an evening of music, poetry and speakers that introduced the community to a nonprofi t agency’s new “re-en- try” initiatives for former offend- ers, and provided opportunities for networking and conversation among the agency’s clients, com- munity organizations, and other attendees; he is now exploring membership on a city board. Project effectiveness is 2007 NEAFCS Dean Don Felker Award recipients Barbara Henza (left) and Ann measured though anonymous Gifford (right) with Josephine Swanson, Associate Director of Cornell Coopera- feedback forms; ongoing con- tive Extension and Assistant Dean of Cornell’s College of Human Ecology. Swan- versations with participants also son recognized Gifford and Henza before 71 Extension Educators responsible document progress and chal- for implementing the EmPower curriculum and 12 program funders lenges. A more comprehensive and guests during an inservice training in Ithaca on September 26th. evaluation with an outside evalu- ator is scheduled for mid-2008. Hittleman is pleased to report that over 80% of the NLI par- Local CCE Educators Receive 2007 ticipants report or demonstrate signifi cant learning and change. NEAFCS Dean Don Felker Award These include new skills and knowledge, enhanced self-im- Ann Gifford (CCE-Tompkins) The mission of the National age and confi dence, increased and Barb Henza (CCE-Cortland) Extension Association of civic participation, increased ap- received the First Place Eastern Family & Consumer Sciences preciation for diversity, expanded Region Dean Don Felker Financial (NEAFCS) is to educate networks and support, and ex- Management Award from the and recognize Extension panded horizons. National Extension Association professionals who impact the As one participant said, “This of Family & Consumer Sciences quality of life for individuals, project has helped me move (NEAFCS) for their work families and communities. from the sidelines to believe that implementing the CCE/EmPower More than 2,000 Cooperative I have something to offer. Talking New York curriculum. Extension Educators across in the group – formally and infor- The Dean Don Felker the United States belong to this mally – has helped me see that Financial Management Award is professional organization. For I have a perspective that others given to Extension Family and more information, visit www. don’t have, and if I don’t share it, Consumer Sciences Educators neafcs.org. it won’t get said. The exercises who have developed an For information on upcoming have helped me to see that I outstanding educational program Save Energy, Save Dollars, have something to offer.” on some aspect of family fi nancial Making Ends Meet, or Exploring And another, “Because of management. Credit/Debt Management Issues mistakes that I’ve made in my life, The award was presented workshops in Tompkins County, I didn’t think I was wanted. Being at the Annual NEAFCS National visit our Calendar of Events or nominated for NLI was like having Conference September 18, 2007 look for “Statewide Empower someone open a door and invite in St Paul, Minnesota. Gifford New York SM Workshops” me into the community.” A young and Henza are responsible for under “House & Home” at www. rural mom of three put it this way: developing and fostering the ccetompkins.org. ☼ “Through NLI, I have developed implementation of the curriculum long-lasting friends and a leader- through the statewide CCE ship ability I never knew I had… System. I have truly cont. on next page 18 Leaders, cont. from p. 18 come out of my shell and with this new attitude, I am making a difference.” One-third of the participants in the fi rst cohort have already taken on new leadership roles, including membership on a non- profi t board of directors. In ad- dition, NLI participants have en- hanced their education (enrolling in the Family Development Cre- dential training, returning to col- lege). Others are seeking, have found, or have enhanced their employment. Several spoke pub- licly about NLI at the statewide Participants on the 2007 Green Buildings Open House examine the energy- Cornell Cooperative Extension saving features of the Newfi eld home of Pat Floyd and Kate Halliday. Over 600 conference, the Human Services people visited the 26 homes and businesses that were part of this year’s tour. Coalition Forum, and to nonprofi t organizations locally. and committees to strengthen One-third of the their capacities to recruit, support Green Building, from p. 5 and retain new leaders from un- participants in der-represented groups, and (b) the first cohort assisting community organiza- stores and provide living wage already have tions to more systematically and employment opportunities for effectively embed leadership de- many in the trades. taken on new velopment elements in their own The annual Green Buildings leadership roles. programs. This work is being Open House coincides with the developed in partnership with the Northeast Sustainable Energy Finally, members of the fi rst co- Multicultural Resource Center’s Association’s Green Buildings hort have demonstrated a grow- ongoing efforts and expertise in Open House and American Solar ing “ownership” of the project and that area. Energy Society’s National So- pride in their involvement. “This The Natural Leaders Initiative lar Tour. Some funding for this group is very important. There’s is funded by grants from the Park year’s event was provided by a no other door of entry for what Foundation and the Ithaca Urban renewable energy seed grant we’re doing,” says one partici- Renewal Agency, with substantial from Cornell University. Assis- pant. in-kind support provided by the tance for non-Tompkins County Some members of the fi rst four collaborating organizations. tour sties was provided by CCE cohort have asked to continue to In addition, NLI draws upon exist- Associations in Schuyler and meet, and they are working with ing community resources to help Tioga Counties. the NLI coordinator to develop deliver the content for the group CCE-Tompkins also partners an “ongoing” group. Many of the sessions. The Human Services with the Ithaca Green Building Al- fi rst participants have asked to of- Coalition provided scholarships liance on a series of workshops fer their support and mentoring to for NLI participants to attend their each winter on green building members of subsequent cohorts. Board Basics training. Judy Saul, practices and alternative energy Several participants of the fi rst director of the Community Dis- technologies, with presenters cohort will join the NLI Steering pute Resolution Center and Jeff who are designers and contrac- Committee in 2008. Bercuvitz, president of SPARKS! tors in the local green building As the Natural Leaders The Center for Creativity & Com- fi eld. For more information, call Initiative develops over the next munity Building, led sessions at CCE-Tompkins at 272-2292. ☼ two years, two program compo- no charge. nents will be added to strengthen For additional information, community organizations in their contact Margo Hittleman at 272- efforts to diversify and develop 2292 x 167 or email mjh17@ leadership: (a) assisting boards cornell.edu. ☼ ccetompkins.org 19 opened their gates for the Poets, cont. from p. 8 afternoon, giving visitors a unique opportunity to tour working farms, meet the farmers, learn about a eager to tackle new courses in variety of sustainable production the spring,” Carpenter contin- methods, and to purchase locally ues. grown and raised products. One goal of the Tompkins’ 4- Trail visitors paid $5 per H program is to provide a “seam- person or $8 for a carpool less movement of youth between of 4 persons for the day, for program opportunities”. Accord- which they received an “I Love ing to Carpenter, “As a result of Local Farms” trail button and a these teens participating in the printed guide with descriptions CWF trip, they were introduced of each farm and a map of to volunteers who helped them all participating farm locations. make connections to the 4-H The guides were available in Youth Fair, which led to a 4-day advance and at the farms on the experience at the State Fair, day of the event. Forty people which then led to their participa- attended an optional “Farm Trail tion in the creation of a new 4- H club designed to meet their needs. It doesn’t get any better than this!”, Carpenter concluded. Patrice Lockert Anthony, who was hired by 4-H in Fall 2007 as a Community Educator/Vol- unteer Trainer, elaborates: “The beauty of this seamlessness is Woods, from p. 11 that it isn’t just within the walls of 4-H. is a Brunch”, prepared and hosted “All but one youth showed up joint club opportunity between A by the Cayuga Nature Center for the end-of-session camp- Writer’s Alchemy (a community before open house began. The ing trip, and almost all of these organization) and 4-H. We [at 4- brunch featured items sourced early participants want to sign up H] are using our resources and from farms on the Trail. for a second session if space is research to reach out and bring Farms on the 2007 Trail available,” says Melissa Mueller, in the community. This effort is included: Blue Heron Farm in Primitive Pursuits program man- what 4-H has always been about: Lodi; Glenhaven Farm, Hi Point ager. exploration and discovery. Now, Farm and Sweetland Farm in has we are expanding our horizons Trumansburg; Indian Creek Farm the opportunity to become part of even as we help youth expand and Six Mile Creek Vineyard in a growing body of research. Dr. theirs. It is a wonderful time to Ithaca; Cayuga Pure Organics in Nancy Wells, an environmental be a part of the 4-H experience!” Brooktondale; The Happy Farmer psychologist in Cornell Universi- ☼ in Slaterville Springs; and Kingbird ty’s College of Human Ecology, Farm in Berkshire. Together, they studies people’s relationship to represented meat, produce, bean the built and natural environ- and grain producers. Passport, from p. 4 ments. Dr. Wells, and youth devel- Participating farms also opment and evaluation specialist reflected the diversity of local Kristi Lekies, will assess project and for Cooperative Extension channels through which local impacts by examining the partici- to accurately track numbers of foods can be purchased, including pants’ environmental knowledge participants producers with U-pick operations and behavior, and academic and A second Buy Local event or farm stands, and others life skills, before and after they encouraged people to visit that sell their products through take part in the program. the farms where their their farmers’ markets, Community For additional information food is grown. CCE-Tompkins Supported Agriculture, retail on Primitive Pursuits, 4-H Urban coordinated a one-day “Farm outlets, and restaurants. Each Outreach, or the Trail Open House” on Sunday, farm averaged 21 visitors, with a project, contact Jed August 19 that included nine total of 155 people visiting farms Jordan, Tim Drake or Melissa farms in Tompkins and Schuyler on the Trail. Mueller at 272-2292. ☼ Counties. Participating farms All farmers who participated 20 Leaders, cont. from p. 18 felt that the event was worth their time and said they would participate again. Farmers reported that visitors asked a lot of questions and seemed genuinely excited to have an opportunity to visit a working farm. Visitors were encouraged to bring a cooler and to purchase farm-fresh products along the way. Farmers who offered products for sale reported sales between $250 and $500 for the day. The Farm Trail event was Local farmer Brent Welch holds turnips grown last season at Red Tail Farm. coordinated by Lael Gerhart of CCE-Tompkins and co-spon- sored by GreenStar Cooper- capacity to create a more sus- in building a stronger local food ative Market which provided tainable food system through and agriculture system. For more staff design services and paid outreach and education, and the information or to get involved, call the printing costs of the Farm established partnership between Monika Roth at (607) 272-2292. Trail Guides. Community volun- GreenStar Cooperative Market, To fi nd local and regional teers were enlisted to assist the Cayuga Nature Center, food producers, visit “local foods” each participating farmer with and CCE-Tompkins’ at www.ccetompkins.org. ☼ greeting and registering visi- Campaign was strengthened as a tors, and directing them to the result. The Campaign fi elds. Partnering with other is a community-based initiative community organizations and facilitated by CCE-Tompkins that businesses in this way increases emerged from community interest

“Buy Local” Guide from CCE Regional Ag Team

An updated “Guide to Foods Produced in the Southern Tier & Finger Lakes” was compiled by CCE-Tompkins and released by the South Central NY Agriculture Program in August 2007. 5,000 copies were printed and distributed at no charge by CCE Associations in the 5 county region. Printing costs were covered by paid advertisements. The 24-page booklet lists producers by categories of Dairy; Eggs, Poultry & Meat; Farm Stands and Road Stands; Pick- Your-Own Produce; CSA providers; and Specialty Foods. A second printing is planned for spring 2008. The guide also is available in pdf form at www.ccetompkins.org. For information, contact Debbie Teeter at (607)272.2292 or [email protected]. ☼ ccetompkins.org 21 Thanks to our 2007 Donors!

2007 Tribute Gifts Dick Coogan Gregory Lawrence Edith & John Cooper Mark Lenzenweger & Lauren Korfine In Honor Of: Ezra Cornell Stephanie Levy Elma Canfield John & Ann Costello Mary Linton CCE Compost Education Program William & Diane Cummings Frances Littin & Arthur Tauck, III Judy Dietz Marlaine Darfler George & Beverly Livesay Dean Jean Failing Carolann Darling Bunny Lloyd David & Mary Quick Flinn Everett & Meredith Davis Barbara Logan & Ray Gozzi Beverly Dawson Gwyneth Lymberis In Memory Of: Mr. & Mrs. David Decker Steve & Lois Maki J. Wilbur “Willie” Boles Louis & Anne DeLong John Mann Glenn Cline Roy & Fran Dexheimer Timothy Martinson Jennifer Guyer David Dier Ann C. Mathews William Herbster Tom & Barbara Dimock Charles & Susan McCormick Prof. Sam Leonard Marguerite DiSanto Mary McGinnis Bob Pipher Haley Dossinger Amy Mills Chuck Srnka William Downing Andrew Millward & Alison Van Dyke Larry & Denise Moore Individual Donors Susan E. Durnford Nancy Moore Richard A. Durst Mary A. Morrison Molly & Barry Adams Robin Emm Perry & Patti Mudge Lee & Irene Alexander Herb Engman Dottie Munson Phyllis L. Allen Tonya & Adam Engst Lucinda A. Noble Walter Allmandinger Barbara Ensign Linda M. Nowak Sharon Anderson Mary Faber Tom & Kathleen Overbaugh ANONYMOUS (7 donors) Jean Failing Catherine Paddock Christine, Jacob & Rachael Ashdown Martha Ferger Dana Palmer Mike Ashdown Edwin & Ann Fessenden William Pardee Doreen Atkins Steve Fontana Elizabeth Pirko Allen & Bonnie Baker Barbara J. Foote Robert & Ellen Plaisted JoAnne Baldini Ben & Carolyn Franklin Christine Porter Don Barber & Rita Rosenberg Anne Furman Trudy Porteus Priscilla Barber Tilly & Roger Garnett Jean, Mia & Frank Proto Sharon & Wesley Baum Terry & Ann Gifford Susan Quick Kathy Baxendell Mary K. Gloster Deena Rambaum Debra L. Benson Joshua Goetz Peter & Dorothy Rinaldo Heinz B. Biesdorf Brad & Mary Grainger Cindy Robinson Jeanne Bishop Robert & Eileen Gravani Rich Robinson & Carolyn O. Boegly Joann Gruttadaurio Catheryn Obern-Robinson Kerry Boisvert Tom Gudeman Elizabeth Rowley Dan & Julie Boles Linda A. Gunning John & Doreen Rudan Jean Bowering Annetta Guyer Alice Saltonstall Roger & Esther Bradley Janny Hammer Ken Sanderson George & JoAnn Broadwell Sharon Hammond Ken Schlather & Donna Ramil Liese Bronfenbrenner Skip & Holly Hardie Ray & Kathy Schlather Marjory Brooks Ernest E. Hardy Laurie Schutt Elizabeth A. Brown Monica Hargraves Lynnette Scofield Ellen L. Brown Donald Harner Norman Scott Charlotte Bruce & Emma Harsh-Harner Tim Setter Tammy & David Buck Ellen & Rick Harrison Bonita R. Shelford Ken Burr Charles & Barbara Hatfield Duane R. Shoen Chauncey & Linda Bush David L. Heck Michael & Karen Shuler Jim & Terry Byrnes W. Riley Hemingway Charlotte & Arthur Shull David Call James & Nancy Henion Darien A. Simon Marcos Moragues Canela Mary Lee Herbster Dan & Carol Sisler Daniel Carey Thomas Hirasuna & Jean Hunter Kathy Smithers Pam Carnes Mayfred S. Hirschfeld Robert Sparks & Holly Gump Brenda & Evan Carpenter Judy Hoffman Wendy Sorrell Gabe Carpenter H. Dale & Margaret Holden Ronald & Ivy Space Robert S. Carpenter Helen O. Howland Carol V. Srnka Thomas E. Cavataio Joseph P. Hradisky, Jr. Melanie Stein Brian Chabot & Kathleen Rasmussen Shirley Jalso Evelyn Stevens Chi-Kay & Barbara Cheung Joan Jedele IndieAnna Stratton Richard & Joyce Church Dawn M. Jewell Lewis & Linda Stuttle Thea Clarkberg Alfred & Mary Kahn Alan & Debbie Teeter Mrs. Glenn Cline Leonie Heidi Kallfelz Priscilla Tennant Charlotte Coffman Mary M. Kelsey David & Susan Thompson Timothy & Mary Ann Colbert C. Ruth Kredell Mary R. Tomlan Gordon & Onolee Conklin Mr. & Mrs. H. Michael Kremser Anne Treichler-Kohm Patricia L. Conklin Meredith Hill Kwiatkowski Ari van Tienhoven 22 Robert & Mary Tyrell Dryden Grange Ocarinas by Shalimar & Family George & Joann Van Wicklen Dryden Lawn & Recreation Olivia Restaurant & Bar John & Margie VanDeMark Dryden Youth Opportunity Fund P&C Foods – Hancock Avenue Thomas & Jane Bender VanDerzee Early Morning Organic Farm P&C Foods – N. Triphammer Road John & Hummy VandeWeert East Hill Car Wash Park Foundation Inc. Robbert VanRenesse Eastern Mountain Sports Parkside Vista, LLC & Lesley Greene Eddydale Farm Stand Perfect Screen Printers Dianne Walter Emerson Power Transmission Pete’s Tire Service J. Dix Wayman Empire Livestock Marketing The Pike Company Peter & Margaret Werner Farmshine Pioneer Hi-Bred International Tracey White Fessenden Dairy, LLC Pleasant Valley Electric, Inc. Beth Wilcox First National Bank of Dryden Plenty of Posies Patricia M. Williams First National Bank of Groton Pudgie’s Pizza Dan & Nancy Winch First Pioneer Farm Credit Purity Ice Cream James E. & Barbara T. Woods Footprint Press Recreation R&M Farm & Pro Hardware Bettie Lee Yerka Guidebooks Ramada Inn Milton & Marjorie Zaitlin Friendly’s Restaurants - District Reed’s Seeds Patricia Ziegler Hqtrs. Rogue’s Harbor Inn Friends of the Tompkins County Rotary Club of Ithaca Public Library Round House Mill Corporate/Foundation Funding Factory RPM Ecosystems, LLC Donors Fur-N-Feathers 4-H Club Satori Day Spa The Garden Conservatory Schoolyard Sugarbush 17th Century Suds Genex Breeders Cooperative The Sciencenter Abbott Associates Apartments Genoa Ag Center, Inc. The Service League ABC Café Gimme! Coffee Serviente Glass Studios Accelerated Genetics Glen Haven Farm ShurSave of Trumansburg Acorn Designs GreenStar Cooperative Market Silk Oak Alnye Trucking, LLC Hangar Theatre Sola Prints & Framing/Sola Gallery Andrews Agency M.F. Hatch Fund Solla Designs Pottery ANONYMOUS (1 donor) Hendy Hollow Organic Farm Southern Tier IBA The Antlers Hewitt Brothers, Inc. Specialty Trophy Autumn Ridge Farm Hill & Dale 4-H Club Squeaky Clean Car Wash Baker’s Acres Hillendale Golf Course Stick & Stone Farm Ballet Center of Ithaca The History Center in Tompkins County Sunshine Fund of the Ithaca College Beck Farms, L.P. Holt Architects, P.C. School of Health Sciences & Bed, Bath & Beyond Honeywell Human Performance Bethel Grove Church Helen Thomas Howland Foundation Taste of Thai Express The Boarding Barn I.B.E.W. Local Union #83 Taverna Banfí/The Statler Hotel The Bon Ton Foundation Ithaca Materials Research & Testing Tompkins Charitable Gift Fund BorgWarner Morse TEC Inspiration Farm Tompkins County Farm Bureau Carey Farm Integrative Massage Therapy Tompkins County Quilter’s Guild Cargill, Inc. Ithaca Agway Tompkins County Soil & Water Cayuga Landscape Company Ithaca Bakery Conservation District Cayuga Radio Group Ithaca Beer Company Tompkins County Solid Waste Cayuga Ski & Cyclery Ithaca Children’s Garden Management Cayuga Trails Club Ithaca Coffee Roasters Tompkins Insurance Agencies, Inc. Cazenovia Equipment Company Ithaca Farmers’ Market Tompkins Trust Company CFCU Community Credit Union Ithaca Public Education Initiative Tops Friendly Market Chili’s Restaurant Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency Triad Foundation CIDEC Corporation Juna’s Café Trumansburg Rotary Club CNY Hot Tubs Junior Tailwaggers 4-H Club U.S. Forest Service Community Foundation of Elmira- Kiwanis Club of Ithaca United Way of Tompkins County Corning & the Finger Lakes Lansing Curves for Women Waid’s Apiaries Community Foundation of Lew-Lin Farm Wal-Mart Tompkins County Ludgate Farms Wegman’s Markets – Ithaca store Cornell Conservatory M&T Bank Wegman’s Markets - Corporate The Cornell Plantations Maguire Ford Wideawake Farm Cornell University Dairy Store Mansour Jewelers Wings Over Ithaca Cornell University Johnson Maxie’s Supper Club Museum of Art Millbrook Farm The Cornell Tradition Monro Muffler/Brake and Service Corning Museum of Glass Moore Madness Farms Cortland Bulk Milk Producers Moosewood Restaurant CRS Growers Farm Morse Chain Ithaca Employees FCU CSP Management Museum of the Earth/PRI Dairy One National 4-H Foundation Dottie’s Ice Cream Shop New York Beef Industry Council Dryden Agway New York Farm Viability Dryden Family Medicine New York Life Foundation ccetompkins.org 23 Cooperative Extension uses its unique partnership with federal, state, and local governments, adding volunteer involvement, fund raising and in-kind contributions to bring an 11-fold return in educational resources for each Tompkins County tax dollar received.

615 Willow Avenue Ithaca, New York 14850-3555 607.272.2292 www.ccetompkins.org

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