Serving the Ulster County Community

Cornell Cooperative Extension
10 Westbrook Lane, Kingston, NY
Phone: 845-340-3990 Fax: 845-340-3993
Committees Now Forming for Healthy Kingston for Kids Project, Volunteers Sought
Cornell Cooperative Extension Ulster County (CCEUC) and several partners are leading an initiative funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to reverse the childhood obesity epidemic in Kingston, NY through environmental and policy change. Four committees are charged with seeing out the work plan of the grant, and partners are looking for Kingston residents and interested parties to become volunteer members of the committees. You can become involved in the committees in the following ways! More info.

Master Gardener Hotline – 845-340-3478 (DIRT) – March through October M-W-F 9:00am-12:00pm
Master Gardeners, volunteers trained by Extension experts in the art and science of gardening, will also be available in the office for soil testing, plant and insect identification.
Download Volunteer Application/Brochure
CCE Ulster’s 4-H Youth Development Program Volunteer Opportunities
http://counties.cce.cornell.edu/ulster/
Blog
– Gleaning Program, produce donations
– Deer Management, venison donations
– Nutrition Education in Soup Kitchens and Food Pantries

Plant a Row for the Hungry
A people-helping-people program assisting the hungry in Ulster County
A program of the Cornell Cooperative Extension
With the start of the growing and planting season we’re looking for gardeners like you to help feed the hungry in Ulster County by planting an extra row in your garden this summer and signing up to take the excess produce to our office. If you don’t have room to plant an extra row – sign up to donate the excess produce nearly all gardens produce.
We are asking vegetable gardeners to grow a little extra this season, or bring their excess produce to Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County, 10 Westbrook Lane, Kingston, NY.
More info or call 845-340-3478 (DIRT).
Printable Brochure

Sustainable Hudson Valley
PO Box 4112 Kingston, NY
Phone: 845-384-1061
http://www.sustainhv.org/

Volunteers needed to help SHV with communications and outreach, research support, office help or fundraising, contact Melissa or Michael directly at 845-384-1061. More info.

In the major economic turmoil and political change of early 2009, SHV is rallying communities engage more fully in restoring local economies and infrastructure using green strategies that will create distinctive places and economic opportunities. Our mission is to help communities respond to the environmental and economic crisis in ways that bring people together, improve quality of life and create good green collar jobs.

Our work takes these forms:

Resilient Communities Initiative:
bringing affordable technology solutions to local governments along with design and strategy development – to scale up energy-efficiency, renewables, green roofs and healthy landscapes.

Green Collar:
Job training, coordination and strategy with the Work Force Investment Boards and training systems of seven counties.

Partnership for the Next 100 Years:
jointly exploring sustainable technologies with Dutch research institutes and government agencies to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson’s landing.

Kingston Green Trail:
concentrating resources and creativity to make the center of Kingston, the Broadway Corridor, more thriving and environmentally advanced with a bike-friendly city initiative, a major communications platform, and the creation of a Green Zone demonstrating the possible city of the (near) future.

Video: 2009 is  a Watershed Year for “Green” Initiatives
(01/19/2009) – Taken at MLK Service Day by UlsterCorps volunteer Joanee Tarshis
Melissa Everett of Sustainable Hudson Valley speaks about the exciting opportunities ahead for Hudson Valley and “going green” effectively .

Student Conservation Association/Hudson Valley Corps
299 Mountain Rest Road New Paltz, NY 12561
Phone: 845-255-4758 Fax: 845-255-6987
http://www.thesca.org/
Celebrating 50 Years of Students Conserving America
Learn more

Eat Local Food
http://www.eatlocalfood.org/
The Eat Local Challenge More info.
EatLocalFood.org is an organization created and maintained by community volunteers. Together with our community we help to organize, market and/or promote all local-food related events, gatherings, potlucks, farm tours, farm markets, skill-shares, CSAs, farms, businesses and the Local Food Challenge. As an organization, our purpose is to encourage a more sustainable and harmonious relationship between ourselves, the environment and all living things. Obtaining the bulk of our nourishment in a sustainable way – from what can be made naturally available by our immediate surroundings – not only supports our physical and mental well-being but also the health and balance of the entire planet. Based on this belief, the mission of EatLocalFood.org is simply to provide convenience, ease and support for those interested in consuming a diet rich in locally grown foods. On the website you will find practical sources of local, wholesome foods, hands-on educational opportunities and an open venue for all local food related communications. All listings are free.

Volunteers, in any capacity, are always needed and welcome. For more information on joining our team contact info@eatlocalfood.org or 255-2749.

Local Farms
Farmers Markets
Winter Markets
Local CSAs (Community Sustained Agriculture)

Rondout Valley Growers Association, Inc.
http://www.rondoutvalleygrowers.org/
P.O. Box 867 Stone Ridge, NY 12484
Phone: 845-657-5701
info@rondoutvalleygrowers.org
The Rondout Valley Growers Association is a non-profit community organization comprised of local farmers, residents, and businesses that are committed to strengthening the region’s family farms and preserving open space for future generations.
More info, events & volunteer opportunities

New Paltz GreenWorks
To lower and off-set carbon emissions in our community by educating the public about actions they can take, that make it easier for people to make a difference.
Things you can do today
http://npgreenworks.org/

Hudson Valley Green Drinks
Monthly networking sessions are open to anyone who is either in the related environmental fields, sustainably minded or anyone eco-curious.

The Rondout-Esopus Land Conservancy now holds 31 conservation easements governing more than 2,500 acres in Ulster County. The easements are held in Accord, High Falls, Marbletown, Olivebridge, Rosendale, Saugerties, Stone Ridge and West Shokan. The all volunteer organization is a member of the Land Trust Alliance of New York and National Land Trust Alliance and was founded in 1987. There is no requirement that conservancy members must convey property or even own property – just that they support the conservancy’s mission. Contact Laura Traverse at 657-8303.

Volunteers are always welcome and appreciated. If you would like to assist in our mission by volunteering, please contact our president, Walter Levy at info@relandconservancy.org or 845-626-3140.
http://www.relandconservancy.org/

Esopus Creek Conservancy
Esopus Bend Nature Preserve, among New York State’s newest land trust, is a unique 161-acre preserve located partially within both the village and town of Saugerties along a dramatic bend in the Esopus Creek less than a mile from the Hudson River. We are an all-volunteer organization, and volunteers are essential to achieve our goals. Volunteers have worked to restore the meadow area where visitors can now observe a wide variety of wildflowers, birds and butterflies. Environmental education walks are scheduled throughout the year. Partnering with the Catskill Center and the Saugerties school district, we opened up Esopus Bend as an outdoor classroom for local schools. Whether you would like to be called for a special task, serve on a committee, work outdoors on the preserve, or help in some other way, we would like to hear about you and your interests.
www.esopuscreekconservancy.org/

Frost Valley YMCA
Melissa Pauls, Alumni and Volunteer Coordinator
Frost Valley YMCA, Claryville, NY 12725
Phone: 845-985-2291 Ext. 208
Established in 1901 as one of the nation’s first summer camps, Frost Valley YMCA now provides four seasons of outdoor, experiential and educational opportunities. Frost Valley YMCA is a 6,000 acre residential camping, environmental education, and conference center.
volunteer@FrostValley.org.
www.FrostValley.org

Hudson Valley Materials Exchange Community Warehouse
Hudson Valley Materials Exchange is a non-profit resource for used/surplus Arts, Education & Building Materials rescued from the commercial waste-stream. HVME is in desperate need of volunteers to help us finish our move. Help moving materials, painting inside of storage trailers, outreach and fund-raising are needed. Our most immediate need is help moving materials and painting.
LOCATION – New Paltz Recycling Center
Clearwater Road (off Rt 32 about 3 miles N of the intersection of rt 32/299) – from I-87 head west on rt 299 to rt 32
Phone: 845-567-1445 web: http://www.hvme.com
Email: hvme@optonline.net
Hudson Valley Materials Exchange reopens for the 2010 season March 20th
Hours: Wednesday-Saturday 12:00pm-5:00pm

Duzine and Lenape Schools plan organic vegetable gardens this spring
Since district funds are very tight this year, we are doing this as a grassroots project and looking to our resourceful community to support the gardens and our schools. We need help from skilled carpenters in building raised beds, fences, and gates. We need material donations such as lumber for raised beds, fence posts, fencing, and gates, soil, compost, and mulch, tools, tool sheds, hoses, etc. Gardens will offer our children an enhanced learning experience across the curriculum through hands-on activities with soil, plants, animals, and the cycles of nature that produce our food. Gardens spark curiosity, creativity, and scientific investigations, bring children outside to enjoy fresh air and physical exercise, and promote healthier eating habits.
For more information, contact the PTA Garden Committee Co-chairs:
Martha Cheo 256-9316 mcheo@hvc.rr.com
Jim O’Dowd 255-4170 jimmyodowd@yahoo.com