Cornell Cooperative Extension offers a variety of assistance to home gardeners, and professional horticulturists. These include but are not limited to the diagnosis of plant problems, insect, disease and plant identification, soil testing for gardens, lawns, landscapes, and more. Niagara County residents are encouraged to contact our office by phone or online with their inquiries. Contact John Farfaglia (716)-433-8839 x226, e-mail jaf21@cornell.edu
An excellent website for general gardening information is http://www.gardening.cornell.edu which contains research based advice on growing and maintaining fruit, vegetables, flowers, lawns, trees and shrubs and more. You can also research over 2,000 varieties of vegetables for your home garden and rate those you have tried.
Fact sheet information covering common insect pests found in garden and home environments is available from the site http://www2.entomology.cornell.edu/public/IthacaCampus/ExtOutreach/DiagnosticLab/Factsheets
The Master Gardener Volunteer Program plays an important part in our community outreach efforts. Master Gardener Training Programs are offered approximately every two years. The next training will start in the Fall of 2011, details coming soon! Class size is limited and priority is given to Niagara County residents. A one time fee of $250 covers classes and a Master Gardener Notebook. For more information about the Master Gardener Program and training contact John Farfaglia at jaf21@cornell.edu
We will be introducing the Junior Master Gardener Program this year. This youth gardening education program provides unique hands on learning activities for children in grades 3-5. All Junior Master Gardener curriculum are correlated to academic standards for science, and math. Class offerings will be announced soon.