Friends of the Shetucket River Valley

08/22/2022

There are two types of old trees - notable trees and legacy trees - and both are important to the environment.

03/20/2022

02/21/2022

Another Bill Reid moment..

January reminded us of what winter can really be like here in Southern New England when it dumped one to two feet of snow on The Last Green Valley National Heritage Corridor. Saturday, Jan. 29 we got walloped by a nor’easter blizzard that raged all day. It was our first blizzard in a while, and th...

02/21/2022

Tonight, the Moon of Snow Wading arrives. “If the moon becomes partially concealed by a hazy atmosphere, it is said that the moon is wading through the snow.” – Gladys Tantaquidgeon, Medicine Woman

02/19/2022

Attention CT Poultry Owners
Starting Friday, February 18, CT Department of Agriculture staff will be calling to discuss Avian Influenza. A highly pathogenic strain of bird flu in the Atlantic Flyway has affected commercial and backyard flocks in Nova Scotia, Indiana, Kentucky, and Virginia.
NOW is the time to review your biosecurity plan to ensure the health and safety of your flock and take action to prevent further spread.

02/19/2022

Looking for a hike in Connecticut with stellar views that can be accessed year-round? Check out this one from Ragged Mountain Preserve!

02/19/2022

The Connecticut Department of Agriculture (DoAg) is now accepting applications for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) for the 2022 program year. Funding priorities include strengthening and improving food systems, improving food security and food safety, and implementing controlled environment agriculture production systems to adapt to climate change. Applications are due by March 10, 2022, at 4:00 p.m. to [email protected].

Eligible applicants include commodity groups, agricultural organizations, colleges and universities, municipalities, state agencies, and agricultural nonprofits. Projects must benefit the industry as a whole and not a single organization, business, or commercial product. As a result, individual farms or businesses are encouraged to apply and partner with other eligible applicants rather than apply themselves. This is a reimbursement grant with awards up to $99,999.

The goal of the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program is to solely enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in domestic and foreign markets. Specialty crops are defined as any fruit or vegetable, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops, including floriculture. Also included is honey, maple syrup, Christmas trees and processed foods/food products which are made of at least 50% specialty crops (excluding added water). An eligible plant must be intensively cultivated and used by people for food, medicinal purposes, and/or aesthetic gratification to be considered a specialty crop.

For more information on the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, please visit the website, http://www.ctgrown.gov/grants and click on Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, or contact Rebecca Eddy at [email protected] or 860-573-0323.

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02/15/2022

An overview of Connecticut's maple syrup production output.

01/25/2022

Looking for a free day at a federal park?

This upcoming year will have five free days when admission is waived for every park that usually requires payment.