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Our Cooperative Extension programs make life better for Cape Cod.

You may not have heard of us, but you are probably familiar with our work. Check out our program highlights below!

A raw turkey with legs and wings tied appears over a starry background. Text above reads "May the Thaw Be With You." Seal of Barnstable County, Massachusetts, is in the corner.A turkey wearing a shower cap sits in a bathtub surrounded by rubber ducks, with text reading "Turkeys Don't Do Baths. County logo in the upper right corner.Graphic titled "Cape Cod Holiday Lights Recycling Collection." It announces that all 15 towns on Cape Cod are accepting broken holiday strand lights for recycling. Below, it lists accepted items: Rope lights, Garland lights, C7 and C9 bulbs, Mini lights, and LED holiday lights. At the bottom, logos for Barnstable County, AmeriCorps, and Cape Cod Cooperative Extension are displayed. The graphic is bordered by images of colorful holiday lights on top and bottom, with a festive, dark background.Three dogs sitting on a beach with humorous labels reflecting different pumpkin seed flavors. The large German Shepherd on the left is labeled "Spicy," the big Rottweiler in the middle is labeled "Chilly," and the tiny Chihuahua on the right is labeled "Cinnamon Toast." A cluster of illustrated pumpkins is in the foreground, adding a festive, autumn feel. The image is part of a lighthearted post encouraging people to save their pumpkin seeds while carving for Halloween and try flavorful recipes for a healthy snack.A graphic titled 'Honoring Dedication to Cape Cod’s Drinking Water,' featuring two photos of Kalliope Chute. The first photo shows Kalliope receiving the North American Hazardous Materials Management Association award from Extension’s Director, Mike Maguire. The second photo shows Kalliope receiving the MassRecycle award from Philip Goddard of the Town of Bourne ISWM Department. The graphic highlights Kalliope as Cooperative Extension’s Hazardous Materials Environmental Specialist / Cape Cod Groundwater Guardian and includes a thank you message for her commitment to protecting Cape Cod’s drinking water and community health. Logos for Barnstable County and Cape Cod water awareness campaign are also present.2025 Barnstable County UMass Garden Calendar on sale now. The image displays the cover and inside pages of the calendar, showing a beautiful blue flowering plant. The calendar is available for purchase in three ways: (1) order online for delivery through USPS, (2) send a check in the mail for delivery through USPS, or (3) purchase with a check at the office located at 1358 Route 28, South Yarmouth, MA. The link to order the calendar is capecod.gov/gardencalendar.A cluttered garage or workshop space is flooded with water, with various containers and bottles of household chemicals floating or standing in the water. The image conveys the danger of chemical spills during storms and floods. The bottom of the image features the logos for Barnstable County and 'Love Your Local Water,' along with the message: 'Preventing Household Chemical Spills During Storms and Floods.An orange and yellow Spirit Halloween costume package featuring a jar of murky pickled vegetables. A zombie is emerging from inside the jar, reaching out. The title reads "Jar of Pickled Terror." The text under "Includes" lists: A jar of brine cloudier than The Fog Vegetables straight out of The Walking Dead A lid sealed worse than A Quiet Place Scent of death FREE Botulism spores At the bottom, the package says "Adult Size Costume" and includes the logo for Barnstable County, Massachusetts.Graphic titled 'Protecting Cape Cod's Coastline: Reflecting on Hurricane Milton's Devastation and Local Action,' featuring an orange title banner with a white silhouette of Cape Cod. Below the title, three key words 'PLAN · PROTECT · PREPARE' are highlighted against a blue background. At the bottom, an image shows flooded trees and high winds during a storm, with logos for the County of Barnstable and Sea Grant Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution displayed.A vibrant garden scene in the fall with scattered yellow leaves. A wheelbarrow and gardening tools, including rakes and a shovel, lean against a rustic fence. The text on the right reads: 'Fall Tasks: Prepare the Garden for Next Year. Fall for free gardening tips and advice from the Cape Cod Master Gardeners.' Contact details are displayed below, including a phone number (508) 375-6700, an email address gardeners@capecod.gov, and a website www.capecod.gov/hortclinic. The Barnstable County and Master Gardener Association logos appear at the top.A colorful promotional image for the Kids in the Kitchen Video Cooking Series. The central text reads "Kids in the Kitchen," surrounded by playful images of food-related items like salt and pepper shakers. There are four children featured, each engaging in food-related activities, including tasting food, holding vegetables, and wearing a chef’s hat. Below, there’s a website link: capecod.gov/kidsinthekitchen. The logos of "Cape Cod Buy Fresh Buy Local," "MDAR," and the Cape Cod Cooperative Extension are also visible. The background is bright with doodles of kitchen utensils and food.Are you flood ready? A guide to Cape Cod flood and storm prep.Image of AmeriCorps Cape Cod Year 26 members. Text is, "AmeriCorps Cape Cod (ACC) is marking 26 years of service to Cape Cod with a Swearing-In Ceremony for its newest members, who will serve from 2024 to 2025. The ceremony will take place on the front steps of the Superior Courthouse on Wednesday, September 25, at 12:00 PM. ".At the top is the logo and text Master Gardeners of Cape Cod Presents: Autumn Joy Symposium for Fall Gardening Insights. October 5th at the Harwich Community Center $25 per person. Registration required. Join Mal Condon, “The Hydrangea Guy” and curator at Heritage Museums and Gardens, for insights on winter hydrangea care,alongside sessions on growing dahlias, succulents, fresh winter vegetables, and a hands-on container garden demo to prepare for spring. Register at https://mastergardenerscc.org. Image of dead boxwood trees in front of a house, due to boxwood moth infestation. In front is a magnifying glass enlarging a photo of the green box tree moth. Overlaying text is: Be Aware: Box Tree Moth. Under the is county logo with the hort clinic website capecod.gov/hortclinic.How to manage pests and bugs in your Cape Cod garden with help from the Master Gardeners.More than 46.37 Tons of Plastic Boat Shrink Wrap Diverted from the Waste Stream Thanks to Cape-wide Shrink Wrap Recycling Program. Cape Cod Latex Paint Take-Back Day. Image of a graph illustrating the flood insurance savings with the CRS program. Background image is a beach at sunset. Title is "SANDWICH REDUCED FLOOD INSURANCE COSTS WITH CRS PROGRAM". The graph compares the years before CRS, 2019 and 2024. Before CRS there was a 0 Rating and 0% savings. In 2019 the town received a class 7 rating and 15% savings. In 2024 the town received a class 8 rating and 20% savings. Below graph is the text, "Total savings to flood policy holders are $82,000 annually."On the lower right is an image of a cell phone with the web page for the Food Access programs, www.capecod.gov/foodaccess. At the top is the heading, " Find FREE Food and Meal Sites on Cape Cod." Below the heading are the resources available at the website: Food Pantries, Summer Meal Sites, Student Meal Sites, Senior Food Resources and Farms and Markets.White text over navy blue celebration image. Text reads, :25 Years AmeriCorps Cape Cod Graduation. Date: Thursday, July 25th; Time: 10 AM; Location: Cape Cod Community College Tilden Arts Center, 2240 Iyannough Rd, West Barnstable. Light refreshments provided."Image of a veggie garden Title: Troubleshooting Issues in the Garden. July 13th, 9 to 11am at Marstons Mills Fuller Farm. Text is, "By mid-July, gardens might be showing a few issues, and you might feel the need to step in and tweak a few things. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! Extension's Garden and Horticulture expert, Russ Norton, is here to help with all your garden concerns. He’ll not only answer your questions but also shed light on signs of problems that could be just around the corner. $29 per person, register at resroots.org."On the right is image of a hydrangea garden with county logos. On the left is text: Master Gardener Tours and Tip Talks! July 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, & 14. 10am to 4pm.Buy local Cape Cod produce with SNAP and HIP benefits.Image of Summer Eats and county logo with map of Cape Cod. Text is: Kids + Teens Get Free, Nutritious Meals All Summer Long. Website to click on is projectbread.org/summereats.Image of assorted berries and a jar of jam. Title: Making Jam: A Resilient Roots and Cooperative Extension Workshop. Text is, "Got more berries than you know what to do with this summer? Or wish you could? Join us at Cape Cod Community College for a jam-packed workshop! Cape Cod Cooperative Extension’s Food Safety Educator, Kim Concra, will teach you how to safely preserve your fruit and even some veggies like onions and garlic. Learn all the tips and tricks from harvest to making your own preserves. $65 per person, register at resroots.org."Image of a grill propane tank with a large "No" next to it. Text reads, "Can I bring my propane tanks to my Cape Cod HHW Collection? No, dispose your tank at your transfer station."Image of burgers and kabobs on a grill. Over the image is text, "Food Grilling Safety Tips" with the link www.capecod.goc/grillingtips.Grilled Local Cape Cod Bluefish RecipeImage is of a child's bare legs and feet in grass. Next to the child is a tick. Next to the bare foot image is a cell phone with the image of the Project ITCH Tick Control Survey website. Title of graphic is, "Do you control ticks in your yard? Below the title is highlighted text that says, "Take this survey! Get a free evaluation!" Reader is directed to the Project ITCH survey website www.newvec.org/itch. County logo is in the lower right corner.Image of a garden at sunset with text: Title: Evenings in the Graden. Join the Cape Cod Master Gardeners at the Barnstable County Fairgrounds on Rt. 151 in Falmouth, 5:00 – 6:30pm. Please take a look at the demonstration garden through the seasons. There will be presentations, tours, and time to ask questions. Events are Thursday evenings from 5:00pm to 6:30pm: May 9th: Beginning the Season: Getting Your Garden Started. May 23rd: Planting Your Garden: When, How, & Where. June 27th: Managing the Garden: Mulching, Watering, & Plant Care. August 8th: Maintaining Your Garden: Managing Pests & Harvesting. September 5th: Looking Ahead: Preparing for Next Season. More info at the link www.mastergardenerscc.org. 2024 Cape Cod Household Hazardous Waste CollectionsImage of Tony and Carmela Soprano, looking disappointed. Text reads, "You are going to clean the gutters".Image of Scargo Lake in Dennis. Below is an image of an old wall-mounted thermostat with text, "3 grams of mercury can pollute a 60 acre lake". Additional text is, "Dispose old thermostats at Cape Cod’s Household Hazardous Waste Collections. Visit loveyourlocalwater.org".Image is of covered boats with a sunset sky. Text reads: Cape Cod Boat Shrink Wrap Recycling, April 1st to June 30th, 2024. Bring clean, rolled wrap to transfer stations in Bourne, Chatham, Eastham, Falmouth and Wellfleet. More info can be found at the link http://seagrant.whoi.edu/shrinkwrap.Image of a blackboard with the accompanying text: FREE Effective Grant Writing Workshop for Farmers, Food Producers, Food Pantries, and Social Service Organizations. Learn to write a winning application, find funding, develop proposals, and avoid mistakes. March 27th, 2024 from 10am to 12pm. Located at the Harborview Room at the Barnstable County Complex in West Barnstable. To register, email tara.racine@capecod.gov or call #508-375-6695.Image of a young family with accompanying text: Find your no-cost neighborhood food pantry or food distribution at the link www.capecod.gov/foodaccess. 50+ partners across Cape Cod are listed in the Food Resource Guide.Image of children working in a garden with an adult and muddy hands. Images are accompanied with text: Register for Lower Cape Cod Children’s Garden. Registration is free.2024 Cape Cod Household Hazardous Waste Collections Schedule and Brochures.2024 Cape Cod Food Waste Forum. Tuesday, March 5th 9:00am – 12:30pm in Yarmouth. Join Buy Fresh Buy Local Cape Cod for discussions on transforming food waste on the farm and in the community.Announcing the Barnstable County 4-H 2024 Advisory Council Scholarship!❤️📚 The application is open now and closes on March 18, 2024. Click the following link for info and application www.capecod.gov/4hscholarships. Best of luck to all of our Barnstable County 4-H seniors!Marine and road flare disposal on Cape Cod.Massachusetts River Herring Network: It Counts on Cape Cod.Don't dress like Jason when winter walking. One bite from a tick can change your life!Cape Codders turned in 303 tons of toxic materials during the 2023 HHW Collections. The safe disposal of these materials helps keep our homes safe, our drinking water clean, and protects our environment.We want you! Barnstable County 4-H is in need of Babysitting class instructors.Extension and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Sea Grant are accepting applications for the position of a full-time Coastal Processes and Hazards Specialist to provide professional, technical management, research, outreach and educational work related to coastal and shoreline processes, coastal geology/ecology, and issues related to coastal hazards. Master’s degree in coastal geology or related physical science field. $80,030.86 - $90,075.75 per year commensurate with experience plus a generous benefits package. Apply here www.capecod.gov/jobs.Extension's holiday plant guide that covers: Amaryllis Paperwhite Narcissus Poinsettia Thanksgiving/ Christmas Cactus and more!Master Gardeners of Cape Cod 2024 scholarship opportunities for current high school seniors or college students majoring in agriculture, horticulture or a related natural resource field. Find video and recipe for local Cape Cod cranberry cookies.LEAF it alone! Just a friendly reminder that our important pollinators (like bees) hibernate in the leaves for winter. If we rake leaves now, we risk killing many insects in the process.Cape Cod Holiday Lights Recycling Collection: All 15 towns are accepting broken holiday strand lights to be recycled! Holiday lights that can be accepted: Rope lights Garland lights C7 and C9 bulbs Mini lights LED holiday lightsImage of Cape Cod section of the new 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map.Cooking turkey tips- cook safely this Thanksgiving.Image answers questions about ticks in fall: Can they survive in chilly temps? Yes! Where do they live? Leaf litter and low vegetation. Protect yourself by wearing long clothing, wearing permethrin on outdoor clothing including shoes, and stay on cleared paths during a hike.Image of a tulip and cover of the 2024 UMass Garden Calendars, now available for purchase. To order your garden calendar online and for more details, please visit our website at https://www.capecod.gov/gardencalendar.National Drug Take Back Day Oct. 28, 2023.Local beet recipe with Cape Cod Organic Farm.Cape Cod Food Access Guide Fall 2023.Labeling quahogs for disease program.Why you see stink bugs in your home this time of year.Image of coastal properties in Wellfleet that could benefit from coastal design guidelines.Spiders are unwanted housemates on Cape Cod.Fall for zucchini and summer squash. They are versatile veggies that can be eaten as a snack or meal. Kids can help cook these too!Protect the life you built on Cape Cod. How to prepare for floods.Hummingbird hawk moth in a Cape Cod garden.Become a Master Gardener. Fill out application today.Hurricane Idalia track from Florida to inland areas.Image is picture of Shannon Hulst, Floodplain & Community Rating System Specialist with Cape Cod Cooperative Extension. Heading is Preparing Cape Cod for Floods with mitigation efforts and lowering flood insurance rates.Extension's home canning resources include free pressure canner gauge testing.Although they get a bad rap for their aggressiveness, and they don’t do much pollinating, wasps and hornets are beneficial to have around the garden. Here's why you should learn to appreciate them - and how to get rid of them if they become a problem without harming them.Rain storms can cause flooding.Extension's Hazardous Materials Environmental Specialist, Kalliope Chute, joined Barnstable Government Access for the most recent episode of County Chatter to talk about HHW Collections.Question about fruit flies and where they come from.Flyer on ways you can control and prevent mosquitoes on your property or home.Cape Cod Cooperative Extension's Seed to Plate Program: How to Grow, Cook, and Access Local Food.Extension's Waste Reduction Coordinator, Kari Parce, joined Barnstable Government Access TV for the most recent episode of County Chatter to talk about latex paint and boat shrink wrap recycling.August is National Water Quality Month. Buy Fresh Buy Local Cape Cod- Your Source for Local Food and Farms this summer.The #1 deadliest animal in the world is...NOT A GREAT WHITE SHARK! It's the tiny, pesky, completely unglamorous MOSQUITO. Learn how to protect yourself and your family here.Cape Cod's Warming Climate Affects Spread of Tick-Borne Diseases.Protect yourself from tick bites on hikes.Map of summer eats locations on Cape Cod for 2023. Kids and Teens Can Enjoy Free, Nutritious Meals All Summer Long.Cape Cod Master Gardener Hydrangea Festival Tour for 2023.Gorilla making a surprised face with text, "your face when you hear a new tick is in town".Are you a resident of Cape Cod but cannot attend your own town's HHW event? Don't miss out! Fill out the non-resident form and get a quote and appointment to attend any of the 24 HHW events on Cape Cod annually. Find the form at our website www.loveyourlocalwater.org2023 Master Gardener Evenings in the Garden schedule.Cooking up local Cape Cod choy sum.Don't be scared by roly poly bugs.Find the Cape Cod Master Gardeners at the Bass Rivers Farmers Market, Chatham Farmers Market and Falmouth Public Library this summer. Ask them questions or bring plants/ photos to discuss.Why is my beech tree dying? Find out about a spreading tree disease.County Entomologist Larry Dapsis chats with Barnstable Channel 18's Paula Hersey about ticks on Cape Cod.2023 HHW Collections Schedule and info.Succession planting for a continual harvest, featuring characters from the Succession TV show.Cape Cod 2023 Farmers' Market calendar.Hydrangea winter damage.Drinking morning coffee amongst plants that were brought inside to protect from a late season frost warning.Master Gardener Plant Sale on Saturday May 20th at Cape Cod Fairgrounds from 9am to 1pm.Happy Drinking Water Week from the people and projects that help keep our drinking water clean.Household Hazardous Waste Collections for Cape Cod.Star Wars characters Tarkin and Grogu showing the MA Homeowner's Handbook to Prepare for Coastal Hazards. Click here to download.Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Sea Grant Extension Marine Specialist, Abigail Archer, joined Brewster Conservation Trust and 13 herring fans on a walk through the Stony Brook herring run.Contact Tara Racine for more info on becoming a vendor at the Hyannis Farmers' Market by calling 508-375-6695.4-H members and program coordinator, Sandi Shepherd-Gay greeting folks at their event table.Protect Cape Cod's First Responders by Visiting Your Local HHW Collection.Free blood pressure, glucose, and nutrition education at Outer Cape locations for April.County Entomologist, Larry Dapsis, pointing to sign about Babesiosis and how it's 1. an emerging disease 2. can be serious 3. preventing tick bites prevents the infection. Visit Larry at capecod.gov/ticksCape Cod Boat Shrink Wrap Program for 2023.Town of Barnstable HHW Collection schedule for 2023. Soil testing is easy! Drop off at our office located 1358 Route 28 in South Yarmouth. Cape Cod Master Gardener Scholarship for 2023.Barnstable County Advisory Council Scholarship.Abigail Archer, our Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Sea Grant Extension Fisheries & Aquaculture Specialist, received the 2023 American Fisheries Society (AFS) Northeast Division President’s Award for leading a monthly diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) discussion in 2021-2022 and for 16 years of service to the AFS in various capacities.Save your water with these conservation tips.Imagination and teamwork take flight at the Barnstable County 4H “Design a Planet” workshop, part of the 4H Aerospace youth workshop series.National Groundwater Awareness WeekWoods Hole Sea Grant Extension Coastal Processes team visit Provincetown.During National Nutrition Month head to our website for recipes and cooking videos.Feeding Cape Cod with first local food distribution.Talking Ticks on CAI with Mindy ToddFundamentals of Shellfish Farming ClassKeep Your home and environment safe from toxic winter auto fluids that cannot be thrown in the trash. Find your disposal options at www.loveyourlocalwater.org.Cape Cod Master Gardeners Presents the Home Garden Spring Symposium, featuring award winning gardener and author, Brie Arthur. Event is March 25th in Centerville at the Lady of Victory Church. Cost is $40 per person, head to this link to register www.mastergardenerscc.orgWe need volunteers to help with the 2023 HHW collections.Hannibal Lecter and the female firefly enjoying having friends for dinner this Valentine's Day.Follow these food safety tips to keep food poisoning from tackling your Super Bowl party.Show your Valentine some love with the gift of permethrin to prevent tick-borne disease.Flowers for 4H! Buy bulbs online and a portion goes to support Barnstable County 4h programs and events. Order online today.Nothing says I love you like the 2023 UMass Garden Calendar. Buy yours for Valentine's Day.Cooperative Extension in the news. Extension's entomologist, Larry Dapsis, explains how Cape Cod's mild winters make for an active tick season in this article from Northeastern Global News.Brace yourselves, groundhogs are coming for your garden.4H Youth in Action with Aerospace. Click here for more.Download the 2023 HHW Collection Schedule here.Tick bite prevention in the winter.Bringing your Food Product to Market-An Introduction. Click Here to Register.Learn to grow a garden with the Master Gardner Backyard Horticulture Workshop series. Click here.Holiday Food Safety TipsHazardous Holiday Weather Safety tips2023 UMass Garden calendars on sale now. Happiness and Cheer!Barnstable County HHW Collected over 600 thousands pounds of household hazardous waste in 2022.4H and ameriCorp Cape Cod in the UMass NewsletterDon't Rake The Leaves

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