Homesteading for Everyone Series 2026

General Description:

Expand your skill set this year during Extension’s new Homesteading for Everyone workshop series. From March through the end of the year, we’ll focus on home-scale projects that can be incorporated in a backyard in a village or an acre in the woods.

The Homestead workshop series is dedicated to sharing timely information in a hands-on, accessible format, including support materials for participants to use at home. From gardening and raising poultry to preserving food and harnessing energy, let’s celebrate self-sufficiency while building community!

Participants can register for as many workshops as they like in the Homestead series, each of which requires a separate registration. Class size is capped to allow for hands-on opportunities. Payment must be received before the start of each workshop.

Workshop Topics & Dates:

(Note: Details will be added on a rolling basis)

• “Swap it – Seed it” Seed exchange to kick off the new NoCo Seed Library 
  • Saturday February 21^st, 10:30-11:30am, Canton Free Library, FREE, details here

• Pressure Canning Meat
  • Friday, March 6h, 1-4pm, Harvest Kitchen, details here
• Holistic Orchard Management Panel 
  • Tuesday, March 17th, 6-7:30pm, CCE Front classroom, details here

• Pruning Apple Trees  
  • March 30, 2024 1-3p, details here

• Woodlot & Forest Management
  • March, Registration TBD, Extension Learning Farm
• Small Flock Poultry Management
  • April 2, 2026, 6-8pm, details here

• Seed to Supper- 6-week gardening course for beginners on a budget
  • Wednesdays 4/15-5/20, 6-7:30pm, Massena Public Library, details here

• Invasive Species Management at Home
  • During NY Invasive Species Awareness Week, June 8th - 14th, Date & Time TBD
• Making Fruit Jams 
  • Saturday June 13^th, 1-3pm, Gouverneur Presbyterian Church, registration TBD

• Potsdam Summerfest, Energy Zone
  • July 7,8,9,10 am – 4 pm, Ives Park, Potsdam

• Native Plants & Pollinators
  • August, CCE Pollinator Garden, Registration TBD
• Sustainability Day & Green Living Fair with EV-Hybrid Car Show
  • September 25, Times TBD, Barrington Student Center SUNY Potsdam
• Intro to Raising Sheep 
  • Registration TBD

• Intro to Raising Goats
  • Registration TBD

• DIY Energy Efficiency
  • Registration TBD

• Solar and Heat Pumps
  • Registration TBD

• Q & A - Considering selling your products?
  • Registration TBD

Homestead Workshop Instructors

Workshop instructors include seasoned farmers, Extension staff, and Master Gardener volunteers, Master Food Preserver volunteers, and Energy Navigator volunteers all of whom are eager to spread their knowledge to empower others in the North Country to be more self-sufficient. The Learning Farm is the ideal place to congregate with others interested in these topics and become empowered with new information and skills.

Cost

See event page for each workshop to find the price. Some are offered free of charge while others are available on a self-selecting sliding scale $10-$40. In some cases- is it hiring an outside instructor- there is a flat fee to cover program costs.

For questions about specific workshops

• Preservation: M. Flip Filippi at mpf65@cornell.edu or 315-379-9192 ext. 229
• Gardening: Erica LaFountain and ENL2@cornell.edu 315-379-9192, ext. 240  
• Animals: Carmen Hostetter, crh248@cornell.edu or 315-379-9192, ext. 224 
• Nat. Res. & Energy: Nick Hamilton-Honey, nh327@cornell.edu or 315-379-9192, ext. 230

Last updated February 20, 2026