SWCD Blog
Is Eradication Possible? The Asian Longhorned Beetle in New York State
By Hanna Whalen Unfortunately for most invasive species once a population is established it is nearly impossible to get rid of it entirely. Managing the population annually to reduce their numbers is essential for maintaining functioning ecosystems, but the species...
Garlic Mustard is still at it
By Hanna Whalen You have probably already heard about and seen today's Invasive species: garlic mustard. This plant, native to Europe, has been in the United States for over 150 years. This plant requires partial shade so it is an invader of forests and wooded edge...
Chinese Mystery Snails Have Arrived in Cortland County
By Hanna Whalen Hopefully you are aware that Aquatic Invasive Species are a threat to local water bodies and natural lands. This week is New York State Invasive species awareness week, so there is no better time to learn more than the present. One new species of...
The Universe is out to get us? : Murder Hornets in the U.S.
By Hanna Whalen If you’ve been online in the past few months you’ve probably already heard of the Giant Asian Hornet a.k.a “Murder Hornets”. There is no doubt that 2020 has been a rough year for many of us, but fortunately this development is not a major threat. One...
Eat. Drink. And Be Dairy
By Chelsey Mahany Dairy cattle have been in the United States since 1624. The popular Holstein cow (a large, black and white or red and white animal) was first introduced in 1852 to Massachusetts by a man named Winthrop Chenery. Originating in the Netherlands, this...
Compost Awareness Week 2020
With the weather warming up, we can finally look forward to working outdoors and more importantly, in the soil. Compost is an excellent way to enhance the soil and increase its quality, making it a vital tool to a successful garden. Typically, people associate the...
Get the Buzz on Pollinators: A look into the life of a honeybee!
My legs are heavy with pollen that I’ve flown miles to collect. Going from flower to flower, I pick up some pollen with the fine hairs on my legs. I can’t carry all of it though, and end up leaving some of it behind on different plants and their flowers. I am told...
Gardening and Pollinator Habitats
Getting a garden planted is an excellent way to embrace the spring season. Gardens can be vegetables, flowering plants, shrubs and trees or a combination of all or any of them. They are easily one of the most fun ways to add vibrant colors, smells and even flavors to...
Happy Arbor Day!
Thinking about planting trees? It's Arbor Day, so why not! Here are just a few benefits of trees we borrowed from a variety of sources - Social Benefits Trees make life nicer. It has been shown that spending time among trees and green spaces reduces the amount of...
Cortland County SWCD receives multiple awards
SWCD was recognized by the New York Association of Conservation Districts (NYACD) with multiple awards at its annual conference last week. These included the District Diversity award which recognizes conservation district efforts to improve or continue conservation in...
