UVM Extension

09/25/2026

UVM Extension plant disease expert Ann Hazelrigg is retiring from her 'never boring' role after 44 years.

By the end of her career, Hazelrigg oversaw UVM Extension's Plant Diagnostic Clinic and Master Gardener, Integrated Pest Management and Pesticide Safety Education programs.

"I've loved this job, because it's been such a great combination of science and people," she said.

According to members of the Vermont Vegetable and Berry Growers Association, Hazelrigg has been a "vital resource," a "key part" of farm success and "excellent person in [their] lives."

Rob Meadows and Patricia Rydle of Sunshine Valley Berry Farm in Rochester said: "[Ann] even invited us to [her] home one evening to urgently examine some blueberry cuttings we feared were affected by Botryosphaeria (they were). [She] sliced the canes open right there in [her] kitchen!"

Andy Jones of Intervale Community Farm in Burlington said: "Ann was always willing to go the extra mile and contact the potato pathologist in Maine or the cucumber specialist from the Southwest that might have an idea about what ailed us."

And Chuck Wooster of Sunrise Farm in White River Junction said: "I'll miss the joy and agony of [Ann's] 'preview of coming attractions' talk. How are we going to know what new plague is about to befall us? [Without Ann's] cheerful diagnosis of all of our disasters over the years... getting wiped out by fusarium or late blight won't be nearly as fun anymore."

Ann Hazelrigg received the honor of Lifetime Achievement this summer from the Vermont Agricultural Hall of Fame. And while she said her Extension work could continue 24/7, she's ready to take the time to do other things: traveling, and playing the nyckelharpa, a keyed fiddle that dates back to medieval times.

Congratulations, Ann! As Vegetable and Berry Specialist Vern Grubinger said in an ode to Hazelrigg, written for an Extension conference this past spring:

"Now it’s [the] time for retirement congratulations
May the future bring you many happiness sporulations!"

Photos by Elodie Reed, Vern Grubinger, Lisa Chouinard and Donna Hopkins.

09/24/2026

As the gardening season winds down, why not think ahead to spring and plant some early bloomers like crocus (Crocus) and daffodils (Narcissus)? Where would you like to see flowers?

Fall is a great time to prepare a new garden plot. Even established beds can benefit from a scattering of spring blooming bulbs for early color in the garden before perennials emerge.

Or: you can plan now to force bulbs to bloom indoors this winter. Since most bulbs require a period of cold before blooming, place them in a paper bag in the refrigerator (not the freezer). Large bulbs like daffodils require a longer chilling period (twelve to sixteen weeks), while small bulbs like snowdrops and grape hyacinth require a shorter time (ten to twelve weeks).

After chilling, plant closely together in a container of potting mix with the tips of the bulbs peeking above the soil. Water and place in a cool location (50 to 60°F). When green leaves emerge, move to a sunny spot and watch as spring arrives early indoors!

Learn more at the link in our bio.

09/23/2026

Are you a high school student? Do you want to learn about environmental issues and ways to take action? Great! You can now sign up for the Youth Environmental Science (YES!) Summit.

Vermont 4-H is hosting the YES! Summit on Oct. 16 at the Montpelier Performing Arts Hub. The annual, youth-led event is for young people to explore science, career options, and their connection to the natural world.

Workshop topics include ecological relationships in our backyards, growing your own food, and applying sustainability to everyday life.

Participation is free!

Learn more and sign up at the link in our bio.

09/19/2026

The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets and the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation are asking Vermonters to be on the lookout for spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) from now through the first hard frost of the season.

Vermont does not have a confirmed, established population of spotted lanternfly. However, individual adult insects have been intercepted in the state, most often arriving on vehicles or plants from areas where the pest is established. Officials say continued vigilance from the public is one of the most effective tools for keeping the insect from gaining a foothold in Vermont.

"Every adult spotted lanternfly found in Vermont so far has been the result of an alert Vermonter or business reporting what they saw," said Ginger Nickerson, UVM Extension Forest Pest Education Coordinator. "The window between now and the first hard frost is critical. Adults are most visible this time of year, and this is also when they lay the egg masses that can survive the winter and start a new population next spring."

Learn more at the link in our bio.

Images by Lawrence Barringer, Pennsylvania Dept. of Agriculture, Bugwood.org and VTInvasives.org.

09/18/2026

A new national agritourism study has been released by the University of Vermont and U.S. Department of Agriculture, in partnership with the National Extension Tourism Network. Findings show that while three-quarters of respondents increased farm revenue through agritourism, many farmers report needing more help with funding, infrastructure, marketing assistance and visitor data collection.

This study is UVM Extension's latest effort in working with partners around the world to provide agritourism research, education and practical tools.

Learn more about the study, an upcoming webinar and UVM Extension's agritourism resources at the link in our bio.

09/16/2026

By 3:45 p.m. on Saturday at the 2026 Orleans County Fair, Smalls, Ramona, and Lainey Wilson had their Willy-Wonka-themed outfits in place. Dressed as a chocolate bar, a golden ticket, and Mike Teavee, respectively, all three waited (mostly) patiently for the final part of the Youth Dairy Show: the costume class.

Next to these entrants -- who, by the way, were a Jersey heifer, a holstein calf and a Jersey calf -- stood their human partners: Piper Simoneau, 11, Leah Ray Brown, 10, and John Jenkins, Jr., 7. They're members of the Over the Moon 4-H Club. All three prepared special clothes, Piper and Leah in purple suits, John Jr. in big sunglasses, so they could match their cows. Because for them, the cows are the point.

"I've loved cows my whole life," Leah said. "I just took that and showed, so I can be with the cows more."

🐄 Check out our full photo story at the link in our bio! 🐄

09/16/2026

Take a break from scrolling and listen to some sheep! 🎶 🐑

Have a BAA-utiful day!

09/12/2026

UVM faculty member Ike Leslie, who has affiliations with Extension, the Institute for Agroecology, the Food Systems Graduate Program and the Gund Institute for Environment, has published a new paper and alternative agriculture analytical framework in the journal Society & Natural Resources.

Called the "Alternative Farmhouse," Leslie offers this model as a way to identify barriers and opportunities among the subgroups of farmers who use practices promoting social and environmental health.

"While we know which alternative farming practices address global environmental goals... it is another challenge to scale their use, especially across multiple global goals at once," Leslie writes. They add that their paper is an attempt to "spotlight leverage points for structural change."

Learn more at https://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/GRQBHPH68XUJCUQKYSGH/full?target=10.1080/08941920.2026.2717710

Photos by Andy Duback and Elodie Reed.

09/11/2026

Mix (or *toss*) together farro, zucchini, yellow squash, tomatoes, spinach, beets, garbanzo beans, Kalamata olives, feta cheese and a lemon-y dressing, and what do you get? A healthy, cost-effective, colorful and tasty grain bowl, as demonstrated by and UVM Extension Community Nutrition Education educator Lori Pinard.

Check out the full recipe at the link in our bio!

09/04/2026