Yup. If the snow is gone and the ground is fairly firm, we can get outside for some judicious yardwork now. Cooperative Extension's Amy Ivy spent Saturday raking. Gently. [full story]

Now's the time to join a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) farm if you want to enjoy weeks of fresh vegetables and flowers...without necessarily growing them yourself. [full story]

If you're planning for onions in your home garden this summer, you're looking at some deadlines. Right now is the time to start seeds indoors. That, and other points on the onion timeline from Amy Ivy. [full story]

Your pantry and root cellar might be running low on home grown, but there'll be plenty to see and taste Saturday in Plattsburgh, at the 9th annual Food from the Farm day.It's a great day to catch up with friends and foods from the greater Champlain Valley area.Amy Ivy should know. [full story]

Tops on Cooperative Extension's Amy Ivy's list are grow lights. You can assemble your own from common shop lights. Put them on a timer (16 hours of light a day), and be prepared to adjust the distance from the young seedlings.She tells how, and offers more tips on getting set to start seeds indoors. [full story]

Before the catalog orders, before the big tab at the nursery, now is a good time to invest in some good information.Cooperative Extension's Amy Ivy suggests gardening workshops, websites to look for, and books to help make better plans for the coming seasons.Horticulturist Amy Ivy is a regular Monday guest on The Eight O'Clock Hour. [full story]

Temperatures around minus 20 Thursday morning rose to 60 degrees above on Friday last week. That was a stunning swing. But just maybe it didn't hurt plants as much as we might think. By Friday night, the temperature was plunging again, and the snow was falling, re-insulating the ground, where the soil temperature is surprisingly moderate. [full story]

Deep cold and snow cover make life hard for wildlife. Birds cluster at the feeders. Deer come closer. Amy Ivy watched turkeys cruise her yard over the weekend. Martha Foley's cedar trees are full of chickadees, juncos, tree sparrows and more. Amy says now's the time to plan strategic plantings to provide food and shelter. [full story]

Despite the extreme temperatures, December weather has had a fairly healthy pattern for the garden - steady cold to keep things dormant and a good snow cover for insulation. But your overworked heating system in sub-zero temperatures can take a toll on house plants. They can get too dry from forced air, or too warm from being near a heat vent, or too cold near a drafty window.Cooperative Extension horticulturist Amy Ivy sorts out which plants are likely to have which problems and how to keep your whole plant community thriving during the bleak midwinter. [full story]

Chances are you have at least one green thumb to shop for this holiday season. Cooperative Extension's Amy Ivy has some ideas for gardening tools as gifts. [full story]