Construction work on a new patio for the James Prendergast Library (June 1, 2023)

Construction is underway for a new patio leading to the entrance of the James Prendergast Library.

Community Outreach and Programming Manager Jennifer Champ said the project is being funded entirely with grants including $214,983 in New York State Public Library construction funds. Locally, the Lenna Foundation donated $37,200 and the Ralph C. Sheldon Foundation granted $37,165 toward the project.

Champ said construction started on the patio and walkway last week, “It’s an outdoor community space. It’s going to have built-in benches, a trash receptacle, there’s lighting which was already installed last year – you can see that out there, and we have a new bike rack. So, it really is this community outdoor space. We’re going to use it for programs and events.”

Champ said the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation also donated a $4,000 grant for gardens around the patio.

She said they’re working with the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy and Chautauqua County Master Gardeners on that part of the project, “I love gardening but they’re experts and they knew exactly what we needed, especially for the light and the sun and the soil. And, you know, we have to worry about salt and stuff during the wintertime of course. So, we’re going to have a beautiful native plant garden. And, next year we’re going to hopefully apply for more funding and we will expand the garden all the way around to the front of the library.”

Champ said that future expansion would include signs with information about the native plants.

She added that the library remains open during construction.

A dedication of the patio will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, June 24 as part of the Library’s Second Annual Block Party.

Master Gardeners Plant Sale at JCC (2022)

Chautauqua County Master Gardeners will hold their 11th Annual Plant Sale Saturday at Jamestown Community College.

The annual fundraiser sale will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Saturday, May 13 at the JCC Science Building in Jamestown.

It will include perennials, annuals, vegetables, and herbs for sale. There also will be gently used gardening books, equipment, and garden art.

Master Gardeners will be following recommendations from State Ag & Markets to reduce to exposure and transport of amynthas agrestis, also known as jumping worm. The roots of the perennials will be washed and repotted in new soil.

Master Gardeners from the Helpline will be available to answer gardening questions and also do soil testing. Residents are invited to bring in a soil sample and have the pH tested for free.

Master Gardeners in Chautauqua and Cattaraugus Counties

The newsletter, called The Optimistic Gardener, will have gardening articles, upcoming events, featured Master Gardeners, advice column, children’s garden activity, book reviews, and more.

View the newsletter online at: https://chautauqua.cce.cornell.edu/gardening and https://cattaraugus.cce.cornell.edu

The Chautauqua and Cattaraugus Master Gardener Program is a Cornell Cooperative Extension Program with the mission to provide support and guidance to the public and community gardens free of charge. Volunteers undergo a 50-hour training program, and volunteer 35 hours per year to maintain their certification as a Master Gardener.

County Executive PJ Wendel, Jamestown Mayor Eddie Sundquist, Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy’s Carol Markham, Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy’s Twan Leenders

The Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy has kicked off an effort to certify Chautauqua County as a National Wildlife Federation Community Habitat.

Officials, including Chautauqua County Executive PJ Wendel, Jamestown Mayor Eddie Sundquist, as well as representatives from the Roger Tory Peterson Institute, Chautauqua-Conewango Consortium, Jamestown Public Market, and Master Gardeners gathered at an event Thursday in the South Basin area of the Jamestown Riverwalk.

CWC Ecological Restoration Manager Twan Leenders said the restoration area of the south bank of the Chadakoin River by the Board of Public Utilities is now part of the certified habitats, “Which has native plants on it. It has habitats for wildlife in it. We’re not using harmful chemicals on it. It provides all kinds of resources for native plants and animals, and those are really the criteria needed to certify an area, your backyard, a park, as an accredited wildlife habitat.”

CWC Board President Becky Nystrom said there are 98 gardens of the 400 needed are already certified in Chautauqua County.

Leenders said anyone can certify their yard by filling out an online questionnaire. He said this is also how the National Wildlife Habitat Federation tracks how many habitats are in a county, “But it could be any scale, it could be a preserve. Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy’s preserves certainly qualify. The city has already agreed to work with us for city parks. The county, various community partners, corporate, non-profit.. Really, it’s a very easy process but it’s really a way to collaboratively get them into the mindset that if we manage any kind of property that we manage in a way that we provide resources, a place to live, and food for native wildlife we can make this whole area greener, and better, and healthier.”

The certification checklist and link to certify for your property can be found at nwf.org/certify.

The Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County’s Master Gardener Volunteer Pat Martonis will present the program from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday at the Carnahan Center.

She will help participants explore a variety of ways to build an environment for the wildlife you want to attract in the setting in which you live, work or play. Attracting native pollinators increases vegetable and fruit production and birds and other small mammals can help control pests.

Pre-registration is required and can be done online at: http://chautauqua.cce.cornell.edu/agriculture/2022-l-e-a-f-workshop-series. You can also register by calling 716-664-9502 ext. 209.

The books, purchased locally from Off the Beaten Path Bookstore in Lakewood, are aimed at youth ages pre-school to 4th grade. The donations are in support of the Master Gardener program mission of providing knowledge-based information on sustainable horticulture and gardening for the public.

The local gardening effort is being spear-headed by the Creating Healthy Places to Live, Work and Play initiative, a state program administered by the Chautauqua County Health Network. Earlier this week, CCHN hosted an update meeting with various individuals involved with gardening projects this growing season.

Among those in attendance was Peter Lombardi of the Jamestown Renaissance Corporation. Lombardi said the JRC’s effort to create three community gardening spots in three different neighborhoods is going will, with a total of 42 gardening beds being leased by local residents.

“We spent much of the spring identifying sights, entering into lease agreements with property owners, installing these 42 beds and right now they are all leased, they are mostly in production and no incidents so far,” Lombardi explained.

The Resource Center is also getting in on the gardening program. The TRC’s Lee Hoffman said several residents are helping with various in-house projects, as well as volunteering their time to help other gardening initiatives, including the ones in the Jamestown School District that need attention while school is out.

“Our folks are volunteering to water the gardens at the Washington Middle School during the summer months. Obviously that is a purposeful community activity for people with developmental disabilities, and like all of us that’s what they are looking for. To find purpose and meaning in their day and to be part of the Jamestown community. This has been a tremendous opportunity for the Resource Center to do that.”

Other groups also involved in the community garden initiative are Lutheran Social Services, the Foster Grandparents program, BOCES, Chautauqua Opportunities, the St. Susan Center, Chautauqua County Rural Ministries, the Chautauqua County Health Department, and the Chautauqua County Master Gardeners program – along with several others.

Chautauqua County Creating Healthy Places is a five year initiative funded by the New York State Department of Health to prevent obesity, type 2 diabetes, and other chronic diseases.

In addition to the gardening efforts, the initiative is also providing assistance to two farmers markets in Jamestown, the Lillian Dickson Park renovation effort, and the pedestrian and bicycle improvement plan. Anyone interested in learning more can go online to cchn.net or call 338-0010. The community gardening effort was also the focus of our most recent Community Matters program.

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Businesses are responsible for providing a bright, sunny window and caring for the seedling until it is large enough for a transplanting. Once seedlings are large enough, the Master Gardeners Program will pick up the seedlings and transplant them in selected locations to continue growing.

Interested participants should call the DJDC at 664-2477, ext 226.