Urban and Small-Scale Growers Meeting
Event Details
Date
April 5, 2024
Time
8:30 AM - 3:00 PM
Location
Massachusetts Avenue Project Farmhouse
387 Massachusetts Ave
Buffalo, NY 14213
Cost
FREE, includes lunch
Host
Cornell Vegetable Program and Harvest NYLori Koenick
email Lori Koenick

This event is an opportunity for small-scale growers, urban growers, community garden leaders and ag service providers to build community, engage in production-focused workshops, and share resources. Topics include building soil productivity, insect and disease management, growing vegetables, berries, and tree fruits, and more.
AGENDA:
- 8:30AM Doors open, sign-in, visit tables
- Welcome, intros, housekeeping
- Plant Pathology 101 -- Elizabeth Buck, Fresh Market Vegetable Specialist, CCE Cornell Vegetable Program
- Selecting Sites & Trees for Success in Small/Urban Orchards -- Anna Wallis, Fruit IPM Coordinator, NYS Integrated Pest Management Program
- Break
- Small Fruit Production Lessons from NYC -- Makela Elvy, Urban Gardens Specialist, CCE Harvest NY
- Grower panel: "Building Soil Productivity and Fertility"
- Lunch
- Choose your own adventure (visit tables and networking, farm tour, hands-on workshop)
- Grower panel: "How We Manage Insects on our Farms"
- Improving Okra Earliness and Yield -- Wil Moss, Moss Fresh Fruit & Vegetables
- 3:00 PM Wrap up and evaluations
COST: FREE, includes snacks and lunch by Lloyd Tacos, but pre-registration is required.
REGISTRATION: Space is limited! We are reserving space for growers first, but will open it up to ag service providers, as space allows.
- Growers -- Register online by March 29 at 9 PM. REGISTRATION IS CLOSED! We met the space limitation for this event.
- Ag Service Providers -- Email Lori Koenick to be added to our waitlist. You will be notified April 1st if we have additional space available for you to attend.
Travel costs a barrier? Please email Lori Koenick or email Mallory Hohl.

Upcoming Events
Orleans Regional Winter Vegetable Meeting
February 9, 2026
Albion, NY
Topics include: Breeding and evaluating tomatoes to control disease and improve yield, jar testing and ensuring spray water quality, breaking down organic matter, FSMA updates and Q&A with Ag & Markets, and industry updates. Includes hands-on learning, coffee break, and sponsor booths.
DEC credits available: 1.0 in CORE plus 0.5 in 1a, 10 or 23
African Eggplant Participatory Breeding Kick-Off
March 5, 2026
Join us to learn about the Cornell African Eggplant Research Project and learn how you can participate! African eggplant, also known as Bitterball, Garden Egg, Kittley and other names, is an important crop for many members of our community with heritage from regions such as sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, and Brazil. Since 2024, the Cornell African Eggplant Research Project has been collaborating with growers and community partners across New York to develop high-quality varieties adapted to the Northeast U.S. In this meeting, we will share information about growing and preparing African eggplant, highlight our research to date, and invite partners to collaborate with us in our 2026 participatory breeding and variety selection efforts.
COST: FREE! You must pre-register to receive the Zoom link.
Managing the Invasive Swede Midge Webinar
March 6, 2026
Swede midge is an invasive fly that causes serious economic losses to brassica crops. Due to its small size and hidden feeding habits, swede midge is often called an "invisible pest" and damage may be misdiagnosed. In this webinar, we will review the swede midge life cycle and crop damage symptoms, current management recommendations, new research findings, and highlights from on-farm case studies with a focus on organic management.
1.75 DEC pesticide recertification credits in categories 1a, 10, and 23.