Cheshire County UNH Cooperative Extension

05/07/2026

Thinking about No-Mow May? Here’s what you should know.

Letting the lawn grow in May can offer short-term support for bees and other pollinators, but the bigger benefit comes from how we manage our landscapes all season long. 🐝🦋

A few simple ways to create better habitat beyond May:

Mow less often: Consider mowing every other week.

Leave a small section of your yard unmown all season.

Eliminate chemicals.

Reduce the lights: Outdoor lights impact bird migration and prevent fireflies from seeing each other’s flashes.

Clean up less: Fewer clean-ups provide food and shelter for all kinds of creatures.

Good stewardship provides much-needed habitat for pollinators, insects, birds, amphibians and other animals, while rewarding us with more biodiversity in our own yards.

Read full article at the link in comments.

04/21/2026

April 30 (Thursday) Explore Vernal Pools and Caterpillars! 🐛🔬🐸
10:00am - 1:00pm
Distant Hill Nature Trails
66 March Hill Road
Alstead, NH
Discover larvae of many types and environments with experts from the Caterpillar Lab and 4-H Natural Science program! Exploring "nature's best-kept secret" at Distant Hill Nature Trail in Walpole, get ready to touch slimy and hairy things and see nature coming back to life — up close and personal — after a long winter. Register:

Come explore vernal pools and caterpillars at Distant Hills Nature Trail.

04/10/2026

The (603) Challenge Last Day!
TODAY, every donor who makes an online gift will get an equal portion of $40,000 added to their gift — regardless of gift size, if they have not already made a gift during this year’s challenge!
Thank you to all those who have already donated!!
https://give.unh.edu/schools/UniversityofNewHampshire/the-603-challenge-2026/pages/unh-extension

04/10/2026

🦋 Ever wonder how the butterflies you see in New Hampshire compare to those in other places?

Join us for "Across Regions & Seasons: Comparing the Butterflies of New Hampshire and Texas” on April 22 (4:00–5:15 PM, online)!

Discover how species overlap across regions, which ones look alike (but aren’t!), and how geography shapes the butterflies we see throughout the year. With over 750 butterfly species in the U.S., you might be surprised how connected our local sightings are to places far beyond New England.

Whether you're a seasoned butterfly enthusiast or just curious, this engaging webinar is for you — no experience needed.

👉 Register here: https://www.nhbutterflies.org/event/2026/04/across-regions-seasons-comparing-butterflies-new-hampshire-texas

04/09/2026

The first 2,000 donors who make a gift with the numbers 6, 0, 3 in any order (and who have not already given during The (603) Challenge) will have $20 added to their gift. This means, a gift of $3.06 or $603 all earn the same bonus!

If we reach 450 donors, Branch Hill Farm and an anonymous donor will give Extension $20,000! https://give.unh.edu/.../the-603.../pages/unh-extension

If the 4-H Foundation of NH gift fund receives 100 donors in the next 2 days, Ed McAllister (our former assistant director) will give an additional $2,500! https://give.unh.edu/schools/UniversityofNewHampshire/the-603-challenge-2026/pages/4-h-foundation-of-new-hampshire

We appreciate your support!

04/09/2026

04/06/2026

04/06/2026

Found a tick on yourself, a loved one, or a pet? Consider getting it tested.

UNH Extension offers tick testing to identify the species and check for disease-causing pathogens. Results can help you better understand your risk and decide on next steps to take after a bite.

Order a test online, mail your tick sample with the provided code, and receive results within a few days.

Know your risk. Take informed action.

Learn more or order a test at the link in the comments.

03/27/2026

To prune or not to prune? ✂️🌱

Early spring is a good time to start thinking about pruning in your yard and garden.

For fruit-bearing plants, March and April are often the ideal time to prune. By this point the deepest cold has passed, but plants like apples, pears, blueberries, and raspberries are still dormant. Pruning during this window helps regulate growth, increase yields, improve fruit size and quality, prevent disease, and maintain plant health and vigor.

If pruning feels intimidating, start with the basics. Gardeners and arborists often refer to the “three D’s” of pruning: remove anything that is dead, damaged, or diseased.

Clearing out these branches improves plant health and structure. You can also look for branches that cross and rub against each other and remove those as well.

“We often say, ‘The worst pruning cuts are the ones we don’t make,’ meaning that regular, annual pruning is critical to maintaining healthy, productive plants,” says Jeremy DeLisle, fruit and vegetable production specialist with UNH Extension.

This time of year, UNH Extension also offers in-person pruning demonstrations around the state, where gardeners can learn the science behind pruning and apply those techniques at home.

Check the 2026 pruning workshops: https://extension.unh.edu/resource/pruning-trees-shrubs

UNH Extension Food & Ag

03/20/2026

Selling and Producing Firewood for Farmers, Landowners and Homesteaders
March 27, 2026 | 9:30am - 3:00pm
Society for the Protection of NH Forests
Concord, NH

This workshop covers everything from understanding cost of production to the laws, rules, and regulations for selling firewood. Designed for farmers, landowners, and homesteaders, this is a great opportunity to investigate adding an enterprise to your farm.
More information:

This two-part workshop covers everything from understanding cost of production to the laws, rules, and regulations for selling firewood. Designed for farmers, landowners, and homesteaders.

12/10/2025

Learn how nature can be used as a tool to help alleviate some of the mental and physical symptoms associated with changing seasons.

Winter’s shorter daylight hours can negatively affect mental health, with many experiencing fatigue, mood changes, and in some cases, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a more severe depressive condition. Reduced sunlight impacts serotonin levels and disrupts circadian rhythms, but spending time o...