Cape Cod Cooperative Extension

10/14/2026

You've stepped over it. You've gotten tangled up in it. Maybe you've even started a seaweed fight at the beach.

But have you ever thought about making a living growing seaweed?

Along the Massachusetts coast, some shellfish growers have explored farming sugar kelp as another way to earn income during the quieter winter months.

Sounds like a pretty good idea, right? Well, growing something and making money from it are two very different things.
Some growers struggled to find the right conditions. Others managed to grow kelp but couldn't find anyone to buy it.

So, is there a future for kelp farming in Massachusetts?

Cape Cod Cooperative Extension, the Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen's Alliance, WHOI Sea Grant and research partners took a closer look at what growers have experienced, what's worked, what hasn't, and what we can learn from it.

The answers aren't as simple as you might think.

Read the story and explore the research: https://loom.ly/S89gI1w

10/13/2026

Got a kid who loves figuring out how things work? Put that curiosity to work with robots, rockets, chemistry, 3D printing and more! 🚀

Barnstable County 4-H is sharing this opportunity from Massachusetts 4-H Program: the second annual 4-H Family STEM Day, featuring hands-on activities for youth, led by youth.

📅 Saturday, November 7, 2026
🕤 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
📍 UMass Charles River Campus, Newton, MA
💲 $20 for 4-H members; $40 for nonmembers

You don’t have to be a 4-H member to attend! Workshops have different age requirements, with options starting at age 5.

Register and explore workshops: https://loom.ly/nMg43xQ

Questions? Contact event organizer Kim Pond at [email protected].

10/09/2026

LOCAL OYSTER REFUSES TO OPEN UP. COUNTY EXPERTS CALLED IN.

Two shells. One very committed bivalve.

Fortunately, Cape Cod Cooperative Extension’s Josh and Rachel will be teaching Learn to Shuck classes Saturday and Sunday at the Wellfleet Oyster Alliance Wellfleet OysterFest, October 17–18 (because saying “please” is not a recognized shucking technique)!

Learn how to shuck oysters safely at home, because those little knives can cause big ouchies. Impress your dinner guests with local oysters, not a first aid demonstration starring your hand.

Bringing the kids? AmeriCorps Cape Cod will be in the kids area with oyster-themed games for children and families. Come for the fun. Leave with oyster knowledge you will eventually bring up at dinner without being asked.

Class details and festival schedule: https://loom.ly/E4VVQ-w

10/08/2026

🍀 Behind every “I did it!” is someone who said, “Give it a try.”

This Thankful Thursday, we’re celebrating our Barnstable County 4-H volunteers. You share what you know, make time for questions, help young people learn by doing and cheer them on as their confidence grows.

From club meetings to the fairgrounds, you give your time and heart to make 4-H a place where young people belong. Thank you! 💚

Want to help a young person discover what they’re capable of? Learn about volunteering with Barnstable County 4-H:
https://loom.ly/F5VqjOo

10/06/2026

Food insecurity is a growing challenge for Cape Cod’s year-round residents. Housing costs, transportation barriers and seasonal income can make it difficult for households to afford food and reach available resources.

The latest County Connection column, published October 2 in the Enterprise, explores how Barnstable County’s Cape Cod Cooperative Extension is working with regional partners to strengthen food access.

The column highlights Cape Cod Food Connection, which connects surplus food with local organizations, and the upcoming October 26 Hunger Summit. Regional partners will review data, identify gaps and develop practical strategies, laying the groundwork for a larger Cape Cod Food Forum planned for spring 2027.

Read at https://loom.ly/eJdVsdQ

Please note: The Enterprise article may require a subscription to read.

10/06/2026

Ever wonder who keeps Massachusetts state parks running? 🌲

Meet Brigid Beauchamp, a Forest and Park Supervisor with nine years of experience at the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation.

This statewide UMass Extension 4-H Career Exploration Series event gives young people a chance to learn what Brigid does, why it matters and where an interest in parks and the outdoors could lead.

📅 Wednesday, October 14
🕖 7:00 PM ET
💻 Zoom
✅ Open to all

Register at bit.ly/CES10-14-2026 or scan the QR code in the flyer.

Barnstable County 4-H is happy to share this opportunity because finding your future can start with meeting someone who already works there.

10/02/2026

NEW ON THE BLOG: Nine-Foot Waves, Less Erosion

The September nor’easter brought rough surf and approximately nine-foot offshore waves, but widespread erosion never arrived.

So, what happened?

Bryan McCormack traveled across the Cape, documenting shoreline conditions with more than 300 photos and videos. What the data and field observations showed is a good reminder that, during a coastal storm, a few inches can make a surprisingly big difference.

Bryan works with Barnstable County’s Coastal Processes program, a partnership between Cape Cod Cooperative Extension and WHOI Sea Grant.

Read what the storm taught us:
https://loom.ly/TWYlsgQ

10/01/2026

Last chance to register for next week’s Islands Coastal Conference on Martha’s Vineyard!

Join coastal professionals and community members for conversations about shoreline processes, storm recovery, water quality, coastal habitat, salt marsh restoration and more.

See the full program and register: https://f.mtr.cool/4h9349ao5o

LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER! We'll see you next week at the Islands Coastal Conference on Martha's Vineyard. 😁

Learn more about what’s happening in Martha’s Vineyard, including:
🏖️ Coastal processes, geology, & community
🚒 Emergency response & island storm recovery
🌊 Finfish, water quality, & coastal habitat
🌱 Salt Marsh Restoration

More info + registration here: https://f.mtr.cool/4h9349ao5o

Martha's Vineyard Commission
Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management - CZM
The Trustees
Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head Aquinnah Natural Resources Department
Cape Cod Cooperative Extension
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI)
National Sea Grant College Program
Martha's Vineyard Film Center

09/29/2026

Did you head out after the nor’easter to see what your garden still had to offer? If you rescued a few tomatoes or green beans from the wind, you might be thinking about getting them into jars. 🍅

Before you put your pressure canner to work, give its dial gauge a checkup. Gauges should be tested every year to make sure they read accurately.

Cape Cod Cooperative Extension offers free pressure canner dial gauge testing at our South Yarmouth office. Call Kim Concra at 508-375-6884 to arrange a test, or visit capecod.gov/canning for more information and tested food preservation resources.

This service is for pressure canners with dial gauges, not pressure cookers or Instant Pots.

09/28/2026

🌤️ NOR’EASTER UPDATE | SEPTEMBER 28, 2026

As the weekend nor’easter moves away from Cape Cod, conditions are improving.

The storm brought powerful winds, including a 70 mph gust in Wellfleet, heavy rainfall, and coastal impacts.

⚡ Power: More than 1,200 Cape Cod customers were without power early Saturday. By Monday morning, service had been restored to nearly all affected customers.

🌧️ Rain: Additional rainfall is expected today, ending overnight. A Flood Watch remains in effect until 2 AM Tuesday.

🌊 Coastal conditions: Minor flooding, beach erosion, and dangerous surf remain concerns into early this week.

💨 Winds: The strongest winds have passed, with gusts of 20–30 mph possible today.

☀️ Looking ahead: Drier conditions return Tuesday, with improving weather through much of the week.

Thank you, Cape Codders, for being at the ready! We appreciate our residents, municipal partners, emergency responders, public works crews, and utility workers for their preparedness and response.

As Emergency Preparedness Month comes to a close, this storm serves as a timely reminder that preparation makes a difference. Having an emergency plan, supplies on hand, and reliable information helps our communities stay ready for whatever comes our way.

Stay safe. Stay prepared. 💙

Learn more: capecod.gov/prepare