Newsletter! December 2016

Looking for That Perfect Last Minute Gift?

Check Everyone Off Your List This 

Holiday Season! 

Our Winter Garden Workshops* are the perfect gift for the gardener (or wannabe gardener) in your life! 

Advanced Master Gardener, Rachel Ziesk, will teach classes that will help attendees prepare their garden for the upcoming spring season.

Each individual workshop costs just $20. OR pick up the entire series for $100! 

Soil & Season Extenders -- Saturday, January 28^th, 2017

The most important component for a successful garden is soil health. Learn how to make and keep your soil healthy, as well as how to use row covers and other techniques to extend your growing season.

Cool Weather Crops -- Saturday, February 11^th, 2017

Learn about starting your garden as soon as the snow is gone! Cool weather crops don’t mind the cold and give you a head start on the season. This class covers how to plant cold weather crops and manage the pests and diseases that plague them.

Warm Weather Crops -- Saturday, February 25^th, 2017

Everything you need to know about warm weather crops! Learn about how to make the best out of your growing season including which crops are best started indoors, what can be directly seeded into the ground and what conditions each crop prefers. This class also covers which fertilizers are best as well as common pests and diseases affecting warm weather crops.

Seed Starting & Garden Planning -- Saturday, March 4^th, 2017

Start your own seedlings! This class explores how and when to start planting indoors. Learn about using lights, watering and identifying common problems with seed starting. The class also covers planning your garden so you get the most out of your gardening space. Everyone attending will get to plant a six pack of seedlings to take home with them.

Essential Flowers & Herbs for Vegetable Gardening -- Saturday, March 11^th, 2017

Flowers and Herbs attract pollinators and beneficial insects to help keep your garden productive and healthy. Learn about the best flowers and herbs for your garden. This class will also identify some edible weeds and tell you what you need to know in order to protect your garden from invasive ones.

Preserving your Garden Harvest -- Saturday, March 25^th, 2017

Learn how you can eat from your garden all winter long. Simple methods can save your harvest for winter use. The class will cover techniques that you’ll need to know for freezing, canning, dehydrating, pickling and more.

 

For more information on each class, or to register for the series, visit: www.nhswintergarden2017.eventbrite.com

 

*This Program is a cooperative effort of NHS of New Haven, Common Ground, UConn Extension, the Connecticut Department of Agriculture, and the Risk Management Agency/USDA. These institutions are equal opportunity employers and providers.

Don't Let Holiday Shopping Put You in the Red

      

     When the holidays roll around, many people think this time of year gives them free rein to overindulge -- not only with food, but also with shopping and gift-giving. A new survey from 
The National Retail Federation estimates that U.S. adults will spend more on holiday shopping this year. If you doen’t plan ahead and create a holiday budget, a tightening pocketbook may be a reality. Setting up a financial plan with staff at Neighborhood Housing Services of New Haven – and at many NeighborWorks organizations around the country -- and following other tips to control holiday spending can reduce stress and anxiety.

     According to a CreditCards.com report, 1 million U.S. consumers are already ‘holiday-stress-free” as they have checked everyone off their list and completed their shopping. While not done, another 34 million shoppers are chipping away at their lists and spending wisely by shopping for bargains and sales.

     An NHS Housing Specialist can help you look at last year’s spending and where you overspent. Many financial planners recommend spending no more than 1.5% of your annual income on holiday expenses. Working with NHS can help you set and reach your financial goals, such as saving for retirement or paying off debt – not just during the holidays, but throughout the year.

     Use debit instead of credit if you can. When choosing debit, it’s important to keep an eye on your balances. Many checking accounts allow a customer to spend more than is in the account, and charge an overdraft fee for the privilege. Also, when using debit for purchases, some banks charge a fee for the transaction that is similar to an ATM charge. These fees can be as much as $3.00 per transaction, even for small-dollar debit purchases.

     If you don’t pay in full, if choosing to use a credit card, be aware of how your bank charges interest, and where you are on your credit limit. If you exceed your credit limit, a card issuer may allow the transaction to go through, but increase your interest rate on all unpaid balances. If you’re thinking about debit spending or of carrying a balance on your credit card to cover gifts, make sure you’ve checked the fine print – going overboard on holiday gifts could cost you more than you realize in the long run. Consider layaway plans instead of credit. For expensive purchases, layaway fees are typically less than the interest on your credit purchases.

Avoid a holiday spending hangover this year and every year by setting up one-on-one time with a housing specialist at NHS of New Haven. Working with trained staff at NeighborWorks organizations can mean the difference between falling into a “financial trap” or working smartly and reaching one’s financial goals.

Happy Shopping!