Hi everyone! My name is Frank and I am the Agriculture and Horticulture Program Lead at CCE Cayuga. As part of my role, I am the master gardener coordinator which means I get to facilitate master gardener training in Cayuga County. This will be my first training that I have led and I am very excited to do so.
I grew up on Long Island, and have helped in the garden for as long as I can remember. I graduated from SUNY ESF in 2017 and moved to Columbus, Ohio with my now wife soon after graduation. In Ohio, I attended graduate school at Ohio State University studying soil science. While living in Ohio I worked on a vegetable farm. We moved back to Syracuse 4 years ago where I have been steadily growing the size of my garden. I currently have a 10ft by 30ft in-ground garden where I grow a different mix of vegetables every year. I always make sure to grow sugar snap peas because my dogs like to eat them straight off the vine. This year I grew chickpeas for the first time, San Marzano Tomatoes, and mix of other vegies. I also have a tiny little orchard where I grow plum trees, paw paws, blackberries, and I'm looking to add peach trees this spring. I enjoy growing and maintaining Bonsai and Niwaki (trees grown in pots that are bigger than bonsai but smaller than full size garden trees).
I am excited to facilitate the training and get to know everyone!