October 2018 News for Polk County
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Director's Focus: What
Is
Cooperative Extension?
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What is Cooperative Extension? I hear this question a lot--especially from new residents in our state. It always gives me great pleasure to enlighten folks about the services available to them through Cooperative Extension. When speaking about our fantastic organization I always like to start with what we include.
Cooperative Extension conducts programming in: Agriculture, Family/Consumer Sciences and 4-H. That’s right,
all
of these areas make up what we call Cooperative Extension. Not everyone is aware that 4-H is a program area of the Cooperative Extension, but it certainly is, so be sure and look to us when you want to know more about the life-changing experiences for kids available through 4-H.
Each of these areas that make up Cooperative Extension offer
fantastic classes
and problem-solving for our citizens. We are here to answer your questions about lawns, gardens, insects, diseases and pesticides. We are also here to help farmers make their farms more profitable. In addition, we offer health and nutrition workshops along with many 4-H youth programs.
Cooperative Extension is open to everyone, and we strive to provide solutions by empowering you with research-based, unbiased information. If you ever have an issue that arises within our areas of focus, please do not hesitate to call our office. Many of our clients are amazed what we can do, and most help is even free of charge! So, if you have kids that you want to see reach their fullest potential, if you want to eat healthier, if you have a crop issue, or even if you simply have a sick plant in your landscape,
think Cooperative Extension
! We are here to help!
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In the Yard
Newly Seeded Fescue Lawns
– Lawn seeding is typically done between mid September and early November in our area. So far this has been a warm but moist fall so germination issues should not be a problem although irrigation always helps. New grass has very small, shallow roots. Keep them moist if the rains fail and don’t let falling leaves smother them. Use a leaf blower on low power or rake VERY gently because you may uproot the tender young plants. Apply 10 pounds of 10-10-10 or 6 pounds of 17-17-17 fertilizer near thanksgiving to give the lawn a final boost before winter. If you are thinking about installing a warm season grass lawn such as Bermuda or Zoysia, be sure to wait until may to do any seeding or sodding of these types of grasses
Shrubs & Trees
- October is a good month to plant shrubs and trees. At this time the soil is still warm enough to encourage root growth and will allow your plants to get established before the harsh cold of winter and will give them a boost for next spring. Be sure to water the plants thoroughly for several weeks after planting to ensure they do not dry out if rain is not plentiful.
Flowers & Plants
- Its still not too late for some fall color. You can plant pansies now for a little fall/winter color and they will be established and give you a good show of color in the spring as well. Bring houseplants indoors when temperatures dip below 50°F. Give them a good bath in soapy water or spray with insecticidal soap. Move plants into partial shade for a week to condition them to lower light levels indoors. Remember that indoor humidity is normally very low inside the house in the winter so be sure to mist your plant’s leaves with water along with watering their roots. Fall is a great time to spread mulch in the landscape. Aim for a maximum depth of 3” to 4” around trees or shrubs and 2” to 3” around perennials. Do not pile mulch deeply around the trunks of trees and shrubs as it can cause them to rot.
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In the Garden
By this time in the garden you should have all your winter crops planted. These include root crops, cole crops and lettuces. These crops can provide you a harvest through most of the winter with very little cold protection. Fertilize these crops while it is still warm enough to achieve maximum growth. During any warm, dry periods this fall, be sure to provide irrigation.
In areas not used for fall vegetable production, you should also plant a cover crop. Winter Rye (grain) or Annual Rye Grass are excellent choices for a winter cover crop. These plants are easy to grow and provide massive amounts of organic matter for your soil. Cover crops can even prevent winter erosion. Leaving the soil bare should never be an option.
Now is a good time for you to take a soil test in your garden. Soil testing is free until the end of October. By knowing your pH and nutrient levels, you can correct them so you have a better garden next year. It is critical to get your pH in the proper range so your plants can use the nutrients that are already in the soil. If you discover that you need to lift your soil pH, lime is a valuable soil amendment. However, it can take 6-12 months for lime to take full effect, so be sure to get it in the soil as soon as possible.
Don't forget that you can pick up your free soil testing kits right at the NC Cooperative Extension Office of Polk County. We are located at 79 Carmel Lane just off Skyuka Road behind the Meeting Place (the senior center).
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Farm Taxation Workshop & Dinner
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LOCATION
NC Cooperative Extension of Polk County - 79 Carmel Lane, Columbus
DATE AND TIME
10/25/18
6:00pm -
10/25/18
8:00pm
Join us for a dinner and workshop with Farm Taxation expert Larry Swartz of SwartzCPA Firm in Tryon, NC. $10 Fee covers dinner and workshop.
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4-H Lamb Show
We had an absolutely beautiful day for the 4-H Lamb Show which took place on Saturday, September 1st . Our hosts, Rafael and Mary Bravo did a wonderful job making everyone feel welcome and preparing the farm for the event.
We had seven youth participate; Rebecca Cannon, Raiden Lilburn, Josh Cannon, Pixie Lilburn, Chela Ray, Jacob Cannon and Katelyn Ruff. These participants spent ten weeks working with their animals and gaining knowledge leading up to this event.
The day before the show they washed their red clay colored animals to a beautiful snowy white. On the day of the show they did an excellent job walking and showing their animals as well as answering the judges questions.
We are so thankful to Mary and Rafael Bravo for sharing their farm, knowledge and Katahdin lambs with the 4-H’ers. The kids had the time of their life and learned valuable skills. We would also like to thank our judge Gabrielle Searcy.
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4-H Fall Events
We still have some space in all of our fall programs. Check out the
Newsletter
and see if there are any classes your child might be interested in. Have a question? Please don’t hesitate to call the office at 828-894-8218.
Supply Drive for 4-H Families Affected by Hurricane Florence
The North Carolina 4-H office is hosting a supply drive for families affected by the recent Hurricane Florence. Heavy rains have caused devastating inland flooding--particularly in 17 Southeastern counties.
If you would like to contribute to the drive, you can bring any of the following requested supplies to our Polk County Cooperative Extension Office at 79 Carmel Drive in Columbus, NC. Please drop off no later than Friday, October 5 so we can get them to the families in need as soon as possible.
- Water
- Cleaning supplies
- Toilet paper
- Paper towels
- Diapers - adult and children
- Baby food
- Feminine products
- First aid supplies
- Canned goods and other staple goods (no perishable items, please)
We will make sure your items are delivered to the state 4-H office for dissemination to the counties in need. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE for your generous support.
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Family and Consumer Science News
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New Fall Course:
Eating the Med Way
Eating the Mediterranean way is not only healthy, it is delicious and satisfying. Foods that you once thought of unhealthy or as too high in fat, including nuts, olive oil, olives, and whole grains, become an everyday part of your diet.
Research has shown that the traditional Mediterranean diet reduces the risk of heart disease, reduces incidence of cancer, and Parkinsons and Alzheimers diseases. Women who eat a Mediterranean diet--supplemented with extra-virgin olive oil and mixed nuts--may have a reduced risk of breast cancer.
Jimmi Buell, our Family and Consumer Services Agent, will be offering a 5-week cooking class on the Med Way beginning Thursday, October 11th at 5:30pm. Learn to create new recipes and enjoy fellowship as you improve your health. Call the Polk County Cooperative Extension office at 828/894-8218 to reserve your space or use the button below to register online. Cost is $45.00 for the five weeks.
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Living Healthy with Diabetes
More than 100 million U.S. adults are now living with diabetes or pre-diabetes, according to a
new report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The report
finds that as of 2015, 30.3 million Americans--9.4 percent of the U.S. population--have
diabetes. In 2015, diabetes was the direct cause of 1.6 million deaths and in 2012 high blood
glucose was the cause of another 2.2 million deaths.
If you or a family member is affected by this disease and would like to learn additional skills in managing your diabetes, then join us for a six-week workshop starting October 16th at 3:00pm at the Polk County Senior Center (The Meeting Place) on Carmel Lane in Columbus. The workshop is free and you will receive a free materials.
Each week the class will be covering topics such as:
- How to deal with the symptoms of diabetes, fatigue, pain, hyper/hypoglycemia, stress, and
- Emotional problems such as depression, anger, fear and frustration.
- The importance of physical activity in reducing blood sugar.
- What foods you can eat when you have diabetes
- Appropriate use of medication
- Working with your health care providers
Participants attending the 6-week course will learn how to manage their diabetes, share
experiences, and help each other solve problems they encounter in creating and carrying out
their self-management program. Free pedometers will be given to attendees who attend all 6
classes! Registration is required, so call the Cooperative Extension at 828/894-8218 to sign up.
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Columbus Heritage Festival - Apple Recipe Contest
The second annual celebration of our local heritage hits the lawn of the historic Columbus Courthouse on Saturday, October 6. The
Columbus Heritage Festival
highlights the town's rich traditions in arts and crafts -- including cooking! Make use of those delicious North Carolina apples by cooking up your favorite apple-inspired recipe. First and second prizes are available in 3 categories: Breads & Muffins, Pies & Tarts, and Other.
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Choosing the Right Social Networks for Your Farm or Agri-Business
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Strong marketing is about connecting with your customer base, and today that often means via social media. Learn which social networks are the best fit for your particular farm or agriculture-based venture.
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