CHEROKEE COUNTY
EXTENSION E-NEWSLETTER -
JANUARY 2020
Enjoy this educational video:
from NC State Extension's "Homegrown" YouTube Channel .
Every month, "Homegrown" shares new videos featuring tips and tools from our Extension experts in three categories: In The Garden, In The Kitchen and On The Farm. This featured video is " Getting Started with Backyard Composting ".

We'll introduce you to what's raised and grown in North Carolina, and the farmers that help feed us. We'll show you what plants are in season and how to get a bumper crop from your home garden. We'll take you into the kitchen to learn how to safely prepare nutritious meals.

Radon Class
N.C. Cooperative Extension of Cherokee County office will provide an informational Radon class each Thursday in January.
Please take advantage of this opportunity to learn more about this health threat.

New Registration System for Extension Programs

“Can I pay by credit card?” That is a question we frequently hear at N.C. Cooperative Extension in Cherokee County and, until now, the answer has been “no.” All of that will be changing on January 1, 2020, with  Eventbrite .

This FREE workshop focuses on how to successfully launch a value-added food enterprise and increasing farm income through developing better business skills and by utilizing the resources of the EmPOWERing Mountain Food Systems Program and the TCCC Small Business Center.

New Educational Classroom

Cherokee County Extension is getting a new meeting room in January 2020. The educational classroom will be located at 699 Connahetta St. Murphy adjacent to the old Rock Gym. The room is now being renovated and is large enough to accommodate 30-40 people for trainings, workshops and meetings .
Shiitake Mushroom Workshop

For anyone interested in growing your own mushrooms, we will be offering our thirteenth annual mushroom workshop at the Brasstown Community Building. It will be held on February 11 th starting at noon going till about 4:00pm. The educational seminar will provide information and hands-on training for growing mushrooms. This year, Teresa Goley our Family Consumer Science Agent will have a short presentation on how to preserve and use these mushrooms. Registration fee will be $20 and will cover the cost of materials such as the mushroom spawn, tools, and wax.

Introduction to Beekeeping

This is your chance to see if you are interested in keeping bees or just want to learn more about these fascinating insects. This class will be held at the Extension Educational Classroom 699 Connahetta St. Murphy on February 11 th starting at 1 pm. Tom Handford, a Master Beekeeper and a Cherokee County Master Gardener, will be leading the training. There will be a $20 registration fee for this class and you will need to register before February 14 th.

Small Orchard Workshop  

The workshop is focused on small commercial orchards and large home orchards that may sell excess product to local markets. Dr. Michael Parker will be teaching how to use dwarf rootstocks and plant high density orchards. These types of plantings use a trellis system to support the trees. The advantages of this style of orchard are easier pruning, better insect and disease management, higher yields and easier frost protection. The workshop will be held on February 4 th starting at 9am and conclude at noon. There will be a grafting class starting at 1:30 for those wanting to graft up to 5 trees onto dwarf rootstocks.

Woodland Stewards Webinar Series


Join other woodland landowners throughout the region to learn about how you can take better care of your woodlands. This is a regional Extension course being offered in 4 sessions. The four sessions are webinars hosted by Cherokee Co. Extension center on Thursdays from 7-8:30 p.m. from February 6, 2020 to February 27, 2020.

Pruning Workshop


Participants will learn about how to prune various fruit bearing plants along with landscape plants. We will start off with pruning education in the classroom and then out to different locations for the demonstrations. The demonstration will be a hands-on opportunity for class participants.

4-H Fly Fishing & Fly Tying Club

Join Cherokee County 4-H in welcoming its newest 4-H club a Fly Fishing and Fly Tying Club. The club meets each Wednesday (when there is school), from 3–5:30 p.m. and is open to all youth in grades 6th-12th no matter which school they attend. If a member attends another Cherokee County School and would like to attend please contact Shannon Coleman at shannon_coleman@ncsu.edu or call 828-837-2210 ext. 4 to let us know. The club meets in the Educational Classroom at Cherokee County Recreation Department.

Have a Gardening Question?

If you’re a North Carolina resident with a question about your garden, lawn, or landscape we can help. Submit your question to  Ask an Expert  or contact your local County Center of the  N.C. Cooperative Extension .
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES :

The staff of Cherokee County Extension Center would like to invite you to volunteer for our office. Please contact us if you are interested in being a volunteer for Extension at 828-837-2210. Here are some volunteer opportunities coming up within the next couple of months:

Become a Master Gardener Volunteer.

Putting together "Welcome Packets" for new residents.

Preparing Soil Test Kits.

Assist with answering phones in the Extension office.

Assist our Agents with setting up, etc. for educational programs such as :
  • Pruning Workshop on Jan. 16th
  • Assisting with the Fly Tying 4-H Club
  • Starting a 4-H Club
  • 
Wish List
We are also needing a refrigerator for our new meeting space if you have a gently use free or inexpensive full size refrigerator you are needing out of your way we would be interested. This refrigerator will be used to store food items overnight that are prepared in advance of our educational programs.
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NC State University and N.C. A&T State University work in tandem, along with federal, state and local governments, to form a strategic partnership called N.C. Cooperative Extension.

Accommodation requests related to a disability should be made two weeks prior to the event to Doug Clement at 828-837-2210 or doug_clement@ncsu.edu]
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