CLAY COUNTY CENTER
OCTOBER 2020 NEWSLETTER
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Fall Foliage 2020: Here’s What to Expect in North Carolina |
The warm, rainy summer in North Carolina has set the stage for what could be a better-than-average year for fall foliage, according to a forestry expert at NC State University. Read More
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Free Cloth Masks Available to Agricultural Community |
Thanks to generous donations from the NC Department of Health and Human Services and the NC Agrimedicine institute, NC Cooperative Extension in Clay County is able to distribute masks to farmers and farm workers. Masks are available on a first come first serve basis. We have received hundreds of masks and will likely have more than is needed by the agricultural community so if your organization needs masks please do not hesitate to call. Please call 828-389-6305 to make a request to receive masks and arrange pickup. Click Here More information
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A Guide to Choosing the Best Apple for Preserving |
Fall is in the air! Shorter days, cool, crisp mornings and APPLES. Local orchards are bustling with folks wanting the freshest, sweetest (or tartest) apples to snack on, cook with and preserve. From homemade applesauce, to apple butter to dried apple chips, apples are one of the most versatile fruits for preserving. There are thousands of apple varieties around the world and over 100 varieties grown in the United States. Each apple variety has its own unique flavor, texture, color and cooking properties. Knowing the best apple to choose is key to preserving a quality product. Here is a guide for choosing the best app. Learn More »
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MED instead of MEDS coming in OCTOBER
Some of the Family and Consumer Sciences Extension professionals from across the West District of North Carolina will join together to host an online series of the Med Instead of Meds program.
When: Mondays from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Session 1 – October 12
Session 2 – October 19
Session 3 – October 26
Session 4 – November 2
Session 5 – November 9
Session 6 – November 16
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Take advantage of this important week to highlight the remarkable 4-H youth in your communities and showcase the incredible experiences that 4-H offers young people. READ MORE HERE
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NORTH CAROLINA 4-H VITUAL LEARNING
Nature Adventures is a virtual learning program aligned with NC Standard Course of Study teaching standards provided for FREE for educators and families. Review our schedule below. Click on the course to see standards alignments and grab materials lists to participate in sessions. ALL SESSIONS ARE HOSTED ON ZOOM. This program is free but you do need to Register.
PROGRAM SCHEDULE
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Empowering Mountain Food Systems Program Survey |
The Empowering Mountain Food Systems Program (EMFS) is conducting a survey to asses training needs for Western North Carolina food and farm businesses. Please complete the survey, which should take less than five minutes, to help guide their future programming.
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You may know that in the last couple years the NC Forest Service has been growing hemlocks from seed in great numbers in order to establish protocols for future production of hemlock strains that can be used for large scale forest restoration. This requires that they collect thousands of cones each year. Unfortunately this year appears to be a light cone year for eastern and Carolina hemlocks in western North Carolina, so NCFS staff have asked us to put out the call for hemlock cones. Read More
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As part of the EmPOWERing Mountain Food Systems Project in the seven western counties of North Carolina, including the Qualla Boundary of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, the Mountain Food & Farm Apprenticeship Program brings education and workforce development opportunities to the region in partnership with Western Carolina University, Haywood Community College, Southwestern Community College, and Tri-County Community College. Apply Here
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Grants for diversifying farms in 2021
WNC AgOptions intent to apply deadline Oct. 23; Application deadline Nov. 20.
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WNC Agricultural Options is now accepting grant applications from farmers diversifying or expanding their businesses. With funding from the N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund Commission, WNC AgOptions is distributing a total of $216,000 to western North Carolina farmers in 2021. The application deadline is Nov. 20.
WNC AgOptions helps offset farmers’ risk of trying new ventures and expanding their farms with $3,000 and $6,000 grants. “The WNC AgOptions program is an excellent example of grant funds providing direct support to those who need it most,” said Ross Young, Madison County Extension Director and WNC AgOptions steering committee leader. “Our farmers are arguably the most important people in our society. I sincerely appreciate the Commission’s interest in supporting western North Carolina agriculture.”
Applicants should contact their Cooperative Extension agents by Oct. 23 to set up an appointment to discuss their projects. Applications are available at www.wncagoptions.org or at local Cooperative Extension centers. Extension agents remain a resource for farmers throughout the year as they complete their projects.
WNC AgOptions offers grants to farmers in the following counties/units: Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Cherokee, Clay, Cleveland, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga and Yancey counties as well as the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
Applicants are encouraged to participate in information sessions, which will be held via the Zoom online video conferencing platform. Details on these meetings can be found HERE.
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October is clean-up month for the Garden. Clean away all dead leaves, stems and trash. Evaluate your garden, and plan for next year.
Be sure to pick all tomatoes before the first frost date.
Begin planting spring bulbs. Add bone meal under each bulb, and if soil does not drain well, add some gravel to the bottom of each hole.
Start cleaning and storing garden equipment for the winter. Drain hoses and store for the winter.
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Want to Sell at a Farmer’s Market? |
N.C. Cooperative Extension of Davie County, along with Craig Mauney, Area Specialized Agent, Commercial Fruit, and Vegetable Production, will be offering a series of workshops on Market Gardening. The four-session series is aimed at helping market gardeners become more productive and profitable. All sessions will begin at 3 p.m. and will be held virtually over Zoom. You must preregister individually for each session you wish to attend. Click here to learn more and to register.
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Temperatures are cooling down, so when can we expect our first freeze? We broke it down by county, find your county here.
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North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, in cooperation with the N.C. Cooperative Extension in Cherokee County will be offering a Pesticide Collection Day for residents in Cherokee, Clay, and surrounding counties. The local site manager will be Keith Wood, Agricultural Extension Agent for Cherokee County. Collection will be October 20, 2020, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Wayne’s Feed Store in Murphy. Learn more here.
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VISIT THESE WEBSITES TO LEARN MORE ABOUT CLAY COUNTY CENTER'S UPCOMING EVENTS AND NEWS

OUR OFFICE IS CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC BUT WE ARE AVAILABLE FOR APPOINTMENTS, MONDAY - FRIDAY 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM, PLEASE CALL 828-389-6305.
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