GROW AND GRAZE E-NEWSLETTER
January 2021
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As our Center maneuvers through the COVID-19 situation, we want the thank everyone for your patience. The staff has been planning and providing programs virtually and they have been very successful. Programs have included gardening basics, canning, and preserving, small animal care, managing small poultry folks, growing small fruits, and 4-H Spark activities. 4-H provided Virtual 4-H Camps and Presentations. Because of the planning and success of programming, most of our classes were being taught virtually through July. Now we are starting to provide some in person programming where social distancing can be done on site. We have been and will continue to assist citizens on the phone, electronically through email, and by home visits.
Our office arrangement has changed to assist walk-in customers. To maintain social distancing, we ask that you call and or email in advance if you plan to visit our offices so you can schedule an appointment. We invite you to bring a mask since one will not be provided. Also by calling and making appointments ensures the staff is available because we do also work in the field also and are teaching classes. Our contact information is:
Thank you for your understanding and support.
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Welcome to the
NC Cooperative Extension - Cherokee County Center
Online Newsletter,
"Grow & Graze"
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This Month's Featured Video from NCSU's "HomeGrown" YouTube Channel:
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NC 4-H Curriculum Site Up & Running
NC 4-H is responding to the needs of young people and volunteers by way of the internet. Though we might look different, nothing has stopped. Keeping true to the 4-H motto, “Learn by Doing” programs online have also incorporated offline learning so that youth and families can explore content together. NC 4-H has reached existing and new audiences through the Virtual Summer Camp, 4-H Daily Sparks, and Virtual Summer Learning. 4-H youth have participated in long-standing programs online such as 4-H Presentations, 4-H Congress, and Citizenship Focus.
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Pruning Workshop
N.C. Cooperative Extension of Cherokee County is offering a pruning workshop and demonstration on January 29, 2021, starting at 2 p.m. We will meet at 5836 Airport Road, Andrews, NC. This location is at the main airport entrance on the right. At 2:05 p.m. we will either carpool or follow each other to the demonstration site in the Healey Fields. The workshop will be all outside, so please dress appropriately.
Due to COVID-19 meeting restrictions, we are limited to 10 participants. Social distancing rules will be followed and current face coverings rules will be followed.
Participants will learn how to prune various fruit-bearing plants. The demonstration will be a hands-on opportunity for class participants. If you have your own pruning loppers or shears, please bring them with you. There is a $10 fee for this workshop.
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While we can enjoy the time-saving method of slow cooker meals, it is important to ensure foods are prepared in a safe manner to avoid the possibility of foodborne illness. Here are a few ways to monitor for food safety when using a slow cooker:
- Always wash hands before preparing food.
- Pre-heat cooker.
- Always thaw meat and poultry first. Do not put frozen meat in a slow cooker.
- Add liquid according to the recipe. The liquid helps to create steam needed to cook the food.
- Do not cook on warm which is designed to keep already hot foods hot.
- Keep the lid on during the entire cooking time to maintain the temperature.
- Once the cooking time is complete, check the food with a thermometer before eating to make sure it has reached a safe temperature.
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Annual Cherokee County 4-H
Plant Sale Coming Soon
Cherokee County 4-H will once again be conducting its annual plant and fruit tree sale. All proceeds go to Cherokee County 4-H. As usual, the plants and trees will be of high quality and reasonably priced. The plant and tree sale will start at the end of January and go through the middle of March.
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How to Become a Beekeeper
Dr. David Tarpy NC State Professor and Extension Apiculturist Specialist has put together a publication on How to Become a Beekeeper in NC. Beekeeping is a very enjoyable and rewarding pastime that is relatively inexpensive to get started. Moreover, it’s a hobby that can eventually make you money! This area is world renown for Sourwood honey. Not only can you get a great tasting product, the extra pollinators can help your garden and orchard produce more fruits and vegetables.
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How to Butcher a Deer
Join Extension Agent Eddy Labus as he shows us how to process deer meat in this 1 hour and 40 minute video. Hunting season is upon us!
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Agritourism Training Coming in January 2021
Do you have or plan to start an Agritourism business? Training will be offered in January. Learn about resources available, risk management, developing a business concept along with other exciting topics. The training will be conducted virtually through Zoom. Don’t worry if you do not have internet a stream of the training will be provided at N.C. Cooperative Extension, Cherokee County Center and other county locations.
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More 4-H Activity Kits Coming in January!
Be on the lookout to get youth registered to be able to pick up a low cost to sometimes FREE kit to do some fun activities that can include the whole family. In December the kids included the: 4-H Bread in a Bag, make your own Christmas/Garden gnomes, milk jug.
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Business Classes Focus on Online Marketing and Branding
Beginning in March four classes will be taught to discuss and provide strategies for online marketing a business, The classes will also include the importance of business branding. The classes will include:
All classes are 1 hour online sessions and cost $10.00. If you Have questions, please call our email us.
To Register: go.ncsu.edu/cherokeecounty
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New Publication on Edible Landscape Design |
Are you planning a new home landscape or ready to renovate your existing one? Make it a dual purpose landscape and use edible plants for beauty and something to eat! Dr Lucy Bradley our Urban Horticulture Professor and Extension Specialist, has shared a publication on growing edibles in a landscape. She suggests what to use and how to plan it out.
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New NCDA&CS Form for Soil Tests
The North Carolina Department of Agriculture has updated their standard soil test form. This form is mainly for farmers and ranchers, but homeowners can use it also. The new form has new features that include options on how the samples were taken and payment options. The lawn and garden form is basically the same form that was updated in 2016. This form is for home gardeners and landscapes. Remember, for all soil samples, the fee period starts on December 1 and runs through March 31. During that period, all soil samples are $4. From April through November, there is no charge.
Winter weather will soon arrive and activity in the garden will slow down. For gardening enthusiasts, their green thumbs might be itching to be outside doing something in the garden during this time of year. Winter is a great time to do several garden activities that can pay off in the spring.
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Virtual NC 4-H
Volunteer Leaders Conference Coming Soon
North Carolina 4-H Volunteer Leaders Conference is right around the corner. This event will be held February 5-6 over Zoom. Many people have worked very hard to put together an event that still has many of the traditional components of the Conference we all look forward to being part of.
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Firewise USA Awareness Training
The national Firewise USA® recognition program provides a collaborative framework to help neighbors in a geographic area get organized, find direction, and take action to increase the ignition resistance of their homes and community and to reduce wildfire risks at the local level. A 1.5-hour training will be provided to anyone to learn the steps of the program and resources available on the federal, state, and county levels. The training opportunities will occur in December and January. If you are interested please complete the Google Forms Questionnaire. The meeting will be conducted via Zoom. Please call Douglas Clement at 828-360-4389 or mail at doug_clement@ncsu.edu for further information.
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Woodlands Stewards Regional Landowner Education Program For Cherokee County Residents
A Woodlands Steward Regional Landowner Program will begin in February. The weekly webinars will provide information on the importance of planning, land management, safety, and online tools available to assist with woodland management. Direct links to each webinar are as follows:
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Butcher Basics for Home Consumers
Join Butcher Ross Flynn of Left Bank Butchery, and NC Choices’ Lee Menius, as they walk you through a “Butchery Basics for Home Consumers” demonstration. This two-hour training is geared toward home consumers or novice meat cutters with little to no meat cutting experience interested in breaking down a carcass in their home kitchen. Topics will include proper safety and handling of carcasses, home set-up, and tools needed, a step-by-step breakdown of a pig carcass into its most basic cuts for consumers to safely store and eat. An intro to the basics of grinding & sausage making, cutting tips for what to do when you’ve lost your way, and practical storing and wrapping will be included. Nomenclature will be compared across species, so this demonstration is not just limited to hog producers. Please note this is a Zoom demonstration with live chat for questions and answers. A Zoom link will be sent via email once you have registered for the class. Register on Eventbrite.
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Grow and Graze YouTube Channel Launched
Cherokee County has launched a YouTube channel. Grow and Graze is about growing agriculture products, young leaders through 4-H, and volunteer development. Grazing is about foods for a Healthy Lifestyle and pasture management for livestock. Grow and Graze will provide information on all these topics and much more. Check out our new YouTube Channel and subscribe today.
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Grow and Graze Podcast Launches in November
The Grow and Graze Podcast has begun. Episodes will be available on this website with show notes. You will also be able to listen to the podcast on Spreaker, and Buzzsprout The podcast with feature topics about 4-H, Family and Consumer Sciences, and Agriculture. Learn about the latest garden varieties, healthy lifestyles, volunteer opportunities with Master Gardeners, how to become a volunteer for 4-H, Firescaping, and many other topics. To be considered for an interview on an episode, please complete the Google Form, so we contact you. We are looking to interview past 4-Hers, farmers, Agritourism businesses, gardeners, and many others. The podcast has been made possible by Matthew Gutierrez with Carolina Farm Credit.
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Spotted-Wing Drosophila Management Webinar
Have you experienced problems in your small fruits because of the Spotted-wing Drosophila? The Sustainable SWD Management team is offering a 1 hour webinar highlighting what they have learned about Spotted-wing Drosophila populations, crop risk, pesticide efficacy, biological control, cultural & behavioral controls, and how to use this information to improve management.
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Cherokee County E-Newsletters
Please feel free to browse the archive of monthly newsletters from your N.C. Cooperative Extension, Cherokee County Center. Each month we share news, information, and details about upcoming events specific to families in the Cherokee County area. If you aren’t already receiving our newsletter, subscribe today to get up-to-date communications on local agriculture, food, health, and opportunities for youth.
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Revamp Your Pantry
Is organizing your pantry on your list of resolutions for the new year? Having a clean and organized pantry can help protect your home from pests, reduce the risk of foodborne illness, and help you save money. First, start by removing everything from your pantry. Wipe down each shelf from top to bottom with hot soapy water. Rinse with clean water. You can sanitize your shelves with a kitchen disinfectant or a solution of 1 tsp of bleach to 1 quart of water. Let that air dry.
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