Extension E-News May 2021 |
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When you arrive at the Extension Center beginning Monday, May 10th, you will find the doors open. While we’ve been working all along, we haven’t had the building open to the public. Beginning Monday, May 10th, the doors are unlocked and you can enter the building freely. We will continue to use the entrance located on 10 S. Mitchell Avenue as the only entry. Regardless of this change, it is still recommended that you call our office to schedule an appointment with a staff member beforehand. You can read about changes to our office at "What to Expect When you Arrive at the Mitchell County Extension Center". |
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4-H Clubs Prepare to Resume Face-to-Face Meetings
Mitchell County 4-H Clubs have received the "green light" to resume with face-to-face meetings as long as strict 4-H Covid-19 protocols are in place! This includes: 4-H Covid-19 protocol training for its club volunteers, 4-H Covid-19 protocol information communicated to members and parents prior to attending meetings, temperature checks upon arrival at meetings, wearing face coverings, social distancing, frequent handwashing and disinfecting areas used by youth both before and after meetings. Also, 4-H volunteers must create a plan for disinfecting any materials that may be shared during a meeting. Additionally, no 4-H meetings can be held in a personal residence. For more information or to schedule 4-H Covid-19 training, please contact Eve Kindley at 828.688.4811.
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There's Still Time to Register in 4-HOnline!
All 4-H members and volunteers must register in
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Spring has sprung, and if all of our dreams come true, we’ll be covered up in produce before we know it! Canning is a wonderful way to keep foods around beyond their harvesting season. Did you know there is more than one method of canning? Depending on the type of food, you can use the boiling water process or the pressure canning method.
Pressure canning should be practiced with any low acid foods, such as green beans, carrots, corn, and potatoes to name a few. Combination foods, such as soups, stews, and meat sauces should also be pressured canned, as well. As you make plans for what foods you may want to can and store, be sure to test that your pressure canning equipment functions properly.
The Mitchell County Extension office offers free dial gauge pressure canner testing. All you need to bring is the lid of your pressure canner with the dial attached. The testing process takes less than 5 minutes. Schedule an appointment with Jessica Zucchino by calling 828.6884811. Also feel free to reach out to Jessica with questions regarding pressure canning or other methods of home food preservation. For more online information about home food preservation, visit https://foodsafety.ces.ncsu.edu/pressure-canning/
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Please participate in the brief survey linked below to tell us about your community’s strengths, areas of need, and your recommendations for improvement in these education areas. Your important feedback will be shared with the N.C. A&T State University faculty to enhance their research efforts and will help Cooperative Extension at N.C. A&T State University plan for future services and initiatives.
Your participation in this survey is voluntary and anonymous. By clicking on the link below, you are agreeing to start the survey and are at least 18 years of age. We thank you for your time and valuable input. Please contact TPMA at [email protected] if you have any questions or concerns.
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When is the proper time to start planting one’s garden? First, take a scientific approach and trust the information we have at our disposal. The USDA lists Mitchell County’s last frost date as May 10th respectively. This can vary due to rapid elevation changes in our area. Cole crops such as cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower can be planted before or closely there after due to cold tolerance. It is recommended, that you wait at least 10-14 days after the last frost date to begin planting other crops which are more susceptible to frost and freeze damage. Cold temperatures can do more than just kill prized plants, for example “Sun-loving” plants (Solanaceae) such as peppers and tomatoes abort flower buds at temperatures below 55 degrees Fahrenheit thus delaying harvest dates. So, monitor the temperatures and purchase plants which have been exposed to outdoor temperatures before store distribution and enjoy the growing season. For more information contact Shane Biddix at 828.688.4811.
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What and Why?
As Spring comes into full swing, pastures begin to grow. With this growth comes unwanted weeds. Weeds grow at a more rapid pace than desired grasses, so they often “snuff-out” the grasses in pastures, taking up the soil’s nutrients and shading the immature grasses from much needed sunlight. This decrease in growth of desired grasses contributes to Livestock not adequately growing and gaining, decreasing profits.
Where?
Weeds thrive in areas where soil is compacted or has been turned over. Areas such as high traffic areas, holding pens, feeding and water areas, and shelter areas, become the most densely populated with weeds. Once the weeds mature, they release seeds and spread to other parts of the pasture by wind, birds, or even on the hair or hooves of the livestock; thus, making the pasture become more populated with non-nutritious weeds.
How and when to control?
The opportune time to control weeds is when the plants are in an immature stage of life. This is when the weeds reach 4-6 inches in height for most species. At this stage, the weeds have leaf growth but are still vulnerable. It is suggested that at this stage, an herbicide be used that best fits the weed species, desired pasture species, and the livestock operation. This stage typically occurs around mid to late-April in this area. The proper timing does depend on the weather and temperature. If temperatures are lower, the timing may need to be later in April or May.
When timing is ideal, most herbicides are administered through a spraying technique. The herbicide is sprayed over all species of grass and weed throughout the pasture. The Herbicide then attacks the broad leaf species, killing the plant. This is why knowing what desired forage species are present in a pasture before a herbicide is chosen. If a desired species is considered a broad leaf, the herbicide will attack this plant too, eliminating it.
For more information on weed species identification, spraying techniques, and available herbicides, contact Michelle South at 828.688.4811.
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4-H Presentations - Are you creating one? The 4-H Office needs to know!
If you are, we need to hear from you! You must register NO LATER THAN Friday, May 7 by 5pm. Here's what you need to tell us: the name and subject of your presentation. 4-H presentations will be virtual again this year meaning you will create a 5-12 minute presentation (no editing allowed. Your actual video must be submitted to the 4-H Office by 5pm, Monday, May 24. These are hard deadlines! Please contact Eve Kindley at 828.688.4811 with questions!
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4-H Gets Growing (Strawberries!)
Design and build your own vertical garden! We have materials for 20 youth (ages 8 and older) to construct your own strawberry tower! You will receive gardening tips and instructions on growing strawberries at home! Participants will record watering, plant growth and production throughout the growing season. Contact Eve Kindley at 828.688.4811 to register. We'll construct strawberry towers on Tuesday, May 18 at 4pm at the Creek Walk shelter in Bakersville.Thanks to Mitchell County Farm Bureau for funding this project!
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4-H Pizza Garden
A cooperative effort is underway between Mitchell County Extension's 4-H Program, Spruce Pine Library and the Spruce Pine Housing Authority to provide youth (grades 3-5) for youth to learn about various agricultural products that are used to produce pizza as well as nutrition and consumer decision-making - all while growing a pizza garden! The educational program will be conducted at the Spruce Pine Housing Authority. While registration is open to the public, priority is given to Spruce Pine Housing Authority residents (i.e., apartments on Fairgrounds Street). Sessions begin May 19 and run through August! For more information, contact Eve Kindley or Jessica Zucchino at 828.688.4811.
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4-H Citizenship North Carolina Focus
Learn about local communities, civil discourse, and the legislative process during this virtual event! Here's
Dates: June 14-16, 2021
Location: Zoom
Agenda: Click here for the tentative agenda. This is a working document and will be updated as more information is available.
Cost: $30 per youth - includes t- shirt and conference materials. T-shirts and conference packets will be provided only to registered 4-H youth.
Ages: This event is open to all 4-H youth ages 13-18
Limit: This event is open to the first 200 youth who register.
Registration: Registration is now open and will remain open through May 26th unless spaces fill before that date. 4-H youth who meet the criteria can see the event in 4-H Online, and can register; however, Eve must approve the registration to complete the process. If you register, please be sure to let Eve know.
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Mitchell County 4-H Summer Day Camps
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Eleven (11) 4-H members have been learning about citizenship and leadership by participating in the virtual 4-H Youth Stepping FOURward led by six (6) adult volunteer facilitators! 4-H members have learned to identify their own leadership skills, the importance of group leadership, developing shared community visions, identifying problem issues within a community and learning how to solve community problems. Soon these youth will create a plan to solve a community problem they've identified. If you see any of these youth, ask them about what they're doing (Barrett Potter, Shauna English, Riley Silver, Waverly Revels, Emma Cook, Bransen Pittman, Zeb Woody, Josh Silvers, Jesse Silvers, Alli McClellan and Emma Holden). For more information about this
4-H program, contact Eve Kindley at 828.688.4811. Also, you can ask the other 4-H facilitators: Veronica Pitman, Jennifer Guerrero, Lisa Pittman, Brandon Pittman and Misti Silver. Stay tuned to learn about the participants' chosen project for service learning!
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Easy and Fun Activities for Families
Ages (7-18)
“Healthy You”
Most people would agree that part of a healthy life is being healthy. There are some illnesses that we cannot prevent, but there are behaviors we can practice to promote our own personal health and safety. It is our own responsibility to choose a healthy lifestyle that will allow us the best opportunity to lead a long and healthy life. Tom Jackson provides us a fun and easy activity to use with your children that can make a difference in this area.
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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.
NC State Extension is committed to positive action to secure equal opportunity and prohibit discrimination and harassment regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, political beliefs, family and marital status, sex, age, veteran status, sexual identity, sexual orientation, genetic information, or disability.
Accommodation requests related to a disability should be made
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