GROW AND GRAZE E-NEWSLETTER
December 2020
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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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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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Winter PenPal Program Offered Through 4-H
Due to the success of the Summer PenPal program, States’ 4-H has decided to offer a program for 4-H members in active exchange states for a winter opportunity. States’ 4-H, our National Organization for international exchanges, worked with international partners to establish a pen pal program for 4-H members and families to engage with an international child and/or family.
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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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4-H Activity Kits Coming Soon!
Coming in December, 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. A few kits that we have in mind are the: 4-H Bread in a Bag, make your own Christmas/Garden gnomes, milk jug snowmen, you get the picture our minds are racing just to do a few kits for December..
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Don’t Miss Out on Nature Adventures with NC 4-H Camps
There is still one more session of the great Nature Adventures with NC 4-H Camps that you can join in December so sign up now. These sessions are for 4-H members, school age youth, educators, and families.
Don’t miss out on the adventure!!
Join us for a fun exploration of the great outdoors during our Nature Adventures with NC 4-H Camps. Learn more at NC 4-H Nature Adventures.
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Upcoming Agribusiness Summit |
The Tri-County Small Business Center is offering an upcoming Agribusiness Summit. This is an all-day event that will cover:
-Meet Your Local Extension Agent
-Marketing Your Food Business in a Post-COVID World
-Forest Farming
-Farm Business Diversification Taking Your Business Online: how to Succeed with Online Sales & Delivery
-Opportunities for Local Meats
-How to Start Selling Your Ag Products on Shopify
-EmPOWERing Your Online Marketing Presence
-How to Start a New Agribusiness
-Medicinal Herbs: Farm Business Diversification
-Meet Your Lenders
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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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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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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 will begin in November. Episodes will be available on this website with show notes. You will also be able to listen to the podcast on Spreaker, Buzzsprout, and Anchor. 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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Troubleshooting General Canning Problems
During this time of following a "Stay at Home" order, it is a good time to share some of our more popular publications. This publication, "Troubleshooting General Canning Problems" is an excellent publication that could save you a lot of work and help keep you and your family safe from foodborne illnesses.
Other Helpful Links Related to Home Canning and Food Preservation:
(Please always make sure you are following researched based resources!)
National Center for Home Food Preservation an online resource for safe home food preservation information that includes the recipes below, recipes from the USDA’s Complete Guide to Home Canning and other recipes that have been research-tested by the University of Georgia
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MORE POPULAR EXTENSION YOUTUBE CHANNELS |
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