BURKE COUNTY CENTER
February 2021
Our Annual Small Fruit Plant Sale is Underway!
Visit our website for all the details on plant varieties and ordering information.
Visit our website to print the registration forms.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States. Every year, 1 in 4 deaths are caused by heart disease. The good news? Heart disease can often be prevented when people make healthy choices and manage their health conditions.

Heart-healthy living involves understanding your risk, making choices, and taking steps to reduce your chances of getting heart disease, including coronary heart disease, the most common type. Coronary and other types of heart disease cause heart attacks, but by taking preventive measures, you can lower your risk of developing heart disease and also improve your overall health and well-being. Choosing heart-healthy foods, getting regular physical activity, and aiming to maintain a healthy weight are some first steps you can take to adopt a heart healthy lifestyle. Heart-healthy eating involves choosing certain foods, such as fruits and vegetables, while limiting others, such as saturated and trans fats and added sugars. The best and easiest way to keep track of what you’re consuming is to eat and cook at home more.

Not sure where to start? Join us for Cook Smart, Eat Smart Virtual Cooking School to learn to cook quick, healthy meals while sticking within your food budget. Cook Smart, Eat Smart keeps it simple—simple healthy preparation techniques, simple ingredients, and simple equipment.
Each of the 8 class sessions contains several basic cooking techniques, like grilling, sauteing, and roasting, and other topics related to eating and preparing meals at home, including reading nutrition labels, food safety, and knife skills. This class is completely free and suitable for adults and older teens. Sessions will meet weekly on Wednesdays from February 3 to March 24 via zoom, from 11am - 1pm. 
To register now, visit go.ncsu.edu/virtualcses.

To learn more about more steps to take for a heart-healthy lifestyle, check out Heart-healthy Living from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
Growing Backyard Fruits
Virtual Workshop
Learn How to Grow Fruits in Your Backyard!
Join Extension Agents Damon Pollard and Donna Teasley as they talk about suitable fruit varieties for our area. They will discuss variety selection, planting, fertilization, pruning, and pest management for backyard fruit plantings.

Workshop will be held via Zoom on February 4, 2021 from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Register on Eventbrite for this FREE workshop
Burke County TEEN LIP
(Leadership Internship Program)
The Burke County TEEN LIP (Leader Internship Program) will be accepting new applicants that wish to join. Youth ages 14-18 will receive the training and skills to lead younger youth, communicate with adults, plan and implement camp/workshop activities, use first aid /CPR, learn personal strengths & weaknesses, work as a team member, be a positive role model in the community and build a strong connection with other teen members. Members conclude training with the skills set to be productive and knowledgeable teen leaders that enrich our 4-H program as well as the community in which they live. Our Burke County Teen LIP members will help plan and implement Summer Fun Workshops, lead youth in activities/transitions/games & songs.Teens will have the opportunity to teach Parent Volunteer Leader workshops, attend TEEN workshops and conferences. Youth will also have experiences to enrich college and job applications. Email Nicki if you or your youth are interested. Youth do not have to be current 4-H'ers.
Learn to care for your cool season lawn!

Virtual Lawn Workshop
Join Extension Agent, Donna Teasley as she tackles the cool season lawn. Later winter is an important time in the life of cool season grasses and weed control, fertilization, liming and soil testing as well as other chores should be done in a timely manner for the overall health of the lawn. These items and more will be discussed.

Workshop will be held on February 11 from 6:30 - 8:30 pm via Zoom.
Time to Prune Blueberries
Blueberries are one of the most maintenance free of all the small fruits that can be grown by home gardeners. These long-lived plants will bear for many years and if fertilizer needs are provided for and correct pruning is maintained, the yields should be substantial. Plants should produce about ½ pound of fruit per bush by the third year and mature plants can easily produce 12 to 25 pounds of blueberries on each plant.

Pruning helps to control the size of the bush and increases fruit size. It also encourages new, vigorous growth on which next year's fruit is borne. When a new bush is planted it should be pruned back severely when planted. Older plants should be top pruned in late July to control the height of the bush. During the winter, old canes and tall shoots should be cut back to force branching at a lower level. Try to take out old canes in the center of the plant to increase air movement. Remember that flowers are borne on 1-year-old wood so pruning is essential to promote new growth each year. This year's pruned branches will provide next year's fruit.

4-H Camp
We are taking camp applications for youth ages 8-12 to join us as we travel to the Eastern 4-H Center, June 20-25. All pandemic restrictions and guidelines will be followed and we will have parent/youth camp orientation prior so procedures can be discussed. Fundraising events have been planned for the spring to support camp costs. A $50 non-refundable deposit is required to hold your spot. Spaces are limited. Call our office for more information.
Winter Fruit Tree Care
During this time of year, home orchard owners need to protect their fruit trees from rabbits and voles. Rabbits and voles can injure fruit trees by chewing the bark from the lower trunk and portions of the roots, and this damage can kill or severely weaken the trees.
Keep the ground bare around the base of the trees, to reduce habitat for rabbits and voles. If your trees are mulched, remember to pull the mulch back about six inches at the base of the trunk to keep the rodents away.
 
Pick up and remove any fruit that remains beneath the trees that attract rodents. Always clean up fruit from the ground as part of annual fall and winter orchard cleanup. Finally, rodent guards are useful around the lower trunk of your fruit trees. These may be commercial plastic wrap guards or construct your own guards using quarter inch hardware cloth. The guards should cover the trunk to a height of 18 inches and encircle the trunk.
 
During the months ahead, inspect the ground around the trees for tunnels in the grass or holes indicating vole activity. Use mousetraps when vole activity is noted. Prior to spring growth, cut out dead and diseased wood and do your annual pruning. Late February, through March usually is the best time to prune.
Scholarship Opportunity
The Caldwell County Nurserymen's Association is taking applications for their 2021 scholarships. The scholarships are open to any student from Alexander, Burke Caldwell, Catawba, McDowell or Wilkes counties who will be enrolled in a horticulture program at an accredited institution in North Carolina during the 2021-2022 term.

Application deadline is March 31, 2021

Burke County Jr. Beekeepers
Applications are now being accepted for youth ages 8-18 to participate in this year's 4-H Jr.Beekeepers.

For more information contact Nicki Carpenter, Extension Agent, 4-H Youth Development
4-H Project Spotlight
4-H Discovery has transitioned to a monthly 4-H Project Spotlight for 2021.
Each month, a 4-H Project area will be put in the "spotlight" with a variety of activities: educational activities, Information, contests, or any other information 4-H'ers may want to use toward project books, presentations, career interests, or just for FUN!

The February Project Spotlight is BAKING!
Introduction to Beekeeping
Cook Smart Eat Smart
Growing Backyard Fruits
Lawn Olympics Workshop