EXTENSION E-NEWSLETTER -
June 2020
|
|
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 is planning Virtual 4-H Camps and Presentations. Because of the planning and success of programming, most of our classes will be taught virtually through July. We have been assisting 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:
Teresa Goley or 828-837-2210 Extension 5
Also, our information can be located at
cherokee.ces.ncsu.edu
Thank you for your understanding and support.
|
|
Enjoy this educational video:
Foraging for Backyard Edibles
|
Every month, "Homegrown" shares new videos featuring tips and tools from our Extension experts in three categories: In The Garden, In The Kitchen and On The Farm. This featured video is
"
Foraging for Backyard Edibles
"
.
We'll introduce you to what's raised and grown in North Carolina, and the farmers that help feed us. We'll show you what plants are in season and how to get a bumper crop from your home garden. We'll take you into the kitchen to learn how to safely prepare nutritious meals.
|
|
If you are interested in learning more about foraging in the wild for edible plants, we are offering this online class:
WILD EDIBLE PLANTS IN THE GARDEN LANDSCAPE
The N.C. Cooperative Extension of Cherokee County office is offering a webinar on finding and identifying wild foods in and around the garden. The class will be taught by Lisa Gonzalez. Lisa is a Regional Area Specialized Agent working with the Local Food EmPOWERing Mountain Food Systems Project. She is a former Extension agent with experience in wild plants most don’t consider edible
.
|
|
|
|
Video Conferencing with Zoom
What is Zoom?
Zoom is a video and web conferencing service that can be used to host small meetings, large meetings, and webinars. It works with Macs, Windows, and mobile devices. Anyone can join a meeting. Some features of Zoom can be used directly in a Web browser, but for the best experience using Zoom, it is recommended to download and use the
Zoom client application.
For more information about Zoom in general, see
Zoom’s website
. For mobile devices (iOS and Android), visit your platform’s app store and search for “zoom” to find the Zoom mobile app.
How to Participate in a Zoom Meeting How do I join a meeting?
To join a meeting, you will need either the
Meeting ID
or the link that you receive after registering for or being invited to join. If you have the
Meeting ID
, go to
https://join.zoom.us
and enter it in the Meeting ID or Personal Link Name field – this will need to be provided to you by the meeting host. If you registered or were invited, just click on the link included in the registration/invitation email. Joining a Zoom meeting with the Meeting ID Example registration email.
|
|
West District 4-H Virtual Teen Retreat Register Now!!
|
|
NC 4-H SUMMER VIRTUAL PROGRAMS
Virtual programs will be offered on the following topics. Click on the topic for additional information. Registration will open on June 1, 2020.
Coffee and Culture
Virtual Zoom sessions for teens 13-18. Teens will form a deeper understanding of themselves and others as they explore their own backgrounds, cultural knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes.
Back to the Basics
– This virtual learning series will bring back some of the family and consumer sciences skills that many youth have lost touch with from sewing, cooking, table etiquette, baking, and financial management.
Plant Geeks Unite
– Join us for a virtual, summer, North Carolina 4-H Plant Science Adventure! In this self-guided exploration for 8-12 year-olds, we will dig into soils, marvel and grow plants with wild abandon and say hello to creeping, crawling, diving, and flying friends and so much more.
STEM
– These programs are specialized for ages 5-7, 8-10,11-14, and 13-18. Youth learn STEM from their kitchen to their backyard and everywhere in between.
Log on to Leadership
– Leadership requires a set of skills that allow a person to influence others in a positive way to achieve great things. 4-H members will have the opportunity to develop their time management, goal setting, conflict management, and public speaking skills so they can be better for their clubs, communities, country, and world!
Down on the Farm
– A fun learning experience to allow youth to learn about animals even if you aren’t raised on a farm. Youth will learn about where their food and byproducts come from. Youth will learn also about the companion animals that you can find in houses that aren’t on the farm.
Explore Outdoors
– Explore Outdoors is a fun way to learn about the environment right in your own nature patch – farm, suburbs, or city – it all counts! You can meet scientists and add your discoveries to a real environmental science database!
4-H Healthy Habits Family
– This program encourages families to get involved in learning together! 4-H Healthy Habits Family is designed to guide a caregiver and their elementary-aged youth through fun and engaging garden-based activities.
|
|
Empowering Mountain Food Systems Listening Sessions
The free hour-long session will provide an opportunity for farmers, farmworkers, market managers, and food business owners to share their questions and concerns about farming or producing value-added products during the COVID-19 pandemic and the phased reopening of North Carolina. You will be able to provide valuable feedback to Extension that will help to guide our outreach and educational efforts so that we can meet any emerging needs and continue to support your farm and food businesses during this uncertain time.
|
|
|
|
Options for Residents to Purchase Fresh Produce and Local Food:
Please visit each link for more details.
Johnny's Produce Stand
(offering curbside pickup)
Please let us know of other options that we have not listed and we will promote in our next newsletter.
|
|
|
|
Learn About Tomato Diseases
Most gardeners and farmers in the mountains have problems with tomato diseases. High humidity, foggy mornings, and 60+ inches of rain every year makes foliar diseases harder to manage. N.C. Cooperative Extension, Cherokee County Center is offering an online class on the different tomato diseases we face in this area. The class will be held at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, July 21, 2020. This program will be held via
Zoom
.
|
|
|
|
Horticultural Science Summer Institute
Join us for an online, curated experience of NC State University’s
Horticultural Science Summer Institute
. While we might prefer climbing trees and propagating baby succulents in person, we are holding camp virtually this year on July 6–9, 2020.
Registration is free
and it will be a blend of two live events – a kick-off keynote and a closing program and then pre-recorded videos and activities for you to do at home. It will be engaging and fun and youth can dig in at your own pace.
.
|
|
|
|
Place Your Order for a Live Hog
Since the COVID-19 pandemic started, many livestock farmers across the state have been faced with chickens and hogs ready for processing and nowhere to take them because of slaughter houses being closed. Most of these places are specific to either retail sales or bulk for restaurants. Since restaurants were closed for take out only, the bulk processors shut down. NCDA&CS has coordinated getting some hogs shipped into the area for those who would like to purchase one. You would be buying a live hog and would either have to process it yourself or hire someone. You would also be responsible for transportation of the hog from the livestock center in Canton to wherever you choose to have it processed or DIY.
Adam Farms
and
K&B Processing
will take custom orders. Below is the information where to order and the process to purchase a hog. I know there are just a few that know how to process a hog, but please pass this on to someone you may know that might be interested.
WNC Communities in association with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the
Dogwood Health Trust
is providing an opportunity for individuals and families to purchase a live hog. The animals would need to be picked up at the
WNC Regional Livestock Center
. The processing would need to be done at
home
or a local slaughtering facility. Arrangements for hauling and processing the hog would be the responsibility of the buyer. Reserve a hog by visiting the
WNC Communities website
. To learn about hog prices visit the
USDA Agriculture Marketing Services
.
For other questions feel free to call WNC Communities at 828-252-4783 or email them at
info@wnccommunities.org
. N.C. Cooperative Extension, Cherokee County Center has also developed
Local Food Options
information.
Questions? Call Keith Wood at 828-361-4161
.
|
|
|
|
Testing the Soil for Success
N.C. Cooperative Extension, Cherokee County Center is offering a webinar entitled Testing the Soil for Success. The class will be held at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, June 23, 2020. This program will be held via
Zoom
.
The topics of this webinar will center around the importance of soil testing, how to take the sample, and filling out the information sheet that is mailed in with the samples. Another webinar will be offered on June 25 on reading and interpreting the soil test report.
For more information call us at 828-837-2210, extension 2. Registration for this program will be through
Eventbrite
.
|
|
|
|
Reading and Interpreting the Soil Report
The N.C. Cooperative Extension, Cherokee County Center is offering a follow-up online class to the "
Testing the Soil For Success"
webinar. The class will be held at 9 a.m. on Thursday, June 25, 2020. This program will be held via
Zoom
.
The topics of this webinar will be about what all the numbers and acronyms mean and what you need to do to amend the soil. Other topics will be on different fertilizers, amendments, how nutrients affect plants, and pH adjustment.
For more information call us at 828-837-2210, extension 2. Registration for this program will be through
Eventbrite
.
|
|
|
|
Count on Me NC
NC State Extension, in partnership with NC Department of Health and Human Services, NC Restaurant and Lodging Association and Visit NC, is excited to be a part of
Count On Me NC
.
The Count On Me NC program is focused on providing the necessary knowledge and information needed to manage COVID-19 within businesses as restrictions are relaxed. As part of the voluntary program there are free, online courses that provide a consistent approach based on state and national guidelines. The program is also partnered with a marketing campaign and customer expectations, with the intent to create shared responsibility for preventing the spread of COVID-19.
|
|
|
|
4-H Congress 2020
Join us for North Carolina 4-H Congress! This year’s event will be held July 20 – 23, 2020, and is open to any North Carolina 4-H’er ages 13-18. Spaces are limited, so contact your 4-H Agent today for more information. Highlights of this year’s virtual Congress include a virtual flag ceremony, Honor Club tapping, a 4-H variety show, Senior shout-outs, and more. We hope you will join us!
|
|
|
|
Let’s Register for 4-H Electric Congress
NC 4-H Electric Congress has always been a lot of fun and a great educational experience for the youth that have attended each year. The trip to 4-H Electric Congress is a reward for all the work that 4-H electric project youth participants have done throughout the year. Well, we will continue with the 73rd NC 4-H Electric Congress a little differently this year but it will happen, virtually, July 7-8. The 73rd NC 4-H Electric Congress is sponsored by the electric cooperatives across North Carolina, Duke Energy and Dominion Energy.
If you are a 4-H member in Cherokee County, contact Shannon Coleman about attending.
|
|
Citizenship North Carolina Focus
Citizenship North Carolina Focus is a three-day event where youth from across the state come together to learn about civic engagement, youth advocacy, and how to make a difference in their communities. This event is open to all North Carolina 4-H’ers, ages 13-18. This year’s conference will be held virtually June 15-17, 2020. The theme for this year’s conference is Focus on YOUR Future.
Join us as we explore and learn more about advocacy, local government, and state government. There is no cost to register, but registration closes June 5. This is a state deadline and your county will have an earlier deadline. For more information, contact your 4-H Agent, Shannon Coleman @ shannon_coleman@ncsu.edu.
|
|
Appalachian Beekeepers Club
The Appalachian Beekeepers Club has developed a nice website. You can enjoy this website that is pack with helpful information at:
|
|
|
|
Resources for Farmers COVID 19 (Updated Daily)
Every sector of the area has been affected by the
COVID 19
including farmers. Here are some resources to answer some of the concerns farmers may have during these uncertain times. Farmers are urged to go to the following link to use it for a "One-Stop Shop" for resources about the COVID-19 Virus and how it is affecting our area. Our Ag Agent, Keith Wood has done a nice job of gathering information and updating it daily.
|
|
|
|
NCDA Now Accepting Routine Client Samples
Until further notice, NCDA labs will be operating under reduced staffing. Although longer than normal sample turnaround times may be expected, we are accepting all routine client samples (soil, nematode, plant, waste, solution and soilless media) except waste samples covered by the NCDEQ waiver on liquid animal waste .
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
Food Safety Guidance for Bulk Purchases of Frozen Poultry, Meats
Due to changes in the supply chain, some meat and poultry manufacturers are selling large amounts of product directly to consumers. Pop-up drive-thru sales of bulk bargain chicken direct from North Carolina farmers have been shutting down traffic in some locations as people race to take advantage of deals and stock up on meats during the COVID-19 pandemic.
|
|
MORE POPULAR EXTENSION YOUTUBE CHANNELS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
