CLAY COUNTY CENTER
NOVEMBER 2020 NEWSLETTER
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Save the Date for the 2021
Master Gardener Class
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The 2021 Master Gardener course will take place on Thursdays from 9:00 AM -12:00 PM starting on February 18 and ending on April 29. There will be 15 spots available to take the class in-person at the Extension office. In addition to the 15 in-person spots participants will have the option to join the class via the video meeting platform Zoom. In addition to the Thursday morning lectures, there will also be optional hands-on workshop classes in the garden available for all participants to attend.
This year, Extension will also host a fall Master Gardener class that will take place during evening hours so that people that work between 8-5 can also take the course. Hopefully by then we will be able to meet in person in larger numbers.
The Master Gardener Course is $130.00. Registration will begin mid November. Please call the Extension office at 389-6305 or email lcgonzal@ncsu.edu to express your interest in one of the upcoming courses.
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MED instead of MEDS continue in November |
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Some of the Family and Consumer Sciences Extension professionals from across the West District of North Carolina will join together to host an online series of the Med Instead of Meds program. When: Mondays from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Session 4 – November 2, Session 5 – November 9, Session 6 – November 16. Click to Learn more
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MAINTAIN, DON'T GAIN THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
This holiday season, the only thing that should be “stuffed” is the turkey. Many Americans gain between 1 and 5 pounds each holiday season. While it might not sound like much, most people never manage to lose those extra pounds. You are invited to join the 14th annual Eat Smart, Move More, Maintain, don’t gain! Holiday Challenge. Rather than focusing on trying to lose weight, this FREE seven-week challenge provides you with strategies and resources to help maintain your weight throughout the holiday season. Holiday Challenge registration
For more information, contact Kimberly Terrell, Registered Dietitian and FCS Agent at kimberly_terrell@ncsu.edu or 828-349-2048 (Macon office); 828-389-6305 (Clay office).
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Clay County 4-H Clubs
Flyers and Tyers:
Next meeting Wednesday, November 18th at 4:00 through Zoom
Trails and Rails
Next meeting Monday, November 16th at 6:00 through Zoom
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The goal of the North Carolina 4-H “Move-mber” Fall Moving Challenge is to get our youth outside and moving. With so much screen time these days with virtual learning, our goal is to encourage and inspire our youth to get outside and exercise.
To learn more and to register for this challenge visit Move-mber
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Need K-12 Virtual Assets? NC 4-H Has You Covered. New Website Dedicated to Curriculum Content.
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We are excited to announce a fun opportunity for our 4-H’ers and families during this fall season. Each year during the NC State Fair, we have a hay bale decorating contest for counties. Since the fair is not going to be happening this year due to the pandemic, we are excited to announce the 4-H Hay Bale Decorating Fun for your
4-H families and 4-H’ers.
Pictures are due to the Clay County Extension office by November 18th. You can email them to julie_lyvers@ncsu.edu or mail them to Clay County Center, 25 Riverside Circle Suite 2, Hayesville, NC 28904.
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Extension Updating Clay County
Local Food and Farms Brochure
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Do you have a local food product that you sell, a farm, farm stand or agritourism operation? Clay County is updating its Local Food and Farm Guide and we want to make sure you are in the new guide. Please feel free to email the Agriculture Agent at lcgonzal@ncsu.edu, call the office at 389-6305, or fill out this short form to help us make sure we include you in the new guide. Worried you will forget to call, email or fill out the form? No worries... any farms or food businesses listed in the 2017 directory will be contacted by the end of November by Lisa Gonzalez to make sure any information we have for you is accurate. The new guide will be available in January of 2021.
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Keep Foods Safe in a Slow Cooker |
Do your cooking methods and equipment change with the seasons? Backyard grilling (or in my case, back porch grilling) is one of the most popular summer cooking methods. Nothing says summer better than the smell of a smoky grill, cooking up some burgers or BBQ for dinner. Now that the temperatures are falling and Autumn is in the air, there is just something about needing comfort foods that only a slow cooker can provide. From hearty soups and stews to pot roasts, vegetables, and slow-cooked desserts, there are a plethora of slow cooker recipes to choose from. In addition to satisfying those cold-weather cravings, a meal prepared in a slow cooker saves time. After a long day of work and running the kids to piano lessons or basketball practice, coming home to the smell of a pot roast with yummy vegetables simmering in the slow cooker does a momma’s heart good. Cook up a few quick sides of whole grain rice, cinnamon applesauce, and a dinner roll and wah-lah, a home-cooked meal is served in less than 20 minutes! Read More
For more information on using slow or multi-cookers or for yummy recipes, contact Kim Terrell, Family and Consumer Science Agent at 828-389-6305 or kimberly_terrell@ncsu.edu.
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Slow Cooker Apple Cobbler
Ingredients
- 6 cups sliced peeled tart apples
- 1 ÂĽ tsp ground cinnamon
- ÂĽ tsp ground allspice
- ÂĽ tsp ground nutmeg
- Âľ c 2% milk
- 2 Tbsp butter, softened
- Âľ c sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ c biscuit baking mix
Topping:
- 1 c biscuit baking mix
- 1/3 c packed brown sugar
- 3 Tbsp cold butter
- ½ c sliced almonds
- Ice cream or whipped topping, optional
Directions
- In a large bowl, toss apples with cinnamon, allspice, and nutmeg. Place in a greased 3-quart slow cooker. In a small bowl, combine the milk, butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla, and biscuit mix. Spoon over apples.
- For the topping, combine biscuit mix and brown sugar in a large bowl; cut in butter until crumbly. Add almonds; sprinkle over apples.
- Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or until the apples are tender. Serve with ice cream or whipped cream if desired.
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MyPlate for Older Adults:
Eat Right for Your Age
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MyPlate for Older Adults calls attention to the unique nutritional and physical activity needs associated with advancing years, emphasizing positive choices. It shows how older adults might follow a healthy dietary pattern that builds on the MyPlate graphic.
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Help Available from USDA to Apply for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2m |
At USDA, we are committed to helping you complete program applications, and USDA’s Farm Service Agency staff can help guide you through the process of applying for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 (CFAP 2), including preparing and submitting required paperwork. There is no need to hire a paid preparer.Additionally, translation services are available in all USDA Service Centers, so one-on-one assistance with a Service Center employee can be translated in real time. To find the nearest USDA Service Center, visit farmers.gov/service-locator.
A call center is also available for producers who would like additional support with the CFAP 2 application process. Please call 877-508-8364 to speak directly with a USDA employee ready to offer assistance. The call center can provide service to non-English speaking customers. Customers will select 1 for English and 2 to speak with a Spanish speaking employee. For other languages, customers select 1 and indicate their language to the call center staff to be connected to an over-the-phone translation service.
Are You Eligible for Assistance Through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2?
Signup for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 (CFAP 2) began on Sept. 21, 2020 and will continue through Dec. 11, 2020. CFAP 2 provides eligible producers with direct financial assistance due to market disruptions and associated costs because of COVID-19.
Many more commodities are eligible for CFAP 2 than CFAP 1. Our new, easy-to-use CFAP 2 Eligible Commodities Finder makes finding payment rates specific to your operation simple. Try it out here!
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Help Keep the Spotted Latternfly
out of North Carolina
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The Spotted Lanternfly is an invasive planthopper native to China. Currently, it is in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. The Spotted Lanternfly could cause billions of dollars in loss to NC agriculture, tourism, and trade. It is NOT in North Carolina and the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services continually traps and scouts for it. Read More »
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- If you still have more trees and shrubs to plant, do so now. Plant spring-flowering bulbs.
- Remove dead foliage from perennials. Divide perennials if needed. Apply fresh mulch over perennials.
- Remove asparagus ferns after they are killed by frost.
- Finish cleaning up the garden after all crops are killed by frost. Apply lime if need
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- When bringing in houseplants for the winter, inspect them for mealybugs, whiteflies, or spider mites.
- Do not overwater your houseplants, as they do not grow as much during the winter.
- Clean, oil, and store garden equipment.
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VISIT THESE WEBSITES TO LEARN MORE ABOUT CLAY COUNTY CENTER'S UPCOMING EVENTS AND NEWS

*OUR OFFICE IS CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC BUT WE ARE AVAILABLE FOR APPOINTMENTS, MONDAY - FRIDAY 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM, PLEASE CALL 828-389-6305.
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HAY BALE
DECORATING
CONTEST
DEADLINE
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CLAY COUNTY CENTER
CLOSED
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CLAY COUNTY CENTER
CLOSED
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