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CLAY COUNTY CENTER
FEBRUARY 2021 NEWSLETTER
Planting Fruit Trees in the Home Landscape
Winter is the ideal time to get started
Have you ever been at home and had a craving for crisp apples, sweet peaches, or other fresh fruits? Maybe you want to make a pie, or maybe you want to savor the sweet taste of summer straight from the source, but wouldn’t it be nice if you could just stroll over to a veritable fruit factory in your own back yard?
Consider planting your own fruit trees at home so they are available anytime! Many fruit trees can be easy to grow and add an extra aesthetic to your home landscape. One particularly appealing benefit of growing your own fruit trees is that you can harvest the fruits at their peak freshness. Read more


Clay County Annual 4-H Plant Sale
How do you help children to become responsible adults? 
By planting seeds for them to be creative, independent, and compassionate. If you are not around children all the time, this can be a difficult task. However, 4-H creates experiences for children through clubs, summer programs, or school activities for these seeds of mastery, independence, and generosity to grow.
You can help 4-H in Clay County by purchasing a fruit plant through N.C. Cooperative Extension of Clay County Annual 4-H Fruit Plant Sale. This year there are a variety of plants being sold such as apple, pear, peach, blueberry, blackberry, elderberry, and strawberry. Learn How to Place Your Order»
  • Flyers and Tyers will meet Feb 11 and 25 on Zoom at 3:30
  • Trails and Rails will meet Feb 8 on Zoom at 6:00         
  • Check your email about the 2021 4-H re-enrollment.
  • Save the date, March 20, for the 2021 Virtual Teen Retreat
February is Heart Month

Heart disease is a leading cause of death in the United States for both men and women. But you can do a lot to protect your heart and stay healthy.
The first step toward heart health is understanding your risk of heart disease. Your risk depends on many factors, some of which are changeable and others that are not. Risk factors are conditions or habits that make a person more likely to develop a disease. These risk factors may be different for each person.
Preventing heart disease starts with knowing what your risk factors are and what you can do to lower them.
Your risk of heart disease is higher if you:
·     Have high blood pressure
·     Have high blood cholesterol
·     Are overweight or obese
·     Have prediabetes or diabetes
·     Smoke
·     Do not get regular physical activity
·     Have a family history of early heart disease (your father or brother was diagnosed before age 55, or your mother or sister was diagnosed before age 65)
·     Have a history of preeclampsia (a sudden rise in blood pressure and too much protein in the urine during pregnancy)
·     Have unhealthy eating behaviors
·     Are older (age 55 or older for women or age 45 or older for men)
Each risk factor increases a person’s chance of developing heart disease. The more risks you have, the higher your overall risk.
Some risk factors cannot be changed. These include your age, sex, and a family history of early heart disease. But many others can be modified. For example, being more physically active and eating healthy are important steps for your heart health. You can make the changes gradually, one at a time. But making them is very important.
What can you do?
·      Get your blood pressure and cholesterol checked
·      Choose heart-healthy foods
·      Aim for a healthy weight
·      Manage stress
·      Get regular physical activity
·      If you smoke, quit smoking
·      Get enough good, quality sleep
 For more information on heart health visit the American Heart Association’s website at www.heart.org.
A four-part series of in-depth, hands-on work sessions are designed for agriculture-based businesses who have attended the Appalachian Farm School in the past or who already have a business plan put together. These are "work sessions" where you will get to work on creating a current budget, understanding your accurate financial picture as well as getting a clearer marketing strategy and developing a brand.

Register HERE and for more information, contact the SCC Small Business Center at 828-339-4426
Gardening Tips for February
  • Prune grapevines and other fruit trees. 
  • Also prune late blooming flowering trees and shrubs, such as Spirea and Rose of Sharon.
  • Trim back ornamental grasses, liriope, and dead tops on perennials.
  • Fertilize spring-flowering bulbs as soon as leaves appear if not fertilized in November.
  • Finish ordering seeds and plants.
  • Check and repair garden equipment and tools before they are needed.
SEVEN FREE ONLINE EVENTS REGISTER HERE
Winter Vineyard Manager Workshop
Extension specialists are offering free virtual training on vineyard management. This is an opportunity to get 2 hours of NCDA pesticide continuing education credits. To learn more and to register click here
This two-day online conference includes a virtual trade show and presentations on many different topics to help vegetable growers. We hope that you take advantage of this opportunity to learn about current issues associated with vegetables and take time with the representatives from agricultural companies and other businesses that support our industry during live “virtual” breakout sessions. NC Pesticide credits will be available for attendees. Register Here
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*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.
EVENTS | View Calendar
FEB
8
TRAILS AND RAILS
ZOOM MEETING
6:00 PM
FEB
11
FLYERS AND TYERS
ZOOM MEETING
3:30 PM
FEB
15
CLAY COUNTY CENTER
CLOSED
FEB
25
FLYERS AND TYERS
ZOOM MEETING
3:30 PM