Cherokee County Extension News

Vineyard Workshop Held in Cherokee County

2012-01-23T09:14:00.002-05:00

North Carolina Cooperative Extension will provide a Vineyard Workshop on February 7 and 8 at the Center for Applied Technology (CCAT) building in Marble beginning each day at 9 am and ending at 4 pm. The workshop will be conducted by Randy Collins, Extension Agent from Graham County and Keith Wood, Extension Agent in Cherokee County. A live web question and answer session with specialist(s) will be the afternoon of the second day. Some of the topics will include, economics of grape and winery production, species/cultivar selection, trellising, fruit composition, wine-making, soils, diseases and insects. The cost of the program will be $20 which includes notebooks and lunch both days. Please register for the workshop by calling the Cherokee County Extension Center at 828-837-2210 by February 3. Payment will be required on the first day of the meeting.

44th Annual Meeting and “Winter Vegetable Conference and Trade Show”

2012-01-17T14:37:00.001-05:00

Sponsored by the N.C. Tomato Growers Association
February 22nd & 23rd, 2012
Crowne Plaza & Resort
Asheville, NC
Use this link to make reservations

Attendees may also call in for reservations to 888-233-9527
until January 31, 2012 at midnight.

After January 31, 2012, guests must call 800-733-3211
for reservations assistance.

For more information, please contact Ellen Sprague via e-mail, ellen_moss@yahoo.com.
Check back later for more information.

A New You in 2012

2012-01-13T14:23:00.002-05:00

A new you is within reach. With New Year’s resolutions we see the age-old commitment to lose weight and improve eating habits. Just as other habits that we try to change sometimes need help, this challenge is no different. There are many resources available to help but there is one in Cherokee County that may be your best option. Eat Smart, Move More, Weigh Less is a national and state supported initiative sponsored by Cooperative Extension.
This program features weekly strategies, group support, and educational materials to help you with your weight management goal. While there is a weekly weigh in, pounds lost are not the only benchmark of success. Many people realize inches lost before actual pound reduction. Call the Cherokee County Cooperative Extension Office today and sign up for the Eat Smart, Move More, Weigh Less program. There are two different opportunities that you can take advantage of:
Session 1 Hiwassee Valley Pool and Wellness Center, Murphy
Each Thursday starting January 19th 9-10 am

Session 2 Agriculture Learning Center, Ranger
Each Tuesday and Thursday starting January 19th 4-5 pm

Session 2 is different in that a workout is included with the program. You only need to bring an exercise matt and a set of light dumbbells for each class.

The cost for session 1 is $10.00.
The cost for session 2 is $20.00.

Both programs will run for approximately 15 weeks.
Contact Teresa Goley at 837-2210 to register and obtain more information.

Master Gardener Volunteer Training Upcoming

2012-01-11T10:10:00.000-05:00

The Cooperative Extension Offices of Cherokee Clay and Counties will be offering a Master Gardener Volunteer Certification training beginning Thursday, February 2, and continuing on Mondays and Thursdays through March 29th. The training will be held at the Brasstown Community Center from 9:00am until 1:00pm. A tuition fee of $75.00 will be collected on February 2, to cover expenses of the training and cost of manuals. Some of the trainings will include a fruit tree pruning demonstration, a propagation workshop and a Shittake mushroom workshop.

Becoming a Master Gardener not only involves the education you gain, but also carries certain responsibilities and an obligation to donate a certain amount of time back to the community each year through Extension programs. Each trainee will be expected to perform a minimum of 40 hours of volunteer work to be completed within one year following the last core training class. Interest has been high and seating is limited. If you would like to participate in this rewarding and unique learning experience or for more information, please contact our office by January 23, by phone 837-2210 or email at keith_wood@ncsu.edu.

2012 Plant Sale

2012-01-10T15:04:00.004-05:00

To place your order online, click here.
OTHER WAYS TO PLACE YOUR ORDER: Come by our office or call us at 837-2210.

This is a fundraiser and there is no guarantee on plants. Pre-payment is necessary on all plant orders. All orders should be in our office by February 24, 2012. Please make your check out to Cherokee County 4-H.

Raising Heritage Poultry for Profit

2012-01-09T13:39:00.001-05:00

Learn about sustainable breeding and how to market poultry products in stores and restaurants, and in your community! Learn what breeds are on the verge of extinction and how you can be a part of their preservation! During this workshop, you’ll learn how to identify breeds, how to select and breed them legally and safely, how to create an environment for maximum, natural production, and finally, how to strategically market your poultry for a small farm profit.

Saturday, February 11th 2012 (Asheville NC)
9:00am - 4:00pm
Buncombe County Extension Training Center
94 Cove Avenue
Asheville, NC 28801

Thursday, February 23rd 2012 (Salisbury, NC)
9:00am - 4:00pm
NCDA Piedmont Research Station
8350Sherrills Ford Road
Salisbury, NC 28147

Tuesday, March 13th 2012 (Knoxville, TN)
9:00am - 4:00pm
Tennessee Turkeys
3766 W. Buttermilk Road
Kingston, TN 37763

Cost & registration, includes training materials and lunch: $89.00 for PRE-registration. Register on-line www.centerforpoultry.com Mail checks to: Center for Poultry – 642 Moffitt Hill Road – Old Fort, NC 28762. For more information contact: jim@centerforpoultry.com or call 209.890.5326.

Virus Affecting Horses Found at N.C. Stable - (Virus is contagious between horses, but does not affect humans.)

2012-01-06T13:16:00.004-05:00

RALEIGH – The neurologic form of equine herpesvirus, EHV-1, has been confirmed in a North Carolina horse. The horse, from a Rockingham County stable, was taken to the College of Veterinary Medicine at N.C. State University upon becoming ill, and directly quarantined to the equine isolation unit of the hospital.
“We have been fortunate that we’ve not seen this particular form of this common virus in North Carolina to date, even though it has been increasing in frequency throughout the country for almost a decade now,” said State Veterinarian David Marshall. “We are working with the College of Veterinary Medicine and with the stable to implement biosecurity measures and minimize the risk of further spread.”
EHV-1 is highly contagious among horses, but poses no threat to humans. It most often causes respiratory infections in young horses, but different strains can also pose neurologic problems, which the affected N.C. horse exhibited. The virus also can cause abortion in pregnant horses or neonatal death. Vaccines are available that protect horses from most forms of EHV-1, but not from the strains that cause neurologic problems.
Biosecurity measures to protect horses include quarantining facilities that are suspected to house EHV-1-exposed horses. Water and feed buckets should be disinfected and not shared. Stalls and trailers should also be cleaned and disinfected regularly to prevent the spread of disease. New additions or those returning from shows and exhibitions should be isolated for 3 weeks prior to comingling with other horses upon returning home. Horse owners should also talk with their veterinarian to determine a vaccine schedule.
More information about EPV-1 and how to prevent the virus can be found at www.ncagr.gov/vet/Disease Alerts.htm. Questions regarding College of Veterinary Medicine protocols may be referred to David Green at 919-513-6662.
There are no horse events scheduled this weekend at facilities owned by the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services in Raleigh, Williamston and Fletcher.

Upcoming Beekeeping Webinar: "Coming Out Of Winter"

2011-12-09T08:33:00.006-05:00

Associate Professor and Extension Apiculturist, will be providing a statewide
webinar January 19, 2012 from 7-9 PM on beekeeping.The topic for the webinar will be “Coming Out of Winter” because of late inter, early spring being a critical for the beekeeper to do everything to ensure colony survival. The webinar will be held through the Elluminate system which will provide the option to particpate online at home or it can be projected onto a screen for a group to participate. Using Elluminate is simple and only requires dial up Internet to participate. If you have any questions about lluminate, feel free to call Keith Wood at the the Cherokee County Center at 828-837-2210 or contact Silas Brown and the Clay County Center at 828-389-6305. Joining the session is as simple as following the directions below. Thanks for using our new web based teaching tool.

Session Details:
Starts: Jan 19, 2012 7:00 PMEnds: Jan 19, 2012 9:00 PM

Join Session:
http://elluminate.wolfware.ncsu.edu:80/join_meeting.html?meetingId=1261518564976

Add to Calendar:
http://elluminate.wolfware.ncsu.edu:80/build_calendar.event?meetingId=1261518564976&roleId=0

HOP PRODUCTION / USE OF ENZYMES IN BEVERAGE FERMENTATION

2011-12-05T16:36:00.004-05:00

Commercial and aspiring brewers, winemakers, hop and grape growers, distillers, and anyone involved in fermented/craft beverage production are invited to the 2012 NC Craft Beverage Regional Exchange Group meeting series.

Join us January 12, 2012 at Catawba Valley Brewing Company, Morganton, NC for a combined presentation on hop production in North Carolina, and enzyme use in commercial beverage fermentation. Speakers include NC State hop specialist Dr. Jeanine Davis and David Maradyn, Staff Scientist in Brewing Solutions for enzyme professionals Novozymes.

Supported by the North Carolina Biotechnology Center and organized by Appalachian State University, the mission of this Regional Exchange Group (REG) is to foster collaboration among members of the growing and dynamic fermentation/craft beverage industries of North Carolina. Meetings feature speakers focused on fermentation technologies and scientific practices for use throughout the production process. There are no fees for this REG meeting.

Take the following link to register: http://nccraftbevjan2012.eventbrite.com or contact Franya Hutchins (hutchinsfe@appstate.edu, 828-262-8158)

There is no fee for this meeting.

Agenda January 12, 2012 at Catawba Valley Brewing Company, Morganton, NC

Hop Production Introduction and Discussion 9am-12pm:

Topics covered include: establishing a hop yard, variety selection, growing, harvesting, drying, packaging, enterprise budgets, marketing, organic options, and scaling production. Presentation will be led by Dr. Jeanine Davis of NC State University.

Enzyme Use in Craft Beverage Production 1:30-4:30pm:

1:30 - 2:00 Greeting and Introduction to the Craft Beverage REG
2:00 - 2:30 Incentivizing Craft Beverage Businesses in your Community- Alan Clark, Burke County Tourism Development Authority
2:30 - 4:30 Enzyme Use in Beverage Production- David Maradyn, Novozymes; additional speakers, open discussion of industry experiences, and question / answers.

4:30 Craft Beverage Reception, Catawba Valley Brewing Company Tasting Room (light snacks provided)

Mark your calendars January 12, 2012 for this opportunity connect with other industries/industry members, share experiences, concerns, and needs of these industries, and discuss some technical aspects of production that may benefit your business.

These meetings are intended to be casual and contribution from attendees is highly encouraged.

Fifteen Youth Attend the 4-H Holiday Workshop

2011-11-28T09:52:00.006-05:00

Our 4-H Holiday Workshop was a huge success again this year! We had twelve girls and three boys. Each of them enjoyed making a Thanksgiving centerpiece to enjoy with their family. They also made cinnamon scented candles and other crafts. The group enjoyed a tasty lunch at Downtown Pizza. If you are interested in learning more about Cherokee County 4-H, please visit the Cherokee County 4-H blog here.

4-H Holiday Workshop Planned for November 23rd!

2011-11-07T10:52:00.002-05:00

We will be making some holiday crafts, baking and just having fun. The workshop will begin at 8:30AM and end at 5:00PM. This year’s workshop will be held at the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Center in Murphy. Lunch, as well as Snacks and drinks, will be provided. The workshop is open to all youth ages 5-14 and cost only $25.00. You must register by November 21 at the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Center in Murphy. You can register over the phone but registration fees are due when you register and are non-refundable. Remember parents this is a teacher workday at school and what a better way for youth to spend their day “learning by doing”. For more information, please visit the Cherokee County 4-H blog, please call (828) 837-2210.

Ag Options Grants Available for 2012

2011-11-02T11:32:00.006-04:00

We are so excited and pleased to announce that WNC AgOptions Grant Program applications are now available!

Grants of $3,000 and $6,000 will be awarded to individual farmers proposing diversification projects that boost economic viability of their businesses. Awards of up to $10,000 will go to three farmer-led groups working to solve processing, packaging, marketing and other distribution needs of the local agriculture system.

Applications for the two grant opportunities are available at www.wncagoptions.org and at the local Cooperative Extension Centers. Interested applicants must contact their local Extension Agents by November 16 to notify them that they intend to apply. The application postmark deadline is December 1.

Cherokee County Ag Agent, Keith Wood is planning two grant writing workshops to assist local farmers who are intending to apply for an Ag Options Grant for 2012. The first workshop is planned for November 15, at 5pm at the Cherokee County Extension Center. The second workshop will be held on November 16th at 2pm, at the Ag Learning Center (located at Hwy 64W, at the Mountain Folk Center).

Remember that the "Intent to Apply" deadline is also on November 16th! If you let our office know you wish to apply for one of these grants by this deadline, you will automatically be awarded 5 extra points!

Cherokee County Mountain Folk Center

2011-11-01T13:27:00.004-04:00

The Cherokee County Industrial Park has a new name.... Mountain Folk Center. We also have a new blog about the Mountain Folk Center. You can find the blog at http://www.mountainfolkcenter.com. When the facility was initially built, it was used for agriculture purposes such as, livestock sales, horse shows, and an Arts and Crafts Center. The facility has been cleaned of debris and is returning to agriculture roots. A "fact finding" committee has been developed to begin to look at best uses for the facility for agriculture purposes. The first meeting was held Friday, October 28, 2011 to discuss the site. The committee decided to engage the public on the uses of the facility. Please click on the "Survey" link at the top of the blog and complete the survey. The committee values each and every citizen's ideas and input.

Chicken Swap - November 12th Bring Your Chickens!

2011-11-01T10:45:00.002-04:00

Everyone is welcome to join in on the Chicken Swap that is planned for November 12, starting at 8am. Buy, Sell, or just Browse! Click here for more information.

Master Gardeners Harvest Corn Stalks for Fall Displays

2011-10-11T09:17:00.006-04:00

The Cherokee County Master Gardeners have been really busy! They have worked very hard on their fall fundraiser. If you notice the nice fall displays infront of several businesses downtown Murphy and Andrews, chances are that our Master Gardeners created them.

2011 Fall Paper Clover Promotion at Tractor Supply

2011-09-13T08:30:00.002-04:00

The 2011 Fall Paper Clover promotion with Tractor Supply will run from Sept. 21 to Oct. 2. Now in its second year, the fundraiser allows shoppers to purchase paper clovers for $1 at checkout. All funds are donated to 4-H and help support programs in the communities where each store is located.

Upcoming N.C. Big Sweep - Volunteers Needed!

2011-09-07T16:01:00.003-04:00

This year’s Big Sweep will be held on September 24th (rain date Oct. 1st) at Hanging Dog Campground Pavilion located on Joe Brown Highway. Begin assembling anytime after 7 a.m. Breakfast items and drinks will be available. Once briefed, be ready to head out at 8:00 for a fun morning. Try to be back by 12:30 p.m. for plenty of slow cooked barbeque and grilled chicken with all the trimmings. Retain your ticket for special drawings. For more information on N.C. Big Sweep, visit this website.

3rd Annual Fall Display Fundraiser

2011-08-31T16:35:00.006-04:00

The 3rd Annual Fall Display Fundraiser is underway. Once again, proceeds will support the Community Garden in Marble as well as other Master Gardener programs.

Package #1 - $50
2 bundles corn stalks,
1 straw bale, 2 mums,
2 pumpkins (various sizes)

Package#2 - $95
4 bundles corn stalks,
3 straw bales, 4 mums,
5 pumpkins (various sizes)
Combine Packages #1 and #2 for $130

All displays include delivery and set up during the first week of October.

Take down/Haul away is by appointment. You may decide to save the corn for your squirrels and plant your mums. Straw makes excellent mulch. Corn stalks will compost fine. Chickens love to eat pumpkins.

If you’d like us to take care of disposal, you must call with your name, phone #, address and instructions (“Please haul away my straw and pumpkins. Please leave the mums and corn.”)

Order by calling the Cooperative Extension Office at 837-2210.

Local Foods Campaign

2011-08-29T15:43:00.003-04:00

A certain trend is picking up speed all across our country. No, it's
not fashions or frills, but local food marketing. The number one
concern among consumers, aside from the current economy, is the desire
to know more of how their food is produced. In order to assist the
residents of our state with both of these issues, the NC Cooperative
Extension has begun a statewide "10% Campaign" to help consumers make
contact with their local food producers as well as attempting to boost
local economies.

Why "10%?" NC residents spend approximately $35 billion each year on
food alone. The effort is to encourage consumers to pledge to spend
ten percent of their personal food budget on foods grown in their
local area. Rather than sending that entire amount of money to other
parts of the country or even the world, 10 percent, or $3.5 billion,
would be put directly back into the local economy of each county.
This averaged about $1.05 per state resident each day. It also saves
many dollars from being spent on food transport and a number of
"middle men" who must also get their cut of the budget. In addition,
it also provides the opportunity for consumers to make direct contact
with farmers where they can discover exactly how their foods are
produced, the safety and quality of the product they feed their
families and establish the relationships between the two individuals.
There is much to be gained by everyone through such a program and we
do encourage as many as are willing to participate in this campaign.

A state website has been established where individuals, retailers,
marketers and even restaurants can sign up to make their pledge in
support of this effort. This is an opportunity to both, get to know
how your food is grown and do your part to support your local economy.
Simply go to the website "www.ncsu.edu/project/nc10percent" to make
your pledge. To date, more than 4500 individuals and businesses have
pledged to spend almost $7 million dollars of their food budgets on
locally produced food.

For more information on how or where to locate farmers who market
local foods, you can call the Clay County Cooperative Extension
Service (389-6305) or visit the SAFF (Southern Appalachian Family
Farms) Direct website (www.familyfarmsdirect.com) for a list of local
producers.
--
Silas Brown
NC Cooperative Extension, Clay County
(828)389-6305
clay.ces.ncsu.edu

Vegetable Production Workshop July 27th

2011-07-18T14:17:00.001-04:00

There will be a Vegetable Production Workshop on July 27 at the Mountain Research Station in Waynesville.

Please take this opportunity to see the exciting research being conducted on the test farm.

What: Vegetable Production Workshop

Where: Mountain Research Station, 265 Test Farm Road, Waynesville, NC. 828.456.3943

Agenda: 1:30-2 pm Registration

2pm - Welcome - Kaleb Rathbone, Superintendent of Mountain Research Station

2:15 pm - East Coast Broccoli Production, Dr. Jeanine Davis, NCSU Horticulture

2:35 pm - Tomato Insect Control, Dr. Jim Walgenbach, NCSU Entomology

2:50 - Drip Irrigation, Dr. Greg Hoyt, NCSU Soil Science

3:10 - Tomato Breeding Program, Dr. Dilip Panthee, NCSU Horticulture

3:25 - Organic Research Overview, Dr. Jeanine Davis

3:45 - Cucurbit Downy Mildew Forecasting, Mike Adams, NCSU Plant Pathology

4:05 - Pumpkin Variety Trial, Dr. Jonathon Schultheis, NCSU Horticulture

4:20 - Sweet Corn Variety Trial, Dr. Terry Kelly, Harris Moran Seeds

4:35 - Vegetable Disease Control, Dr. Kelly Ivors, NCSU Plant Pathology

Registration is free.

Pesticide credits are available. 1.5 hours N, O, D, X

Upcoming Organic Pest Management Seminar

2011-07-11T15:50:00.001-04:00

We are offering a Organic Pest Management Seminar for gardeners who desire to learn more on how to manage insects, diseases and weeds that plague their vegetables with organic methods. The seminar will be held at the Agricultural Learning Center on 9275 West US 64. (Entrance to the old livestock market sale barn near Ranger.) The date and time is July 21st starting at 1:00pm and will last until 4:00.

Christy Bredenkamp, Horticulture Agent from Jackson and Swain counties, will be sharing her vast knowledge and experience of organic gardening. This is an intense seminar with great pictures (courtesy of Debbie Roos, Sustainable/Organic Production Extension Agent, Chatham County), handouts and a plethora of tips. You won’t want to miss it! Class registration fee is only $5 to cover materials. Email or call Cindy to register. Class size is limited, so please call to register by July 18th to reserve your seat.

Preparing for District Activity Day

2011-06-30T13:44:00.001-04:00

There’s nothing that quite compares to a project completed. At the beginning of the 2010-2011 school year two students met with me each day after school to learn basic sewing skills. Leah Wood, fifteen and Alyssa Marescalco, thirteen consequently applied these skills to a presentation to be used at the North Carolina 4-H District Activity Day that was held on June 23rd in Cullowhee. Leah decided to focus her presentation on “The Shock Factor of Fashion.” Alyssa took a different approach by researching the history of brocade and damask fabrics both woven on the Jacquard loom. Leah and Alyssa both learned many sewing techniques including how to operate a different type of sewing machine, the serger. Leah fashioned her dress of emerald green satin after one that was worn in the movie musical “Burlesque.” Alyssa decided to construct a garment that would have been typically made from brocade. Her Shakespearean period costume featured a soft white under dress layered with a brocade over dress. The dark teal over dress was trimmed with silver. The bodice and the sleeves of Alyssa’s dress both featured silver lace ups. The girls have been working on their presentations since they completed the actual costumes that will be worn to illustrate their individual topics. Hopefully the girls will take the skills that they learned this year and apply them to a project for the 2012 District Activity Day.

Cherokee County 4-H

2011-05-31T15:29:00.001-04:00

We have lots of fun day camps planned for this summer! For a list of the day camps and descriptions/details of each camp, please click here.

4H Rocks in Ranger!

2011-05-04T11:30:00.002-04:00

Eleven students in the 21st Century Afterschool Program at Ranger completed the 4H Health Rocks Program recently. The youth enjoyed weekly physical activities including swimming at the Hiwassee Valley Health and Wellness Center. During the program, students also learned about eating healthier.

Nora Starks Memorial 4-H Open Horse Show

2011-04-19T11:26:00.002-04:00

The Cherokee Riders 4-H Horse Club cordially invites you to attend the Nora Starks Memorial 4-H Open Horse Show. It will be held April 30, at Shiloh Stables in Hayesville, NC. Registration begins at 9:00AM show starts at 10:00AM. We will have a variety of events for all children ages 5 to 19, regardless of 4-H membership.
Events include riding and non-riding events like: Stick Pony (non-riders); Halter; Stake Race (Riders); Flag Race (Riders); Arena Race (Riders); Pole Bending (Riders); 3-Legged Race (Non-riders); and Cloverleaf Barrels (Riders). There are over 45 different classes. Youth are riding against their own age group except for the open classes, which are open to youth 9-19. A negative coggins is required for all horses. Helmets are required for all riders. You must bring your own helmet. Ribbons will be awarded to all 1st -5th places in all divisions except Cloverbud. All Cloverbuds will receive a participation ribbon. Each event is $4.00 for all 4-H Members (from any state) and $5.00 for non 4-H members or $25.00 for all events. Membership for Cherokee County 4-H will be available at the show. Concessions will be available. The arena is a covered arena so the show will go on rain or shine.
We hope you will attend and bring friends and family to show your support for the youth of our county and surrounding area. For more information contact Shannon Coleman (828) 837-2210 or Angie Hopkins (828) 557-1408.

Steps to Health Program Taught in Local Schools

2011-04-07T08:45:00.001-04:00

Shannon Coleman, 4-H Agent, with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension just completed a new program here in Cherokee County to help youth make better choices in the foods they eat as well as helping parents get some new healthy recipes that they could try with their families. Murphy Elementary School’s second and third grade classes just completed the nine week Steps To Health program. The program consisted of 9 sessions that are designed to educate and inspire young children to eat smart. Hands-on activities, games, and physical activity were incorporated into each lesson. Each 45-minute lesson included a taste test of either a snack the student can make after-school or a healthy meal parents can make for dinner. Recipes and nutrition and physical activity handouts were sent home each week to the parents.

The youth in the program seem to enjoy trying new foods and taking home recipes for their parents to try. The youth also enjoyed all the free things that came with the programs. All participants were awarded a certificate of participation at the completion of the program as well as a Cook Smart, Eat Smart cookbook. During the program, all the participants also received a water bottle to promote choosing water as the best drink option instead of high sugar sodas and sports drinks. Each time the youth tried a new food like fruits or vegetables that they had never tasted before or didn’t like before they received an “I Tried It” sticker. This helped the youth feel proud about the fact they were expanding their food choices. This also help promote the conversations with their parents about what they did try new so the parents could find out some new foods they could introduce to their children at home. There were many other things that particular grades received for participating in the program like an insulated snack bag to put healthy snacks in to bring to school.

This was the first time NC Cooperative Extension has offered this program in Cherokee County and we hope to expanded next year and offer it at other schools in the county. This was a free program provided through the SNAP-Ed program. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (SNAP-Ed) formally known as Food Stamp Nutrition Education Program (FSNE) serves limited resource families across North Carolina. SNAP-Ed is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture-Food and Nutrition Service and works in collaboration with the NC Department of Health and Humans Services, Division of Social Services. The goal of SNAP-Ed is to assist those eligible for food assistance to eat smart and move more. SNAP-Ed works to help participants make healthy choices within a limited budget and choose physically active lifestyles consistent with the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans and My Pyramid.

Calling all farmers: Dig Into Local Show at WNC Farmers Market-April 9

2011-03-25T13:15:00.000-04:00

WNC Farmers,

The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is showcasing local farmers and a variety of WNC food products with the “Dig into Local” show at the WNC Farmers Market on Saturday, April 9th 11 am – 3 pm. Farmers can stay later if they would like. The tent will be set up all day. Please register on the attached application so we know how many tables to have and the size tent to use. This event to promote NC local foods is made possible with funds from the Golden Leaf Foundation.

A table will be provided for each farmer/organization at the show - no charge. Please bring all other marketing materials (i.e. brochures, display boards, banners, product, etc.) and product samples, if available, to advertise your farm or agricultural products. This preseason event is an opportunity to introduce the farmers to the consumers so that the customers have a greater awareness of where to buy fresh, local food and can connect the farmers with the food.

Any farmers or farm related organizations in the surrounding areas who sell directly to consumers via road side stand, CSA, and/or “pick¬ your own”, or farmers who are interested in expanding their retail and wholesale markets, are eligible to participate. This event will offer education, exposure, and outreach for NC products as well as potentially increase sales opportunities for farmers in local markets with fruits, vegetables, plants, fiber products, meats, seafood and dairy. Additionally, the event will focus on drawing in consumers from surrounding counties to further emphasize buying local and the chefs from area restaurants will be invited to scope out the products and help promote NC products in restaurants.

This showcase of WNC local products is being held in conjunction with the BBQ Cook¬-Off & Bluegrass Jam at the WNC Farmers Market in Asheville and the “Jam” is known to attract large crowds of people from the local and surrounding communities. In fact, in past years the BBQ Cook¬-Off & Bluegrass Jam has attracted as many as 10,000 people.

If interested, and to get an application, please contact Dee Bartlett, NCDA&CS Marketing Specialist, at dee.bartlett@ncagr.gov or 919.707.3106.

Harper Still Tatting at Almost 100!

2011-03-24T16:08:00.002-04:00

I love getting phone calls from people in the county. I recently talked with Hazel Harper. She wanted to talk with me about tatting. This interesting woman will celebrate her 100th birthday October 11th this year. She excitedly told me, “This is my centennial year! ”To me, that is truly worth celebrating! During our conversation, not only did I learn about her tatting skills, but she also told me that she is able to recite all fifty states and their capitals. How many of us can do that at any age? I too, was required to learn the state capitals when I was in the fifth grade. However, I am only able to retrieve a fraction of those capitals. Why are some people able to do so well as they age into their golden years and still be vibrant, interesting people? Of course genetics will play a large role in aging. However, I also believe that our future health depends on how well we take care of ourselves long before old age. As I would imagine, Hazel was an active youngster who played outside most of the time she was not in school or doing household chores. “We played outside all the time. We got a few toys at Christmas but we made most of our toys. ” When I asked Hazel about other physical activity, she related that people walked all the time. “We walked to church and school- about a two-mile trip, one-way.” I imagine that fast food was not part of her young life. “We raised all that we ate on the farm where I grew up in Boiling Springs. “Hazel was born in Ohio and later moved to Cherokee County with her family. She married in 1930. She and her husband lived many years in Ohio where he worked with International Harvester until he retired. At that time they moved back to Boiling Springs where she currently resides. She lives alone except for the nights when Donna Allen keeps her company. They spend many evenings playing Scrabble. With such a good foundation, she probably had the essentials for living a long life. As she became an adult, additional healthy decisions probably came into effect. Choosing not to smoke or drink alcoholic beverages probably added more years to her life. She stated that there were whiskey stills abundant in the coves in the area but she and her family did not partake. As simple as it sounds, making sure that she was still able to recite all fifty states and their capitals has certainly kept the cobwebs cleared in her mind. If you were to ask her the secret to long life, her answer is, “Clean living!”

Learn to Grow Shiitake Mushrooms

2011-02-16T13:42:00.002-05:00

The Cherokee and Clay County Centers of the NC Cooperative Extension are offering a Mushroom Workshop on Thursday February 24th starting 9am at the Brasstown Community Center. The educational seminar will provide information and hands-on training for growing mushrooms. Studies have shown that eating Shiitake mushrooms have several health benefits. These include anti-tumor properties, lower cholesterol, antioxidant properties and contain vitamin D like substances. Please call or come by the NC Cooperative Extension office in Murphy to register. Registration fee will be $10 and will cover the cost of materials such as the mushroom spawn, tools, and wax. If you plan to attend, please bring with you three logs in the following dimensions: 4-6” inches in diameter by 3 to 4’ feet in length. Cherry, poplar, and cherry are all suitable types of wood, however, oak is preferred for optimal growth and longevity. Pre-registration is required and the deadline is 5pm on February 22nd. Call immediately, seating is limited and we have had waiting lists the last five mushroom workshops. For more information or to register, please call Cherokee County Agriculture Agent, Keith Wood at 828.837.2210.

Horse Health Expo Coming March 19th!

2011-02-16T09:56:00.002-05:00

Join us for a great event for horse owners!

It's Time for Our Annual 4-H Plant Sale!

2011-01-27T09:04:00.003-05:00

The North Carolina Cooperative Extension is once again conducting its annual plant and tree sale. This years proceeds will go to Cherokee County 4-H. As usual, the plants and trees will be high quality and reasonably priced. The plant and tree sale is going on now and runs through the February 25. If you would like to download an order form which includes the descriptions, please click here.

Fresh Produce Safety Training Offered

2011-01-07T10:03:00.002-05:00

The Cherokee County Cooperative Extension Service is offering another Fresh Produce Safety Training. This information is for anyone growing produce for sale and gardeners that want to learn the safest ways to handle their garden produce. The training will compliment the Good Agriculture Practices (GAPs) and Good Handling Practices (GHPs) outlined in the FDA/USDA “Guide to Minimizing Microbial Hazards in Fresh Fruits and Vegetables.” Those that complete the training will receive a N.C. MarketReady Fresh Produce Safety Certificate of Attendance. This certification is now being required by some retail purchasers to buy from farms. The training is also required for those that want to eventually become GAP certified. Some of the topics to be covered are; field practices, packing sanitation, health and hygiene, animals and animal byproducts and water quality. Two sessions will make up the training to be held January 20th and 21st starting at 9:00am ending around 11:00am at Tri-County’s Center for Applied Technology in Marble. A small fee for the training will be $10 to cover materials costs. Deadline to register is January 18th, so please call 837-2210 or contact Keith Wood and register.

Livestock Minerals and Forage Testing Workshop

2010-11-04T10:09:00.003-04:00

Are your livestock really getting what they need from your feed? How can you know? So often livestock are simply fed whatever is available, and certainly most anything "beats a snowball," but are you getting the best performance gains from your animals and the most value from what you're feeding? If you're like most, you're not likely to change what your doing until you know whether or not it's effecting your wallet. The North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service can help you find out the answer to these questions and more at the Brasstown Community Center, Monday, November 22, 6:00-9:00 pm.

Program topics will include forage sampling and testing & feeding mineral supplements. Demonstrations will also be held on building a low cost, quality mineral feeder, which will be sent home with one lucky participant. Every participant who be willing to test their own hay will be given a voucher for one free forage analysis valued at $10. Light refreshments will also be served. Participants can preregister for the program by contacting the Cherokee County Extension Office at 837-2210. There is no cost for the program. For more information, click HERE.

Maintaining Your Freezer During Power Outages

2010-10-28T11:10:00.002-04:00

FOODS IN THE FREEZER: So you've discovered the power to your freezer is out. Perhaps you accidentally left the freezer door open. Why do you need to be concerned? When the power goes out and your freezer and refrigerator are off for an extended time, bacteria that multiply rapidly at temperatures above 40 can cause foodborne illness. Perishable foods should not be held above 40 degrees for more than 2 hours.

Sudden power outages can be frustrating and troublesome, especially when they are prolonged. If a power outage is 2 hours or less, you need not be concerned. Digital, dial, or instant-read food thermometers and appliance thermometers will help you know if the food is at safe temperatures.

A freezer that is half full will hold for up to 24 hours and a full freezer for 48 hours. You can safely refreeze thawed foods that still contain ice crystals or feel cold and solid to the touch. Add bags of ice or dry ice to the freezer if it appears the power will be off for an extended time. Partial thawing and refreezing may reduce the quality of some food, but the food will remain safe to eat.

Refer to Cooperative Extension's publication Maintain Your Freezer During Power Outages.

REMOVING ODORS: If food has spoiled in a freezer because of a power failure or some other reason, undesirable odors can develop. To eliminate odors, remove the food and wash the inside of the freezer with one tablespoon of baking soda in a quart of tap water, or with one cup of vinegar in a gallon of tap water. Let the surface dry.

If the odor still persists, use activated charcoal. This type of charcoal is extra dry and absorbs odors more quickly than cooking-type charcoal. It can be purchased at a drug store or pet supply store. To use it, unplug the freezer. Put the charcoal in pans or on paper in the bottom of the freezer for several days. If the odor remains, put in new charcoal. When the odor is gone, rinse and dry the inside of the freezer. Turn on the freezer and it is ready for food. When odor gets into the freezer’s insulation, write the company for any suggestions it may have for solving the problem. However, sometimes, there is nothing that can be done.

Need Creative Ideas for Using Your Property?

2010-10-26T11:34:00.002-04:00

Many people in the county are looking for ways to either supplement their income or maybe start their own small business. If you have some land available, large or small acreage, the NC Cooperative Extension Service will be offering a "Creating Profits From Your Property" workshop. Owning land is a great asset; we will show you ways that your land can put cash back in your pocket. We will present ways that traditionally make money and also some unique ideas that others across the country are doing. Some of the topics are: Agritourism, Tourism, Alternative Energy, Forest Products, Greenhouse Crops, Livestock, Local Marketing & Business, New Crops, and Organic Production. The program is intended to help participants realize the opportunities available and how Cooperative Extension may assist them. Follow up programs will be planned in areas of interest to the participants to demonstrate and teach production practices for specific crops. Participants are encouraged to bring their own ideas to share, discuss and gain information about. The workshop will be held at the Brasstown Community Building from 6:00-9:00pm. This program is free of charge, but you need to call our office at 837-2210 to register. For more information, check our web page http://cherokee.ces.ncsu.edu.

Walnut Quarantine

2010-09-30T14:13:00.003-04:00

The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has issued a quarantine of all walnut products coming from the states of Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, Oregon, Tennessee, Utah and Washington. For more information, click HERE.

Appalachian State Photovoltaic Course

2010-09-10T15:02:00.002-04:00

Photovoltaic System Design & Construction (two weekends)
Friday Evening, Saturday & Sunday, October 22, 23, 24, 2010
Friday Evening, Saturday & Sunday, November 5, 6, 7, 2010
Register Now!

This 40-hour workshop, held over two weekends, will introduce participants to the basic concepts, tools, techniques and materials needed to design and construct both battery-based and grid-direct photovoltaic systems. The course will focus on the key competencies addressed in the NABCEP Entry level PV exam and will include the test on the last day of the workshop. The NABCEP PV Entry Level Program is designed for individuals wanting to get into the solar field, and is a way to demonstrate achievement of a basic knowledge of the fundamental principles of the application, design, installation and operation of grid-tied and stand-alone PV Systems. Participants must attend both weekends to be eligible to take test. (Meals are on your own.)

Where: Campus of Appalachian State University, Kerr Scott/Harper Hall, Room 178
Schedule: Registration 5:00pm, October 22;
Workshop: Fridays (October 22 and November 5) from 5:30 – 9:00pm, Saturdays (October 23 and November 6) from 8:00am – 5:00pm; and Sundays (October 24 and November 7) from 8:30 – 4:00pm
Cost: $750 ($375 for students*)
Max Participants: 40
*Students enrolled in any degree-seeking program from any institution qualify for the student rate.

Register Now

* Kerr Scott/Harper Hall has limited parking, but the Rivers Street parking deck is just next door.
* Lodging info can be found at www.visitboonenc.com.
* A convenient on-campus option is the Broyhill Inn, (828) 262-2204, (800) 951-6048, www.broyhillinn.com
* Weather forecast: www.booneweather.com/Forecast/Boone
* Maps and directions: maps.appstate.edu

Who Should attend these workshops?
... basically anyone

* Renewable energy Installers, contractors, dealers
* Electricians and plumbers
* Land, home, business, or farm owners
* Students, tradespersons and inventors
* Teachers
* Elected officials
* Utility companies/cooperatives
* Any energy user interested in harnessing power from solar, wind or water.

Social media changing Extension work

2010-09-01T15:40:00.000-04:00

Social media changing Extension work

Pesticide Collection Day

2010-08-26T13:54:00.003-04:00

North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, in cooperation with the Cherokee County Cooperative Extension, will be offering a Pesticide Collection Day for residents in Cherokee, Clay, Graham and surrounding counties. The local site manager will be Mr. Keith Wood, Agricultural Extension Agent for Cherokee County. Collection will be day, October 5, 2010 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Wayne’s Feed Store in Murphy.
Nearly all pesticide products will be accepted. For liquid pesticide containers larger than 5 gal or for unlabeled pesticides, please contact the Cooperative Extension Office for information before bringing to the collection event. No gas cylinders are accepted at the event; however, assistance information can be provided. Contact the Cooperative Extension Office for more information. Don't miss this opportunity in Cherokee County. For more information contact Keith Wood at the Cherokee County Extension Center at (828) 837-2210.

Let Us Help You Market Your Locally Grown Products!

2010-08-05T14:43:00.001-04:00

We now have a bulletin board in our building to help local farmers market their products! Let us know if you have extra produce or locally grown products that you would like for us to help you market!

Be Careful in the Heat!

2010-07-21T09:22:00.004-04:00

The combination of heat, humidity and physical labor can lead to fatalities. The two most serious forms of heat related illnesses are heat exhaustion (primarily from dehydration) and heat stroke, which could be fatal. Signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke need immediate attention. Recognizing those warning signs and taking quick action can make a difference in preventing serious injury or a fatality.

Follow these guidelines to insure a safe and pleasurable gardening season.

Sun
Sunlight contains ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which causes premature aging of the skin, wrinkles, cataracts, and skin cancer. There are no safe UV rays or safe suntans. Be especially careful in the sun if you burn easily or spend a lot of time outdoors.

Here’s how to block those harmful rays:

• Cover up. Wear loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts and long pants.

• Use sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30. Be sure to follow application directions on the bottle or tube.

• Wear a hat. A wide brim hat, not a baseball cap, works best because it protects the neck, ears, eyes, forehead, nose, and scalp.

• Wear UV-absorbent sunglasses (eye protection). Sunglasses don’t have to be expensive, but they should block 99 to 100 percent of UVA and UVB radiation. Before you buy sunglasses, read the product tag or label.

• Limit exposure. UV rays are most intense between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Heat
The combination of heat and humidity can be a serious health threat during the summer months. If you work outside you may be at increased risk for heat related illness. So, take precautions.

Here’s how:

• Drink small amounts of water frequently.

• Wear light-colored, loose-fitting, breathable clothing—cotton is good.

• Take frequent short breaks in cool shade.

• Eat smaller meals before work activity.

• Avoid caffeine and alcohol or large amounts of sugar.

• Work in the shade.

• Find out from your health care provider if your medications and heat don’t mix.

Celebrate with Safe Salsa

2010-07-20T09:04:00.006-04:00

Celebrate with Safe Salsa Salsa is one of the most popular condiments used in the United States. Because it is such a popular condiment and party food, many consumers experiment with making and canning their own salsa. If a salsa recipe is not properly prepared and processed, however, it could be unsafe to eat. This bulletin provides some important guidelines for preparing home-canned salsa that’s safe.

What are the safety concerns?
Most salsa recipes combine onions, peppers, and tomatoes with acetic acid, in the form of either vinegar or lemon juice. The amount of acid is critical to the salsa’s safety. A proper amount of acid will reduce the pH, which is a measure of how acid a food is. For safe salsa, the pH of the vegetable ingredients should be less than 4.6. Foods with a pH less than or equal to 4.6 are labeled “high-acid” foods. Those with a pH greater than 4.6 are “low- acid.” This distinction is very important because only high-acid foods can be processed safely in a boiling water bath. Low-acid foods must always be processed in a pressure canner; if not, they can support the growth of the potentially harmful bacterium, Clostridium botulinum.

That’s why it’s important to use only tested recipes when canning your own salsa. Food scientists have evaluated a tested recipe to ensure that the amount of acetic acid in combination with the other ingredients will sufficiently reduce the mixture’s pH so that it can be safely processed in a boiling water bath. The processing times also have been tested to ensure that harmful microorganisms are destroyed. Nine tested recipes for safe salsa are included at the end of this bulletin.

What types of acids can I use to make my salsa safe?
When canning salsa use only bottled lemon juice or vinegar that is at least 5 percent acetic acid (acidity). Never use homemade vinegar or freshly squeezed lemon juice because the level of acid present is not known.

Bottled lemon juice tends to be more acidic than vinegar. It also has less effect on the overall flavor of the product in which it is used. Equal amounts of bottled lemon juice can be substituted for vinegar in recipes calling for vinegar. Vinegar, however, should not be used when a recipe calls for lemon juice.

What type of vinegar can I use to make salsa?
Any type of vinegar can be used as long as the product label states that it is at least 5 percent acidity. If this is not stated on the label, do not use the vinegar for canning or pickling. White vinegar has a tart flavor but will not discolor the salsa. Cider vinegar, on the other hand, has a milder flavor but tends to change the salsa’s color. Balsamic and other seasoned vinegars are more expensive than white or cider vinegar, but they are safe to use. Because the acidity of homemade vinegar is often unknown, do not use it to can salsa.

Can I change the amount of ingredients in my salsa recipe?
No. The only modifications that you can make safely in a salsa recipe are the amounts of spices used. Changing any other ingredient or amount could lead to an unsafe product. It is safe to double or halve a recipe.

Can salsa that contains no bottled and labeled vinegar or lemon juice be safely canned?
No. These types of salsa should be eaten immediately or stored in the refrigerator for up to one week.

Can I thicken my salsa recipe?
No. Adding a thickening agent makes it more difficult to adequately heat the center of the salsa to destroy harmful microorganisms, so the processing time must be increased. Because processing times are thoroughly tested in a laboratory setting, one cannot simply add to the processing time stated in a tested recipe to compensate for changes made to the recipe.If thicker salsa is desired, add cornstarch or other thickeners after opening. Remember to refrigerate all opened jars of salsa.

Can I add sugar to sour salsa?
Yes. Sugar can safely be added to a salsa recipe. Sugar is often added to offset the tartness of the vinegar. But you should never alter the amount of vinegar. Vinegar is essential to making the salsa acidic enough. Remember, properly acidified salsa can be safely canned; improperly acidified salsa cannot.

Where should I store my home-canned salsa?
Store home-canned salsa in a clean, dry, dark area. Exposure to prolonged light can affect its color, making it look less appetizing. The temperature of the storage area should be between 50oF and 70oF. As a rule of thumb, the higher the storage temperature, the shorter the shelf life of the product. Do not store in areas where pipes are located. Pipes can leak and contaminate the food. Be sure to label foods with the canning date so they will be used before the quality of the product erodes due to storage.

How long can I keep home-canned salsa?
If canned and stored properly, its shelf life is about 12 to 18 months. Salsa older than this is safe to eat if the jar is in good condition and the seal is still intact. Its quality, however, may be poor.

Why do I need to increase my processing time when I live at a higher altitude?
The processing time is the amount of time required to kill microorganisms. Because atmospheric pressure is lower at altitudes higher than 1,000 feet above sea level, water boils at a lower temperature at higher elevations. To ensure that microorganisms are killed, you must process food mixtures for a longer time. Contact your local Cooperative Extension center for more information about safely processing home- canned foods at higher altitudes.

Where do I get safe recipes?
The North Carolina Extension Service provides only tested recipes. To determine if your recipe is safe, contact the family and consumer educator at your county Extension center. The recipes in this bulletin have been tested and proven to be safe for home canning. And to stay safe while making salsa, you should never touch your face while handling chili peppers. They contain capsaicin, a compound that produces the burning sensation many salsa lovers enjoy. If chili pepper juice gets on your face or
in your eyes, it can be extremely irritating. Wear rubber gloves and keep your hands away from your face while handling chilies. Or if you prefer not to wear gloves, always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before touching your face.

Prepared by Angela Fraser, Ph.D., Associate Profe >S9 E } @ A dJ} PA|fP \ arolina State University

Agricultural drought conditions surface in Western North Carolina

2010-07-12T08:39:00.003-04:00

RALEIGH — Moderate drought conditions have resurfaced in parts of North Carolina for the first time since last summer, according to Thursday’s map issued by the U.S. Drought Monitor.

The drought map indicates that 18 counties in the western and northeastern portions of the state have reached moderate drought status, the least severe of the four drought categories.

Counties in WNC include Avery, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Jackson, Macon, Swain and Watauga.

The counties last week were designated as abnormally dry, but the weekly update released today pushed them one step up in severity to moderate drought.

This is the first time since August that any part of North Carolina has experienced drought. Officials say the worsening conditions are driven by a lack of rainfall that has hurt crops and impacted farmers in parts of North Carolina.

In addition, a lack of rain has thrust 11 more counties into abnormally dry conditions this week. Last week, 51 counties were abnormally dry, a category that means drought is not present but could return without sufficient rainfall.

All counties in WNC are abnormally dry, according to the drought monitor.

In 2007-08, the state experienced its worst drought since record keeping began on the subject in 1895. As drought has reemerged, state officials are encouraging residents, businesses, towns and others to conserve water whenever possible.

The following are some water conservation tips:

• Install low-flow shower heads, turn off water when brushing teeth, do only full loads of laundry, wash dishes by hand and repair leaking toilets.
• Water plants early in the day, plant only native grasses and shrubs, fix leaks in hose connections, use mulch to keep soil moist and collect and recycle rainwater.

For other tips, go to www.savewaternc.org. To see the drought map, go to www.ncdrought.org.

Pubished by Citizen-Times.com on July 8, 2010

Forage Field Day - July 20th

2010-06-30T14:37:00.003-04:00

The annual Forage Field Day will be held on July 20th at the Mountain Research Station near Waynesville, NC. Educational stops planned for this event include demonstrations of seeding equipment and calibrations of seeding equipment, a demonstration of strip grazing, herbicide spraying demonstrations and a demonstration of different herbicides. Educational talks on weed identification, soil sampling and watering equipment for livestock will also be part of the days activities. Hay equipment from several manufactures will be on hand to display and demonstrate equipment for cutting, tedding, raking, and baling hay. Additionally, distributors of hay storage systems and hay feeding equipment, animal health products, and chemical sprayers will be on hand. Pesticide credits will be available at this field day. For more information contact Keith Wood at 828-837-2210.

Still Space in Our 4-H Day Camps

2010-06-21T14:47:00.002-04:00

We still have space available in our 4-H day camps. Please visit our Cherokee County 4-H blog for more information!

N.C. State scientist searches for plants that help human health

2010-06-15T15:26:00.001-04:00

From Bhutan's rugged Himalayas to Ecuador's cloud forest to Alaska's frozen tundra, Dr. Mary Ann Lila searches high and low for what could be called pharmaceutical plants -- and not the brick-and-mortar kind that make medicines. She seeks the leafy kind, full of chemical compounds that can stave off human disease, promote endurance and strength, improve metabolism and erase signs of aging. Photo by Roger Winstead.Lila works from the N.C. Research Campus in Kannapolis, where she directs N.C. State University's Plants for Human Health Institute. The institute strives to shift the way the American public views and uses plant food crops as sources not just for nutrients but also for phytochemicals that protect and enhance human health.

The two-year-old institute, part of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, takes a multidisciplinary approach to pursuing that goal through research related to plant genomics and metabolomics, biochemistry, breeding and postharvest physiology.

Lila, a professor in the Department of Food, Bioprocessing and Nutrition Sciences, is one of five N.C. State faculty members now working in the institute. The institute is expected to grow to 15 faculty members.

Lila's current research focuses on three areas: studying health-enhancing compounds in blueberries and other berries, isolating phytochemicals that counteract malaria, and working with scientists and students from around the world to explore natural products for biomedical use.

During a recent seminar at the research campus, Lila discussed the latter project, which has taken her to Central and South Asia, New Zealand and Australia, Alaska and the Dakotas, Central and South America, and Africa.

These efforts are part of the Global Institute for BioExploration, or GIBEX, a research and development network Lila helped found while she was on the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign faculty. The partnership also includes N.C. State and Rutgers universities.

The group works with scientists, students and traditional healers in developing nations and with Native Americans to identify plants that hold promise for human health.

GIBEX doesn't take any plants from the locations where it works, but it trains and equips local scientists with cost-effective drug-discovery tools and technologies that are portable and easy to use, Lila said. That way, discoveries can be made in the field, with the intellectual property remaining with the local population.

While GIBEX scientists use modern research-based technology to screen plants for medicinal properties, they depend on centuries-old native understanding of the healing properties of plants as their starting point.

"We work a lot with traditional healers or the scientists at the university who still, a lot of times, have a foot in both camps: They are modern scientists; they use advanced technologies such as high performance liquid chromatography, but they still practice some traditional medicine. It's what they grew up with," Lila explained.

"But mostly the traditional medicine hasn't been validated. They don't have the capacity to validate it. They don't have the instrumentation. They don't have the money to do the bioassays we can do here. So what we are really doing is putting some substance behind what your grandmother always told you."

Since GIBEX was started in 2003-04, it has used this approach to identify 17 plant extracts that have been licensed to pharmaceutical companies, Lila said.

These extracts involve so-called secondary compounds -- phytochemicals that aren't directly involved in a plant's normal growth, development or reproduction, she explained. Instead, these chemicals are created to help the plants protect and defend themselves and attract pollinators.

"Pigments such as carotenoids in tomatoes and anthocyanins in blueberries are examples. They won't necessarily accumulate in the plant unless the plant is under stress, and that's why wild plants tend to have the highest concentrations of these secondary components," she said.

"Now interestingly, these same components that a plant uses to enhance its own survival under stress can interact with human therapeutic targets when the plant is ingested as food," she added. "They will interact with human therapeutic targets to specifically counteract human disease and improve human metabolism."

While Lila spends some of her time in the field looking for plants with such properties, she also conducts complex laboratory research aimed at understanding the precise health benefits of particular phytochemicals and at shedding light on the previously hidden ways that the chemicals build people's muscles, boost immunity, inhibit cancer, reduce inflammation and more. One of Lila's recent studies found, for example, that concentrated amounts of blueberry anthocyanin reduced glucose levels in diabetic mice better than metformin, a drug widely prescribed for type 2 diabetes.

In looking ahead, Lila said she hopes to continue to discover plants that could become agricultural crops that boost human health. At the same time, she hopes the Plants for Human Health Institute she leads will play a key role in helping the public better understand what's known about phytochemicals and how people can use them to enhance their health.

For Lila, that begins with personal practice. The researcher starts every day, she said, by eating at least a half cup of her favorite superfood: blueberries.

-- Written by Dee Shore, 919.513.3117 or dee_shore@ncsu.edu

Farmers putting ‘skinny’ in production

2010-06-10T13:27:00.000-04:00

Jun 10, 2010 9:54 AM, By Bob Stallman, President, American Farm Bureau “Further, U.S. farm land used for crops has declined by 70 million acres or 15 percent, since 1982. And soil erosion continues to decline. Careful stewardship by America’s food producers spurred a nearly 50 percent decline in erosion of cropland by wind and water since 1982.”

Today’s farmers and ranchers grow more food with fewer resources. Conservation-tillage is up and soil erosion is declining. As farmers and ranchers, we know this based on our experience. Now, a new report confirms this has occurred nationwide.

The 2010 National Resources Inventory (NRI) recently released by the Agriculture Department’s Natural Resources Conservation Service shows that farmers and ranchers are careful and caring stewards of our nation’s natural resources. The massive report, coupled with the latest USDA productivity figures, confirms the shrinking environmental footprint of our efforts to produce food and fiber in the United States. This is good news that should not go unreported.

The NRI is a compilation of a broad range of 50 years of data related to the environment, U.S. land use and productivity, water consumption and many other factors. Careful analysis of the data by AFBF quantifies how farm and ranch productivity has increased over the past two and a half decades, while at the same time environmental performance and water quality have improved.

There are several major points from the survey that I think tell a compelling story about agriculture.

First off, today’s farmers produce more food with fewer resources. While farm and ranch productivity has increased dramatically since 1950, the use of resources (labor, seeds, feed, fertilizer, etc.) required for production has declined markedly. For example, in 2008 farmers produced 262 percent more food with 2 percent fewer inputs, compared with 1950.

Secondly, farmers can feed more people thanks to the miracle of productivity. Total U.S. crop yield has increased more than 360 percent since 1950, helping America’s farmers and ranchers do our part to feed a growing world.

Additional points of importance include how America’s dairy farmers are producing more milk with less feed. It takes 40 percent less feed for a cow to produce 100 pounds of milk than it did 30 years ago.

Further, U.S. farm land used for crops has declined by 70 million acres or 15 percent, since 1982. And soil erosion continues to decline. Careful stewardship by America’s food producers spurred a nearly 50 percent decline in erosion of cropland by wind and water since 1982.

These facts, based on in-the-field science, are worth sharing. Farm and ranch families today are caring for our natural resources while feeding our nation. In fact, we are doing so with greater efficiency than ever before. I guess you could say we are cutting the fat and putting the “skinny” in production. Any way you slice it, that makes sense for people and our planet.

Pesticide Section Notice - Individuals Impersonating Pesticide Inspectors

2010-06-08T08:40:00.001-04:00

There have been recent reports in the Piedmont area of an unknown individual impersonating N.C. Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (NCDA&CS) Pesticide Inspectors. If you are approached by anyone inquiring about Commercial applicator licenses, pesticide products used, or any type of business question, please feel to request proper identification. Also, please try to note the individual’s vehicle and license plate number and refer the information to the number listed below. All of our staff members have Official NCDA&CS Credentials with a photo and the NCDA&CS Seal. We routinely present the credentials at the beginning of the inspection, if we fail to present it, please request that it be shown and we will be glad to present the proper identification. For your own protection, do not release any type of information to anyone unless proper identification is shown.
If you have any further concerns, please contact our Field Operations and Enforcement Unit at (919) 733-3556.

Learn to Sew!

2010-06-07T14:11:00.008-04:00

Five-week course coming in August. Click here for more information.

Food Preservation Time!

2010-05-25T08:17:00.005-04:00

Our Family and Consumer Education Agents have been busy teaching food preservation techniques in Cherokee and Clay Counties. Our hands-on workshop is coming up on June 28th in Cherokee County and June 29th in Clay County. Participants will take home four pints of home canned food (pickle, jam, low-acid, high-acid)BALL BLUE BOOKS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR AN ADDITIONAL FEE.
In addition to the food preservation series, a “Vegetables in Season”
series will be held every Friday in June; Clay County at 9:00 am and in
Cherokee County at 1:30 pm. At these sessions, there will be
demonstrations and handouts featuring the vegetable(s) of the day.
The handouts will include nutritional information and recipes. Participants
will have the opportunity to sample various recipes. Cost is $3 per
session or all four sessions for $8, if paid in advance. The schedule
for Vegetables in Season is as follows, Friday's:
-June 4 - Squash and Peppers
-June 11 - Beans
-June 18 - Corn
-June 25 - Tomatoes
Pre-registration is highly encouraged for the Food Preservation Workshops and Vegetable in Season demonstrations. So contact your County
Extension Office for more details and to pre-register. Cherokee County:
837-2917, 837-2210; Clay County: 389-6305. Call Today!!!

Wood appointed as Local Food Coordinator

2010-05-23T18:50:00.000-04:00

Keith Wood, Extension Agent with the Cherokee County Center, has been appointed as the local food coordinator for Cherokee County.
Local Food Systems is one of Cooperative Extension’s key major state programs and some of the activities will include:

1. Respond to notification from the web portal regarding institutional and retail market outlets Campaign registration. Visit each site and provide technical assistance such as: locating farmers who can meet their needs. Also, reinforce the data tracking requirement for participation.
2. Respond to individuals who want to participate by providing them with county-based information on where to buy local products.
3. Assist with community-based interest in establishing additional local markets including farmers markets, farm-to-school programs, increasing access to fresh and local products for underserved communities, etc.
4. Distribute information about the campaign and the educational resources available that are on the 10% campaign website.
5. Assist farmers with achieving gap certification and other requirements to fill institutional markets (by connecting them to appropriate resources).
6. Develop supplier and caterer lists for hosting local meals at all extension functions (and other area meetings, etc).
7. Assist with data collection efforts including alerting individuals and institutions to the data collection mechanism on the 10% campaign website, and responding to surveys distributed by the project team. There will be a set of data all counties will participate in collecting that is currently being determined.
8. Send updates on major activities to regional coordinators in order to share information across the region.

Keith is excited about his new role and can be reached at keith_wood@ncsu.edu or 828-837-2210.

Upcoming Food Preservation Workshops

2010-04-22T09:51:00.009-04:00

The NC Cooperative Extension is offering a Food Preservation Series, the
first of which will be the first week in May. We thought you may be
interested and/or know others who may be. These workshops will help
families revive the dying are of food preservation and learn the
recommended techniques necessary for preserving fresh, wholesome produce
at home. Hopefully saving families money and improving their nutrition too.

Are you anticipating growing a garden or would you like to purchase
fresh fruits and vegetables from local farmers this summer and need to
learn the recommended methods of food preservation. If so, we have a
series of Food Preservation Workshops that may interest you.

Cherokee and Clay County Family & Consumer Sciences Extension Agents,
Teresa Wiley and Pam Staton, will be conducting the workshops. Cost for
the series will be $30.00 at the door, for all three sessions, or
$25.00, if paid in advance. For participants who only wish to attend a
session or two, Sessions 1 and 2 are $5.00 each, and Session 3, a
hands-on workshop, where participants will take home 4 pints of food
each, will be $20.00.

Session topics are as follows:
-SESSION 1 - HOT WATER BATH CANNING, JAMS, JELLIES, PICKLES
-Monday, May 3 - Murphy, 2-4 pm or 6-8 pm
-Tuesday, May 4 - Hayesville, 2-4 pm or 6-8 pm
-SESSION 2 - PRESSURE CANNING, FREEZING AND DRYING
-Thursday, May 20 - Hayesville, 2-4pm or 6-8 pm
-Monday, May 24 - Murphy, 2-4 pm or 6-8 pm
-SESSION 3 - HANDS-ON WORKSHOP - Participants will take home 4 pints of
home canned food (pickle, jam, low-acid, high-acid)
-Monday, June 28 - Murphy, 6-9:30 pm
-Tuesday, June 29 - Hayesville, 1-4:30 pm
BALL BLUE BOOKS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR AN ADDITIONAL FEE.
In addition to the food preservation series, a “Vegetables in Season”
series will be held every Friday in June; Clay County at 9:00 am and in
Cherokee County at 1:30 pm. At these sessions, there will be
demonstrations and handouts featuring the vegetable(s) of the day. The
handouts will include nutritional information and recipes. Participants
will have the opportunity to sample various recipes. Cost is $3 per
session or all four sessions for $8, if paid in advance. The schedule
for Vegetables in Season is as follows, Friday's:
-June 4 - Squash and Peppers
-June 11 - Beans
-June 18 - Corn
-June 25 - Tomatoes
Pre-registration is highly encouraged for the Food Preservation
Workshops and Vegetable in Season demonstrations. So contact your County
Extension Office for more details and to pre-register. Cherokee County:
837-2917, 837-2210; Clay County: 389-6305. Call Today!!! Exact locations
for each class will be given upon registration. Hope to see you there!

Master Gardener Ben Cecil Remembered

2010-03-16T15:18:00.006-04:00

Ben Cecil took the Master Gardener certification classes and was always willing to volunteer his time and resources to beautify the community. All of the planter boxes throughout Murphy were built, planted and maintained solely by Ben. His wife Nydia, who is an artist, painted many of the boxes. Ben also maintained a portion of Caney Creek in the 'Adopt a Highway' program and worked on other Master Gardener projects such as the Butterfly Gardens in the elementary schools and the Humane Society. He also helped with the recent Cherokee County Fall Decoration Project, which served as a fundraiser for the Community Garden.

Ben passed away on October 17, 2009 of heart failure while admitted to N.E. Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville, Ga. We definitely miss Ben and his hard work and dedication to volunteering for our community.

In honor of Ben, a memorial celebrating his life was held November 19, 2009 at St William Catholic Church in Murphy. The Master Gardeners recently placed a sign in the planter boxes that he built and maintained, in front of the Cooperative Extension office.
(Parts of this article were contributed by the Cherokee County Master Gardeners.)

Now Taking Applications for the Community Garden

2010-03-09T15:32:00.005-05:00

We are now starting the 2010 Community Garden process. Everyone is welcome to participate in the community garden. You are welcome to pick up an application at our office or download one. Please visit our Community Garden blog at http://www.cccommunitygarden.blogspot.com. Our agents are planning educational classes that are time sensitive for coordinating your gardening tasks. For a list of gardening and food preservation classes that will be taught, please click here.

Farmers warned of estate tax law lapse

2010-02-17T09:15:00.001-05:00

By DIANA MAZZELLA
Staff Writer, The Daily Advance

Saturday, February 13, 2010

As farmers combat wet weather, less-than-desirable prices and the risks of running their own businesses, they also face the difficulty of ensuring that the farm makes it to the next generation.

On Wednesday, about 20 farmers, extension agents and experts gathered for a Farms in Transition seminar that focused on legal issues involving farm estate inheritance and preserving farms today.

Guido van der Hoeven, an extension specialist and lecturer with N.C. State University, spoke about the current lapse in federal estate tax law.

The law excludes from taxes estates valued at $3.5 million or less.

Because Congress didn’t renew the law, if Congress takes no action by the beginning of 2011, the estate tax law will revert to a prior law that makes estates worth about $1 million and under tax-free, putting more farms in a category where they would have to pay estate taxes.

Van der Hoeven said it’s not difficult for average-sized farms to reach $1 million in value in North Carolina, and with the estate tax situation up in the air right now and ever changing, it makes estate planning difficult for those who are trying to get that settled now.

Meanwhile, Theodore Feitshans, of N.C. State’s Department of Agriculture and Resource Economics, spoke about the ways farmers can manage risk now and preserve their businesses.

He suggested that Voluntary Agricultural Districts would be a way for farmers to obtain protection through a 10-year revocable agreement. Once a county’s district is set up through an ordinance, the district forms an advisory board.

A VAD limits non-farm construction within its boundaries and can require that those who plan to move within a half a mile of a VAD boundary are notified about the district. Aside from establishing rules, the VAD promotes education about the area’s agriculture and includes agricultural concerns when engaging in county planning.

Feitshans said 74 counties statewide have adopted a VAD program and several others are considering such a program, including Currituck County. Perquimans and Chowan counties already have a VAD program.

Setting up a VAD also requires a hearing procedure as part of a condemnation of agricultural land and can assist in lowering the risk of nuisance suits for farms in agricultural districts.

Feitshans said agricultural property is less expensive for county governments to maintain because it requires less government services.

“You can put your county in a fiscal hole by developing it,” he said.

He also advised farmers to evaluate and manage their risks to avoid losing their businesses through suits, fines or lacking sufficient insurance.

Pasquotank County farmer Wesley Moore said he picked up good ideas at the seminar, but his biggest concern is profitability; making sure the farm makes money to be able to hand it off to his daughters if they want it.

“The prices we receive are constantly going up and down,” he said.

Next week, the Currituck County Extension Center is hosting another Farms in Transition session that focuses on farm transfer issues on Wednesday from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Andrew Branan, Director of the North Carolina Farm Transition Network, said in this session he hopes to focus on preserving local food production and have participants do practical exercises using workbooks.

For more information or to pre-register, call the Currituck County Extension Center at 232-2262.

Managing the Backyard Flock

2010-02-08T15:30:00.006-05:00

Backyard poultry flocks have gained tremendous popularity in recent years. Many folks have come to enjoy fresh eggs each morning or even having fresh chicken at mealtime. Although backyard flocks are convenient, there is a certain degree of responsibility associated with keeping the flock happy and healthy.

NC Cooperative Extension has planned a workshop entitled “Managing the Backyard Flock” that is scheduled to be held Thursday, February 25, 2010 at the Small Business Center for Applied Technology in Marble, NC.

The workshop will begin at 7:00 p.m. and will cover various poultry related topics such as poultry health and safety, breeds, diseases, and management of the backyard flock. Our special guest speaker is Dr. Mike Lacey, Department Head of the poultry science department at the University of Georgia.

This workshop is free and open to the public, however, seating is limited and pre-registration is required. Anyone interested in attending should contact the Cherokee County Extension office at (828) 837-2210. The deadline for registration is Tuesday, February 23, 2010.

2010 Plant Sale

2010-01-15T08:53:00.002-05:00

We are now taking orders for our 2010 4-H Plant Sale. Each year NC Cooperative Extension has this plant sale to raise money for 4-H programs in our area. We have blueberry plants, strawberry plants, grape vines, apple trees and more! Please click here for an order form and a description of the plants we have for sale. The deadline to order is February 19th. Please have both your order and money in by this date.

2010 Master Gardener Training

2010-01-12T15:16:00.000-05:00

The Cherokee and Clay County Cooperative Extension Offices will be offering a Master Gardener training starting February 1, and continuing on Mondays and Thursdays through the end of March. The training will be held at the Brasstown Community Center from 9:00am until 1:00pm. A tuition fee of $75.00 will be collected on February 1, to cover expenses of the training and cost of manuals. Some of the special trainings will include a fruit tree pruning demonstration, a lawn establishment demonstration, a propagation workshop and a Shittake mushroom workshop.

Becoming a Master Gardener not only involves the education you gain, but also carries certain responsibilities and an obligation to donate a certain amount of time back to the community each year through Extension programs. Interest has been high and seating is limited. If you would like to participate in this rewarding and unique learning experience, please contact our office by January 15th at 837-2210.

District Horse Activity Day and Horse Bowl Contest

2009-12-18T14:34:00.003-05:00

Who: 4-H Horse lovers of all ages (including Cloverbuds, 5-8 year olds)

What: See or participate in the 4-H Horse bowl and experience other 4-H horse program activities

When: January 23 (snowdate February 13) 12:30-4:00

Where: Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center
Conference Room, Mills River NC (near the WNC Agricultural Center in Fletcher)

How: Register by January 11 by emailing:
lisamackay@charter.net
(or mailing to Lisa Mackey at 4645 Patton Road, Morganton, NC 28655)

Please include:
Name and age of youth attending
County
Horse Bowl Team: Jr, Sr, Mixed
Name and phone number of adults attending

Local Farmers Branching Out

2009-12-16T10:22:00.005-05:00

As large farms disappear specialty farming may be the future trend

By DWIGHT OTWELL
dotwell@cherokeescout.com Tuesday, December 15, 2009 8:05 PM CST

Farmers who make their entire livelihood from working the land are almost a relic from the past in Cherokee County.

As the number of large farms has steadily dwindled, a new type of farmer has emerged, one who can forge a living from an acre or two growing for a specialty market.

Keith Wood has farmed with his brother Eddie Wood in the Andrews Valley for years. He also works full time for the N.C. Extension Service in Cherokee County. “I don’t know anyone who derives 100 percent of their income from farming anymore. There are a few who get most of their finances from farming,” he said. “There are more part-time farmers than anything.”

According to the N.C. Agricultural Census, in 1940 Cherokee County had 2,000 farms. That number declined to 288 by 2007.

Wood’s great grandfather acquired the majority of land for the farm, which was a dairy farm until the mid-1950s. Wood started farming the land with his father after he graduated from college in 1981. His dad died in 1983, and his brother Eddie joined him in farming the land in 1984.

The main crop has been corn and soybeans. There was enough acreage that a living could be made from grain farming, which doesn’t require near as much labor as other types of crops. The farm had more than 500 acres before the four-lane highway “busted it wide open,” Wood said. That took about 80 acres of the best farmland.

“Probably less than 20 percent of Cherokee County is flat and arable,” Wood said. “With the correct crops and management you can make $20,000 to $30,000 an acre for horticultural crops. If you want a grain farm, you need a large amount of land for it to be mechanized and to make a profit.

“It is getting harder to make it growing row crops. We have used equipment. It costs a quarter million dollars for a new combine with two heads.”

Many farmers are switching to cattle and livestock. A number of backyard flocks, such as chickens for eggs and turkeys, are cropping up.

A new type of market is using the Internet to sell products to high-end restaurants or consumers. The main market for this area is Atlanta.

The idea is that a chef gets the fresh produce he wants the next day, Wood said. The chef knows the farm the produce comes from and he trusts it. A person with as little as a half acre of land willing to grow specialty crops can make $20,000 to $30,000 an acre.

Rutherford County farmers were awarded a $1.4 million grant to help bring broadband Internet service to the area. Small acreage farmers use the Internet to sell to their specialty markets, about 15 restaurants in Charlotte and small groups of consumers who choose a drop-off point.

The Farmers Fresh Market they launched is an online ordering system linking them with their clients who order fruits, vegetables, meats, eggs and other items for sale by farmers. Three years ago, six farmers had signed on. Today, more than 80 sell their products in this manner, most of them small farmers.

Frances and Stephen Juhlin of Hiwassee Dam are part of the new wave of small-scale agriculture.

“We are a market gardener. We only have about an acre planted,” Ms. Juhlin said. “We grow year-round.”

They have a greenhouse and grow salad greens all winter. They grow spinach, kale and other cold weather plants both inside and outside. They sell to restaurants Doyle’s Cedar Hill Restaurant, Murphy’s Chophouse and Daily Grind and Wine. However, the biggest part of their produce is sold at the Cedar Valley Farmer’s Market on Saturdays.

“We can usually undersell the grocery stores,” Juhlin said.

After 20 years of working on their small farm, this is the first year they will try to make a living solely on income from the farm.

“The demand for what we do – I can’t grow it fast enough. It is labor intensive. I am self-taught. Salad greens of all types and heirloom tomatoes are our top crop,” she said.

Tim Pratt has another unusual type of farming. He has built a second-home development in Unaka, Vineyard Creek Estates. The development of high-end second homes includes a grape vineyard.

Pratt uses barbecue as a marketing tool, emphasizing the atmosphere of a community with a grape growing project. Residents volunteer to work in the vineyard. This year, 10,000 pounds of grapes were sold to Crane Creek Winery in Young Harris, Ga. The homeowners trade and barter, getting bottles of wine in return for their grapes. The homeowners put their own labels on the wine they receive. They don’t sell the wine but use it for themselves and marketing purposes.

Randolph Shields and his son Johnny Shields have a 400-acre dairy farm in Ranger. In 1950, there were about 40 dairy farms in Cherokee County, Randolph said. Today, his farm is the sole survivor, “the only one able to get by.”

Randolph Shields was born in 1924 in a house on the farm, and his daddy started farming in 1930. He remembers when he went to high school in Murphy the family milked cows by hand and delivered milk to homes, putting quarts of milk on porches, for which they got 10 cent. A half-pint sold for two and a half cents.

Even with the dairy farm, Shields’ father was a Farm Security Administration officer in Cherokee County for years. Shields, now 85, delivered mail for the former Unaka Post Office for 38 years.

The farm has about 140 cows, which is down about 20 from its usual number. Shields said that is because the price of milk this year is about half of what it was a year ago. That’s because, worldwide, there is such a surplus of milk.

The Shields’ farm sells its milk to a dairy co-op, Dairy Farmers of American, which sells mainly to Mayfield. The farm grows its own corn and barley for feed for the cows. In 1998, they spent $100,000 for equipment that milks 20 cows at a time.

Cows are milked twice a day. They have a storage tank that can hold 3,000 gallons of milk. The tank is about half full when it is removed every other day for transportation to market. The dairy farm puts out about 4,500 pounds of milk a day this year. They have run as high as 6,000 pounds of milk a day.

“In the 1920s and 1930s, about everyone farmed,” Wood said. “We have some excellent land in these mountains. We need to get people back into growing things.”

Marketing Conference for Farmers

2009-12-01T15:08:00.002-05:00

Save the date!

ASAP’s annual Marketing Opportunities for Farmers Conference will be held at Warren Wilson College in Swannanoa, NC on February 27, 2010.

Farmers, those seriously interested in farming, food buyers, and high school age FTA students are invited to attend the full day of networking and training.

Workshops will address topics such as:

-Farm to Institution: school and hospital markets

-Farm to Grocer: selling to grocery buyers

-Farmers tailgate markets: basics and management
-CSAs: farm subscription marketing

-Promotions and what they cost

-Quickbooks for farms
-Farm business planning

-Services for farmers available from regional organizations
-WNC Ag Options grant program

The cost for the conference is $30, or $45 per two farm partners if you register before February 1st. The cost is $35, or $50 per two farm partners beginning February 1. Price includes light breakfast, local foods lunch, and a resource notebook. Scholarships for FFA students and those with financial need are available.

For more information or to register, visit http://www.asapconnections.org/MOFF2010.html or call (828) 236-1282. The conference has often sold out, so register early.

Please share this information with anyone you feel might be interested.

Brook Thompson
Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project (ASAP)
Southeast Regional Lead Agency for the National Farm to School Network
729 Haywood Rd, Suite 3
Asheville, NC 28806
828-236-1282
828-236-1280 (fax)

www.asapconnections.org

Upcoming Pesticide School and Exams

2009-11-09T11:20:00.000-05:00

For anyone interested in purchasing and/or applying pesticides, there will be a Pesticide School held on Tuesday, December 1, and an Exam on December 2, at the Small Business Center in Marble (formerly the IOI, Industrial Opportunities Inc.) facility.

Any farmer wanting to purchase or apply restricted use pesticides will need a Private Pesticide Applicators license in order to do so. Anyone who plans to apply chemical pesticides for hire will need a Commercial Pesticide license to do so. Both of these opportunities will be given in December.

If you wish to study on your own and just take the exam, there is no fee for the exam, only for the study materials that must be ordered. If you want to attend the Pesticide School on the day before the exam, there will be a fee of $30 for the training plus the cost of a study booklet, which may vary according to the type of license you wish to obtain.

Anyone interested will need to contact Keith Wood with the Extension Service at 837-2210 in order to obtain material needed for the exam and to register for the program. Study booklets will have to be ordered from NCDA&CS, so please contact us by November 23rd so we can direct you in how to get these materials.

Farmers Look for New Ways to Sell Produce

2009-10-26T08:46:00.000-04:00

By LAURA L. RICHTER
editor@theandrewsjournal.com
Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Area farmers are looking for a new way to produce income from various markets and Foothills Connection Executive Director Tim Will may just have the right idea. The farmers met Oct. 15 with members of NC Cooperative Extension, Tri-County Community College’s Small Business Center and Will to discuss possibilities.

In Rutherford County, Will has worked with farmers to create a network that markets first quality produce with chefs at upscale restaurants in Charlotte.

Will started with investigating what chefs were looking for.

“What they were really looking for was oddity crops they can’t get from their distributors or can’t get at all,” Will said.

These crops include rare varieties of tomatoes, beans, egg plants, herbs and many other types of produce.

The program begins with farmers listing their unique varieties of produce on a Web site. Chefs then go online and order the produce they desire. Farmers pick the produce and deliver it to a central location that ships it to the chefs within 24-48 hours of when the order was placed.

The chefs benefit by being able to order unusual varieties of produce to use. Farmers benefit by being able to charge more for their crops.

The chefs and farmers are allowed to build a relationship, with each farmer having an identification number connected to their crops. When a chef is pleased with a specific farmer’s produce, they can continue to order from that farmer.

The goal of the Foothills Connection program is for farmers to yield up to $30,000 per year per acre.

Cherokee County Extension Agent Keith Wood said the program could work here in Cherokee County as well as it does in Rutherford County.

“It’s a quick way to bring about economic development, because we could start the program within a year,” Wood said.

“Agriculture is economic development. Farms are small businesses,” he added.

Wood owns a farm with brother Ed Wood.

“Anybody can do what [Will] was talking about,” Ed Wood said, “No matter the property amount.”

“In the past, Keith and I have tried a lot of different things,” Ed Wood said, adding that large field crops like soy bean and corn works well on Wood Farm.

He said what the program is talking about is labor-intensive farming. “If you go on any kind of scale, you need help,” Ed Wood said, adding that it is sometimes hard to find workers for the farm.

Ed Wood said farming requires a lot of work and a lot of capital expenditure, from purchasing seeds to buying equipment.

While Ed Wood said they sell a 50 pound bag of potatoes for about $12, vegetables sell for much more.

One reason farmers have trouble with selling vegetables, Ed Wood said, is they must be sold quickly.

“Fresh produce, whenever it’s coming in, you’ve got to do something with it,” he said.

There are a few problems Ed Wood has noticed with the program in addition to the amount of labor. There must be a leader in Cherokee County to head up the program. The other big problem is the average farmer in North Carolina is in their 60s.

The school system doesn’t offer agriculture classes to teach young farmers or encourage interest in farming.

“Our kids aren’t going to know how to do this kind of stuff,” Ed Wood said.

As part of the program in Rutherford County, agriculture has been introduced back into the schools with vocational classes and incorporating farming into curriculum in elementary school as well.

The Woods operate part of their farm under a similar concept. They grow a limited supply of sweet corn on their farm.

When the sweet corn is ready to be picked, they call people from a list of previous purchasers. The buyers then meet at the Wood Farm the next day to pick up the corn.

While the Woods have been farming for 25 years, Heather and Brett Dobbins are just starting to farm. Three years ago they purchased 75 acres in Brasstown.

While the Dobbins are only working on artisan cheeses right now, they are looking

into other ways to use their property in the future.

“I’m so excited. My husband is excited,” Mrs. Dobbins said, adding the other farmers they know are also excited about the possibilities this program could provide.

“This is the missing link,” she said. “It’s filling in a need that we all have, which is finding buyers for our produce.”

When the Dobbins moved here, Mrs. Dobbin said she was surprised there was no agricultural education program in the schools.

“We would really like to see the ag program reintroduced to the school to teach our children about agriculture,” she said.

The Dobbins tried a few varieties of heirloom tomatoes on their property last year.

“They did very well,” she said, adding that if the program takes off, heirloom tomatoes may be the first things they look into.

NC 4-H Centennial Celebration

2009-10-13T15:00:00.009-04:00

North Carolina 4-H is 100 years old this year. Cherokee County 4-H agent, Shannon Coleman planned a celebration for 4-H on October 9th at the L&N Depot. Several past and present 4-Hers dropped by throughout the afternoon to enjoy a piece of cake and celebrate 4-H in North Carolina. Visitors enjoyed a slide show of the history of 4-H also. Several pieces of memorabilia, including old photos of Cherokee County 4-H events were shared. It was a fun way to recognize 100 years of 4-H in North Carolina and in Cherokee County. Thanks to everyone who stopped by including our county manager and commissioners who are very supportive of 4-H.

Cherokee County Farmers Unite!

2009-09-11T14:50:00.000-04:00

A group of Cherokee County farmers who are interested in working together to improve Agriculture in Cherokee County met at the National Guard Armory on August 20th. The group listened to Megan Riley speak about Ag Options grants that are available to farmers in Cherokee County. Lynn Sprague, Economic Director in Polk County, NC was also there to speak about marketing ideas for Cherokee County farmers. A meal sponsored by Cherokee County Farm Bureau and the Cherokee County Soil and Water Conservation District Board was served.

The group decided to organize monthly meetings, which will be held the last Thursday of each month. The meeting September 24th is set to be at the Tri-County Community College Center for Applied Technology in Marble at 7pm. Our guest speaker will be Don Delozier the Meat & Poultry Division Director with NCDA & CS. Don will be discussing what it takes to establish a USDA certified slaughterhouse in NC. If you are interested in attending these meetings, please call Keith Wood at 828-837-2210.

Join us for "Sweet Tater Day"!

2009-09-02T09:08:00.006-04:00

Join us Thursday, November 12th at the First United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, in Murphy for "Sweet Tater Day"! The cost is $5.00, which includes demonstrations on different ways that sweet potatoes can be preserved and used, information on curing
sweet potatoes, and paper products and drinks for the meal.

The community is invited to attend and asked to bring a covered
dish using sweet potatoes. Please send recipes of your dish to the
North Carolina Cooperative Extension Office by November 2 by
either mail or email. If emailing recipes please send them to
cindy_chastain@ncsu.edu or if by mail send them to NCCE/Cindy
Chastain, 39 Peachtree St., Murphy, NC 28906.

We ask that you RSVP by November 2nd.

New Solar Dehydrator is Demonstrated

2009-08-25T08:12:00.003-04:00

As the summer growing season comes to end, many gardeners are finding themselves with more produce than they know what to do with. Many are canning, freezing, pickling and making jellies and jams. Some people are also donating fresh produce to the local food banks. If you still have food to spare, the Cooperative Extension Office has another option. Keith Wood, Extension Agriculture agent, built a solar food dehydrator to demonstrate yet another preserving technique. The solar dehydrator works on the concept of capturing the sun through a glazing panel. The sun’s rays pass through the glazing and heats up several layers of black aluminum screen to heat the interior of the dehydrator. Interior walls reflect the heated air as it rises to the top. As the heated air rises through fiberglass screen panels, the food is dehydrated at temperatures that get as high as 160 degrees Fahrenheit. If you scout around your house, you probably have enough scrap materials to build your own solar dehydrator. The glazing material is probably the biggest expense. Glass could be substituted but would add considerable weight to the dehydrator. If you would like to receive a set of the plans used for the dehydrator as well as additional links with other variations on solar projects, call the Cooperative Extension office at 837-2210.

Upcoming Farmer Meeting

2009-08-05T15:45:00.000-04:00

The North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service Cherokee County Center along with Cherokee County USDA/National Resource Conservation Service Center is hosting a farmers meeting. The meeting will be held at the National Guard Armory starting at 7:00pm on Thursday August 20th. The meeting will be open to the public and not just to farmers. Polk County Agricultural Economic Development Director Lynn Sprague will be presenting how Polk County farmers are cooperating together and forming new markets. We will also be discussing new grant opportunities now available to farmers and farm groups.

The meeting is free of charge and Cherokee County Soil and Water Conservation District and Cherokee County Farm Bureau are sponsoring dinner. You will need to RSVP by August 17th to reserve your seat and meal. For directions and to register, please contact the Cherokee County Cooperative Extension office at 837-2210 by August 17th.

Farmland Preservation Meeting Held

2009-06-29T15:53:00.002-04:00

Farmers and the public were invited to a meeting last Thursday, June 25th to hear and discuss ways that farmland can be protected. The Cherokee County Farmland Preservation Advisory Board hosted the meeting at McGuire’s Millrace Farm.

As part of a grant from the N.C. Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund, the county developed a farmland protection plan that is about 95 percent complete. The main points of the plan were presented at the meeting. The plan identifies different steps landowners can take to voluntarily preserve their farmland.

The meeting was free of charge and dinner was provided. We wanted public input and several farmers attended to give us suggestions and ideas on farmland preservation in the county.

4-H Summer Camps to Include Sewing!

2009-05-11T10:29:00.007-04:00

Home sewing seems to be on the fast track to extinction. In years past this was a skill taught at home and fine tuned in the Home Economics classroom. When I taught Economics, I found that only a few students had even seen a sewing machine. It was much like my own experience as a freshman in college. I was taking computer science and had never seen a computer. My students, generally speaking, really enjoyed the sewing unit. They were always amazed that a pair of boxer shorts or pajama pants evolved from a flat piece of fabric. My primary objective with the sewing unit was that these students:

Learn to look for quality checkpoints when buying clothing
Identify their individual fitting requirements
Learn to make simple clothing repairs that would save money on clothing expenditures
Learn the proper way to launder clothing thus extending wearing time

As they learned to use a commercial pattern and operate a sewing machine, these objectives were easily incorporated. They were so proud of their project once it was completed. I found that the young men enjoyed the class and used their skills outside of the classroom. I remember one day during football season when the coach and several former students, now football players, were busy at the sewing machines sewing names on the back of the football jerseys. I was so proud! Occasionally I would encounter a student that would just catch the sewing bug. One student in the advanced class designed and made her own prom dress. One of my favorite memories was a young lady who took a 1950’s Christian Dior “New Look” pattern and made a dress to enter in the state FCCLA contest. Her black and white polka dot dress, complete with huge crinoline petticoat, won 1st place at the state conference. If you ever watched “I Love Lucy,” the dress was very similar to the dresses worn by Lucy on the show. The pattern itself was a challenge since the body measurements for a 50’s woman was very different from today’s body measurements for women. To add to the difficulty, the pattern did not have any pattern markings. It was a challenge for student and teacher alike. I am excited that the 4-H summer camps this year will have a sewing component. Shannon Coleman, the local 4-H agent will soon have the registration materials ready for sign ups. I will be helping with the camps and teaching a sewing unit. If you know of a young person who would be interested in 4-H summer camp, call the Extension Office at 837-2210 for more details. Click here for a registration form.

2009-05-04T09:30:00.004-04:00

Ag Option Awardees Announced
Farmers diversify farms, try local markets to remain viable

MARSHALL — Nearly 50 farmers in the mountain region recently received funding totaling $225,000 from Western North Carolina Agricultural Options to demonstrate ways to enhance farm businesses. The $3,000, $6,000 and $9,000 awards will help farm operations stay viable in the rapidly changing economy.

“It is exciting to see the wide variety of innovative ideas that have been awarded to farmers in Western North Carolina,” said William Upchurch, Executive Director of the NC Tobacco Trust Fund Commission. “These great projects can meet the demand and desire for local products by consumers, and this program will continue to help these family farms stay in business.”

Since 2003, N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund Commission has supported WNC AgOptions, a N.C. Cooperative Extension program that provides resources to farmers diversifying or expanding their operations, particularly those transitioning from tobacco production. In partnership with RAFI-USA’s Tobacco Communities Reinvestment Fund, WNC AgOptions will provide funding for exemplary farm projects through a competitive application process through 2011.

Former recipients report an increased income for their farm business and greater stability in on-farm employment because of their WNC AgOptions projects. They also demonstrate successful operations to other farmers in the region who are searching for a venture to sustain their family at the level that tobacco farming once did. Some awardees are reviving farms that have remained fallow or neglected since previous generations farmed. As agricultural communities are strengthened and farmer income is secured, land is more likely to remain farmland.

Billy Bruce, a vegetable grower in Cherokee County, will build a farm store to market his produce directly to consumers with his WNC AgOptions award. Farmers are noticing a higher return on produce sold directly to consumers.

“Running the produce stand will move me away from the uncertainty of the wholesale market, where the tomatoes could be $5 a box or they could be $15,” Bruce said. “The people in Cherokee County have no place like this farm stand to shop in. People like to come out to the farm. They like to see it. They like to put a face with their food.”

Most of the WNC AgOptions recipients market their products at local farmers markets, restaurants, grocers or on-farm directly to the consumer.

“During these times of economic uncertainty, local farmers provide hope for the community that we can grow a new local sustainable economy,” said Rob Hawk, Area Specialized Agent, N.C. Cooperative Extension and member of the WNC AgOptions steering committee. “The WNC AgOptions program strives to support these farmers in growing their agricultural business for economic sustainability.”

In addition to the funds, the farmers receive business planning training, marketing assistance, and increased media exposure of their farms. The program introduces many farmers to the wide range of educational opportunities in the agricultural community for the first time.

"This year, a large percentage of the applications submitted were very well done and described projects involving farm transition and diversification with an emphasis on local markets," said Ross Young, Madison County Extension Director and leader of the WNC AgOptions steering committee. "That response is encouraging as it shows that farmers are continuing to find creative ways for being successful. The best strategy for preserving farms and farmland is for farmers to be economically successful."

Members of the WNC AgOptions steering committee include representatives from N.C. Cooperative Extension, N.C. Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services – Marketing Division, and HandMade in America, as well as a former WNC AgOptions recipient and the manager of the Waynesville Farmers Co-Op. The program funds farmers’ projects in 17 counties and the Cherokee Reservation.

Horsin' Around!

2009-04-29T09:50:00.010-04:00

The Cherokee County Riders 4-H Horse Club hosted its second annual Nora Starks Memorial 4-H Open Horse Show Saturday at the Cherokee County Industrial Park.

The event has been part of the Cherokee County 4-H Club for a while, but the name was changed to honor Starks, a member of the club who died in an automobile accident in January 2008.

There were a variety of events for all children ages 5-19, regardless of 4-H membership. Events included riding and non-riding events, including the stick pony race, a popular event for the younger riders. Ribbons were awarded to first through fifth places in all divisions. Also on hand to entertain the crowd were the Cruel Dixies – Carla Franks, Dawna Ham and Tiffany Parker – a horse-riding drill team out of Hayesville.

For details on joining the Cherokee County 4-H club, call Shannon Coleman at 837-2210 or Angie Hopkins at 557-1408.
- Article taken from The Cherokee Scout.

Cherokee County Community Garden

2009-03-26T15:37:00.019-04:00

Learning Together/Growing Together

Our Mission: The Cherokee County Community Garden is to provide growing space for County residents to produce high quality, nutritious fruits and vegetables. The Cherokee County Cooperative Extension will also provide educational information to participants with little or no gardening experience. Also, the mission is to train others that would like to start a community Garden of their own. A portion of all produce will be donated to various charities.

Schedule of Gardening Classes: Gardening classes are open to the public and will be held on the following dates at 5:30pm at the Community Garden. If it rains, the classes will be held inside the trailer at the Garden. Please call our office to pre-register for classes at 837-2210.

May 21 - Herbal Gardening.
June 4 - 4-H Practice Presentations & Giving Back to the Community.
June 18 - When to Harvest.
July 9 - Food Preservation
August 6 - Harvest Celebration Pot Luck
& Mountain State Fair Exhibits

(There is a $10 charge for the entire class series if you have not purchased a garden plot.)

Our Agents are on the Radio!

2009-03-25T13:46:00.010-04:00

Tune in to 1320 am, WKRK on Tuesday, July 7th @ 10:30am to hear our Extension agents for an update on what's happening with Extension!

Food Preservation Workshop

2009-03-20T15:46:00.013-04:00

Easy to Understand Food Preservation

Techniques

The Cooperative Extension Food Preservation Workshop is a great way to insure great food long after the garden harvest. This workshop is good for beginners or those who may just need a refresher course. This workshop will be offered in Clay county in June, and in Cherokee county in July.

Schedule:

1^st Program – Clay County

June 25

1:00 pm until 4:00 pm

repeated again

6:00 pm until 9:00 pm

Clay County Community Services Building, Hayesville

Upstairs Community Room

2^nd program – Cherokee County

July 9

1:00 pm until 4:00 pm

repeated again

6:00 pm until 9:00 pm

Murphy First United Methodist Church

Fellowship Hall

Please call our office to register for these workshops. The registration form is online at http://cherokee.ces.ncsu.edu.