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Upcoming Classes, 4-H Happenings & More!
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CHEROKEE COUNTY CENTER
MAY NEWSLETTER
Pollen Season is Nothing to Sneeze At!
It's that time of year when clocks jump forward, flowers burst into bloom and all of our cars are dyed a dull shade of yellow. Welcome to another North Carolina spring and the arrival of pollen season.
Explore more everyday solutions for everyday lives at https://homegrown.extension.ncsu.edu. At Homegrown, we share everyday solutions for everyday lives, whether that means preparing a nutritious seasonal recipe, learning the best way to start your garden, or discovering where your food comes from. Subscribe to our monthly digest so you don't miss out on timely tips and tools from our NC State Extension experts: https://homegrown.extension.ncsu.edu/....
Small Farms Week Food Drive Donation
N.C. Cooperative Extension – Cherokee County Center held a food drive in recognition of Small Farms Week (March 27 – 31). This statewide event presented by Cooperative Extension at N.C. A&T State University recognizes the contributions of small farmers in counties throughout North Carolina. Instead of a general collection of canned goods, extension staff collected items to provide families with ingredients to create a 7-Can Chicken Tortilla Soup. Over 160 cans of goods were collected at the Extension office between January and March. The soup ingredients were placed into paper bags with the recipe, information on SNAP/EBT programs, and nutrition information. We were able provide these bags for 23 families as well as additional food items.
Cherokee County 4-H
School Enrichment Programs
Are Everywhere!!!
Currently we have eight classrooms across three elementary schools participating in the “Hatching Classroom Projects” in their 2nd grade classrooms. We also have 4 classrooms participating in the 2nd grade “Winged Wonders” curriculum. And we have 5 classrooms participating in the 1st grade “The Busy World of Bees.”
Register Now for the 2023 Food Preservation Series
The N.C. Cooperative Extension in Cherokee County is excited to offer the 2023 Food Preservation Series of classes. These classes will provide evidence-based information to safely preserve food in a variety of ways. Offerings include Intro to Canning (informational sessions only),  water bath canning, pressure canning, pickling, fermentation, dehydration, and freezer jam. Take one class, or take them all, but these limited tickets to each event will go fast, so register today! To register online, click on the links below. The cost of each class is $10.00.

List of Classes and How to Register

Plan to Plant Your Garden
Almost each year we get anxious to plant our outdoor garden. We will have a warm spell, we plant our seeds or plants to have them killed by a late frost. Another factor is soil temperature. Plants and seeds will not grow unless the ground temperature is 40 degrees Fahrenheit for cool season vegetable and 50-60 degrees Fahrenheit for warm season crops. Soil probes are affordable and will provide you with proper soil temperature readings for planting. A  Western North Carolina Planting Calendar For Annual Vegetables, Fruits, and Herbs is also available for our region to remove the guess work of potential damage from frost and proper soil temperatures. Choose the correct planting time for cool season crops such as lettuce and onions and for warm season crops such as beans and tomatoes.
Learn More>>

When you visit our local Tractor Supply, April 26th – May 7th, at 3340 West US 64, Murphy, NC 28906, buy a paper clover to support 4-H across our clubs, communities, countries, and our world but especially here in Cherokee County.
More Info>>
NC 4-H Camps 2023 Summer Camp Employment Opportunities





Our North Carolina 4-H Camps & Centers are now hiring for our 2023 summer camp season. All seasonal summer camp positions are now posted on NC State University’s employment web page.
Read the Seed Packet

When deciding what to plant this year, consider starting your plants from seed. Seeds offer a low cost opportunity to establish old favorites and try out new cultivars. In addition, there are typically more plant options when using seeds than purchasing plants. When considering seeds, it is useful to know what information is found on the seed packet.
Read More>>
The ChopChop Family is a non-profit publisher of magazines about cooking and cooking curriculum. Their mission is to inspire and inform families about cooking and eating healthy, real foods together. The ChopChop magazine is for families and it teaches kids to fix foods for themselves while having fun and teaching kids essential life skills, like nutrition awareness, relationship building, and language literacy.
ChopChop is provided to the N.C. Cooperative Extension offices through the NC State Steps to Health program at no cost to the public.

The ChopChop spring 2023 magazine is available right now at the N.C. Cooperative Extension, Cherokee County Center.


How to Get Yours!
Podcast Launches!
N.C. Cooperative Extension has launched the Grow and Graze Podcast! Farm Credit Service donation allowed the purchase of the equipment. The podcast will focus on topics that are relevant and practical for the Western North Carolina Area in the areas of agriculture, gardening, and home horticulture.

More Info and Episodes>>

How to Become 4-H Member in Cherokee County
Farm Series Class Registrations
Are Available

2023 Farm School

A SERIES OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR FARMERS, HOMEOWNERS, GARDENERS AND YOUTH.

Cherokee and Graham County Centers have teamed together to offer a series of Farm School educational programs that will help farmers, homeowners, gardeners and youth learn more about farming, agriculture and rural living in our area. Most workshops are free to anyone who would like to register. However, there is a charge for the grafting workshop to help cover the cost of the materials. If you have any questions about our programs, feel free to contact us.

To register for any of these programs go to:
go.ncsu.edu/cherokeecounty


Educational Programs Being Offered at New Meeting Facility
As spring time arrives, so does a host of educational opportunities being offered by the Cherokee County Center. Thanks to the support of Cherokee County Government, you can now be part of our programs at our newly renovated educational facility at 699 Connahetta Street in Murphy, NC with nearby parking options. N.C. Cooperative Extension offers educational programs in food safety, wellness, agriculture, Master Gardener program, beekeeping, farm succession planning, consumer horticulture, and other topics. Youth programs are also offered through volunteers along with 4-H Volunteer training. Also webinars through NC State Extension are streamed onsite for residents with limited internet access along with allowing participants to use our facilities to access the internet to complete hybrid (online and in person educational programs. Most program signups are available 24/7 through Eventbrite.
Resources for Homeowners, Landowners, and Gardeners on Soil Sampling

Soil Sampling is an important tool for homeowners and gardeners. Farmers have been relying on this information for many years to be successful in growing crops, pasture, and tree farms. Homeowners, gardeners, and farmers should visit our website for a better understanding of soil sample reports, how to take a sample, and links to the online agronomic site.
Agent Assistance Can Be Requested Online
If you are a citizen of Cherokee County and have questions that Doug Clement or the Cherokee County Master Gardeners can assist with, submit your request at this link.   It is very important that you provide detailed information.  This information request is for Cherokee County, NC citizens only. Please allow 2 days for a response.  Access the entire NC State Extension database by visiting cherokee.ces.ncsu.edu and typing the keyword in the search bar located in the upper right hand corner of the website.  Also enjoy our monthly newsletter by scrolling to the bottom of our website and entering your email address."

More Info


The Appalachian Beekeepers Association will hold their next meeting at 7pm, on Monday, May 1, 2023 at 699 Conaheeta Street, Murphy, NC..


The Bunnies, Bovines, Bees & Birds
4-H Club will hold their next monthly meeting on Tuesday, May 2nd at 6:30pm at 699 Conaheeta Street, Murphy, NC.


The Hiwassee Dam Soaring Eagles 4-H & Modern Woodmen Club meets monthly in Debbie Sander's Classroom.  Ages 5-18 are welcome!


The Cherokee County 4-H Horse Club will hold their monthly meeting on Tuesday, May 9th at 6:30pm at 699 Conaheeta Street, Murphy, NC.


The Cherokee County Master Gardeners will hold their monthly meeting on Wednesday, April 10, 2023 at 699 Conaheeta Street, Murphy, NC.

Cherokee on the Fly 4-H Club  will hold their next meeting on Thursday, May 4th and again on May 18th at 3:30pm-5:30pm at 699 Conaheeta Street,  Murphy, NC.
 
 
NC State University and N.C. A&T State University work in tandem, along with federal, state and local governments, to form a strategic partnership called N.C. Cooperative Extension.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

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