September 2023 Extension Newsletter

In March of this year, I was contacted by local Murphy High School Alumni, Erika Sena, who is a recipient of the Golden LEAF Scholarship and a current senior at Western Carolina University. Golden LEAF gives scholarship students an opportunity to do paid summer internships. Golden LEAF pays the students and their Golden LEAF coaches help them get placements in the community where they will be spending their summer. Erika would be home for the summer and just happened to have the 4-H Agent in Davidson County, NC as a coach. He suggested that she contact me to see if she could be helpful this summer to our 4-H program.

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Each year Cherokee County residents request visits for the N.C. Cooperative Extension, Cherokee County Center staff to review plants that may not be thriving in the environment and to identify insects. Beginning March 1, 2024 we will be asking county residents to utilize the resources of the NC State University Plant Disease and Insect Clinic and to attend educational programs that are offered by the county center and Master Gardeners to assist with insect and disease identification.

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NC FarmLink offers free farm succession consultations for North Carolina farmers and landowners. Every family’s situation is different, so these consultations allow you talk through your situation with a Certified Farm Succession Coordinator. We can help you get started with the process of succession planning and also help you identify tools and resources that may be beneficial. Although staff cannot give legal advice, we can advise farmers on the legacy planning process, so farmers feel more comfortable and better prepared before speaking to a lawyer.

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Our local 4-H clubs could use extra sets of hands during their meetings and we would love to have some new volunteers ready to start new clubs as club leaders. So whether you want to help co-lead or be a volunteer 4-H Club leader we have a space for you. If you don’t want to be the leader but want to help a in another way, we may have a place for you as well. We always need some volunteers for some of our school enrichment programs and summer programs. So if you have a heart for kids and hands for service, please contact Shannon Coleman by email shannon_coleman@ncsu.edu or by phone 828-837-2210 ext. 4 to get more information on how to become a 4-H volunteer.

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Learn to Grow Shiitake Mushrooms

Extension Master Gardeners in Cherokee County will teach a hands on Shiitake Mushroom class. The class will be taught September 19, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. at our classroom located at 699 Connaheeta Street in Murphy, NC. This location is at Koneheta Park. Follow our signs to the meeting room. Cost is $25.00. Instructor will be Jeff Doughman, Extension Master Gardener, Cherokee County. Pre-registration is required along with the payment. Class size is limited to 15. We expect this class to sell out quickly so sign up online beginning May 31.

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Cherokee County 4-H has not had a new needs assessment survey in five years so to better understand the needs of Cherokee County youth and families we have created a new Youth Needs Assessment Survey. Since the COVID-19 pandemic things have changed from how programs are delivered, how we need to be marketing programs to families, and what program topics are now of greatest interest to and needed by county youth. We would greatly appreciate it if you would share this link with other Cherokee County youth, parents, nonprofits, or anyone else that interacts regularly with youth in a formal or informal capacity.

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Providing habitat for wildlife and lessening maintenance chores for yourself are just 2 of the many benefits of using native plants over non-natives in your home landscape. On October 11, 2023, come join Tony Ward, Western Regional Program Coordinator with MountainTrue, to find out more about making your property more environmentally friendly. Take home a free gift to help you get started! There is no charge for this class but seating is limited!!!! Register today for this great session sponsored by the Cherokee County Master Gardeners.

Did you know we have a Facebook page? This is a great way to follow N.C. Cooperative Extension — Cherokee County Center and view our upcoming Extension events. Over the last 9 months, our Facebook page reach has increased from under 5,000 to over 30,000 users and continuing to grow! On our Facebook page you will find agriculture education, upcoming Extension classes and events, program success stories, 4-H happenings, healthy recipes, food safety tips, relevant research articles, Homegrown videos and more! It is our hope that you would partner with us by following our page and sharing our posts to reach as many people in the community as possible! Visit us on Facebook and we hope to see you at an upcoming event! If you have any questions about information posted, please call the N.C. Cooperative Extension, Cherokee County Center office at (828)837-2210.

We are in the process of planning the 2024 Master Gardener Initial Training For Certification. This is a 40 hour training that will be completed thru in person and virtual meetings along with homework. We expect the class will cost about $169.00. A computer, chromebook, or tablet will be required along with internet access. We can provide internet access at our office or meeting room during the training. We are working on the schedule for 2024 and plan to release it along with the ability to register for the class by September 1 and will be limited to 30. The registration information will be available at cherokee.ces.ncsu.edu and signup will be at go.ncsu.edu/cherokeecounty. Classes will start January 30 through March 28, 2024. If you think you would be interested in the training, please fill out the form below and we will send you an email to have an early look at the training when registration is available. Visit “Become a Master Gardener Volunteer” to learn more.

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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.

More Info and a List of Programs

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

We currently have four active 4-H Clubs here in Cherokee County. All of our clubs are open to youth ages 5-18 except for our Cherokee on the Fly 4-H Club. It is open to grades 6-12. Check out the meeting dates and enroll in one of our great 4-H clubs here in Cherokee County. Youth do not have to have animals or know how to tie fly’s in order to join our clubs. All of our 4-H clubs are free to enroll in. To enroll NC 4-HOnline Enrollment System or for help 4-H Online Enrollment Help.

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."

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