December 2023 Extension Newsletter

It's not a holiday meal without some sort of pie. Every family member has their favorite, but so do bacteria. Find out which types of pie pose more or less risk and how to address those food safety issues. 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 Extension experts in three categories: On The Farm, In The Garden and In The Kitchen. https://homegrown.extension.ncsu.edu/...

If you would like to learn more about what it takes to be a Extension Master Gardener in Cherokee County it is required to attend one of the informational sessions below (click on the date to register online):

October 19 at 1 p.m.

November 2 at 7 p.m.

January 11 at 3 p.m.

January 13 at 10 a.m.

Informational class will be online or in person. In-person classes will be held at the meeting room at 699 Connahetta Street in Murphy, NC 28906.

Learn the process to become an Extension Master Gardener in Cherokee County.

Classes will be taught in 2024 to renew private pesticide applicators license (V training) and commercial applicators can attend the X training for 2 hours credit. Classes will be taught at the N.C. Cooperative Extension Meeting Room at 699 Connahetta Street in Murphy, NC . If you have a commercial license and do not a private pesticide designation then you only need to attend the training X training. Registration is required. Seating is limited to 40 participants and registration will end 1 day prior to the class.

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The Spring Garden Classes are open to the public (anyone can attend), and also serve as a foundation for understanding research-based home gardening and horticultural practices for prospective NC State Extension Master Gardener℠ volunteers. Prospective Extension Master Gardener trainees can miss only 1 of the spring garden series classes to be eligible to attend the Extension Master Gardener certification program. There is a $90.00 fee (online credit card payments through only and no refunds) to attend 1 or all the classes. The fee includes access to attend all the training classes, hands-on activities, and lifetime access to the online information “Extension Gardener Handbook” through TopHat.
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Lifelong Improvements Through Fitness Together is an 8 week strengthening program consisting of 16 one-hour sessions. Participants will focus on 8 core exercises with a warm up and cool down at each session. Nutrition education is a large part of the program with a focus on eating more vegetables and fruits.

Classes begin on January 9th and will be held every Tuesday and Friday following from 2:00pm-3:00pm. Classes are located at the Bellview Community Center and will conclude on March 1st.
Reserve Your Spot!

Cherokee County 4-H needs many volunteers who are willing to share creative ideas, time, talent, and skills to support youth at the community, county, and state level. Are you curious about volunteering for 4-H?
Please plan to drop in at our Extension Meeting Room, at 699 Conaheeta Street, Murphy, NC directly behind the Rock Gym in Murphy, on December 18. These informational sessions will provide an opportunity for you to learn about how to become a 4-H volunteer and about other opportunities 4-H has for adults to help “Make the Best Better.” We will have informational sessions from 2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m., and from 5:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. Please sign up at 4-H Volunteer Information Sessions for the session you would like to attend. If you can’t attend on the 18th at any of the times, please contact Shannon Coleman by email shannon_coleman@ncsu.edu or by phone 828-837-2210 ext. 4.

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Take Control is an 8 session chronic disease prevention program that provides strategies to help adults manage their health. It informs, empowers, and motivates participants to change their eating and physical activity patterns. The program provides opportunities for participants to track their goals and progress toward healthy eating and physical activity behaviors. Sessions are 1-hour in length and participants receive recipes and nutrition handouts. Evaluation of the program is conducted via a pre- and post-behavior survey.
Class Dates and Times and How to Register

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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Your safety and well-being matter, and this program is an excellent opportunity to take proactive steps to ensure you enjoy this beautiful season and many more to come without the fear of falls. Join us in the quest for safer, healthier, and happier senior living.
If you or someone you know is interested in joining a future offering of “A Matter of Balance” we encourage you to reach out to Marlana Baker. She can be reached at the following contact information: Email: marlana_baker@ncsu.edu Phone: (828) 837-2210 ext.5

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.

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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