Summer 2024

Pine Needle Producers Protect Endangered Species and
Add Curb Appeal

According to the Nature Conservancy, the longleaf pine once dominated the coastal plain blanketing more than 90 million acres. Today there are just 5.2 million acres of longleaf pines left.

A changing climate means there will be more hurricanes and other strong storms. The dual threats of climate change and biodiversity loss are impacting both people and nature on a large scale. With a changing climate comes periods of drought and accompanying wildfires. Nature can play a role in making the region more resilient to these impacts. The longleaf pine thrives in harsh variable climates and provides habitat for many threatened and endangered species—making it the perfect tree for our time.

Moore County pine needle producers have been instrumental in preserving longleaf pines and protecting natural habitats in Moore and in the surrounding counties. Longleaf pine forests provide a natural habitat for the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker.The pine stands of pine needle producers provide protection for the woodpeckers while the needles dropped by the longleaf pines are gathered and sold to landscapers and homeowners.

Longleaf pine mulch has proven to be a preferred mulch for its natural, beautiful appeal in gardens, flower beds, and home and public landscapes. Additionally, the needles do not contain any dyes, do not get moldy, conserve moisture and buffer plants from extreme temperatures. Pine needles do not harbor termites, they prevent soil erosion, they add nutrients to the soils, they are less expensive per square foot than wood chips, and they prevent soil compaction.

Now recognized as a "Got to Be NC" agricultural product, Moore County longleaf pine producers were the first to organize the pine needle mulch industry into an association known as the North Carolina Pine Needle Producers Association. Moore County pine needle producers also help contribute to the $238,413,000 of agricultural products cultivated in Moore County.

To find a local pine needle producer near you, visit https://www.ncpnpa.com/

Deborah McGiffin
Moore County Extension Director

Are you looking for a rewarding career that will let you give back to your community? NC State Extension extends research-based knowledge to all North Carolinians, helping them transform science into everyday solutions that improve their lives and grow our state. We are the model of excellence in non-formal, research-based education that advances agriculture, the environment, human health and well-being, youth and communities, while creating prosperity for all North Carolinians. Working for NC State Extension allows you to teach without being tied to a classroom and school bell.

Currently the Moore County Center has openings in our horticultural and a livestock programs. Agents in these positions enhance the prosperity and sustainability of agriculture and contribute to the quality of life that makes Moore County a desirable place to live, work, and play.

If you seek to be an "agent of change," have the interest, and background in horticulture or livestock production apply for the Horticultural position or the Livestock position. Find out more about becoming an "agent of change" here.

Deborah McGiffin
Moore County Extension Director

If you haven't been by the Extension Center recently, then you haven't seen our newly renovated demonstration kitchen. Complete with induction stove tops and two new wall ovens, we are looking forward to offering Family & Consumer Sciences workshops on food safety, food preservation, basic cooking skills, and more. Keep a look out on our website or call the office at 910-947-3188 to find out when workshops and classes are scheduled.

Deborah McGiffin
Moore County Extension Director

Boneset

Boneset (Eupatorium Perfoliatum) provides a nice attraction and stands out in any garden or yard. It is a perennial herbaceous herb of the Asteraceae (Aster Family) and is native to the eastern USA and Canada.

This plant has a long medicinal history. Historically, Boneset was used to treat conditions related to fevers and bones. Other common names for Boneset are Feverwort and Thoroughwort.

Boneset characteristics include 3–5-foot stems giving the appearance of piercing through the rough lance toothed leaves. The lower leaves can reach up to eight inches long by two inches across. The upper leaves are smaller. Growth is by rhizomes that form colonies. It produces a 2-4 foot spread and performs best in full sun.

The Boneset blooms form tiny fuzzy clusters of white flowers in late summer through early fall. It helps to support a healthy ecosystem as
the nectar from the flowers attracts a variety of pollinators including bees, wasps, beetles, and butterflies.

By: Betty Dew, EMGV, Moore County

Photo by NCSU

Tomatoes

Tomatoes topped most everyone’s list when people are asked "what edibles you would plant if you were limited to only three?" July and August are the months when we reap the rewards of the tomato plants we have cultivated as they are in abundance.

In 1893, the United States Supreme Court ruled that since tomatoes are most often served during the main part of the meal that tomatoes must be vegetables. Actually, tomatoes are fruits biologically speaking. Here are some tips for growing tomatoes.

Big green plants with no tomatoes are caused by feeding with a high nitrogen fertilizer.
Be on the lookout for tomato hornworms. Pick them off and dispose of them before they eat your plant.
If you are experiencing blossom-end rot, the black spot on the bottom of the tomato, it is caused by inconsistent soil moisture. Uneven watering can also cause the fruits to crack.
If no flowers form, plants may not be getting enough sun or water. Too little of either can stop flowering.
For the best flavor, do not refrigerate tomatoes.
You can freeze whole tomatoes for later use. Put them in a freezer bag, they will last for 3 to 4 months.
When killing freezes threaten, pick all the green tomatoes. Place them in a single layer in cardboard boxes and store in a warm, dry area. Tomatoes will ripen within two to three months, lengthening your harvest. You could have tomatoes for Christmas!

By: Dolores Muller, EMGV, Moore County

Photo: by NC State Agricultural Extension

For more information, contact the Extension Master Gardener Helpline at 910-947-3188, Monday-Friday

Moore County Farmers' Market
in Southern Pines

Thursdays,Year-Round, 9AM-1PM
(closed Thanksgiving)
Armory Sports Complex
604 W. Morganton Rd
Southern Pines, NC 28387

Saturdays, March 15-November 23, 8AM-12PM
Downtown Park
156 SE Broad St
Southern Pines, NC 28388

Sandhill Farmers' Market
in the Village of Pinehurst

Wednesdays, April 17-October 2, 3PM-6PM
Saturdays, April 17-October 5, 10AM-1PM
Village Square
Pinehurst, NC 28374

James Creek Sunday Market
Cameron

First & Third Sundays of the Month, 1PM-5PM
172 US-1 Highway
Cameron, NC 28326

Carthage Farmers' Market

Carthage

Fridays, Year-Round, 2PM-6PM
S Ray Street
Carthage, NC 28327

Sandhills Farm to Table
Open for 15th Season

April 18 & 19 - November 8 & 9

Sandhills Farm to Table Cooperative is a multi-farm CSA (community supported agriculture) of farms throughout the Sandhills and beyond that brings to member subscribers the best variety of seasonally fresh produce from our farms to your tables. Subscribe to a box that's packed with the abundance of Sandhills fresh-picked fruits and veggies and have them delivered to your door or to a pick-up site on a weekly, bi-weekly or on a selected week basis. Click to subscribe and find out about the freshest seasonal choices available. As a consumer member, you will have convenient access to the highest quality of local food, at a price comparable to current retail food prices!

Farm Entrepreneurs Can Grow
Through Value-Added Products

With the growing demand for locally produced foods, there is also growing community interest in supporting entrepreneurial projects that address the marketing needs of small and mid-scale farmers.

The NCSU Entrepreneur Initiative for Food program — EI4F, for short — helps local produces learn how to add value to their products and become prospective entrepreneurs. The EI4F helps producers make informed decisions about the processing and manufacturing of safe, nutritious, value-added foods and beverages.

As part of the NC Food Innovation Lab (NCFIL), an important university asset for the state’s food entrepreneurs, EI4F focuses on ensuring food safety for acidified and low moisture foods, such as salsas, pickles, hot sauces, relishes, chutneys, jams/jellies, syrups and other items that have low pH levels.

In addition to working with people interested in producing acidified foods, EI4F also works with those who produce beverages such as teas and juices. Many fermented foods also go through the EI4F program.

Part of NC State Extension, the program started 30 years ago under NC State’s Department of Food, Bioprocessing and Nutrition Sciences (FBNS). EI4F is intended to help entrepreneurs navigate federal food safety regulations.

Today, EI4F is a vital part of North Carolina’s effort to grow a robust food economy that adds value to its strong agricultural industry. North Carolina agriculture and agribusiness — food, fiber and forestry — generates over $100 billion annually in value-added income.

For information about growing your market through value added products, link to the NC Food Innovation Lab's EI4F program

Deborah McGiffin
County Extension Director, Moore County Center

Protecting Trees Can Reward
Builders and Homeowners

As you drive around the county, you'll probably see acres cleared for construction. While Moore County is a great place to live, and land is needed to accommodate families and individuals opting to move here, it seems that tree removal is a matter of contractors only seeing the forests instead of the trees.

Conserving the right trees can reap rewards for developers, homeowners, and communities. Healthy trees enhance property values and community development by providing shade, wildlife habitat, and beauty.

Protecting trees during construction can yield big rewards. Planning and prevention are the keys to success. There are tree protection strategies that builders and developers can use before, during, and after construction to conserve healthy trees.

Get guidance for developing a tree protection plan for your building site. A tree protection plan will pay off through improved curb appeal, enhanced reputation, and increased profits.

Deborah McGiffin
Moore County Extension Director

Keeping it Cool with Small
Appliances This Summer

During the Fall, many people are excited to bring out their slow-cookers and electric pressure cookers for soup and chili season. But the best way to beat the heat in the summer is to keep your kitchens cool. You can do this by cooking outside on the grill, or using small appliances like your electric pressure cooker and slow-cookers to cook one-pot dishes with little clean-up and lots of leftovers. The best part is that you don’t have an oven heating up your kitchen and making your air-conditioner work harder.

If you really want to make things simple, start filling your freezer with “dump” meals. Although not an appealing word for delicious recipes, “dump” refers to recipes that you simply empty into the pot and start cooking. No muss, no fuss.

This is a great method of making sure you have delicious dishes like tacos and fajitas throughout the summer. Even if you want to use your grill, you can add marinade and freeze your meat until you are ready to light the grill.

Make freezer meals throughout the summer. Perhaps you have a garden and need somewhere to put all that produce; hello squash and zucchini. Blanch the summer squash pieces and add them to your freezer packs. Another way of enjoying summer produce is to make freezer smoothie packs. First I mix a base of yogurt and orange juice, freeze in ice cube molds, then place in freezer bags of fruit and veggies. It is the perfect way to a refreshing meal or snack as days get hot.

There are several benefits to freezing dump recipes. These include reducing food waste, improved nutrition with home-cooked meals, improves food safety, and saves decision making by already knowing what is for dinner. To get started, follow a freezer meal plan first, making 3-5 meals at a time and work you way up. Buy in bulk and prepare double batches of favorite casseroles, soups, and other recipes that freeze well. Eat one that night and place the other in the freezer to use later. Another fun idea is to have a freezer meal exchange group. Each person makes one recipe enough for each person and then exchanges with the group.

First things first, label your containers with the recipe and date. Assemble all ingredients and place in a freezer safe bag or container. Because seasonings can get stronger or bitter in taste during freezing, season recipes lightly and add additional seasoning when reheating or serving. Always thaw dump meals before cooking in your slower cooker or electric pressure cooker. This will keep your food from being at the temperature danger zone (40°F-140°F) for too long. This temperature range is when bacteria grow the most. Be sure to cook your food, not grow bacteria. Try the recipes below to keep you kitchens cool and bellies full this summer.

Jambalaya

Mix the following ingredients, place in gallon freezer bag, and freeze.

· 1 1/2 Cups reduced sodium chicken broth

· 1 Cup diced green peeper

· 1 cup diced onion

· 1 cup diced celery

· 1-28o z. can of no salt added diced tomatoes (juice included)

· ½ tsp garlic powder

· 1 bay leaf

· ½ lb large shrimp, raw and de-veined

· 1- 13.5 oz. Andouille sausage, sliced

· 2 tsp Cajun Seasoning

TO COOK: that in the fridge overnight. Place in slow cooker and cook 6-7 hours on low or 4-5 hours on high.

TO SERVE: Serve with whole grain brown rice.

Green Chile Pork Tacos

Mix the following ingredients, place in gallon freezer bag, and freeze. Due to the large size of the pork shoulder, you may need to cut it into 2-3 smaller pieces to fit better in the bag.

· 4 lbs. pork shoulder

· 1 Cup diced onion

· 1-10 oz. can diced tomatoes with green chiles

· 1-16 oz. jar of salsa verde

· 1/3 Cup of lime juice

· ½ tsp salt

· ¼ tsp garlic powder

· ½ tsp chili powder

· ¾ tsp ground cumin

TO COOK: Thaw in the fridge overnight. Place in slow cooker and cook 6-8 hours on low or 4-5 hours on high. When cooked, remove pork and shred. Add pork back into slow cooker and stir to combine.

TO SERVE: Serve with tortillas, lettuce, sour cream and shredded cheese.

Recipes provided by Kansas State Cooperative Extension Service

Janice Roberts, Family and Consumer Science Agent

Link here to Subscribe to the Moore County
Family & Consumer Sciences Newsletter

Moore County 4-H'ers Join the
Great Pollinator Census

Pollination is important because of the function pollinators play in food production. More than three-quarters of the world’s food crops rely at least in part on pollination by insects and other animals and nearly 90% of all wildflowers rely to some extent on animal pollination.

“Many of our fruits and vegetables have to be pollinated by insects,” said Charlotte Glen, the NC State Extension Master GardenerSM program manager. “To reproduce, they need an insect pollinator to help them out. But many of our pollinator populations are declining. A lot of it is because of foraging and nesting habitat loss. Areas that used to have a lot of natural flowering plants that provide nectar resources aren’t there any more.”

Scientists need help understanding what types of insects are where. If everyone from trained scientists to regular citizens can take a moment out of their day to count the different types of insects in backyards or nearby gardens, scientists can get a better understanding of what pollinator populations are out there. That's where the Pollinator Census comes in.

The Great Southeast Pollinator Census is a simple citizen science project designed to take data over the course of two days in August to capture a snapshot of pollinator activity, pollinator presence, pollinator preference, and plant flowering phenology. It was designed to be doable by the general public, whether or not they know the different insects.

The local pollinator census count this year is happening at the Sandhills Horticultural Gardens on the campus of Sandhills Community College on Saturday, August 24 from 9:00-11:00 am. Moore County 4-H'ers will be there counting pollinators as well as educating the public by making bee habitats for participants to take home to their own backyards.

To participate in the pollinator census and/or make a bee habitat, contact Kaley Lawing, at kaley_lawing@ncsu.edu or 910-947-3188.