Take the time to better understand your financial wellness pulse by using the 50/30/20 budgeting rule.
Audit your "needs" vs. "wants" (Review your bank statements and categorize each expense, ensuring your needs do not exceed 50% of total expenses; if so, look for one "fixed" cost to negotiate or reduce
Automate you 20% (Set up a recurring transfer to your savings or investment account to trigger immediately after you paycheck hits.
Establish a "wants" buffer (creat a "fun" account that consists of only 30% of your paycheck-spend your wants from this account to eliminate the risk of accidentally overspending.
$10 a Meal Day: Quick, Easy, and Affortable Recipes
Eating on a budget can be overwhelming, but it doesn't mean that you will miss out on flavor. Try out this easy and affordable recipe, $10 for a family of 4. Don't forget to check out the QR code or simply click on the image for more recipes.
Garden Frittata
Ingredients:
4 large eggs ($3)
2 medium unpeeled red potatoes ($2)
1/2 tablespoon olive oil ($1)
1 bunch Italian kale, or other kale variety (approx. 6 oz.) ($1.50)
1/4 cup chopped onion ($1)
1/2 bell pepper ($1)
pinch of salt and pepper
Directions:
Beat eggs, pepper, and salt in a large bowl, set aside.
Microwave potatoes until slightly soft, but not completely cooked, then cube.
Chop remaining vegetables while potatoes cool. Mix vegetables together.
Heat oil in a 10-inch non-stick skillet. Saute' vegetabels for 5-8 minutes; add to eggs and mix well.
Pour egg-vegetable mixture in the same skillet. Cook over low to medium heat until eggs are almost set.
Cover and let sit until eggs are complete set, about 5 minutes. Egg dishes should be cooked to 160 degrees F.
For more information please contact Der Holcomb at der_xiong@ncsu.edu or call 828-632-3125.
Hydration Habits: Stay Hydrated This Spring
As temperatures rise, your body needs more fluids. This matters because dringing water helps to:
prevent fatigue
support digestion
regulate body temperature
improve focus
Aim for 6-8 cups of water daily.
Tips to help you dring more water:
carry a reusable water bottle
add fruit for flavor
drink water with every meal
set reminders throughout the day
Try out this recipe: Strawberry Lime Mojito Mocktail
Ingredients:
12-14 strawberries, stems removed
8 large mint leaves
2 1/2 cups club soda
1/8 cup fresh lime juice
honey (optional)
Directions:
Add strawberries and mint leaves to a pitcher. Using a muddle (or a wodden spoon), muddle the strawberries and mint leaves; try not to break the leaves.
Add the rest of the ingredients to the pitcher. Stir.
Fill glasses with crushed ice (optional). Pour the mixture over the ice. Garnish with extra minth and lime slices. Serve immediately.
Join us for one or all of our From Garden to Pantry: 250 Years of Growing and Preserving sessions.
This Lunch & Learn series is FREE and open to the public, and participants are encouraged to bring their own lunch as they enjoy practical, engaging sessions designed for all experience levels.
The April Sessions are:
April 8th- Start Your Flock: Backyard Chicken Basics
April 22nd - Growing & Using Culinary Herbs
For a list of all of the sessions click on the image to visit our website.
Should you be interested in attending the April sessions and/or the other sessions please call the NC Cooperative Extension-Alexander County Center at 828-632-4451 to reserve your space today. Space is limited.
The Alexander County Farmers Markets will be starting back near Mothers’ Day! The Taylorsville Location will start back on April 18th, running on Saturdays from 9am-1pm until the heat of summer kicks in, then hours will change to 8am-Noon. The location of the Taylorsville market will be in the parking lot of the Alexander County Services Center in Taylorsville. The Bethlehem Location will start back on April 16th, running on Thursdays from 4-7pm in the parking lot of Mount Pisgah Lutheran Church off Hwy 127 (a **NEW LOCATION**).
Alexander County Farmers market has vendors with all kinds of homemade products, including baked goods, produce, crafts, jewelry, plants, honey, and more! Support your local vendors this year on Thursdays and Saturdays through mid-September! If you are interested in being a farmers market vendor at either market in Alexander County, please feel free to contact Cari Rosenbalm (cari_rosenbalm@ncsu.edu). We always look forward to adding new vendors who either hand make, bake, or grow their own products!
The Green Thumb Gazette newsletter is a great way to stay up to date with all your horticulture needs. To see what horticulture programs are coming up or to see a monthly calendar of what to plant and fertilize check out the link for the April 2026 edition.
Alexander County 4-H has released the 2026 4-H Summer Opportunities. Don't sleep on these they fill up quickly. 4-H Clubs are meeting each month and we have some great volunteers putting together great programming for our youth. If you would like to visit a 4-H Club and need more information please contact DJ Salyer, 4-H Agent by emailing dj_salyer@ncsu.edu or call 828-632-3125.
Check out the 4-H Newsletter to see what upcoming events are taking place: April 4-H Newsletter.
2026 N.C. Small Ruminant Education April Session
The next and last session that will be held of the NC Small Ruminant Educational Series will be held in Iredell County on April 30. The topic of this session is Guarding the Gate: Keeping Chronic Disease Off Your Farm with Biosecurity. There is a $15 cost for this session that will include a meal.
Schedule for the day:
6:30p.m.- Food
7:00-8:00 p.m. - Education Program
8:00-9:00 p.m. - Open Discussion
Whether you're looking to install a new fence, repair existing structures, or troubleshoot high tensile, this hands-on workshop is for you.
Event: From Post To Pasture: Building Better Fences Where: E. Carroll Joyner Beef Education Unit | NC State University When: April 11, 2026 at 8:30 AM (Eastern Time)
Join us for a hands-on workshop on Building Better Fences at the E. Carroll Joyner Beef Education Unit. Get ready to roll up your sleeves and learn practical tips on enhancing your pasture management through high tensile fence building, repair and troubleshooting. Mark your calendar for this exciting event!
The workshop will focus on producing hight-quality alfalfa for the North Carolina horse industry, highlighting pratical, proven management strategies used by successful hay producers across the state.
Presentations will be following by a producer panel featuring local Southesst Hay Contest winners, and a field tour showcasing hybrid bermudagrass, orchardgrass, timothy, alfalfa, and alfalfa-bermudagrass mixtures.
Registration cost is $10 (includes lunch). RSVP by contacting Allison Brown at allison_brown@ncsu.edu or call 828-632-4451.
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.
