Clay County Center October Newsletter

There may be no better symbol for the fall season than the pumpkin. Big and bright, hearty and healthy, pumpkins represent everything good about autumn. They’re widely used as decorations throughout the fall, though you may associate them with Halloween the most. Whether you’re carving them or cooking them, you can’t go wrong with pumpkins.

Either way, it’s important to choose the right pumpkins and know how to store them – no one wants rotten pumpkins staining the porch or smelling up the house just as it’s getting cold outside! Read More

Free business development training for North Carolina agribusinesses.

Are you a small business owner? The Miller School of Entrepreneurship and Crisp Small Business Resource Center's Accelerate Rural NC program begins Oct. 11, 2021.

Register your small business for free.

The free 10-week course meets online M-Th for one hour.
The program is grant-funded and no cost to participants.
Participants will receive intensive innovation and entrepreneurship training; prototyping and new product development assistance; web development and e-commerce development; market plan development; and export target market identification assistance.
Participants also work with mentors.
Accelerate Rural NC is a rural business accelerator focused on helping small businesses gain access to global markets with innovative products and services.

Time to Start Preparing Your Home for Winter!

We are fortunate to live in a relatively mild climate here in the Appalachians, but we can still have spurts of prolonged freezing weather with snow and ice. Start preparing your home now to help save on the electric bill and be prepared in case of a winter storm. Here are 10 tips to get you started:

1)    Clean out gutters. Gutters with excess debris can reduce water flow increasing chances of ice build-up, weighing gutters and causing them to pull away from the roof.
2)    Trim branches that may be close to your house as ice may weigh these down causing them to break and damage your home.
3)    Check your doors and windows. Gaps around window frames and doors can allow cold air to leak inside, so make sure the weatherstripping is secure. If not, replace or use self-sticking weatherstripping and draft guards.
4)    Protect your water lines. Ensure insulation around lines is still in good repair, close crawl space vents, remove water hoses from outside spickets and store for the winter.
5)    Consider purchasing a programmable thermostat if you haven’t already. In the winter, a programmable thermostat allows you to save money on your energy bills by setting it to a desired temperature that self regulates.
6)    Clean or change filters in your heating and air system. Dirty filters reduce airflow which can reduce the energy efficiency of the unit.
7)    Check your refrigerator. The optimal refrigerator setting for food safety and energy efficiency is 36-38 degrees F. You should also keep the freezer at 0 to 5 degrees F. Setting your appliances any colder than this wastes energy. Check the rubber door gasket on both the refrigerator and freezer to ensure a tight seal.
8)    Reverse your ceiling fan. Ceiling fans are a popular appliance in the summer months but can also help with energy efficiency in the winter. Warm air rises. By reversing your ceiling fan, it can help push warm air down which will help with constant temperature control.
9)    Check insulation in attic floors and ceilings to ensure it is still secure.
10) Prepare for prolonged power outages by keeping extra batteries, flashlights, weather radio, blankets, canned foods, and bottled water. Learn More »

Back Yard Flock Series Winter Preparation for

Your Flock

As the weather begins to change and we are experiencing cooler temperatures, many people wonder how to prepare their backyard flocks for winter. October 12th at noon the NC State Extension Area Specialized Poultry Agents will be discussing how to plan for the upcoming change in seasons. Learn about cold weather considerations related to housing, feed and water, and animal husbandry. The webinar will be presented over Zoom. Registration will close at 6 pm on October 11th, with the Zoom link being emailed out after registration closes. Click to Register

Mountain True Native Plant and Shrub Sale

In order to raise awareness about the beautiful, resilient plants that are native to our Southern Appalachian Mountains and to provide a little funding for Mountain True's ongoing invasive plant eradication efforts, they are again holding a Native Tree and Shrub Sale this fall. Choose from 34 species of native trees and shrubs, ranging from large shade trees, native ornamentals, pollinator species, and those particularly beneficial to wildlife.

Learn More »

You are invited to join the 15th annual Eat Smart, Move More, Maintain, don’t gain! Holiday Challenge. Rather than focusing on trying to lose weight, this FREE seven-week challenge provides you with strategies and resources to maintain your weight throughout the holiday season. Any adult over 18 years of age across the United States with a valid email address can join the Holiday Challenge.
The Holiday Challenge will begin on November 15th and run through December 31st. Registration does not close and you may sign-up at any time. Participants can engage as much or as little as they would like to, as all resources are sent to their email and available online. Register now by visiting: https://esmmweighless.com/sign/.

Holiday Challenge Features:
·     Weekly Newsletters
·     Daily Tips
·     Healthy Holiday Recipes
·     Weekly Challenges
·     Tools
·     Private Facebook Community

Last year's Holiday Challenge:
In 2020, more than 44,670 people from all 50 states and all 100 North Carolina counties, and 33 additional countries took part in the Holiday Challenge. At the end of the Holiday Challenge, 92% maintained or lost weight and 98% are likely to participate in a future Holiday Challenge. For additional results, and to see how your state ranked in participation, click here: Holiday Challenge Results.

For Holiday Challenge updates, resources, and support:
·     Facebook - @esmmweighless
·     Twitter - @esmmweighless
·     Pinterest - @esmmweighless
·     Instagram - @esmmholidaychallenge

For any questions regarding the Holiday Challenge, check out the FAQ page or email us at holidaychallenge@esmmweighless.com.
The Holiday Challenge is provided by Eat Smart, Move More, Weigh Less, a 15-week online weight management program delivered by a live Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, and Eat Smart, Move More, Prevent Diabetes, a 12-month online diabetes prevention program recognized by the CDC. Both programs are developed and managed by NC State University and the NC Division of Public Health.

Worksite Wellness:
https://esmmweighless.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/ESMM-HolidayChallengeWorksiteGuide-2021.pdf

For more information:
https://esmmweighless.com/sign/

Club Meetings

Trails and Rails-October 25, 6:00 pm (working on record books) - Spike Buck Pavilion

Livestock Club-October 21, 6:30 pm Brasstown Community Center

Lightning Storms Club meeting canceled. Members come by the office to pick up a STEM Activity Kit.

October Gardening Tips

Plant trees, shrubs, and groundcovers
Plant Spring flowing bulbs late in the month. Add bone meal under each bulb.
Plant pansies and ornamental cabbage
Dig tender bulbs such as gladiolus, dahlia, or caladium and store for the winter
Plant and divide flowering perennials
Move houseplants indoors before night temperatures dip below 50 degrees
Pick up all fallen fruit and remove any fruit left hanging in trees. This helps to prevent any carry-over diseases.
Dig sweet potatoes before frost
Plant garlic now for large bulbs next summer.
Clean up the garden when the harvest is complete.
Plant a cover crop of clover or winter grain if desired.
Harvest pumpkins, winter squash, and gourds before frost.
Gather all garden equipment, clean, oil and store.
Drain garden hoses of water and store.
Leave hummingbird feeders out for late migrants.