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CLAY COUNTY CENTER
NOVEMBER 2021 NEWSLETTER
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Buying and Thawing Your Thanksgiving Turkey
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Everyone’s favorite eating holiday is here! While cozy family gatherings and Aunt Myrtle’s cranberry relish may be off the menu this year, a big ol’ turkey is still very much in play.
Turkey tends to be the star attraction, the top billing, the big bird (literally) of the meal, so you want to make sure it’s perfect. But first things first: buying and thawing your poultry centerpiece safely. Learn More »
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Farming for Ecological Outcomes
Curious about the effects of long-term farming system choices on soil organic matter, nutrient cycling, greenhouse gas emissions, and weed pressures?
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Grants for WNC family farms in 2022
WNC AgOptions intent to apply deadline Nov. 12; Application deadline Dec. 17.
ASHEVILLE, N.C. — WNC Agricultural Options is now accepting grant applications from farmers diversifying or expanding their businesses. Applicants should contact their Cooperative Extension agents by Nov. 12 to set up an appointment to discuss their projects. Applications are available at www.wncagoptions.org or at local Cooperative Extension centers.
WNC AgOptions offers grants to farmers in the following counties/units: Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Cherokee, Clay, Cleveland, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga and Yancey counties as well as the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
The administrator of WNC AgOptions is WNC Communities, a non-profit organization that has been improving agriculture in the region since 1947. WNC Communities provides a unique forum for leaders in western North Carolina to carry out innovative programs to improve the quality of life for rural communities and to enhance the agriculture economy.
Members of the WNC AgOptions steering committee include representatives from N.C. Cooperative Extension, N.C. Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services–Marketing Division, WNC Communities, Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project, and other leaders in agribusiness.
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Apply Now for the Pandemic Response and Safety Grant Program
USDA is currently accepting applications for the Pandemic Response and Safety (PRS) Grant Program. Applications must be submitted electronically through the grant portal at https://usda-prs.grantsolutions.gov/usda by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday, November 22, 2021. Approximately $650 million in funding is available for the PRS grants.
Don’t wait until the last minute. The first step in applying is getting a DUNS number which can take up to 5 days.
Once you have your DUNS number, the application takes less than 10 minutes. The application, FAQs, tip sheets, and information on how to apply is on the PRS Grant Portal. Resources are also available in Spanish on the PRS webpage.
Small businesses and nonprofits in the following industries can apply for a grant to cover COVID-related expenses such as workplace safety measures (e.g., personal protective equipment (PPE), retrofitting facilities for worker and consumer safety, shifting to online sales platforms, transportation, worker housing, and medical costs:
- Specialty crop producers
- Shellfish farming, finfish farming, aquaculture, apiculture
- Specialty crop, meat, and other processors
- Distributors
- Farmers markets
Contact information for providers offering technical assistance on this grant application is available on the AMS PRS grant webpage under ‘Additional Resources’: https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/prs.
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November is National Diabetes Month and the Clay County Cooperative Extension will be offering a nutrition program for the community focusing on nutrition and wellness for diabetes. According to the CDC, an estimated 34.2 million Americans have diabetes and there is an estimated 1.5 million newly diagnosed each year. Additionally, more than 1 in 3 U.S. adults have prediabetes, a condition in which the blood sugar level is high but not high enough to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Prediabetes eventually leads to type 2 diabetes. The good news is that by making small healthy lifestyle changes, you can prevent type 2 diabetes.
Join us on Tuesday, November 9th from 3 – 5 pm at the Community Services Building, to learn how to keep your diabetes in check during the holidays. Kim Terrell will share information on eating healthy for diabetes including holiday meal planning. She will also be demonstrating how to make a delicious, low-carb cheesecake.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THIS CLASS
CONTACT KIM TERRELL AT 828-389-6305 OR KVTERREL@NCSU.EDU FOR MORE INFORMATION
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Kim Terrell, Family and Consumer Science Agent for the Clay County Cooperative Extension, recently visited Mrs. Lovingood’s Foods and Nutrition classes at Clay County High School. Kim discussed with students the importance of eating a healthy breakfast and shared quick and nutritious breakfast ideas with students. Students participated in a hands-on food prep and “build your own” yogurt parfait treat.
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Trails and Rails 4-H Club
Nov 13 - Community Service/Desensitizing at 00 Ranch, Robbinsville
Work on the float for the Christmas Parade
Dec 11 - Christmas Parade
No meeting for November and December
Enjoy the Holidays!
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Food Safety During the Holidays
The holidays are right around the corner and most of us are already planning our holiday meals. Be sure you are including food safety guidelines when planning your menu. Here is a basic guide for keeping foods safe during the holidays.
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Garden Tasks for November
- Plant trees, shrubs, groundcovers, and spring-flowering bulbs. Mulch areas.
- Remove dead foliage from perennials, divide if needed, apply fresh mulch to beds.
- Both broadleaf and needle-type evergreens can be pruned when they are dormant; however, save severe pruning until late February to March.
- Bring Amaryllis bulbs out of storage for Holiday blooms.
- Inspect house plants that have been outdoors all summer before bringing them in.
- Do not prune fruit trees until late winter.
- Finish cleaning up the garden after all crops are killed by frost. Remove asparagus
ferns after they are killed by frost.
- Till up a spot now for planting early spring crops. The soil may be too wet to work
in February.
- Clean, oil, and store garden equipment.
- Put leaves in compost pile.
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What’s happening with the Master Gardeners
This summer Master Gardeners got busy establishing a Monarch Waystation. We planted
milkweeds for the females to lay their eggs and for the hungry caterpillars to eat the leaves.
Also planted were nectar plants for the adult butterflies to feed and shallow water spots to
provide water for all the thirsty flying critters. We applied to the Monarch Watch Organization to become an official waystation, charged with creating, conserving, and protecting our monarch habitats. We join the growing group of waystations across the US as Waystation 36,468.
Facebook page has been renamed as “Master Gardeners of Clay County, North Carolina”.
This remains a public site, new members wanting to join will be asked to answer a short
questionnaire. All postings will go through an approval process. Ten incredibly motivated talented Master Gardener interns have begun their project down at the Discovery Garden. This group selected a keyhole design that will be a creative addition
to our garden, of native plants. These interns are certainly a welcome addition to the Master
Gardener Program.
Our Discovery Garden produced squash, beans, cucumbers, several kinds of tomatoes, and peppers. Thanks to all the hard-working Master Gardener volunteers who prune, water,
fertilize, and check daily to see if produce is ready for harvesting. A grand total of 720 pounds of vegetables was delivered to Matt’s Ministries this summer.
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Online event!
Novmeber 30, 2021
9am- 3pm
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Life in the Garden: Mindfulness, Grace, & the Power of Presence
November 5-7, 2021
Hinton welcomes author, speaker, ordained minister, and passionate gardener Terry Hershey to lead a weekend conference and retreat for those who experience — or want to experience — gardens as restorative, inspiring, and life-giving. According to Hershey, “The garden is a place we can learn about life, faith, and prayer. The conference is a time to celebrate gardens, gardeners, and the role of gardens and gardening in our spiritual journey.” Gardens are sacred places that can offer, for both gardener and visitor, healing for mind, body, and soul. Learn More Here
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VISIT THESE WEBSITES TO LEARN MORE ABOUT CLAY COUNTY CENTER'S UPCOMING EVENTS AND NEWS
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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.
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