N.C. Cooperative Extension-Alexander County Newsletter February 2022

Green Thumb Gazette Newsletter- February's Edition is out and available. To read what garden tasks to do in March, what to be on the look out for around your lawn and garden, or just to stay-in-the know with what our horticulture agent, Cari Mitchell, is offering please click on the following link: February 2022 Newsletter

Also, if you would like to receive this newsletter by email please contact the N.C. Cooperative Extension-Alexander County Center. You may also visit the following link to see past newsletters:
Garden Thumb Gazette

The Alexander County Fruit Sale is still going! We have SOLD OUT of a few items, so now is the time to place your order for the items that we still have available: blueberries, strawberries, pecan trees, plum trees, figs, blackberries, and asparagus! These plants will be ready for pickup March 17th, when you may also make your payments. If you have any questions about the varieties we have or would like to place an order, contact Cari Mitchell, Horticulture Agent, at 828-632-4451 or stop by our office (151 W Main Ave., Taylorsville). Please click on the image above for an order form and more information on the different varieties.

4-H Update

Alexander County 4-H has been busy with club meetings, preparing for afterschool programming and planning upcoming programs for schools.

Clubs are meeting in person once again and accepting new members. If you would like to visit one of our 4-H Clubs now is the time to get involved. Clubs are reorganizing for the new year. All 4-H participants and volunteers need to enroll or re-enroll in 4-H Online. This is a new requirement that has to be completed in order to participate in North Carolina 4-H. More information regarding enrollment can be found in the February 2022 Newsletter.

Reminder!! Alexander County 4-H will be taking youth to the Eastern 4-H Center located in Columbia, NC the week of June 19-24, 2022. There are still spots available. Click on the link below for more information and to view the full newsletter:

February 2022 Newsletter

Alexander County Soil & Water seeks stream debris removal projects for new Streamflow Rehabilitation Assistance Program - Deadline February 18

The Alexander County Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) is seeking potential stream debris removal projects in the county. The NC General Assembly recently allotted funds to create a new program in North Carolina that aims to reduce flooding across the state’s waterways.

The Streamflow Rehabilitation Assistance Program (StRAP) allocates money for projects that protect and restore the integrity of drainage infrastructure. The District is specifically seeking projects that have woody debris blocking stream channels and/or causing major erosion problems. This is separate funding from all previous programs, and the debris does not have to be from a specific storm.

For more information visit the following link or contact Alexander County Soil and Water at 828-632-0638: http://www.ncagr.gov/SWC/watershed/StRAP.html

Backyard Poultry owners are encouraged to keep their poultry contained and enclosed over the next couple weeks. Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza has been found in migratory birds on the coast of NC. A majority of duck hunting does occur in Eastern NC, so it is no surprise that HPAI would be detected there first. However, we do have migratory ducks and geese in Alexander County. Remember that disease can be spread on shoes, clothes, tires, etc. Biosecurity measures should be implemented to protect your flock. The NC Department of Agriculture Veterinary Division is encouraging poultry owners to take the necessary precautions to ensure the safety of their birds. HPAI is considered low risk to people. For more information please visit the following link: https://poultry.ces.ncsu.edu/poultry-biosecurity/

The Changing Faces of Identity Theft

Advances in technology has allowed people to do so much more than we could ever imagine from the comfort of our own homes. From tedious chores such as ordering groceries to the most complicated activities such as diagnosing an illness, all we need to make that connection happen is a computer to connect to the internet.

Being able to access anything we need at the touch of a button is great but unfortunately, criminals have adapted to the advances in technology. For many years, criminals have used discarded credit card receipts, bank statement, tax notices and other bills to gain your personal information. With today’s technology, criminals have turned to cybercrime such as hacking and email scams to steal your identity.

So what is identity theft and why would they want to be you? To better understand identity theft and ways to prevent find the rest of this article by clicking on the image below: