NC COOPERATIVE EXTENSION - GUILFORD COUNTY
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In This Issue:
Monthly Round-Up–Extension Events
Announcements
Upcoming Events, Workshops, & Classes
Other Community Events & Resources
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The Guilford Native American Association’s 48th Annual Pow Wow was held September 19–21, 2025, at Greensboro Country Park. NC A&T State Extension and NC State
Extension were proud to support this year’s event through community outreach and educational engagement.
Special thanks to our dedicated Extension volunteers:
· Natalie Owens, County Extension Director
· Lauren Taubert, Extension Agent, 4-H Youth Development
· Crystal Mercer, NC State Extension Agent, Community & School Gardens
· Betty Rodriguez, NC A&T Extension Associate, Urban & Underrepresented Audience Coordinator
· Morgan Malone, NC A&T Extension Associate, Urban Ag & Community Gardens
· Mark Light, State 4-H STEM Specialist
Their time, energy, and collaboration helped Extension connect with the community and share valuable resources at this year’s Pow Wow.
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Our Food Security Coordinator, Alyssa McKim, led a workshop, “Picture This: Using Photovoice to Uplift Community Voices in Food Systems,” during the Transformational Community: A Way Forward Conference in Colfax on September 17th. This interactive workshop shared the story of Guilford County’s Framing the Future Photovoice exhibit in April — a powerful project that used community photography and storytelling to spotlight food insecurity and inspire local change. Participants heard firsthand how this project was developed, curated, and shared with the public, and why centering lived experience is critical to advancing food justice.
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What to Know About Soil Testing
Testing Services for Nutrients and pH is provided by the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Soils Lab for free to North Carolina residents except during peak season (December 1- March 31) when there is a $4 fee. Soil test boxes are available at the Ag Center. Please mail your soil test boxes to the testing lab in Raleigh using the address listed on the form. Learn More
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Call for Advisory Council Members
Guilford County Extension is seeking passionate, experienced, and committed individuals to join our Advisory Council.
Our Advisory Council plays an important role in guiding the outreach and programmatic direction of our organization, providing expertise, community insight, and support to help us achieve our mission: 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. This is accomplished through a wide variety of programs in agriculture, food and nutrition, health and 4-H Youth development.
We are currently looking to expand our council with individuals who bring diverse perspectives and backgrounds in areas such as:
Nonprofit Leadership, Finance, Law, Education, Healthcare, Community Advocacy, Technology, etc.
Experience working with youth, farmers, seniors and underrepresented communities
Fundraising or policy expertise
Advisory Council Member Responsibilities:
Attend two in-person meetings per year
Provide strategic advice and feedback on key initiatives
Serve as ambassadors for our mission within your networks
Support organizational growth through thought leadership, connections, and expertise
Ideal Candidates Will Have:
A passion for Guilford County residents
Relevant professional or lived experience
Willingness to contribute time and insights
Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
How to Apply:
If you are interested in joining our Advisory Council, please submit an email to: nowens@guilfordcountync.gov
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SAVE THE DATE:
November 5th, 2025
Community Connections Open House
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Join us for our 2025 Community Connections at the NC Cooperative Extension Guilford County Center! We invite you to explore the resources and intersections of our programming featuring local agriculture, horticulture, 4-H, community & school gardens, family & consumer sciences, food security, and digital literacy. Join us for interactive workshops, conversations with Extension staff, public and non-profit vendor tables, and more!
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LIVE SERIES -
Live at Lunch: Tuesdays in the Garden
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Join us on Tuesdays at noon for our new series, Live at Lunch - Tuesdays in the Garden! These sessions will be great opportunities to learn fall gardening tips from Horticulture Agent, Taylor Jones, featuring live demos & a Q&A during your lunch break.
View our lives on our Facebook page!
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| LEARN MORE & REGISTER
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SAVE THE DATE -
October 11, 2025
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Fall in the Garden |
October 11th, 2025
9 AM - 12 PM at the Ag Center
Join us for this fun and free event for the whole family! There will be many different displays set up throughout the garden that will teach you how to keep your garden going through the fall and winter, as well as get prepared for spring!
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Med instead Meds - Recipe of the Month
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This salad is actually a main dish with whole grain, vegetables, beans, and nuts. It keeps for several days and actually is better after a day or so. You can even add other vegetables such as peas, carrots, or celery. The Med Way includes plenty of healthy and nutritious meals that are also delicious and
satisfying. We teach Eating the Med Way through the Family & Consumer Sciences Program.
Whole Grain, Chickpea, and Black Bean Salad
This recipe uses canned beans, which makes it easier to prepare than using dried beans.
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| RECIPE
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Upcoming Classes & Workshops
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Community & School Gardens- |
Share the Harvest Round-Up
Share the Harvest collected 71 pounds of produce between June and September for 2025! Thank you to everyone who donated or spread the word!
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Needs Assessment
Are you a Garden Leader in the community?
Please participate in this important Needs Assessment. Your responses will help us better understand your challenges, successes, and priorities as leaders of community and school gardens.
This survey should take no more than 10–12 minutes. Your input will directly inform training, support, and resource planning for future programs. All responses are confidential and voluntary. Any questions contact: Crystal Mercer or call (336) 641-2427.
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| TAKE THE SURVEY
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Horticulture
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Grow With Us |
For 2025, the Extension Master Gardener℠ volunteers have their Fall 2025 free gardening class schedule on our website! Sign up for our last classes for the Fall this month.
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| CLASSES & REGISTRATION
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New Extension Master Gardener℠ Class for 2026
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We are excited to announce that we will have a new Extension Master Gardener℠ class in 2026!
If you have been thinking about joining the Extension Master Gardener℠ program, now is the time to apply! For this upcoming class, we have made some changes to the delivery of the training classes in hopes to better accommodate a larger group of interested individuals. A full schedule can be found on our website.
Applications for this class will be accepted beginning on September 2, 2025 through December 8, 2025 with required info session(s) on what to expect as a Master Gardener℠ student the week of December 8th.
For any questions, contact: Holly Key (hmkey@ncsu.edu)
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| LEARN MORE & APPLY
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Agriculture
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Winterization Workshop |
October 21st
9 AM - 12:30 PM at the Ag Center
Equips Guilford County farmers and gardeners with the knowledge, tools, and hands-on experience to successfully prepare for the winter!
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| REGISTER
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4-H
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4-H Plant Sale |
It’s time for the Fall 4-H Plant Sale! They have 27 varieties of fruit plants available. Order by October 29th, and pickup will
be on November 6th & 7th. This plant sale is a fundraiser for Guilford County 4-H, and all proceeds from the Plant Sale support Guilford County 4-H Programming! Visit https://go.ncsu.edu/guilford_plant_sale to view all your options.
Questions? Contact Lauren at lrallen@ncsu.edu or 336-641-2424.
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| LEARN MORE
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Community Development- Digital Skills
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Digital Literacy |
Select Wednesdays Each Month
10 AM - 12 PM at the NCWorks Career Center, 2301 West Meadowview Road, Greensboro, NC 27407
Join us to gain familiarity with current technology!
Questions? Contact Jeffrey Cates at:
jeff_cates@ncsu.edu , 336.641.2436
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| REGISTER
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FCS- Health & Nutrition
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Canning with Extension: Apples |
Oct 14th
5:30 - 7:30 PM at the Ag Center
Join FCS Agent Vincent Webb to learn more about canning apples.
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| REGISTER
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FCS- Financial Literacy
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Tech For Vets |
October 30th-31st
11 AM - 1 PM at the High Point Public Library
Our Goodwill on the Go unit, with instructors from the NC Cooperative Extension, will be on hand to guide you through creating and navigating all three on your VA benefit accounts.
What to expect:
• Coaching on the digital skills needed to access veteran benefits
• Step-by-step assistance in setting up your online VA accounts
• Learn how to navigate the platforms to easily find and use services
Prior registration is encouraged:
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| REGISTER
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General Community Resources & Events
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Better Food Futures Forum
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October 28th
9:30 AM - 7 PM at Elliott University Center, Alexander Room, 507 Stirling St.
Greensboro, NC
The Department of Geography, Environment, and Sustainability, along with the Department of English, the African American and African Diaspora Studies Program, and the Lloyd International Honors College, is putting on a full day of learning events on food systems!
This free event will feature several speakers, including Nallah Muhammad of Afro Agriculture LLC!
Registration required ONLY for the field trip to Peaceful Seeds of Warnersville.
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| REGISTER
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Greater High Point Food Alliance Food Summit 2025
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November 2nd
The Piedmont Triad Farmers Market is back!
Join us and our partners on November 2nd, 2025, from 10 AM – 4 PM at Mendenhall Station in High Point (220 E. Commerce Ave., High Point, NC 27260) for a celebration of fresh, locally sourced products, food trucks, live music, crafts, and fun for the whole family.
This market is more than just shopping—it’s a growing movement. Last year, thousands came together to support local farmers, enjoy entertainment, and strengthen food access in our community. Together, we’re building food security, economic opportunity, and a vibrant space for community voice and culture.
Please click the button below to register for free!
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| LEARN MORE & REGISTER
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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.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
N.C. Cooperative Extension - Guilford County Center, 3309 Burlington Rd, Greensboro, NC 27405, United States
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