NC COOPERATIVE EXTENSION - GUILFORD COUNTY |
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In This Issue:
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Monthly Round-Up–Extension Events
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Announcements
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Upcoming Events, Workshops, & Classes
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Other Community Events & Resources
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This year's Passalong Plant Sale was a great success, with over 600 sales made during the weekend. Leftover plants from the sale will be available for sale at the EMG Celebrate Pollinators Day event on June 13th.
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Speedway to Healthy at the Carl Chavis YMCA hosted over 420 students from four schools and the YMCA afterschool program! 4-H Agent Meredith Kreeger spearheaded the program with community leaders and volunteers, and received assistance from 4-H Agent Lauren Taubert and the rest of the Guilford Extension team during the day of the event! |
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Intern Spotlight! |
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Left to Right: Jazmine Robins, Riley Sellars, Veronica Robinson
The NCCE Guilford County Center office will be hosting three interns this summer! Here are some introductions to our interns: Jazmine Robins recently graduated from NC State with a Master's in Education. She will be mainly working with our Food Security team. She is originally from Columbia, SC, and attended undergrad at Francis Marion University. In her free time, Jazmine enjoys reading, hiking, watching films, and hanging out with her friends. Riley Sellars is a senior at the University of Mount Olive studying Agriculture Education with a certificate in Agricultural Communication and Leadership. She will be mostly working with our 4-H team. Veronica Robinson is working with the NC A&T Extension staff as a Research Intern. She is a junior majoring in Kinesiology and Exercise Science from NC A&T State University. She is honored and excited to say that she will be working with our office this summer. Welcome to our team for the summer! |
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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 $5 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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June 13th
Passalong Plant Sale 2026 |
Celebrate Pollinators Day |
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June 13th, 9 AM - 12 PM
at the Ag Center Demonstration Garden
Join us for a day full of fun and learning for the whole family!
Pollinators are important contributors to our gardens, and this event will celebrate and raise awareness about their vital role. This year's event will emphasize native bees. Explore a variety of informative table displays, create your own bee hotel, and pick up a goody bag and a free plant (while supplies last). Don’t forget to snap a photo with Polly Nater and grab a bag of popcorn to enjoy as you wander through the garden.
Check out our social media pages to see the work we do and upcoming events!
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Want To Be A
NC Cooperative Extension Volunteer? |
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Want to know how you can support your local community? N.C. Cooperative Extension in Guilford County offers a variety of opportunities for community members of all experience levels to volunteer! Our programs serve the community through youth development, agriculture, family and consumer sciences, and more—and volunteers play a vital role in making that impact possible.
Please complete this form below to share your interests, skills, and availability. This will help us connect you with meaningful volunteer opportunities that match your strengths and passions.
If you are specifically interested in volunteering with consumer horticulture, please contact Holly Key at hmkey@ncsu.edu to learn more about our Extension Master Gardener℠ program. |
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Med instead Meds - Recipe of the Month |
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Tuna makes a surprisingly delicious burger option. This recipe is a quick and easy crowd pleaser that makes dinner or lunch a breeze. Leftover patties refrigerate well and can be eaten the next day (cold or reheated) for a convenient and satisfying meal at work or home. 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.
Tuna Burger
Top your burger with your favorite garnish to make this burger your own. |
| RECIPE |
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Upcoming Classes & Workshops |
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Community & School Gardens |
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Guilford College Visit
Taylor Jones (Extension Agent, Horticulture) and Crystal Mercer (Extension Agent, Agriculture-Community & School Gardens) were invited to speak with Guilford College’s Biology class in Greensboro, where they shared insights with junior and senior students on starting a school garden with an emphasis on plant science. Guided by Dr. Stracey Richard, Dr. Malotky, and Dr. Pinnix, the class is developing an exciting hands-on garden project.
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Horticulture |
Extension Master Gardener℠ Garden Show 2026 |
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July 11th, 10 AM - 12:30 PM
at the Ag Center
Save the date for the 2nd Annual Extension Master Gardener℠ Garden Show! This is a free and fun event for everyone to attend. Come and see the entries of Guilford County's Extension Master Gardener℠ volunteers showing off their gardening knowledge and work in practice! Vote for your favorite entry in the 'People's Choice Award and participate in one of the two free workshops: a hands-on flower arranging class with a Master Gardener℠ volunteer or a gardening tools session taught by Extension Agent, Taylor Jones!
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Community Garden Start-Up Grants Are Available! |
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Has your Guilford County neighborhood, place of worship, or other citizens group thought about starting a community garden next spring? Consider applying for a Community Garden Start-Up Grant!
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Great Southeast
Pollinator Census |
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August 22nd, 10 AM - 1 PM
at the Ag Center Demonstration Garden
Join us in the Demonstration Garden for the Great Southeast Pollinator Census!
Join us on Saturday of this multi-state, multi-day project and become a citizen scientist by helping collect insect data during simple 15-minute observation sessions. Anyone can participate and contribute to important pollinator research. |
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Agriculture |
2026 NC Farm School |
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May 4th at the Ag Center
Marcus was involved in hosting the NC Farm School at our office and visited Ingram Farm in High Point, where participants got a firsthand look at real-world farming in our region. This NC Farm School session helped in building knowledge, connecting new and experienced farmers, and strengthening agriculture across our communities. |
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4-H |
4-H Robotics Classrooms |
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4-H Agents Meredith Kreeger and Lauren Taubert have been facilitating rounds of robotics training for volunteers and Extension staff from the district! These folks will be equipped with the knowledge to utilize Sphero INDI, RVR+, and Blueprint robots in classrooms, 4-H clubs, afterschool programs, and more, to continue to encourage STEM learning and activities for youth in our community.
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Community Development- Digital Skills |
Workforce Ready:
Digital Literacy |
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Select Wednesdays in the Month
5:30 - 7:30 PM at the Ag Center
Learn to craft some nice soaps to use at home or give to family and friends as gifts.
In this session, we will be teaching folks how to craft a nice melt-and-pour soap. Whether you want to make soap for the house or a gift, come out and enjoy the process of making your own soap as a family. |
| REGISTER |
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Digital Nature Journaling for Adults |
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June 15th, 6:30-8:30 PM
at the Kathleen Clay Edwards Family Branch Library
Jeff Cates, Digital Skills Agent with Guilford County Cooperative Extension, will engage you with simple digital tools to deepen your connection to nature. Explore how to capture soundscapes, wildlife photos, and observations then head indoors to create a personal digital nature journal and learn easy ways to share discoveries. To register, e-mail melanie.buckingham@greensboro-nc.gov |
| REGISTER |
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FCS- Health & Wellness |
Preserve It!: Apples |
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Spots fill up fast! Register today!
Next Class: September 22nd
5:30 PM at the Ag Center
Join FCS Agent Vincent Webb to learn more about canning apples. This workshop will focus on the water bath canning technique. Participants will learn how to safely process and can their own apple products using the water bath canning technique. |
| REGISTER |
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Fermentation Series: Kombucha |
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Next Class: July 16th
10:30 AM (Virtual)
Fermented foods are not only tasty, but they are also good for your gut. Learn how to brew your own Kombucha in this class.
We will be covering fermentation, food safety, and the process for making Kombucha.
Kombucha is a lightly effervescent, cider-like beverage made by fermenting sweetened tea. It is produced using a starter culture of bacteria and yeasts called a SCOBY (Symbiotic Colony of Bacteria and Yeast). In this session, we'll teach participants how to safely brew and bottle kombucha, as well as how to care for their SCOBY. |
| REGISTER |
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Family Night Out:
Pasta Making |
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June 25th
5:30 PM at the Ag Center
Learn to make pasta from scratch and prepare a healthy pasta dish!
In this session, families will learn how to make fresh pasta from scratch! Families will mix, roll, and shape pasta together while learning simple techniques you can use again at home. |
| REGISTER |
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FCS- Financial Literacy |
Financial Health Chase Money Skills - Valuable money lessons for families |
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June 29th
6:30 PM - 7:30 PM at the Ag Center
This workshop created for parents and children to attend together, teaches families valuable money lessons. including how to establish good money habits, make sound money decisions and learn from everyday experiences.
Free backpacks & school supplies, plus pizza and refreshments for attendees while supplies last!
Space is limited.
Please RSVP by June 24 |
| REGISTER |
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Food Security |
Indivisible Guilford County NC: May Monday Meet Up |
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Alyssa McKim, Food Security Coordinator, was one of the panelists for Indivisible Guilford County NC's community conversation at their May Monday Meet Up: Addressing Food Insecurity in Guilford County!
The Grocery Gap Dashboard has also finally been published online! The Grocery Gap Dashboard is an interactive tool that highlights food availability, affordability, and SNAP participation across Guilford County. Developed by the Food Security Team, this project focuses on eight ZIP codes with higher levels of food insecurity (27401, 27403, 27405, 27406, 27407, 27410, 27260, and 27262). |
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General Community Resources & Events |
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3rd Annual Juneteenth
Triad Farmers Market |
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June 19th
12 PM – 6 PM
at Hayes-Taylor Memorial YMCA
Join the Triad Black Faith Leaders & Black Farmers Network, Guilford County Small Business & Entrepreneurship, NC Cooperative Extension – Guilford County Center for the Juneteenth Triad Farmers Market. The event will feature farmers selling locally grown produce, food trucks, live music and performances, and more.
📩 Questions?
Contact: watkinlc@yahoo.com |
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Cool Savings: Cut Your Summer Energy Bills |
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June 14th
3 PM – 4 PM
Electrify the Triad and Self-Help Credit Union will share ways to cut your costs through home energy efficiency upgrades.
Electrify the Triad and Self-Help Credit Union will share ways to cut your costs through home energy efficiency upgrades and rebates through state programs and Duke Energy. Learn how to utilize Home Energy Navigators to guide homeowners through the complexities of the various technologies, services, incentives, and financing options available. Also, hear firsthand experiences from Susan Lindsey, who lives in a solar home. |
| REGISTER |
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Weekly Farmers Market |
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Every Wednesday, 10 AM – 2 PM
112 N Benbow Rd, Greensboro, NC
Join in with the community every Wednesday at North Carolina A&T State University for fresh, in-season produce and an opportunity to make your dollars go further! QUADRUPLE your SNAP benefits! For every $1 spent using EBT, receive $4 in fresh produce.
The match applies to EBT purchases only, but all other forms of payment are welcome!
SNAP sign-up assistance will be available on-site. Bring a friend and come see what fresh looks like in your community!
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Art Classes For Adults |
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Hosted by New Hope Missionary Baptist Church
Next Date: June 11th
11 AM – 12:30 PM
306 South English Street, Greensboro, North Carolina
Registration is required. Call (336)805-7135 or email Stephanie Staley at
stephaniestaley@mustardseedhealth.org
for more information. |
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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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