May / June 2024
We Grow Agriculture
The Ashe County Victory Garden is flourishing. The Victory Garden, located at the Museum of Ashe County History, is a seed saving garden helping to preserve many of the locally significant heirloom seeds in our area. This year, we are seeing the return of many well known favorites, such as the Ashe County Pimento Pepper, Roark’s “Big Red” Oxheart tomatoes, Purple Turkey Craw beans, McNeil 6 week beans, and so much more. All the seed produced is free for the community and is distributed through the Ashe County Library and the High Country Seed Swap. This effort not only builds food security and increases access to equitable seeds, but also helps preserve our local culture and history in the county. If you or someone you know has a local heirloom seed they would like preserved, please feel free to contact us at 336-846-5850.
This year, Christmas Tree research has been in full swing for Ashe County Extension. The Christmas tree team has helped with numerous research projects including: an Acetamiprid timing study, containerized Fraser fir nutrient study, Pre and Post Herbicide weed control, early detection of stressing chemical compounds, drone fertilizer and herbicide applications, and a County based Neonicotinoid screening trial looking at new chemistry which could help manage Elongate Hemlock Scale. All of this on farm research is directly helping to find real world solutions for the problems currently facing the North Carolina Fraser Fir industry. If you have any questions about Fraser Fir Christmas Tree production, please feel free to contact Ashe County Cooperative Extension at 336-846-5850.
On June 19, Extension Agent Micah Orfield and Migrant Education Coordinator Michelle Pelayo taught pesticide recertification courses in both English and Spanish to employees at Shatley Farms.
We Grow Nutrition
The Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) had a table at the Ashe County Health Fair in May, held at Generations Ashe Senior Center. Rhonda Church, EFNEP Program Associate, handed out samples of a healthy snack, plus everyone got free recipes and helpful hints for preparing healthy meals and gadgets for the kitchen.
We Grow Youth
June kicked off the 2024 season of 4-H Summer Fun which has included a variety of activities and day camps available to local youth. In June, Ashe County 4-H hosted two sessions of Companion Animal Camp, a Disc Golf 4-H Camp in partnership with Ashe County Parks and Recreation, Explorers of the Deep STEM Camp featuring marine biologist Heather Riley, and Hooves & Honey 4-H Camp in collaboration with de la Cruz Farms and our many wonderful 4-H volunteers!
From June 16-21, 6 Ashe County youth attended Residential 4-H Summer Camp at the Eastern 4-H Center accompanied by 4-H Agent Caroline Goss. During this week, attendees participated in many activities including paddle boarding, kayaking, swimming in the Albemarle Sound, rock climbing, archery, and many other fun activities including the camp talent show and dance. Youth learned coastal ecology and made friends with other youth from all across North Carolina.
On June 24, Extension Agent Micah Orfield assisted Virginia Cooperative Extension in Abingdon, Virginia with a 4-H Day camp “Ag in My Life”. There were 14 children in attendance that learned that livestock are not just beneficial for food purposes. They learned this lesson via bingo and turning wool into beautiful wet felted art.
For a second year in a row, Ashe County 4-H is hosting a Giant Pumpkin Project for youth in the community. Participants are able to learn about different topics including soil fertility, Integrated Pest Management and plant training. Participants received 3 giant pumpkin plants to grow. The program has 10 participants this year, nearly doubling last year’s participation. All the successful pumpkins will be weighed at the giant pumpkin celebration event held at the farmers market in September. The youth with the largest pumpkin will receive a grand prize for their effort. If you would like to participate in other 4-H activities like this, please contact Ashe County Extension to see what other youth programming events are available.
We Grow Community
On June 14, Ashe County Cooperative Extension and the Extension Master Gardener Volunteers (EMGV) celebrated Bill Naser's career as an EMGV. Given Bill's extensive volunteer career and dedication to the program, he was recently honored with the status “Extension Master Gardener Emeritus.” This status is reserved for the most distinguished volunteers in the EMGV program. Bill is leaving the program at the beginning of July to be closer to his family in Texas. Over the last 8 years as an EMGV, he has logged over 500 hours volunteering for Extension. He has been a leader for the program, helping to maintain the Victory Garden, teaching and mentoring new classes of EMGV and helping with annual Extension youth programming. Bill even participated in the most recent hiring of our Horticulture Program Assistant.
Local Foods Agent Jill Cockerham and the High Country Commercial Kitchen hosted a tour and food business talk to 27 attendees of the Frontline to Farm program on June 26. Frontline to Farm is a collaborative program featuring Appalachian State University faculty and students, community experts, and local farmers. The training, focused on sustainable farming in the region, was intended to support veterans transitioning into farming as a livelihood and was supported by a USDA Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development program grant. Attendees tried treats from food entrepreneurs (Poppies and Handwrought Goods) who use the High Country Commercial Kitchen in Jefferson. Jill also represented the High Country Commercial Kitchen and NC Cooperative Extension during a consultant roundtable discussion at Appalachian State University with alumni trainees on June 28.
On May 9, the Migrant Education Program participated for the 3rd year in a row in the Appalachian State University 2024 DTiA (Don’t Throw it Away) program. Ashe County Migrant Program Coordinator Michelle Pelayo was able to get a pickup truck full of donations for Ashe County farmworkers and migrant families. The donations included over 9 microwaves, several fans & heaters, numerous towels, and many other household items that are so needed by our farmworkers and migrant community.
Throughout May and June, Ashe County Cooperative Extension has engaged in Extension Outreach at Ashe County Farmers Market. These events have included: Ask an Extension Master Gardener, a 4-H Farmers Market Scavenger Hunt, a Garlic Scape Food Demonstration, and a Latino Resource Day. All program areas have collaborated through these events to broaden Extension’s impact in the local community by connecting the public to Extension resources and information.
NC State University and N.C. A&T State University commit themselves to positive action to secure equal opportunity and prohibit discrimination and harassment regardless of age, color, disability, family and marital status, genetic information, national origin, political beliefs, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), gender identity, sexual orientation and veteran status. NC State, N.C. A&T, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments cooperating.