March 2026 Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Plant Sale - Now to March 19th

Mitchell County 2026 Farmer of the Year Nominations Due - March 9th

4-H Gourmet Gang Meeting - March 23rd

Report to the People - March 28th

Livestock Club - March 31st

*See Website for Times and Details*

EFNEP Article

March is National Nutrition Month!

We often focus on eating healthy meals but it's important to think about all our daily choices. During the day make sure to think about your snacks and drinks, and where they come from.

Some Nutrition topics:

-Portion Sizes- Focus on eating and drinking the amount that's right for you. -Add Some Flavor- Add some different spices to flavor up a dish and to cut back on sodium -More Fruits & Vegetables- Find ways to add more fruits and vegetables to your daily diet. Eat them as snack or try different vegetables for dinner. -Eat Lean Protein - Pick lean cuts of meat or try plant based protein such as beans or nuts.

In Season Produce

• Asparagus is a good source of vitamin C and has fiber
• Citrus fruits is nutrient dense, low calorie, rich in vitamin C and fiber. Grape fruit, oranges, limes, and lemons to name a few.

March 24- National Agriculture Day Thank the farmers who grow the food we eat! March 26- National Spinach Day Spinach supports our immune system and helps with digestion. It's a good source of vitamin A,C, & K, iron, potassium, and fiber March 30- National Walk in the Park Day Go for a walk to improve your physical and mental heath, enjoy nature, and spend time with family or friends.

A Crazy but yummy recipe is Black Bean Brownies! Look for low-sodium black beans and make sure to rinse them and drain beans for the best flavor. Click link for recipe! https://celebrateyourplate.org/recipes/black-bean-brownies?fbclid=IwY2xjawQKwsdleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEe5SxgOcauC86Fi4NCD1S3B2ZAwpSaRdqX7n-Z34R0s7aaOu2B7bqyu9KmxkM_aem_TNSBroQ-e12OafhUl3RmhQ

Celebrate Spring this month by getting outside! A fun game of basketball, riding bikes, or just walking is a great way to get some exercise and relieve some stress. Also helps that extra energy that your child may have. Any type of movement is better then no movement at all!

In EFNEP classes we learn about all this plus more! If interested or have any questions call Sarah Grinestaff at 688-4811 or email at sarah_grinestaff@ncsu.edu!

A Guide to the Strategic Pantry

We’ve all been there: staring into a cabinet packed with half-empty bags of specialty flour, three jars of obscure mustard, and a lone can of water chestnuts, yet feeling like there is absolutely nothing to eat. A versatile pantry isn’t about having everything; it’s about having the right things. It’s the difference between a cluttered storage space and a culinary launchpad. When your pantry is properly stocked, you aren't just storing food—you’re storing time, money and peace of mind. Here is how to transform your kitchen from a chaotic collection of cans into a strategic plan for effortless meals. Strategies for Your Next Shopping Trip The transformation begins at the supermarket, where the goal is to shift from "buying for a meal" to "buying for a system." When navigating the aisles, prioritize buying in bulk and looking for grains. While white rice varieties like Basmati or Jasmine are indispensable for their fragrance and speed, incorporating brown rice or quinoa adds a nuttier profile and better nutritional density. Beyond the grain bowl, the versatile kitchen relies on a strategic pasta selection—ideally one long shape like spaghetti and one textured, short shape like penne to catch heavier sauces.  To truly master the "emergency" meal, one should never be without red lentils. These are the secret weapons of the time-crunched cook because they require no soaking and minimal boiling. They can transform a simple broth into a hearty stew in under fifteen minutes. The FIFO Method The effectiveness of this system relies heavily on the professional discipline of the First In, First Out (FIFO) method. Even the most thoughtfully curated pantry can become a graveyard of expired goods if not managed properly.  This method is simple: whenever you return from the store, pull the older jars of peanut butter or boxes of pasta to the front and place the new purchases in the back. This ensures a constant rotation of stock, preventing that "buried treasure" effect where you find a can of soup from three years ago hiding in the dark corners. By practicing FIFO, you not only reduce food waste but also maintain a real-time mental inventory of what you actually have on hand. Grouping by Utility A common mistake in home organization is arranging items by size or aesthetic appeal. Instead, the versatile pantry should be organized by "utility zones." This creates an intuitive flow that makes cooking feel less like a chore and more like a fluid process.  Consider establishing a baking zone (for flours, sugars and leavening agents), a quick-fix zone (for jarred marinara, tuna and ten-minute noodles) and a flavor zone (for oil and vinegars). Customize these zones to your cooking habits so this setup works for you.  Grouping by function rather than form allows you to see exactly what you’re missing for a specific task. Preparing for Emergencies During winter storms or hurricane season, it is best to be prepared in advance. On top of creating an emergency kit for you and your family, consider how to store your food in case of a power outage. That includes using airtight containers and storing dry goods off the floor to prevent pests or moisture damage and keeping shelf-stable foods in a cool, dry, dark location year-round. You should also consider using your freezer to preserve leftovers and extend the life of items bought. And if possible, keep a cooler on hand in case you need to move refrigerated food quickly during an outage. SNAP Benefits One last tip is to use SNAP benefits to help you purchase some of these items. SNAP stands for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and was formerly known as “food stamps.” In North Carolina, it is also called Food and Nutrition Services or FNS. SNAP is available for low-income families across the state and if you want to learn more about it, contact the More In my Basket team. They offer free SNAP application assistance in English, Spanish and Portuguese Monday through Friday, 8 am until 5 pm. Contact the More In My Basket team toll free at 1-855-240-1451 or visit their website at morefood.org. Building a versatile pantry is a marathon rather than a sprint. You do not need to overhaul your entire kitchen in a single weekend. Try these tips and see how a little bit of work can go a long way in keeping your food stored safely. Sources: Claiborne, Jenné. “The Healthy Eater’s Guide to Pantry Staples.” Vegetarian Times, October 30, 2020. https://www.vegetariantimes.com/vegan-vegetarian-recipes/the-healthy-eaters-pantry-staples/.  Stover, Shannon. “Implementing the ‘FIFO’ System.” Safe Food & Water, January 15, 2026. https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/keep_food_safe_by_implementing_the_fifo_system.  Chefsadev. “Give Your Pantry a Chef Approved Makeover!” CHEF, August 19, 2021. https://www.chefsa.org/blog/give-your-pantry-a-chef-approved-makeover/.

Livestock Club Interest Meeting

Come join us for our 4-H Gourmet Gang meeting on Monday, March 23rd at 5pm! Call 828-688-4811 or email erin_silver@ncsu.edu for any questions! 4-H Online Re-Enrollment: https://4honline.com/#/landing

4-H Online 2.0

Welcome to the new 4-H year! The first step to becoming an active 4-H member, volunteer, or participant during this year’s 4-H program (2026) is to “enroll or re-enroll”. If you are a 4-H member 18 or under (as of January 1, 2026), your parent or guardian can renew your membership. *New youth members, volunteers and participants are strongly encouraged to enroll now too. North Carolina 4-H uses an online system, called 4-H Online 2.0, to manage 4-H memberships, clubs, projects, activities, and communications. *All members who participate in North Carolina 4-H must have a 4-H Online 2.0 profile. 4-H Online 2.0 accounts are family-based, which means every family creates a “master” profile with its own login ID and password. A member file is then created within the family profile for each individual involved in North Carolina 4-H. If you were previously enrolled and / or if someone in your family was involved in North Carolina 4-H from 2021 to 2025, you probably have an existing family profile in 4-H Online 2.0. Previous members should use their existing login and password to access their family profile in the new 4-H Online 2.0 platform. *Members who are re-enrolling should NOT create a new account. North Carolina 4-H has created a new 4-H Online 2.0 Resource Site that houses a variety of tip sheets, videos and step-by step instructions for using the new program including:

• Family Enrollment Guide
• How to Re-Enroll
• New Member Enrollment
• Member Password Support
• 4-H Club Leader Guide to Using 4-H Online 2.0

About 4-H Online 2.0

• 4-H Online is the official NC 4-H online system for youth and adult members and participants with 4-H.
• 4-H Online is a partnership between the 4-H Family, the local 4-H program and the State 4-H Office.
• 4-H Online is a secure system that is in compliance with the PCI Security Standards Council. NC 4-H nor 4-H Online shares or sells any personal information to third party vendors without knowledge or permission.
• 4-H Online is based on “Zero-based enrollment.” Each year, at the start of the enrollment cycle, all 4-H membership in NC goes to zero and everyone must re-enroll. This process is based on federal accounting policies.

Spanish Enrollment Documents

Spanish language enrollment in 4-H Online 2.0 is not available at this time. Please use this link to download Spanish language enrollment documents.

For more information, please contact Erin Silver (erin_silver@ncsu.edu) or call us at 828-688-4811.

CED/Agriculture

2026 Plant Sale

Berry Sale Is Here! It’s time to get growing! We’re excited to offer a delicious selection of berry plants at our Annual Plant Sale: • Strawberries • Blueberries • Blackberries • Red Raspberries Perfect for your garden, backyard, or patio containers — enjoy fresh, homegrown berries all season long! Supplies are limited, so don’t wait! Deadline to order: March 19 Place your order soon to make sure you don’t miss out. can’t wait to help you grow something sweet this year! get your order form here

Nominations for Mitchell County 2026 Farmer of the Year

Please consider nominating a Mitchell County Farmer for this recognition. We are excited to recognized the achievments of our producers in Mitchell County and hope to promote agriculture and encourage growth and opportunites with in our county. You may nominate someone by using this link or stop by our office to complete a paper copy. Nominations are due on March 6th.

Mitchell County’s Extension Master Gardener program is expanding!

Extension Master Gardeners (EMG) are volunteers who engage the community through education and outreach and answer questions about all types of gardening. To prepare volunteers for this service, in-person attendance at a 12-week training is required. The training will take place in 2026.

Novice gardeners are as welcome to apply as are lifelong gardeners. Successful EMGs generally share three key attributes: 1) They are interested in gardening, 2) They are interested in learning, and 3) They enjoy sharing what they have learned with others.

Interested residents are invited to add their name to the list to receive more information as it becomes available. Call Kelli Grindstaff at 828-688-4811. Be sure to leave your name, a current email address and a phone number.