We Grow Wilkes County: Cultivating Community Connections NC Cooperative Extension, Wilkes County Center - fall edition 2024

We Grow Wilkes County: Family and Consumer Science

Summer/Fall Highlights by Elisa Phillips

We had lots of fun at Play Works children’s camp this summer.

Campers made terrariums and soil profile jars to take home.

Elisa Phillips (FCS Agent) and Matthew Clay (Horticulture Agent) taught campers about ecosystems and soil types.

Elisa Phillips hydro-dipped flower pots with campers.

Sam Lusk (Support Specialist) hydro-dipped flower pots with campers.

Elisa Phillips, Family and Consumer Sciences Agent, reads a book about where food comes from to a group of kindergartners in Mrs. Williams’ class at CB Eller Elementary School. This Fall, Elisa joins two kindergarten classes each week to offer Color Me Healthy, a nine-week program intended to teach young children basic nutrition concepts and to introduce them to a variety of nutrient dense foods through taste tests.

Pictured above: The Wilkes County Extension Advisory group learns how to make dry mixes in a jar for cost-effective holiday gifts.

Family and Consumer Science Agents Elisa Phillips (Wilkes), Der Holcolmb (Alexander), Andrea Sherrill (Iredell) and Donna Mull (Catawba) offer Safe Plates for Managers, a 2-day food safety certification course, on a rotating basis in each county. Pictured above: Wilkes County Schools nutrition staff attend a Safe Plates for Managers Course at the Wilkes County Agricultural Center.

Pictured above: John Cothren (Livestock Agent) educates youth at the Wilkes County Public Library's Imagination Cafe about cattle and dairy products. Local farmer Randy Staley brought a highland calf owned by Justin Hale. Following this, Elisa Phillips (Family and Consumer Sciences Agent) taught participants about milk, cream, and butter. Youth made their own homemade butter from cream.

Pictured above: Elisa Phillips provides protein-packed pumpkin hummus at the Wilkes Senior Resources annual health fair.

Elisa's Protein Packed Pumpkin Hummus recipe from above.

Elisa joined Wilkes Early College High School's Cooking Club to educate students on basic knife safety and skills. Students used their new knife skills to make chow chow, refrigerator pickles, strawberry jam, and homemade BBQ sauce thanks to dedicated club leaders, Dr. Kelly Pipes and Mr. Daniel Sluder (pictured above).

Check out this Life in Wilkes Interview to learn more about the Wilkes County Family and Consumer Sciences Program: Link to Video

Local Food Spotlight:

Click here to read a Local Farms Spotlight Article featuring an interview with DeAnna Prevette of New Castle Farm in Clingman, NC. As featured in the 2024 Fall Edition of the Yadkin Valley Magazine. Photo courtesy of DeAnna Prevette.

Click here to read a Local Foods Spotlight Article featuring an interview with Shiloh Avery of Tumbling Shoals Farm. As featured in the 2024 Winter Edition of the Yadkin Valley Magazine. Photo courtesy of Shiloh Avery.

We Grow Wilkes County: Horticulture

Summer/Fall Highlights by Matthew Clay

Join the Cub Creek Community Garden

Join us at the Cub Creek Community Garden for the 2025 season. Whether you are a new gardener or an experienced one, the garden is a great place to grow vegetables, flowers, and herbs. The Cub Creek Community Garden was created in 2011 from $7,000 grant through the Wilkes County Health Department from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation for Childhood Nutrition, a $1,000 grant from Walmart, Extension plant sale funds, and private contributions.

For the 2025 garden season we have 30 garden plots are available to rent. Each plot is $20 to rent for the season which helps cover the costs of supplies such as tools, pesticides, fertilizers, and other garden supplies. The growing season lasts from February 1st- December 31st with returning gardeners having priority registration to renew their same plot in December of each year. Gardeners are expected to follow the Cub Creek Garden Rights, Privileges, Responsibilities and Obligations. Monthly newsletters will be sent out to gardeners during the season to showcase garden plots, provide gardening tips, and to announce garden news and updates.

Registration for a garden plots begins on January 2nd. A registration link will be available in the January Horticulture Updates newsletter, our extension webpage, and Facebook page. Paper copies of the form will also be available at the office.

Please note that your plot is not reserved unless the registration form is filled out and we have received payment. Please submit your payment to the Wilkes County Cooperative Extension. Mail cash or check to: Wilkes County Cooperative Extension, 416 Executive Drive, Suite B, Wilkesboro, NC 28697. You can also drop off the payment in person at our office Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Establishing a Pawpaw Tree in Your Backyard By Matthew Clay

What is a pawpaw? Growing pawpaws has been increasing in popularity among home gardeners and producers. The North American native pawpaw (Asimina triloba) is a native understory tree found in temperate zones across the eastern United States and Canada. It can grow in both full shade and full sunlight, making it unique compared to other plants. The pawpaw’s close relatives are tropical and their fruit has a semi-tropical appearance, looking like a mango. The flesh of the fruit is custard-like with a sweet taste. Fruits range from 2.5 to 6 inches in size. Plants are beetle and fly-pollinated but can be manually pollinated by hand for a better fruit set. Under cultivation, one tree has the potential to produce 25-50 lbs. of fruit per tree.

Preferred site conditions: The pawpaw can grow in both full shade and sunlight, making it unique to other plants. It prefers moist and well-drained soils with a slightly acidic pH (5.5 – 5.7). It is recommended to take a soil sample before planting to know what is in the soil before you grow. Pawpaws can be planted along riparian buffers, next to creeks or streams, and wetland areas. Plants can be grown in USDA hardiness zones 5a through 9b. If seedlings are being planted, it is recommended to plant them in the shade the first year due to the plants’ sensitivity to ultraviolet light.

Tree establishment: Pawpaw trees should be planted when the tree is dormant, either in the fall or early spring. The taproot of the tree can be easily damaged when planting, so please use caution to ensure tree survival. The trees should be spaced 8-15 ft apart. Although an understory tree, mature pawpaw trees can be upward of 12-15 ft tall. Both seedlings and trees are available at nurseries. Seeds can also be propagated and planted.

Care after Planting: In the first few years after planting, the trees will need an ample amount of water. Weed control around the trees is important during tree establishment because it lowers the pest and disease pressure. Also, a 6-8-inch layer of straw or wood chips can be added for weed control and moisture retention. Pawpaw trees will produce fruit 4-8 years after planting. Fruits typically ripen over a two-week period. Depending on the variety, the fruit can ripen from August until October. After harvest, the fruit has a short shelf life of 5-7 days and up to 3 weeks in the refrigerator.

Recommended Cultivars: There are at least 45 pawpaw cultivars available that have been bred for desired characteristics. Many papaw cultivars are grafted onto other cultivars’ rootstocks to increase production. Named grafted cultivars are usually two years old when purchased. ‘Convis’ ,Produces large yellow-fleshed fruits up to 1 pound ‘Davis’, An older cultivar developed in Michigan that produces 1/2 pound fruit, ‘Overleese’, Heavy-producing plant with 1-pound fruit clusters ‘Mango’, Is a vigorously growing cultivar with orange-yellow flesh. It was developed in Georgia ‘NC-1’ – Hybrid cultivar developed in Canada that is highly productive with early ripening fruit. ‘Sunflower’, Produces an 8-ounce fruit with a butter-yellow flesh. It is also said to be self-fertile and was selected in Kansas.

Wilkes County Master Gardeners in Action

The Wilkes County Master Gardener Program is a community-focused initiative that empowers residents with gardening knowledge and skills through the University of North Carolina Cooperative Extension. The program trains individuals in horticulture, sustainable gardening practices, pest management, soil health, plant propagation, and more. Volunteers who complete the program contribute their expertise to the community by providing educational outreach, answering gardening-related questions, conducting workshops, and supporting local schools, libraries, and gardening projects. The program also has monthly meetings to provide further educational opportunities.

For the 2024 year, our program has been very active in the community. From our garden plot at the Cub Creek Community Garden, we have raised and donated 975 lbs of produce to local organizations. Our volunteers also had many workdays at the garden, helping clean out garden plots and doing other essential tasks to keep the garden running, with 149 volunteer hours spent and 65 residents reached. Our program was also active at the Wilkes County Farmers Market this year, with our annual tomato tasting and several other educational booths throughout the year, and we reached over 600 residents. The Wilkes Master Gardeners also have helped teach at several workshops and field days, reaching 4,225 youth and adults. Overall the Master Gardener Program has provided 492 hours of community service, reaching 7,000 residents. We look forward to serving the community more next year.

We Grow Wilkes County: Livestock and Field Crops

Summer/Fall Highlights by John Cothren

Operation Cow Patty

Operation Cow Patty exemplifies the spirit of community and collaboration. Six dedicated truckers, including loggers and farmers from Wilkes County, donated their time, trucks, trailers, and fuel to transport 204 round rolls of hay generously donated by three farmers in Catawba County, NC.

This critical hay was delivered to four farms in Ashe County that were in desperate need of feed for their livestock.

The second phase of Operation Cow Patty is set to launch during the week of December 2, 2024, with 12 local farmers stepping up to cover trucking costs to move an additional 350 bales to Ashe County.

We are incredibly grateful for the unwavering dedication and generosity of our Wilkes County farmers in supporting their neighboring communities during challenging times.

Regional NCSU Cattle Handling Contest

The Regional NCSU Cattle Handling Contest brought together livestock enthusiasts, students, and professionals for a unique educational and competitive event. Hosted by NCSU Extension Wilkes County Center on November 25, 2024, at the Wilkes Livestock Exchange, this contest was a collaborative effort between NCSU Extension Livestock Agents, local volunteer farmers (Parker Farms & MVH Farm LLC), and High School Agricultural Education Instructors. Twelve teams, consisting of 36 students, participated, with Alexander County earning first place. The competition included a written exam on Beef Quality Assurance (BQA), a nationally recognized program promoting animal welfare, health, and safety. Students passing the exam received BQA certification through the North Carolina Cattlemen’s Association. The hands-on portion required participants to administer vaccinations, read and record product labels, and demonstrate safe, humane cattle handling. Top-performing teams from the 4 regional contests advanced to the State Cattle Working Contest on May 6, 2024. The event highlighted the importance of practical hands on agricultural education, with the Wilkes County Cattlemen’s Association generously providing lunch for all participants.

46th Annual Wilkes County Corn Variety Trial

Hybrid selection is a critical management decision for corn growers, often complicated by the numerous seed corn varieties available. To support producers in making profitable choices, Wilkes County Cooperative Extension, in collaboration with six other counties, conducted the 46th Annual Wilkes County Corn Variety Yield Trial in 2024. This trial tested 14 different corn varieties to identify those most suitable for the region. Extension agents partnered with cooperating farmers, who provided land and equipment, and seed companies, which contributed expertise and seed. Wilkes County partnered with Cranberry Farm in the Roaring River community for this effort. Data on yield, moisture, and test weight were collected, sent to NCSU for verification, and shared with local producers and seed companies. This long-standing trial continues to provide invaluable information to help farmers make informed seed selections for the following year.

We Grow Wilkes County: Office & Upcoming Programming

Summer/Fall Highlights by Samantha "Sam" Lusk

3rd. Grade Ag. Awareness Day

This is a yearly event that takes all team members within the NC Cooperative Extension, Wilkes County Center to carry out along with many dedicated volunteers. We had over 600+ Wilkes County third graders to join us this day at the Worth Evan Tomlinson Rotary Park in North Wilkesboro, NC. We had 14 stations for the 3rd. graders to navigate through to learn about NC Agriculture.

North Carolina Cooperative Extension, Wilkes County Center Website

North Carolina Cooperative Extension, Wilkes County Center Facebook Page

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Created By

Samantha Lusk

Credits:

Photo Credits: Elisa Phillips, Matthew Clay, John Cothren, Samantha Lusk, Deanna Prevette, Shiloh Avery and Adobe's Photo Gallery