Extension News April 2024

WNC Medicinal Herb Growers: Identifying Woodland Plants

April 5th from 9am-12pm

This annual workshop led by WNC Medicinal Herb Grower team leaders is designed to improve your plant identification skills of important native plants, many of which are grown as medicinal herbs. This hands-on workshop will introduce you to useful field guides, basic plant taxonomy, and some of our most charming native plants. Held near the Davidson River in Transylvania County, we will walk for up to 2 miles roundtrip, with shorter options easily available. Anticipate flat terrain and a slow pace as we make frequent stops.

Summer Fun Day Camps

Now that Easter has passed, it’s time to begin thinking about your plans for this summer. We are excited for another great year with our Summer Fun Day camps! We have some great programs planned like Candy Science, Chef and the Child, Sew Much Fun, Preserve It & Serve It, the Innovation Station STEM bus, Tour de Entrepreneur, Junior Beekeepers, BBQ Bootcamp, Agriculture Research Station tour, All About Animals, Art Adventures, and more! Program information and registration are coming soon, so be on the lookout. Don’t wait to sign up; spaces are limited and will fill up fast!

Get Outdoors and Explore

With the month of April comes warmer afternoon temperatures. This is a great time to get outdoors with your children or grandchildren and explore the wonders of nature! Many animals have now emerged from their winter hiding places. It’s a great chance to see them at work in the environment! You may be able to watch honeybees busy collecting nectar from the blooms of a fruit tree. Watch the birds as they collect nesting materials and build their nests. After it rains, go for a walk in the woods and see if you can spot any animal tracks! Begin planning your summer gardens by drawing out your design and starting seeds indoors to transplant after the threat of frost. It’s also a great chance to educate them on looking out for poison oak and poison ivy while they are playing or walking in the woods.

Everyday household tasks can also be an opportunity for learning! As you are servicing the lawnmower for the season, teach them about the tools you’re using and their uses. Let them make homemade bird feeders by spreading peanut butter on empty toilet paper tubes and rolling them in bird seed. Show them how to care for a garden by helping with planting, watering, and weeding it. Visit a farm and see the new baby animals that are being born. There are so many changes that come along with spring! It’s a great time to turn them into educational opportunities and to get outdoors!

Fun Fruity Ice Cubes

Water makes up over 60% of your body weight and keeps your body working as it’s supposed to. Make water your first beverage choice and drink it every day! Freezing fruits into ice cubes is super easy, and it’s a great way to dress up a glass of plain or sparkling water. The fruit in the cubes looks pretty and tastes great too!! Simply drop a berry or small piece of fruit into each compartment of an ice cube tray, then fill with cold tap water and freeze until solid, around 3 hours. Use any fruit (or fresh herbs) that appeal to you. Cut the fruit up to make sure the pieces are small enough to fit into the compartments. Try some of these yummy additions:

Whole

• Grapes
• Raspberries
• Blackberries
• Blueberries
• Cherries
• Mint or Basil

Sliced

• Strawberries
• Oranges
• Lemons
• Limes

Portion Size Test

Portion sizes have gotten bigger over the last few years, and so have we. How can you tell if you are serving yourself or your family a normal-size portion? Try this simple and quick test:

• Pour yourself your usual serving of cereal into your favorite bowl.
• Use a measuring cup to see how much you have in your bowl.
• Now compare this amount with the serving size on the Nutrition Facts label on the box. (See example below.)

Repeat the test with some of your other favorite foods.

If we are not careful, we could be eating two or three times the recommended amount. This could make it challenging to keep a healthy weight. Therefore, make sure you read your Nutrition Facts label and become portion-size savvy.

National Volunteer Week

April 21-27, 2024

Want to be healthier, happier, and live longer while making our community a better place? Volunteer!

We have many volunteers who contribute their time and energy to various parts of Cooperative Extension. From 4-H, Extension and Community Association (ECA), Master Gardeners, Beekeepers, Extension Advisory Council, and Program Committees to our Seniors’ Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP), we would never be able to accomplish all that we do without our wonderful volunteers. Their efforts are significant.

Although we appreciate all our volunteers do throughout the year, National Volunteer Week is the perfect time to celebrate their many accomplishments. Thank you!

Not only is volunteering helpful to our community, but it is also beneficial to our volunteers.

• Do your brain a favor and volunteer!

People who did volunteer work for at least one hour a week on a regular basis were 2.44 times less likely to develop dementia than the seniors who didn't volunteer, according to a 5-year study conducted by the University of Calgary. Arizona State University conducted a 14-year study and discovered that people who volunteered regularly reduced their chances of developing cognitive problems by 27 percent.

• Volunteers are happier and healthier than non-volunteers.

“The unselfish effort to bring cheer to others will be the beginning of a happier life for ourselves.” Helen Keller

Research published in Psychology Today indicates that people who volunteer remain physically functional longer, have more robust psychological well-being, and live longer. Health and longevity gains from volunteering come from establishing meaningful volunteer roles before you retire and continuing to volunteer during retirement.

Other Positive Reasons to volunteer

• Gain new skills.
• Meet new people.
• Make a difference.
• Give back to the community.
• Feel valued and be part of a team.

….. and have fun!

Looking for ways to give back while you are at home and have a little more time?

• Donate to Nonprofits
• Donate or Volunteer with Food Banks and Pantries - to help them stock up or volunteer at a food bank that needs help packing and sorting food using safe practices.
• Deliver Meals and Groceries to Seniors in need; help out someone you know or contact Meals on Wheels.
• Help a School: check with area schools to see if they need volunteers to distribute food (or other items) to children and families in need.
• Give Blood
• Stay in Touch - check on your neighbors, friends, and family, especially those who are older or may be alone. A phone call, text, or conversation through the door could brighten their day.

Sometimes I hear, “The little bit I could do wouldn’t make a difference” or “There is so much that needs to be done, I don’t know where to begin.” Find an area where you can contribute, even if it is just a small amount. Everyone doing a little can equal a lot. You will make a difference not just in someone else’s life but in yours too. For more information about volunteer opportunities associated with Cooperative Extension, contact our office at 336-401-8025.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead

Ticks

Ticks are a pest we see more of as the weather warms. One tick getting lots of attention is the Asian Longhorned Tick, which is an invasive species in the US. These ticks can cause major problems for cattle, with clinical signs ranging from weakness to death. If you suspect the ALT in your operation, feel free to bring in a sample of the tick to be collected and killed in a well-sealed vial or other container that has 70% rubbing alcohol inside to be identified by the Plant Disease and Insect Clinic at NCSU. If ticks are a problem on your operation, consider fencing out 20 feet away from wooded areas when possible, mowing pastures short before rotating stock back into them, and having animals tested by a vet or diagnostic lab for tick-borne diseases at the first sign of trouble. It is also important to note that long grass and brush enhance tick survival, and leaving pastures ungrazed will not control ticks as they can survive for about a year without feeding. Wildlife in the ungrazed pastures will support tick survival in the absence of cattle, too. Chemical control is an option for ticks as well with sprays, pour-ons, and backrubs, but be sure to rotate classes of pesticides when you are able to decrease resistance.

Are You Interested in Getting a Pesticide License?

This article is for anyone who is interested in getting their pesticide license or someone who may have questions about certain aspects of the process of getting a pesticide license. The first step is to determine what type of pesticide license you will need. There are two different types of pesticide licenses: a private license and a commercial license. The folks who normally maintain a private pesticide license are farmers who grow and raise their own crops. The commercial pesticide license are folks that work for a company or entity, which will benefit them in their job if they maintain this type of license. There are multiple different commercial pesticide license categories, such as ornamental and turf, pesticide dealer, right-of-way maintenance, and aquatic pest control, to name a few.

Once you determine which type of pesticide license you will need, the next step is to purchase the necessary study manuals to pass the associated exams. To purchase a study manual, you can go to www.pesticidemanuals.com. After you have received your study manual, you can sign up to attend a Pesticide School, which is offered at Extension offices throughout North Carolina, where attendees can learn about their pesticide license category before taking their exam.

After you pass your pesticide exam, you will receive your license in the mail. However, it is important for you to pay the annual fee at the beginning of each year, along with building up the necessary pesticide credits to keep your pesticide license active. For more information on the process of getting a pesticide license, feel free to check out the newly updated North Carolina Department of Agriculture’s website: