June 2026 Newsletter

June Calendar

June 3-4th - Preservation the Old Timey Way June 5th - Future Photographers June 8-9th - Teen Cuisine June 10th - Sewing Seeds June 11-12th - Presentation Practice June 13th - District Activity Day June 15-16th - Teen Cuisine June 16-17th - Homemade Jams and Jellies June 19-20th - Rhododendron Festival June 22-23rd - Teen Cuisine June 25th - Electricity Explorers June 27th - High Country Shooting Sports Tournament June 29-30th - Camp Cook and Play

*See Website for Time and Location*

Livestock Owners, Please Read!

EFNEP Article

June is National Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Month!

Great time of year to get your produce at the farmers market or grow your own!

June Produce -Beet -Blueberries -Summer Squash -Cherries -Kale -Cucumbers -Zucchin

June is National Dairy Month Dairy Foods has calcium, potassium, zinc, choline, selenium, Vitamins A, D, and B12! National Smoothie Day- June 21 Smoothies are a great way to add in lots of fruit and vegetables to your day!

It's Grilling Season! Keep your food safe when grilling!

Some tips for safe grilling: 1) Separate raw meat from other foods 2) Keep cold foods cold until you are ready to cook them 3)Cook food to a safe temperature 4) Make sure the grill itself is clean

A vegetarian option or if you want to save money or protein, just add some plant-based protein foods!

• Tofu or tempeh- Add to stir fry, rice, pasta dishes
• Beans or lentils- Add them to soups, salads, or salsas
• Nuts or nut butter- Add to muffins, breads, yogurt or pancake batter

As the weather heats up make sure you are staying hydrated! Water helps with many bodily function including our joints, blood pressure, and temperature!

An easy way to add movement to your day is simply walking!

-Add some variety to your walking - Walk backwards or sideways to work different muscles -Walk uphill -Try intervals, walk fast for 60 seconds then slow for 60 seconds- repeat

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!

Keeping Your Food and Budget Safe for Hurricane Season

During hurricane season, power outages and flooding can threaten your food supply, your bank account, and your peace of mind. But good storage and budgeting practices can help protect everything you have as well as keep you and your family safe during an emergency. Being prepared can go a long way in supporting peace of mind. Today we will walk you through a guide that brings simple ways to keep your food safer for longer and tips to help you reduce storm-related financial stress. Build an emergency fund Creating a dedicated emergency fund is a key financial step in preparing for hurricane season. This fund acts as a buffer for unplanned, storm-related expenses such as temporary lodging, transportation, or even changes to your grocery budget if food access or prices are affected. Aim to save at least one week of typical household expenses.  Stock up gradually for your emergency food supply Building an emergency food supply doesn't require purchasing everything at once. Instead, go slow and steady. Each time you visit the grocery store, add an extra non-perishable item or two to your cart—perhaps an extra can of beans, a box of shelf-stable milk, or a bag of rice. Develop a multi-day meal plan to ensure that items bought over time can be combined to create meals and snacks. Be sure to purchase “tried and true” items.  When your family is under stress is not the time to introduce unfamiliar food products or combinations. Also watch for sales, using coupons, and taking advantage of mobile savings apps or store loyalty rewards will maximize your resources as you build your meal-plan food supply. Keep emergency cash on hand Although digital banking provides ease and convenience, it’s also important to have a physical backup. In the wake of a hurricane, digital payment systems can quickly go offline. Power outages may render ATMs and credit card machines unusable, and banks may be closed. In these cases, cash is essential for food, fuel, and supplies. Merchants may refuse to take larger bills; a combination of smaller bills ($1, $5, $10, and $20) will give you greater flexibility and reduce the burden on the merchant to make change. SNAP Benefits In North Carolina, low-income residents can also count on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for help in purchasing food items. If you would like to learn more about SNAP or if you need assistance applying, contact the More In My Basket team. This is an NC State Extension program that offers 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 (English and Portuguese), 1-888-382-7105 (Spanish) or visit their website at morefood.org. Gather what you need Before the storm is the time to gather thermometers and place them in your fridge and freezer, freeze ice packs, stock up on ice and coolers, and store bottled water.  Elevate and protect shelf-stable foods Move canned goods, grains, and other pantry staples off the floor and onto higher, stable shelves – especially if you’re in a flood-prone area. Water damage or pests can make food unsafe even if it's never opened. Use airtight containers and labels Store dry goods like pasta, rice, flour, or cereal in airtight containers. Label everything with best-by dates. This helps prevent spoilage, keeps pests out, and makes it easier to take inventory quickly before and after a storm. Choose cool, dry, and dark spaces Pantries and cabinets should be cool, dry, and out of direct sunlight. Avoid storing food near stoves, dishwashers, or other heat-producing appliances. Even shelf-stable food can degrade in high humidity or heat. Freeze smart A full freezer holds cold longer than a half-full one. Group frozen items close together so they insulate each other. Freeze bottles of water or gel packs to help keep things cold longer during an outage. Fill empty space with plastic jugs of water, ice, or ice packs. Know where its coldest In your fridge, the coldest spot is usually the back of the bottom shelf. Store dairy, eggs, and leftovers there so they stay cold longer if the power goes out. If your fridge/freezer doesn’t have a built-in one, consider placing an inexpensive appliance thermometer inside. Keep doors closed Avoid opening the fridge or freezer during an outage. Cold air escapes fast. A full, unopened freezer can stay cold up to 48 hours; the refrigerator will keep food safe for about 4 hours if the door is unopened. Shift to a cooler if needed If outages last more than a few hours, move your most perishable items to a cooler with ice, ice packs, or frozen water bottles. Store raw meats in leak-proof containers and keep them separate from ready-to-eat foods to prevent cross-contamination. By preparing your storage spaces and following our budget tips ahead of time, you’ll be protecting both your health and your household’s food security. Don’t wait for a power outage to take action; consider what you can do beforehand and start planning now so you can enjoy your summer and early fall days with ease. Sources: 1. An essential guide to building an emergency fund (CFPB) 2. Emergency Cash Stash (Utah State Extension)  3.Emergency Financial First Aid Kit (EFFAK) (FEMA) 4. Financial Preparedness (Ready.gov)  5. Guide to Hurricane Preparedness on a Budget (FEMA)  6. What to do if the Freezer Stops 7. Food Safety at Home: Tips for Keeping Your Family Healthy 8. Hurricanes: Preparedness and Recovery 9. Food Selection & Storage

June Summer Fun Camps!

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

CED/Agriculture

Pesticide Training Update

All Private and Commercial Applicators who obtained their license prior to July 1, 2026 are required to view a 1-hour video "NCDA&CS Required Pesticide Certification & Training Standards Update". There is an option to do the training online at https://www.ncagr.gov/divisions/structural-pest-control-and-pesticides/pesticides/new-candt-rules/lic-cert-training then complete submission form for credit.

C&T Standards Update & Pesticide Continuing Education

A continuing education class for pesticide credits will be held on June 16th from 6pm - 9pm at the former Bowman Middle School. This class will include the new C&T Standards Update ( 1 hour credit) that is required for all pesticide applicators before their recertification date, this class will run from 6pm-7pm. I also plan to include 2 additional hours of credit for applicators this class will run from 7pm-9pm. You may take one or both classes. Both classes are approved for the following categories: A, B, D, G, H, I, K, K(PU), K(SA), L, M, N, O, T, AND X

NC A&T State University Cooperative Extension Small Farms Field Day

On June 11th NC A&T State University in Greensboro (3020 McConnell Road) will host thei 2026 Small Farms Field Day with workshops and demonstrations. Topics this year include:

• Hemp Production
• Shitake Inoculation
• Chicken Processing
• Nematode Sampling
• Temporary Fencing
• Swine AI
• Freeze-Drying
• Dehydrating
• Jerking Making

https://www.ncat.edu/caes/cooperative-extension/small-scale-agriculture-development/sffd/index.php

Farmaland Preservation Workshop

The North Carolina Agricultural Mediation Program is planning a workshop to discuss farmland preservation, succession planning, and forestry on August 26th at Mayland Community College.

Do you enjoy gardening and want to learn more while giving back to your community? Becoming an NC State Extension Master Gardener volunteer may be the perfect opportunity. The Extension Master Gardener program, offered through North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension, provides research-based horticultural training to individuals who want to expand their gardening knowledge and use that knowledge to serve others. Master Gardener volunteers learn about topics such as plant identification, soils, pest management, vegetable gardening, landscape practices, and sustainable gardening techniques. But the program is about more than learning, it is about leadership and service. After training, volunteers give back by helping answer gardening questions, supporting community gardens, assisting with educational workshops, and promoting horticultural best practices throughout the county.

We are planning a Extension Master Gardener interest meeting for August 4th, 6pm