March / April 2023
We Grow Youth
Homeschool youth involved in the 4-H LEGO Robotics group demonstrated projects completed during the 2022-2023 school year during their last session on April 25th. Through this group, youth learn engineering concepts by imagining, creating, evaluating and improving their designs.
Throughout March and April, 4-H Agent Caroline Goss collaborated with the Area 4-H Agent to develop a 4-H Needs Assessment Survey which is in the process of being widely distributed to all county youth to identify what subjects youth are most interested in (STEM, agriculture, healthy living, etc.). This information will then be used to prioritize and plan opportunities and programs to address those interests while meeting the needs of Ashe County youth.
We Grow Agriculture
On March 9, the NC State Christmas Tree Genetics Program, Upper Mountain Research Station, and NC Cooperative Extension held their 2nd annual grafting workshop. Feedback from evaluations in 2022 were so positive that we had to do it again. This time, participants got an initial grafting education session from retired Christmas tree geneticist John Frampton. They also heard from Yannick Favre about somatic embryogenesis (making a bunch of identical trees from a single seed embryo) and what genetic improvement could make possible in the coming years from Dr. Justin Whitehill. Then after lunch, participants were able to get individual practice by grafting several plants each that will be used in upcoming research.
Refresher courses and training serve us well as we work to serve others. As agents or program assistants, there are times that in order to meet our clients needs we need training in subject areas we are not experts in, like pond management. Thank you to Phyllis Smith, Extension Agent Natural Resources and Environmental Systems in Forsyth County for providing training with specific topics in year round care for ponds and pond weed identification, which Extension Agent Micah Orfield attended.
As Spring ventures in, so does the need to begin preparing pastures and hay fields for the upcoming growing season. Soil sampling is an essential part of land management for farmers. Extension Agent Micah Orfield worked with farmers to educate them on how to properly take soil samples. This allows them to make the best decisions on how to improve soil fertility on their farms.
The regional cattle working competition was held in Wilkes County with participants from Ashe County High School. Extension Agent Micah Orfield was able to be chute side to help judge and direct these students as they competed. Top teams from this regional event will advance to the state level. It teaches students safe cattle handling practices and best management practices in regards to animal health, necessary life skills for anyone in the cattle industry.
On April 13 at the Upper Mountain Research Station, more than 30 farmers gathered to hear Dr. Joe Neal, NC State Professor of Weed Science and Extension Specialist and Jeff Owen, Christmas tree Extension Specialist. They walked participants through the history of IPM weed control and ground cover management and then discussed strategies to combat our major 3 herbicide tolerant weeds; Horseweed (Mare’s tail), Lambsquarter, and Ragweed. Their current research is focused on controlling these problem weeds while not damaging white dutch clover, which is the base of our groundcover management system.
We Grow Nutrition
As part of the “Extension at Home” virtual series, FCS Agent Amanda Butalla delivered the “Eat Seasonally: Root Vegetables” session. Amanda shared beneficial nutrition information as well as the flavorful, money saving advantages of eating in season produce. Participants followed along as she roasted root vegetables and made a homemade hummus to enjoy as a dinner side, with leftovers to spare for a quick lunch option throughout the week.
First graders at Westwood Elementary were excited to eat the array of beautiful fruits and vegetables during their EFNEP nutrition lessons. Healthy snacks are given during classes showing youth how to eat smart even at snack time.
We Grow Safety
On March 31, 2023, Ashe County held its 1st Farm Worker Health Fair. The fair, coordinated by Migrant Education Program Coordinator Michelle Pelayo, was held at Family Central and over 100 workers participated. At the fair, the workers had respirator fit tests performed as well as being offered vaccinations if they wanted and other informative tables. Partners that helped make the Heath Fair possible were: NC Agromedicine, AppHealthCare, NC Farm Worker Health and Safety educators, NC Park Rangers and representatives from the Appalachian State University Global Studies Department.
On March 7, 2023, a pesticide review/test was held at the Agriculture Center Conference Room. We do this annually, but what makes this time unique was its availability in English and Spanish. Ashe County staff translated the original presentation into Spanish to meet the needs of our farming community. The Latino applicants that day had the highest Spanish version pass rate in the state of North Carolina to date.
We Grow Community
On Saturday, April 15, the Ashe County Extension Master Gardener Volunteers (EMGVs) returned to the Ashe County Farmers Market to help answer consumer horticulture and gardening related questions. It has been a few years since the Ashe County EMGVs had manned a booth at the Farmers Market, but we will be returning as part of an office wide effort to promote Extensions presence in the community. Additionally, the EMGVs provided various relevant Cooperative Extension handouts, such as the “Ashe County Planting Guide” and “A Gardener’s Guide to Soil Testing” while also answering any plant cultural management questions. The EMGVs will be returning to the Farmers Market every third Saturday of the month, from June- September. Please come out to see us and support local markets.
On April 19, Ashe County Cooperative Extension celebrated its volunteers during National Volunteer Week. All who were able were treated to lunch to say thank you for helping us achieve our mission and vision in Ashe County. We also had an Advisory Program Team orientation meeting during the lunch hour. The entire office shared program priorities and all of the advisory volunteers were able to see the breadth and depth of Ashe County Cooperative Extension. They also learned about how needs are identified through community surveys, secondary data, interviews with stakeholders and elected officials, and focus groups. We form advisory groups with the purpose of informing the public of opportunities, advocating for Cooperative Extension to key stakeholders, and engaging through volunteer activities. Our volunteers are priceless and to all of them we once again say thank you!
The High Country Seed Swap returned to West Jefferson on April 22. The event was a huge success, having roughly 250 people visit the event. Several individuals and groups in the community support this event, one of which is our own Ashe County Extension Master Gardener Volunteers. The EMGVs were able to distribute numerous packets of the Victory Garden seeds saved during the 2022 season. The group was also able to help answer numerous horticulture and garden related questions. The event saw numerous varieties of species being shared, including: Vegetable seeds, heirloom apple scions, garden flower seeds, corms and bulbs, and even live plant divisions. This event helps preserve several regionally significant varieties which would otherwise be lost as they change hands between generations. If you have any heirloom vegetable varieties you are interested in preserving, please contact our office at (336) 846-5850.
High Country Commercial Kitchen Spotlight
Colleen Baker
Sweet Dreams Patisserie
Colleen Baker is the owner and pastry chef at Sweet Dreams Patisserie. Her gourmet desserts focus on elevated flavor pairings, with her specialty being French macarons.
She’s based out of Ashe County and sells her products through High Country Food Hub and Watauga County Farmers Market in Boone. You can also find her desserts in two retail stores in Boone: Be Natural Market and Common Good.
Her passion for the pastry arts stems from spending time baking and cooking with her Mom, especially around the holidays. Since then, she knew that’s what she wanted to do career-wise. After culinary school, she gained a lot of experience working in fine dining for 6 years at the Umstead Hotel and Spa in Cary, NC. The expertise and knowledge she acquired during that time is what motivated her to start her own business and share her love of baking with the High Country.
Below is a video created by Jenna Michalski highlighting Colleen Baker and Sweet Dreams Patisserie.
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.
Credits:
Mark Stebnicki, NC Farm Bureau and NC Cooperative Extension, Ashe County Center Staff