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County Extension

  • Great food-preservation resources are available; classes also slated

    I can tell the weather is getting better, just by the phone calls and questions coming into the extension office about preserving foods.
    So far, people have been mostly interested in making jams and jellies, but I anticipate we’ll soon be getting the freezing and canning questions. That’s great. We don’t mind the calls because they are an important part of what we do.

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  • Growing flowers and vegetables from seed rewarding in several ways

    Carol Weaver
    Master gardener
    There are many reasons to raise your own annual flowers and vegetables from seed. Aside from the personal satisfaction you gain from successfully propagating your own plants, you can grow varieties that are not readily available at the local nursery or big-box store. Growing from seed may also be more economical than purchasing small plants at retail prices.

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  • Strawberry season is here; tips offered on how to preserve them

    I love it when the signs go up and I hear the news that it’s strawberry picking time.  Local fresh berries are a treat.  I always make a trip or two to the local berry patches to pick a few pounds for the freezer.

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  • Three of top five germy places in your home are in kitchen

    The folks from NSF International have a great article on kitchen cleanliness posted on its website. It’s called the “Top Five Germiest Places in the Home.”
    NSF is a nonprofit organization that provides health and safety standards for equipment used in the home and food service industry.
    The article on germy kitchens is part of NSF’s consumer-safety program to educate consumers on how to keep their lives safer every day.

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  • The kudzu bug, unfortunately, is back in Brunswick County

    By Sam Marshall
    Horticulture agent

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  • Tips on how and when to move landscape plants and trees

    By Charlie Spencer
    Master gardener
    There have been a large number of calls to the hot line recently concerning moving plants. Generally speaking, the optimum time for moving plants is during the dormant period.
    Following are a few suggestions:
    Most shrubs and trees should be moved during their dormant season. For some, this will be just after they shed their leaves. Others, such as azaleas, will require waiting until late fall, winter or early spring. For this area, dormant season is January through March.

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  • Take this quick test to find out if your kitchen is bacteria-laden

    Many people worry about the safety of foods cooked in restaurants, but foodborne illness can happen at home, too. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates 21 percent of foodborne illness outbreaks can be linked to food cooked in the home. Food safety concerns at home revolve around three main functions: food storage, food handling and cooking.
    How safe is your home? Answer these questions to see how your family does in the “clean kitchen test” courtesy of Clemson Cooperative Extension.

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  • 4-H Club attends Youth Horseman’s Day

    The Bits-n-Boots girls went to the North Carolina State University Vet School Horseman’s Youth Day in Raleigh on Saturday, March 6, attending several lectures on horse health and touring the school.
    Those attending included Rebekah Taylor, Mackenzie Snyder, Sierra Hart, Kaitlin Jones, Jillian Bowling, Lena Devlin and Breanna Long.
    The day of equine-oriented activity combines education and fun and is designed to provide students ages 9-18 hands-on experiences with the anatomy, physiology and veterinary care of horses.
    Participants were grouped

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  • How to control pests using horticultural oils

    By Charlie Spencer
    Master Gardener
    Now is the time of the year to start preparing for spring. One of the best activities any gardener in this area can accomplish is applying horticultural oil.
    February and March are an ideal time to apply horticultural oil to your ornamental trees, shrubs and fruit trees to control scale and several other over-wintering insects. However, to prevent harm to your plant, it is important to understand how horticultural oils work and their limitations.

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  • These do-it-yourself snack packs contain just 100 calories

    What would give you more satisfaction: 3/4 of an ounce of cookies (about 2, depending upon the type) or 1 cup (about 35 grapes) of grapes? OK, I’ll admit satisfaction might not be the correct word, especially when it comes to comparing cookies to fruit, but what they do have in common is 100 calories.
    That amount of cookies (3/4 oz.) is how much you get in one of those cute little 100-calorie snack packets. Many companies have been trying to make eating on-the-go easier for people by making these pre-packaged 100-calorie snacks.

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