Fourteen people participated in the Extension Master Gardener (EMG) training program this past spring in McDowell County. The students met one time a week for 13 weeks. Different horticultural topics were covered including: plant propagation, botany, landscape design, lawn care, woody ornamentals, and vegetables. The Extension Master Gardener graduates as pictured from left to right are: Betty Reaves, Laurie Gavle, Anna Flory, Donna Poteat, Beth Anderson, Janda Hefner, Amy Moomaw, Phyllis Howell, Teresa Carley, Sharon Morrison with County Extension Director and EMG program coordinator, Molly Sandfoss. Not pictured are Anne Allen, Cathy Pyatt, and Skip Queen.
The Extension Master Gardener program is an educational program designed to enhance public education in consumer horticulture. It provides educational assistance to the citizens of McDowell County concerning lawns, fruits, vegetables, trees, and ornamentals.
Participants in the program must complete the training program, pass an examination, and volunteer a minimum of 40 hours per year (20 hours in subsequent years) through the McDowell County Center.
The Extension Master Gardener program allows the McDowell County Center to extend education to an ever increasing gardening audience. It also provides the local center with a highly visible way to meet the public demand for information and to develop a strong clientele support group.
Volunteer programs throughout the county include: community garden construction and demonstration garden, school beautification projects, school-age education, adopt-a-spot, and plant clinics. If you are interested in the Extension Master Gardener program, we are always accepting applications. Call the Extension office at 828-652-8104 to apply.
A workshop on growing shiitake mushrooms is scheduled for Saturday, January 28 at 1:00pm at the McDowell Agricultural Center "Ag Barn", Ag Services Drive, Marion. Mushroom cultivation is something you can do in your own backyard. You will learn cultivation techniques and do some hands-on inoculating of logs. The workshop includes shiitake mushroom spawn for you to take home to get started. There is a registration fee of $15/$20 couples. Make checks payable to McDowell Cooperative Extension. Mail to McDowell Cooperative Extension, 60 East Court Street, Marion, NC 28752. Call Molly Sandfoss or Jane McDaniel at 828-652-8104 with questions. Must register by January 10. This workshop is limited to 15 people.
Longer growing seasons, conserving natural resources and providing a greater supply of locally grown food are all advantages for the farmers who participate in the United States Department of Agriculture's Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) Seasonal High Tunnel Initiative. The initiative is offered under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), and funding availability is to be available soon for eligible applicants.
Farmers can submit applications for the initiative at anytime throughout the year. However, NRCS will begin the application ranking process for the EQIP Seasonal High Tunnel Initiative on February 3, 2012 for possible funding. Applications are ranked based on environmental benefit. For an application to be considered for ranking all land and producer eligibility requirements must have been met.
The initiative will provide opportunities for farmers to establish seasonal high tunnel systems for crops and for numerous conservation practices that benefit natural resources. Applicants who apply for the national EQIP initiative can also apply for conservation practices under the state administered Farm Bill conservation programs.
The 2008 Farm Bill provides additional incentives for farmers who are beginning, have limited resources, or are socially disadvantaged. Such farmers can received up to 90 percent of te costs associated with planning and implementing certain conservation practices and up to 30 percent of expected costs may be provided in advance.
Farmers should visit their local USDA Service Center as soon as possible to apply for available funding for Farm Bill programs and initiatives; locations are listed on-line at http://offices.usda.gov/ or in the phone book under Federal Government, U.S. Department of Agriculture. General program information is available on the NRCS North Carolina website at http://www.nc.nrcs.usda.gov/. The USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Fall is the best time for renovating and seeding cool-season lawns. The cooler weather and more rainfall makes it a good time. If you wait until spring to seed, the newly established tall fescue lawn will not survive the heat and drought period in summer. You didn't give the grass enough time to establish. So don't delay seed in the fall.
The optimum air temperatures for tall fescue germination are 68 to 77 F and the soil temperature greater than 60 F. It is important to do it as early in the fall as possible in order to get these optimum conditions.
To get accurate liming and fertilization requirements, performing a soil test is recommended. A general suggestion for a yearly nitrogen application is approximately 1 lb of nitrogen fertilizer per 1,000 square feet of lawn. A soil test is highly recommended if you haven't done so.
Also, mow at a proper height (3.5") to allow the fescue to mature before winter.
The McDowell County Center has a publication, "Carolina Lawns" with information about cultivars appropriate for this area and other good management practices for your lawn.
Get ready to plant a productive garden by joining local Master Gardeners and the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service-McDowell County Center for a 2-hour workshop on basic gardening. The workshop is on Thursday, March 3 from 6:15 pm until 8:30 pm at the McDowell County Center Conference Room, 2nd Floor County Administration Building, 60 East Court Street, Marion. Soil testing, site preparation, and site selection are just some of the topics that will be discussed.
This workshop is free, but you must preregister by Monday, February 28. Please call the McDowell County Center at 652-8104 if you have any questions or to register.
