 |
|
|
March 21st we will be moving to our new location.
Please be patient with us that week since we will have limited resources available.
Our new address will be:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Alexander County Commissioners Choice Awards
|
The Alexander County Commissioners and N.C. Cooperative Extension-Alexander County Center would like to recognize individual volunteers, organizations, communities, etc. for their hard work. This can include, but is not limited to, school classroom volunteers, school PTO boards, church volunteer groups, civic clubs, high school clubs, scouts, 4-H clubs, and many others.
The most outstanding adult and youth volunteer organizations will be awarded monetary awards of $200 each. Other monetary awards will be given for second ($125) and third ($75) in both the adult and youth categories.
Also, there is a "Community Spark" Award for which you may nominate some outstanding individual, group, or both on your application.
The Commissioner's Choice Awards Banquet will be held Monday, April 8, 6:30 p.m. at Alexander Central High School Cafeteria.
Please click the link below for an application:
Applications are due to the NC Cooperative Extension-Alexander County Center by Friday, March 8th.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Food Drive
February 15 - March 15
HELP US! Fight food insecurity by donating any canned, dried, or non perishable-product. In celebration of Small Farms Week, NC Cooperative Extension-Alexander County Center is hosting a food drive. All collected items will be donated to the Christian Crisis Center.
Last year we collected over 600 canned, dried, and non perishable items.
This year, we are hoping to be able to collect at least 1000 items to help Alexander County families.
Items that we are looking for includes:
Canned fruits or vegetables,
dried fruits,
shelf stabled fruit cups,
spaghetti sauce,
juice,
rice,
cereal,
oatmeal,
grains,
canned or dried beans,
eggs,
nuts,
peanut or nut butters,
canned meat (ie: Tuna, salmon, chicken),
oil,
spices and condiments.
You can drop off food items at these three locations:
Alexander County Administration Building:
621 Liledoun Rd, Taylorsville, NC 28681
Alexander County Department of Social Service
604 7th St SW, Taylorsville, NC 28681
NC Cooperative Extension-Alexander County Center
376 1st Ave SW, Taylorsville, Nc 28681
Help Us Feed a Hungry Family! Be the Change!
For more information, please contact Der Holcomb at [email protected] or 828-632-3125.
|
Another Year! Another Speedway to Healthy
Success!
|
|
|
| Day 2 Volunteer Team |
|
Speedway to Healthy is once again an awesome success thanks to all the volunteer, partners, donors, and sponsors. In collaboration with Alexander County School Nurses, we had over 284 3rd grade students from Alexander county attend the Speedway to Healthy exhibit. The program would not have been possible without the help of all the many volunteers. We had a total of 38 volunteers help with set up the exhibit, man the station, or tear down the exhibit.
A huge shout out to East Taylorsville Baptist
Church for helping us make this exhibit a possibility this year by allowing us to host this exhibit in their gyms.
|
|
|
Day 3 Volunteer & Tear Down Crew |
Lastly, a special thank you to Piedmont Health
Care for offering up man power and sponsorship to help turn this into a once in a life time experience for the students in Alexander County. Thank you for all that you do and we look forward to the wonderful partnership in Alexander county.
Take a look at the great work these volunteers and community partners did via google photos. If you're interested in helping out with Speedway to Healthy next year, please contact Der Holcomb at [email protected]
Thank You!
|
|
|
|
2019 Small Fruit Plant Sale
We are currently taking orders for many different types and varieties of plants. Items are limited.
For more information and details please click on the following link:
If you have any questions please contact the
N.C. Cooperative Extension-Alexander Center at 828-632-4451
|
|
|
|
|
|
March Alexander Cattlemen's Association Meeting
|
The Alexander County Cattlemen's Association will meet Tuesday, March 12th at 6:30 pm. The topic for this meeting is "Matching Forage Quality and Animal Nutrient Needs". If you plan to attend please reserve your seat by Monday, March 11th at Noon by calling 828-632-4451 or emailing
[email protected]
.
The Association also voted at the last meeting to sell the squeeze chute that the association owns. This will be a live auction at the conclusion of the March meeting. If you are interested in more information on this item contact Pete Gilleland or Richie Herman.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Save the Dates! N.C. Farm School
March 19 - Cattle
April 9 - Small Ruminant
April 23 - Pastured Poultry
May 14 - Small Fruit
May 28 - Market Garden
For more information visit the link below:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4-H Achievement Night
|
|
Our 2018 4-H Achievement night will be held Monday, March 25 at 6:00 p.m. at our new facility. Please contact the 4-H Center for more information.
|
|
|
|
|
Tell Us!
How we can improve our FCS programs to help meet your needs?
Our FCS Agent is conducting a survey find out what the citizen of Alexander and surrounding county think about the needs for the county. Complete the survey for a chance to win a $25 dollar gift card.
Our Community Needs Assessment Survey gives you the opportunity to tell us what services are needed locally and share other information that is important to you. The survey is available through March 31st. You can access the survey by clicking on this
link. Winner will be announce in our April constant contact
|
|
| Win this $25 dollar gift card by completing the survey |
Thank you for helping us improve our services.
|
|
|
|
|
|
March Garden Calendar
Pl
ants in Flower
- Saucer Magnolia, Bradford Pear, Flowering C
herry, Forsythia, Star Magnolia, Breath-of-Spring (Winter Honeysuckle), Spirea, Flowering Quince, Carolina Jessamine, Periwinkle, Thrift, Violets, Crocus, Daffodil, Hyacinths and Tulips
Fertilizing
- Fertilize shrubs.
- Fertilize your important shade trees.
- Fertilize asparagus beds early in March before spear growth begins.
- Before planting your vegetables, fertilize your garden as recommended by your soil test results. Apply the recommended amount of lime if this was not done in the fall.
Planting
- Plant a tree for Arbor Day! Arbor day is always the first Friday after March 15.
- Plant your small fruit plants, grape vines and fruit trees before the buds break.
- March is a good month to transplant trees and shrubs.
- New shrubs and ground covers can be planted the entire month of March. Be sure to follow your planting plan.
- Plant seeds of the following perennials: columbine, hollyhock, coreopsis, daisy and phlox. Sweet William can also be planted this month.
- New rose bushes can be planted this month.
- Plants of broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower should be set out in the garden in mid-March.
- The following vegetables can be planted this month: beets, carrots, Chinese cabbage, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, Swiss chard, turnips, potatoes,cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower.
- Start any annual flowers or warm-season vegetables inside your home that are not commercially available in early March.
Pruning
- Prune fruit trees.
- Prune spring flowering plants like breath-of-Spring (Winter Honeysuckle) and flowering quince after the flowers fade.
- Prune roses late in March.
- Prune shrubs like abelia, mahonia and nandina this month if needed.
- Pick off faded flowers of pansy and daffodil. Pansies will flower longer if old flowers are removed.
- Overgrown shrubs can be severely pruned (not needled evergreens).
Lawn Care
- Cool-season lawns may be fertilized with 10-10-10, but NOT with slow-release fertilizer.
- Apply crabgrass herbicides to your lawn late this month to help control crabgrass in the turf.
- Mow your tall fescue lawn as needed.
- Seed fescue and bluegrass if not done in September.
Propagation
- Continue to divide perennials like daylily, shasta daisy, gaillardia and coreopsis this month.
Specific Chores
- Check garden supplies like fertilizer, insecticides and fungicides to see if you have adequate amounts.
- Check all garden equipment, lawn mowers, tillers, hedge trimmers, tools, hoses and sprayers to see if they are in find working order before they are needed.
- Be certain that old plantings of perennials like peony, hollyhock and phlox are clean of last season's growth.
|
|
|
 |
|
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, sexual identity (including pregnancy) and veteran status. NC State, N.C. A&T, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments cooperating.
|
|
|
|
|
