Growing Chatham
Chatham County Center
Chatham County Center
October 2023
Listen to the Growing Chatham Podcast
Listen to the Growing Chatham Podcast
General
Chatham Community Library to Host Red Cross Blood Drive
WHAT: American Red Cross Community Blood Drive
WHEN: Wednesday, October 11, 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
WHERE: Chatham Community Library
Holmes Family Meeting Room
197 NC-87
Pittsboro, NC 27312
WHO: The American Red Cross will host a blood drive at Chatham Community Library on Wednesday, October 11, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Holmes Family Meeting Room.
Make an appointment, scroll down to the blood drive for October 11 at the Chatham Community Library, then click on "See Times."
There are 22 appointment times available.
Soil & Water Cost Share Programs
The Chatham Soil and Water Conservation District announces an opportunity to apply for cost share through the North Carolina Ag Cost Share Program (ACSP), Ag Water Resources Assistance Program (AgWRAP) and Community Conservation Assistance Program (CCAP).
Help support CORE's
Fall 2023 Capital Campaign!
4-H
Chatham County 4-H Youth Participate in the Great Southeast Pollinator Census!
This was the first year that North Carolina participated in the Great Southeast Pollinator Census, a citizen science initiative that started in Georgia a few years ago and has since spread to South Carolina and North Carolina.
Our Chatham County 4-H youth participated in the census at Cooperative Extension's Pollinator Paradise Garden in Pittsboro in late August. The kids got a garden tour and learned about the insects that call the garden home and helped collect data on the pollinators that visit the garden.
Chatham County's Annual 4-H Livestock Show: A Rainy Day Success
National 4-H Week 2023
At the Sept. 18th, 2023 Chatham County Board of Commissioners meeting, the Board adopted a resolution to proclaim October 1st - 7th, 2023, as National 4-H Week in Chatham County.
On September 9th, Chatham County held its annual 4-H Livestock show, despite the stormy weather. The Heifer Showmanship and Steer Showmanship kicked off the morning's events, with overcast skies looming overhead.
Heifer Showmanship
Results
Junior:
#1 Sophie Marshall
Intermediate:
#1 Jonathen Scarlet
#2 Tyla Marshall
Senior:
#1 Caroline Scarlett
#2 Karly Smith
#3 Avery Hatfield
#4 Aiden Kernodle
#5 Raegan Herrington
#6 Macy Griffin
Showmanship
Results
Intermediate
#1 Tyla Marshall
Heifer Championship Drive
Reserve Grand Champion
Tyla Marshall
Grand Champion
Caroline Scarlett
We extend our sincere gratitude to the individuals below for their invaluable contributions to the success of the Livestock Show:
Ag South Farm Credit for their Sponsorship
Farm Bureau Sponsorship
Quality Equipment Sponsorship
United Way of Chatham County Sponsorship
Audrey Joy, Chatham County Master Gardener Volunteer
Claudia Austin, FSA Director, Ring Volunteer
Hannah Seitz, Ring Master Volunteer
Chatham County Leadership Academy for volunteering at the Event
N.C. Cooperative Extension Staff
Billy Fitts donated the hay bales for the event.
A Resilient Lamb Showmanship
The Lamb Showmanship was scheduled for 1:30pm, but the weather was uncooperative. During the break, heavy rain left the arena muddy, making it difficult to continue the show. Despite the weather, both parents and youth were eager to proceed with the event after a brief meeting. They recognized the amount of effort and hard work put into this moment and didn't want to disappoint. With the arena unusable, the parents came up with an inventive solution. They used their trucks and trailers to create a fenced-off area in the gravel parking lot. By maneuvering their vehicles and trailers into a large circle, the show went on!
Lamb Showmanship
Lamb Weight Class
Cloverbud (non-competitve)
Caroline Oxenaine
Colby Oxenaine
Junior
#1 Alaina Oxenaine
#2 Sophie Marshall
Light Weight Group A
#1 Alaina Oxenaine “Leap”
#2 Colby Oxenaine “Oreo”
#3 Caroline Oxenaine “Sparkles”
Intermediate
# 1Hunter Herndon
#2 Brayana McGhee
Senior
#1 Lilli Pilkington
#2 Kali Moore
Light Weight Group B
#1 Alaina Oxenaine “Bell”
#2 Colby Oxenaine “Cookie”
#3 Caroline Oxenaine “Carowind”
Medium Weight
#1 Hunter Herndon “Chipper”
#2 Kali Moore “Thelma”
#3 Brayanna McGhee “Snowball”
#4 Hunter Herson “Bella”
Heavy Weight Group A
#1 Kali Moore “Faith”
#2 Lilli Pilkington “Grace”
Heavy Weight Group B
#1 Sophie Marshall “Seth”
#2 Alaina Oxenaine “Bambi”
#3 Lilli Pilkington “Buttercup”
Lamb Championship Drive
Reserve Grand Champion
Hunter Herndon
Grand Champion
Sophie Marshall
Madison Sifferd Rocks Her Debut as Judge at 2023 4-H Livestock Show
Madison Sifferd made her debut as a judge at the Chatham County 4-H Livestock show and she did an outstanding job! Despite the challenging conditions - from the weather to the muddy conditions and having to relocate the lamb show to a gravel parking lot surrounded by trucks and trailers - Madison handled the day like a pro. She will definitely have some interesting stories to share about her experience.
Explore the Chatham County 4-H Exhibit at the N.C. State Fair!
Visit the Chatham County 4-H exhibit when you're at the N.C. State Fair. See what all the buzz is about! Each year, the North Carolina State Fair chooses counties to showcase 4-H exhibits that exemplify the five Extension Districts. The Education Building, located at the corner of Hillsborough Street and Blue Ridge Road on the State Fairgrounds in Raleigh, is where you'll find it.
Horsekateers Excel at 4-H Southern Regionals
Chatham County Leatherworks 4-H Club Hard at Work
Check out some pics of the Leatherworks Club members creating some awesome goods during their September club meeting! Interested in joining in on the fun? The club meets the first Tuesday of each month at the Cooperative Extension office. Contact club leaders Ric Harber (ricsleather@yahoo.com) and Rob Bergmueller (rbergmue@bellsouth.net) for more information
Chatham County Clover Creators 4-H Club Hosts Community Food Drive
The Chatham County Horsekateers 4-H Club was well represented at the 4-H Southern Regionals in Perry, Georgia. The club had the highest percentage of competitors from one individual club there! Congratulations to Austen Stinson-Miller, Kyra Worth, Sara Richardson, and Sam Durham! Many thanks to club leaders Mary Dickerson and Ruthy Vorder-Bruegge served as coaches to the Horsebowl team.
Note from the Clover Creators: Our club is sponsoring a canned food drive to collect needed food items for the West Chatham Food Pantry. We are collecting food from September 20th to October 21st. The West Chatham Food Pantry supplies food to families in need in the Siler City area. This is a big community service project for our club. We would be grateful for any support you could provide.
The Food Pantry is especially in need of these items:
*canned meats such as salmon, manwich
*canned tuna
*beef stew
*canned chick/dumplings
*hamburger helper
*mac & cheese
*canned greens
*canned butter beans/ lima beans
Thank you very much for supporting our efforts to support our community.
Sincerely,
Chatham Clover Creators 4-H Club
**Interested in assisting? Donations can be dropped off at a number of locations around the county, including the Cooperative Extension office in Pittsboro (open for donations Monday - Friday, 8am-5pm). Thank you!**
Horticulture
Argiope aurantia is a showy spider usually noticed in late summer. It has several common names: black-and-yellow argiope, black and yellow garden spider, corn spider, golden garden spider; golden orb-weaver, writing spider, yellow garden argiope, yellow garden orb-weaver, and zipper spider.
Gardening for Wildlife Using the EG Plant Toolbox
Gardening for wildlife, especially pollinators, continues to grow in popularity among gardeners. Did you know you can use the Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox to find pollinator-attracting plants for your garden? The Plant Toolbox can guide you, in just a few clicks, to plants that attract hummingbirds, butterflies, moths, or bees. Tell the Plant Toolbox what your garden has to offer in terms of sun, moisture, soil type, etc., and it will suggest pollinator-attracting plants for those conditions.
Controlling Millipedes In and Around Homes
Brush Up on Your Botany Vocabulary With These Fun Exercises . . .
M. Waldvogel - NC State Entomology & Plant Pathology
Dr. Alexander Krings, at the NC State Herbarium, created a series of drag-and-drop exercises to help gardeners learn basic botanical vocabulary. There are sections on Defense, Twigs and Buds, Leaf Structure, Leaf Shape, Flower Structure, and Inflorescence Type.
Simply click on an image in the left column to enlarge it, then drag it to the appropriate box on the right! While you are there check out the online plant keys. Read more
Millipedes are common occasional pests that sometimes invade buildings particularly when the weather turns hot and dry. While millipedes sometimes enter in large numbers, they do not bite, sting, or transmit diseases, nor do they infest food, clothing or dry, structurally sound wood. Millipedes vary in both color and size. The most common species that invades buildings is the" garden millipede," which is brownish-black in color and about one inch long. Although millipedes are often called "thousandleggers," they actually have far fewer legs, but each body segment has two pairs of very short legs. When disturbed, millipedes often curl up into a "C" shape and remain motionless. They crawl slowly and protect themselves by secreting cyanide-like compound that has an unpleasant odor. Some people confuse millipedes with centipedes, which look somewhat similar. Centipedes have only one pair of legs per body segment and the legs are usually longer than those on millipedes. Centipedes also tend to move about more quickly than millipedes.
This episode of the Plant, Pests, and Pathogens webinar series begins with a presentation by NC State Extension Consumer and Community Horticulture Specialist Lucy Bradley and Project Manager Kathleen Moore. Lucy and Kathleen demonstrate how to make sustainable plant choices using the Extension Gardener Toolbox, as a powerful plant selection tool.
Home Gardening Questions?
Talk to a Master Gardener!
Black and Yellow Garden Spider
Sustainable Ag
Register for a Free Tour
of the Pollinator Paradise Garden!
Sustainable Agriculture Agent Debbie Roos leads tours of Cooperative Extension's Pollinator Paradise Garden spring through fall. Registration is currently open for the fall tours which run through early November. Space is limited so register early!
Visit Cooperative Extension's Growing Small Farms website for a list of tour dates and links to register.
Late Summer Snapshots from the Pollinator Garden
We've had a long hot summer that thankfully is now transitioning into fall. Cooperative Extension's Pollinator Paradise Demonstration Garden in Pittsboro has remained a pollinator hotspot throughout the summer heatwave with all kinds of critter visits.
I regularly post the photos I take on social media and I put some of my favorites from late summer on the Growing Small Farms website.
Register Now for Carolina Farm Stewardship Association's Sustainable Agriculture Conference
The Carolina Farm Stewardship Association, a non-profit organization based in Pittsboro, serving both North and South Carolina, is set to host the 38th annual Sustainable Agriculture Conference in Durham from November 11-13. The conference will provide classroom and on-farm sessions for farmers, gardeners, educators, students, homesteaders, local food advocates, and other food system professionals.
Quick Details:
DATE
NOV. 11-13, 2023
WEEKEND CONFERENCE PASS
Members:
$250-$350
Non-Members:
$350-$475
DURHAM CONVENTION CENTER
In-Person:
301 West Morgan Street, Durham, NC 27701
Livestock
Fall Pasture investments Pay off Come Spring
As beef producers weigh the economic opportunities ahead, it’s important they ensure pastures are ready. Fall is an excellent time to implement several practices that will pay off next spring.
Beginning Shepherd Bootcamp 101
New and beginning sheep and goat farmers are invited to attend the Fall 2023 Shepherd Boot Camp. Topics include: basics of small ruminant care herd health nutrition record-keeping body condition scoring The camp will begin with a virtual orientation on October 4 at 6:30 p.m., followed by online training (self-paced), October 4 through November 2 and an in-person demonstration day on Friday, November 3 from 8:30 a.m.- 3 p.m. Register for Shepherd Bootcamp online by October 2, but space is limited. For more information, email, April Bowman, Extension Agent, Livestock, Forages, and 4-H Youth Development at awbowman@ncsu.edu or call 336-703-2855.
Forestry
Guidebook for Prescribed Burning in the Southern Region
Learn how to plan, conduct, and evaluate prescribed burns with this new guidebook designed for burners of all skill levels. This book takes you step-by-step through the prescribed burning process in addition to providing more in-depth chapters on many of the concepts.
Prescribed Fire Interest Meeting
When: Thurs., October 5, 2023 | 6 – 8 p.m.
Where: Bonnie B. Davis Environment and Agricultural Building, 1020 US-70 W, Hillsborough, NC 27278.
Come join N.C. Cooperative Extension, Orange County Center at the Bonnie B. Davis Environment and Agricultural Center to participate and learn about the benefits of using Prescribed Fire in the Environment. You will learn about Prescribed Burn Associations (PBA) across the state and better understand how prescribed fire can be used to help protect your property from wildfire by controlling the fuel source, encouraging new growth and wildlife protection.
Fire in the Pines Festival
When: Saturday, October 14th from 10am to 3pm.
Where: Halyburton Park, Wilmington, NC
Come join us for a FREE event the whole family can enjoy.
Dr. Bob Bardon explains how changes in leaf color during this time of year are the result of chemical changes in the leaf that occur due to certain weather conditions.
NCSU Tree Improvement Program Needs Help to Find Loblolly Pines with Witch's Broom
The North Carolina State University Tree Improvement Program (NCSU TIP) needs your help to identify Loblolly pines with “witch’s broom” as part of a Citizen Science project. A witch's broom is an abnormal growth in pine due to a fungus or mutation. The team at NC State is looking for loblolly pine trees with witch's brooms to sample needles and cones to better understand the mutation. If you know the location of a loblolly pine with a witch's broom, fill out the form here. Once you fill out the form, then NCSU staff will look at the submissions, and decide the best locations and how to sample the needle and cones. Sampling may be done by the submitter or NCSU staff depending on the situation.
Home & Nutrition
Extension Master Food Volunteer Interest Meeting 2023
Do you enjoy cooking, supporting local food, or just simply – food? If you answered yes, consider joining the first group of Extension Master Food Volunteers in Chatham County! Learn more about the application, trainings, and volunteer opportunities at an upcoming interest meeting!
When: Tuesday, October 10th,
Time: 9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. or 4:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.
Where: N.C. Cooperative Extension-
Chatham County Center
1192 US 64W Bus., Suite 400,
Pittsboro, NC 27312
(enter the west entrance, look for red rocking chairs)
Who: Anyone interested in cooking, nutrition, food safety, or food systems!
A Wildly Nutritious Snack! Make this snack your own by swapping out the peanut butter for any nut or seed butter, try slices of banana for the monster tongues or even whip up a batch of your own edible googly eyes.
HOW TO MAKE HALLOWEEN APPLE MONSTERS
- Cut the apple into quarters. Lay the apple quarters down, and cut a 1 inch wedge in the middle of the peel side of each quarter.
SUPPLIES FOR YOUR SPOOKY HALLOWEEN FOOD
1 Green Apple
2 Tbsp. Peanut Butter
2 Strawberries
24-28 Sunflower Seeds
Edible Eyes
- Lay the apple quarters down, and cut a 1 inch wedge in the middle of the peel side of each quarter.
- Do not cut all the way through because you want each quarter to stay in one piece. It will look like a mouth.
- Cut the strawberries in slices lengthwise so that you have 4 pieces.
- Place a strawberry inside the cutout to resemble a tongue sticking out.
- Poke 6 or 7 sunflowers into the top edge of the cut out to resemble teeth.
Extension at Home Series
Register for these upcoming classes
Getting Ahead of the Holiday Meal Cost, a six-part blog series
The More In My Basket Blog discusses holiday meal planning from stocking the shelves with canned goods, securing your favorite spices, to filling the freezer so you can manage the cost and organization of holiday meal celebrations.
Calling all non-profit organizations!
Join in on the spooktacular fun at the
Siler City Growers & Makers Market's Halloween event.
Seeking informational booths that incorporate engaging activities for children. If your game or activity pertains to food or agriculture, it's a plus!
- Tuesday, October 31st
- 4:00-7:00 pm
- 202 W 3rd Street Siler City, NC
- For further inquiries, please reach out to Gina Upchurch silercitygrowersandmakersmkt@gmail.com.
Community Rural Development
Please welcome Rachael Blazzard, our new CRD/4-H Extension Agent!
Home Finance
Keeping a roof overhead is an important concern when your income drops. If you rank your bills in order of priority, paying your rent or mortgage will always be at, or near, the top of your list. Housing, which includes mortgage or rent payments, insurance, taxes, household maintenance and repair, utility bills, furnishings, and cleaning supplies, is also typically your biggest expense. When your income drops or doesn’t go as far as it used to, careful planning can help you avoid eviction from your rental unit or the loss of your home.
Extension History
Alma Council Goes to Washington
Where in the world is Alma? Can you spot her among the other 4-H Volunteer Leaders?
Keep your eyes peeled for a few sneaky clues!
Alma Council is a remarkable woman. A mother to four children, two sons, and two daughters. Alma, along with her husband Otis, managed a farm while holding down a demanding full-time job. Despite these commitments, Alma still found time to volunteer as a 4-H leader, displaying her unwavering dedication to her community.
Recently, Alma's daughter Patsy discovered an archive of 4-H photographs while helping her mother clean out her closets. Patsy offered me the opportunity to keep these photographs, and I graciously accepted. As an enthusiast of history and vintage photos, especially those linked to 4-H, I was thrilled to have them.
During a recent conversation, Alma reminisced about her cherished memories of being 4-H leader. She spoke fondly of Bunk Hinshaw, a volunteer leader from the Siler City region, and their shared experiences at several 4-H volunteer leader retreats.
From the Chatham Record
March 4, 1971
Alma might be in her mid-90s, but her spirit is as high as ever! While she might be taking things a bit slower compared to her 4-H leader days, she's still got that go-getter attitude. These days, you can find her soaking up quality time with her loved ones, piecing together jigsaw puzzles, and making memories with her great-grandson.
Lately, Alma's idea of pure happiness is snuggling up with her great-grandson.
Bunk Hinshaw and Alma attending a 4-H retreat for 4-H volunteer leaders
Rev up your time machine and zoom back to the groovy 70s to catch Alma at the Chatham County 4-H banquets.
Alma was selected in 1971 and 1972 to participate in the National 4-H Leader Forum alongside a group of volunteer leaders from North Carolina and other states. This forum aimed to provide comprehensive training and assistance to leaders, enabling them to become more efficient in their work with 4-H youth. This opportunity was only extended to the most successful 4-H leaders who met specific criteria, including the accomplishments of their youth clubs.
Alma's Participation in the National 4-H Leader Forum in 1971 and 1972
Fun Fact From the 1971 Event!
It's no secret that politics can be a wild and unpredictable ride. In fact, a simple toy chicken once managed to leave its mark on history. Back in the day, President Nixon was presented with a unique toy chicken by the Davidson County NC 4-H Volunteer Leaders – a truly fascinating gift that may have brought a smile to his face.
Hold your horses! That photo you're eyeing isn't the real deal. Not only that, but the chicken in the snapshot isn't even the one that was presented to him. It's all just a simulation, folks.
From the Durham Sun
April 29, 1971
