Cultivating Franklin Franklin County Center

Cultivating Nutrition

September Picnics

September is a great time for bike riding and impromptu picnics with your kids. Sandwiches are easy to make. Most kids are happy to eat the sandwich they made themselves. Fresh vegetables from the garden or farmer’s market were used to create this “open face” sandwich (pun intended). Silly Sandwich Ideas

Hands-on Canning Class

Family and Consumer Sciences Agent Dominque Simon led the Hands-on Canning Class in the Franklin County Center kitchen Wednesday, Sept. 28.

For Family & Consumer Science information, contact 919-496-3344, Dominque Simon, Extension FCS Agent.

Cultivating Local Foods

Farmers Market

The Franklin County Farmers Market is located at Shannon Village Shopping Center, in Louisburg. Hours: Friday 9am-1pm.

Cultivating Youth

Franklin County 4-H'ers Earn Recognition

A delegation of Franklin County 4-H members attended 4-H Citizenship North Carolina Focus, which was held in Raleigh. The Franklin County delegation returned home from three days in which more than 100 youth and adults representing 34 4-H programs across the state gathered. Citizenship Focus

Eight Franklin County 4-H members attended the 2022 Northeast District Activity Day, which was held in Currituck County, North Carolina. The Franklin County 4-H’ers returned home from public speaking presentations and demonstrations with first, second, and third place medals. District Activity Day

This year’s 4-H Congress was conducted in Raleigh and attracted more than 300 young people and their adult leaders for activities including presentations on a variety of subjects, leadership and citizenship training, service opportunities, officer elections. 4-H Photos by Meg Wyatt. State 4-H Congress

For 4-H information, contact 919-496-3344, Meg Wyatt Extension 4-H Agent.

Cultivating Community

Franklin County Cooperative Extension Director, Charles Mitchell, recognizes Christy Southall for her dedicated service of six years serving on the Cooperative Extension Advisory Leadership Council. During her last two years she served in the office of Secretary. We thank you Christy, for your service and program partnership over the years.

Franklin County FCS Agent, Dominque Simon received a NEAFCS Family Health & Wellness Team Award. Dominque also received a Family Health and Wellness Award certificate from the National Extension Association of Family & Consumer Sciences (NEAFCS) in September. Pictured, North Carolina Extension Association of Family & Consumer Science (NEAFCS), Family Health & Wellness Team after receiving their awards.

NCCEAPA/TERRSA National Conference

Brenda Collier and Ginny Moore, Administrative Support Staff for the Franklin County Center, attended the 2022 NCCEAPA/TERSSA National Conference in Kitty Hawk September 20-23. Administrative professionals from six states attended the conference.

Horticulture

Invasive Pest Alert

Keep a look out for the Elm Zigzag Sawfly!

A new invasive insect has been spotted in North Carolina. In August 2022, the elm zigzag sawfly (Argidae: Aproceros leucopoda) was found in North Carolina for the first time. Elm zigzag sawflies feeding and Elm Zigzag Sawfly damage photos courtesy of Matt Bertone, NC State University.

Fall Landscape Diseases & Pests

Pin oak scorch photo courtesy of NCSU Plant Pathology.

Are your Elm trees looking a little tattered? Could be feeding damage from the pesky Elm Leaf Beetle. Fall Landscape Diseases & Pests

Late Summer Bloomers

There are a couple of late summer bloomers that you should look at adding to your landscape. Tall Ironweed blooms from mid-summer to early fall in woodland edges, pastures, and roadsides. Autumn Joy Stonecrop photo by Dow Gardens, Bugwood.org.

The name Ironweed comes from the toughness of its stem and how hard it is to uproot the plant. Autumn Joy Stonecrop or Sedum is one of the most dependable perennial succulents and is attractive all year. Late Summer Early Fall Bloomers

For horticulture information, contact 919-496-3344, Colby Griffin, Extension Agent.

Women in Ag

Fall 2022 Farm Tour

The regional "Women in Agriculture" (WIA) group began networking again in September, post Covid, with a traveling educational tour of four local food and cut flower operations in Person and Granville Counties on September 27th, a beautiful Fall day.

A woman owned cut flower operation, Willow Oak Cut Flower Farm, was one stop along the tour route with a variety of tillage practices demonstrated, especially for weed control. Harvest, an Oxford restaurant that only sources its food directly from local farmers, was the lunch stop, a real treat. After lunch, the WIA group met with the owners of the dynamic regional bakery, Strong Arm, in downtown Oxford.

The highlight of the travel tour was a visit to a quiet, isolated farm in the countryside of Person County near Timberlake, HuaNong Ecorganic Farm, owned and operated full time by Dr. Chang Zhou and his family. Women in Ag Fall 2022 Farm Tour

For information about joining the Women in Ag networking group contact 919-496-3344, or Martha Mobley, Ag Agent.

At right, Dr. Chang Zhou shows tour participants his farming methods and produce. Contributed photos by Martha Mobley.

Agritourism

The Visit NC Farms app is a tool for the public promoting local farms, fisheries, farmers markets and other agribusinesses how, where and when they are open to visitors. Download the app and plan your trip! Learn more at visitncfarmstoday.com

Upcoming Programs

Fall Extension Gardener Class • The Way to Better Soil Health • Thursday, Oct 13, 2-4 pm. Extension Center Annex, 103 S. Bickett Blvd., Louisburg. Registration is free: Fall Extension Gardener Class

Franklin Forestry Symposium – Save the Date! Thursday, November 3rd, 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Extension Center Annex • 103 S. Bickett Blvd., Louisburg • Registration available soon! Learn more

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