Category Archives: Extension

Horticulture Cooperative Extension Outreach

Lisa Sanderson as Extension Master Gardener State Coordinator

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Lisa Sanderson, Extension Master Gardener State CoordinatorLisa Sanderson started on May 11th, 2015 as the new NC Extension Master Gardener State Coordinator. Lisa earned her B.S. in Horticultural Science as well as her Masters of Ag Education at NC State University.

Lisa began her experience as an intern with NCSU Arboretum (now JC Raulston Arboretum) and holding varied positions in landscape firms, retail nurseries and wholesale. Lisa has over 8 years as a high school horticulture teacher and department head in North Carolina and Virginia public school systems. Continue reading →

Project PLANTS

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Do you enjoy growing plants, exploring wild, natural areas or simply hanging out among a bunch of shrubbery?

Project PLANTS flyerProject PLANTS is a fun yearlong program for middle school students to discover the secret life of plants. Youth will spend a week in the summer at the JC Raulston Arboretum digging into hands-on horticultural activities from propagating ornamental plants, exciting field trips, crafting postharvest cut flower experiments and hanging out with other middle schoolers, swapping stories about soil. The program continues through the year as a 4-H club with youth developing solutions to solve critical plant problems, and sharing this experience with others.

Join us for a middle school science summer camp that rolls into a yearlong (and more!) after school 4-H club!
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Extension Gardener Handbook

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Extension Gardener Handbook

The Extension Gardener Handbook is now available on-line. Research based information on creating and managing a vibrant, sustainable landscape can be found at http://go.NCSU.edu/EG-Handbook

Currently the chapters on Composting, Insects, Integrated Pest Management, Propagation, and Wildlife are available.  Others chapters will be posted soon.

CEFS Staff Honored for Outreach and Engagement Efforts

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CEFS NC Association of Cooperative Extension Specialists Outstanding Subject Matter ProgramSeveral NC State-based staff from the Center for Environmental Farming Systems were honored recently for their outreach and engagement efforts. Awards were presented at the annual NC State Outreach and Engagement Awards Celebration on April 13.

NC Choices Program Manager, Sarah Blacklin, was presented with the NC Association of Cooperative Extension Specialists Outstanding Subject Matter Program by an Individual Award for her exceptional work developing Women Working in the Meat Business programming. NC Choices is a CEFS initiative that promotes the advancement of local, niche, and pasture-based meat supply chains in North Carolina. Over the last several years, Blacklin has developed workshops, classes, and seminars exclusively for women working in the meat businesses. Continue reading →

Get Ready for Farm to Fork Picnic Weekend!

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Farm to Form sunny weekend picnic
Farm to Form sunny weekend picnic
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farm-to-fork-grill

The annual Farm to Fork Picnic, which Bon Appétit magazine called the “country’s best all-you-can-eat-feast”, is expanding to a delicious weekend full of local food events June 5-7, 2015.  Benefiting beginner farmer programs at the Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) and the W.C. Breeze Family Farm, Farm to Fork celebrates our region’s rich bounty of local foods and honors the skillful farmers and chefs who artfully produce and prepare them.  This year’s Farm to Fork events will have a special focus on North Carolina’s seafood, a critical but often overlooked component of our state’s local food system. Continue reading →