by Eleanor Moyer, Clay County Master Gardener Volunteer Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow. It’s what sunflowers do. Walt Whitman August is the season for sunflowers. I can remember marveling at an entire farm field filled with sunflowers when I was younger, only to discover that it was a bait field ...| clay.ces.ncsu.edu
The Nutritional Powerhouse: TomatoesTomatoes are more than just a juicy addition to salads or a base for saucestheyre a nutritional powerhouse loaded with health benefits. Whe … Continue Reading| Clay County Center News - N.C. Cooperative Extension
Foodborne Illness: A Common but Preventable Health ThreatEvery year, an estimated48 million Americansfall ill from foodborne illnesses. Of those, around128,000 are hospitalize … Continue Reading| Clay County Center News - N.C. Cooperative Extension
Soil testing is one of the most valuable tools available for anyone who grows plants, whether thats a home garden, a lawn, a farm field, or a pasture. Soil is the foundation o … Continue Reading| Clay County Center News - N.C. Cooperative Extension
The Clay County 4-H Program served up another fun and flavorful experience—this time with homemade ice cream and cake pops! To beat the summer heat and build some kitchen skills, potential members of the 4-H Cooking Club gathered for a hands-on culinary adventure. Participants learned just how much effort goes into churning ice cream the ...| clay.ces.ncsu.edu
National Farmers Market Week, observed this year from August 3–9, 2025, is a time to recognize the vital role farmers’ markets play in supporting local agriculture, improving community health, and strengthening rural economies. Here in Clay County, the Clay County Farmers Market has become more than a place to buy fresh produce; it’s a community ...| clay.ces.ncsu.edu
by: Eleanor Moyer, Master Gardener VolunteerMy daughter delights in our Hayesville librarys used book store which her family supports each time they visit. This week she found … Continue Reading| Clay County Center News - N.C. Cooperative Extension
Mark your calendars and make plans to attend the 19th Annual Ag Day & Tractor Parade, set for Saturday, September 27, 2025, in Hayesville Town Square. Hosted by the N.C. Cooperative Extension – Clay County Center and the Clay County Tractor Club, this family-friendly event will run from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., with the ...| clay.ces.ncsu.edu
Last week, our Family & Consumer Science Agent, Kim Terrell, visited the Brasstown Community Food Pantry to share a delicious and healthy twist on a pantry staple — pancake mix! Participants were invited to taste test Blueberry Muffins made from pancake mix, eggs, Greek yogurt, a touch of maple syrup, and fresh blueberries. The verdict? Everyone loved them! Many were surprised at how versatile ...| clay.ces.ncsu.edu
Another fun and flavorful day with our Hayesville Pre-K students during their Color Me Healthy class! These little learners have been discovering the importance of: Eating the colors of the rainbow Exercising their bodies Trying new, healthy foods. This week’s taste test featured: Colorful bell peppers “Little trees” (aka broccoli & cauliflower) Cherry tomatoes All dipped in yummy hummus! Some students were nervous about trying the colorful peppers, thinking they might be spi...| clay.ces.ncsu.edu
The Asian needle ant (Brachyponera chinensis) is an invasive pest that has been spreading across North Carolina and the southeastern U.S. This species poses a threat to both p … Continue Reading| Clay County Center News - N.C. Cooperative Extension
By Kathy Smith, Clay County Master Gardener VolunteerBeing blessed with all this rain creates lush growth and all those critters who savor the bounty. Ive had a long career in … Continue Reading| Clay County Center News - N.C. Cooperative Extension
Broomsedge (Andropogon Virginius) is a native warm-season perennial bunchgrass commonly found in pastures, hayfields, and roadsides throughout the southeastern United States. … Continue Reading| Clay County Center News - N.C. Cooperative Extension
The 2025 NC Mountain State Fair Catalog is now available! Both General Exhibits and Livestock Exhibits are posted on the wncagcenter.org website and ready for your entries. D … Continue Reading| Clay County Center News - N.C. Cooperative Extension
Spring is in the air, and eggs are in the incubators! All seven 2nd-grade classes at Hayesville Primary School recently participated in the 4-H Embryology School Enrichment Pr … Continue Reading| Clay County Center News - N.C. Cooperative Extension
BY: ELEANOR MOYER, CLAY COUNTY MASTER GARDENER VOLUNTEERUsually its time to encourage purchasing a rain barrel. Difficult as it may seem rightnow, July, August, and September … Continue Reading| Clay County Center News - N.C. Cooperative Extension
Kim Terrell, Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) Agent and Registered Dietitian, recently hosted theDining with Diabetesprogram, part of the National Extension Working Group in … Continue Reading| Clay County Center News - N.C. Cooperative Extension
by Eleanor Moyer, Clay County Master Gardener VolunteerIve been blown away this spring with the seasons first flush of spectacular flowers! Its gratifying to think there are m … Continue Reading| Clay County Center News - N.C. Cooperative Extension
Wood Utilization and Fire Protection Workshop| clay.ces.ncsu.edu
Though Hurricane Helene imposed widescale destruction on the mountains of North Carolina, opportunities are available to make the most out of the devastation. Two options you can pursue are to generate firewood and sawtimber. This two-day technical workshop at the Hinton Center in Hayesville will cover best practices for processing storm-damaged timber into firewood and ...| clay.ces.ncsu.edu
by Eleanor Moyer, Extension Master Gardener℠ Volunteer of Clay County One delight of summer is picking fresh zucchini to sauté with salmon or steak, or biting into a cheesy squash casserole made from a freshly harvested crookneck variety. I enjoyed an hors dourves of ratatouille over a toasted baguette slice a few nights ago which tasted just ...| clay.ces.ncsu.edu