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MECKLENBURG COUNTY COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE
 
IN THIS ISSUE
Featured Article
What's Happening with ECA?
The Farm Fresh Table
EMG Plant Sale
Nutritional Nuggets
NC 10% Campaign Update

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FRIENDS OF MECKLENBURG FCS

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 Click the name to learn more about our friends!

 

Sow Much Good, Inc  

 

Mecklenburg Master Gardeners

 

Davidson Farmers Market

 

Farmer Baker Sausage Maker

 

Grateful Growers Farm

 

Matthews Farmers Market

 

Know Your Farms

 

Healthy Home Market


Houston Farm 

 

Mecklenburg Farm Bureau

 

Renfrow's Hardware

 

Wipe Out Waste


Cooking with Erin

 

Charlotte Mecklenburg Food Policy Council

 

NC Dept. of Agriculture & Consumer Services- Agribusiness Development

Baucom's Nursery

 

Harmony Gardens Charlotte
 
 
An opportunity to support Mecklenburg 4H!

Issue: 20
Apr/2015
Featured Article
The Science of Home Food Preservation, now available via Webinar
by Kristin Davis, Extension Agent
Limited space remaining in our
canning classes!
On March 11, 2015, the Meckleburg County Family and Consumer Sciences program held the third class in the Sustainable Living Series, entitled "The Science of Home Food Preservation". The lecture-style class serves as the prerequisite to other canning classes, included in the series.  The purpose of the class is to cover precautions, risks and best practices, which allows for an enhanced hands-on experience in later classes. 

Due to overwhelming response, we have provided a recorded webinar of the training, accessible at any time. In order to gain access to the training, participants must register here. Completion of the webinar and evaluation is required prior to registering for canning classes in the Sustainable Living Series. If you have questions or need help registering, please contact Kristin Davis, Extension Agent at Kristin_Davis@ncsu.edu or 704.336.4006. 
What's Happening with ECA?
Health and Wellness Club Growing
ECA...leadership, community
and education. 

After nearly 10 years of inactivity, the Mecklenburg County Extension and Community Association was revived in late last year. Since that time, the group continues to meet and membership has increased. Currently, ECA members are assisting with program facilitation as a part of the Sustainable Living Series, helping with our Extension Evaluation project and taking opportunities to learn more about the vision of Cooperative Extension.

As we move forward, ECA members will gain valuable leadership skills, learn to provide programs to our community, and help expand the reach of the Family and Consumer Sciences program. Our next meeting is Thursday, April 16 at 5:30 pm. If you are interested in attending this meeting to learn more about ECA, please respond to this email so that we can prepare to welcome you!

 

Interested in learning more about Mecklenburg's Extension & Community Association? Visit  our website at http://mecklenburg.ces.ncsu.edu/ecaclub/

or respond to this email. 
 
The Farm Fresh Table 

Transform your Easter Eggs

by Kristin Davis, Extension Agent 

 

  Easter eggs of vibrant pastel colors are a lot of fun. But, after you have
hid them, hunted them, found them and fished them out of that wonderful plastic basket grass, what's next? Hard-boiled eggs are an excellent source of protein. They are great for creating a light alternative to meat products and a creative way to use your backyard eggs! Here's a great recipe from Eating Well, to get your started. 


INGREDIENTS

  • 3 tablespoons nonfat plain yogurt
  • 3 tablespoons low-fat mayonnaise
  • 2 teaspoons mustard
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 8 hard-boiled eggs (see Tip)
  • 1/2 cup thinly sliced celery
  • 1/4 cup chopped sweet gherkin pickles
  • 3 tablespoons chopped sweet onion
  • Download recipe here

Mecklenburg Extension Master Gardener Plant Sale

On May 2, 2015 at the Charlotte Regional Farmers Market, Mecklenburg Master Gardeners Volunteers will be selling  plants propagated from their own gardens from 8 AM to noon. With low prices for these plants and the wide and unusual selection offered, home gardeners always look forward to buying plants from Master Gardeners at the annual sales. The proceeds fund Master Gardener community education outreach programs. 
Nutritional Nuggets 

Organic vs Conventional
 By Dr. Carolyn Dunn, Department Head, NC State University

 

Organic vs Conventional Webinar
Organic vs Conventional Webinar
Are you curious about the significant differences between organic and conventional foods. In this recorded webinar, Dr. Carolyn Dunn, 
Professor and Head of the  Department of Youth, Family, and Community Sciences at NC State, presents the research-based facts on organic and conventional foods as a part of the Nutrition Decisions series.

Is organic healthier than conventional? Does it taste better? Is one more expensive than the other? Find answers by clicking the video above. 
Support Local Food! NC 10% Campaign
 
COUNTY-WIDE CAMPAIGN UPDATE:    
 

Here's where we are so far in Mecklenburg County:

 

473 participating Individuals and 32 Businesses, Non-Profits and Civic Groups have spent $211,898 on local food and saved $11,944 by growing their own food. 

  

 

Great job Mecklenburg!

 
MECKLENBURG COUNTY COOPERATIVE EXTENSION
FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES PROGRAM

 

Contacts:

 

Kristin Davis, Extension Agent
Local Foods & Farmers Market Outreach 

 

Cynthia McQueen, Program Assistant
Adult Expanded Food & Nutrition Education Program 
 
Ph: 704.336.2082