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Carolina Lawns: A Guide to Maintaining Quality Turf in the Landscape

By: Grady Miller, Charles Peacock, Arthur Bruneau, Fred Yelverton, Jim Kerns, Rick Brandenburg, Richard J. Cooper, Matt Martin

This comprehensive guide offers information on different grasses for North Carolina lawns, as well as how to establish, care for, maintain, and renovate a new lawn.

Central North Carolina Planting Calendar for Annual Vegetables, Fruits, and Herbs

By: Lucy Bradley, Chris Gunter, Julieta Sherk, Liz Driscoll

In central North Carolina almost any type of vegetable or fruit can be grown successfully provided you choose appropriate varieties and plant at the right time. This publication covers climate, season and potential pests that all affect the selection of what and when to plant. Also included is a planting chart and calendar.

Phorid Flies

By: Sydney Crawley, Matt Bertone

Phorid flies are small flies that breed in moist, decaying organic matter and can be a problem in and around homes. This factsheet covers their identification, biology, habits, management and control.

How to Organize a Community Garden

By: Lucy Bradley

This publication covers the keys to a successful community garden of individual plots including forming a strong planning team, choosing a safe site accessible to the target audience with sunlight and water, organizing a simple transparent system for management and designing and installing the garden. Appendices offer a sample layout, sample by-laws, sample budgets and a list of resources.

Washing and Sanitizing Kitchen Items

By: Benjamin Chapman Disaster Recovery

This factsheet offers instructions for cleaning and sanitizing kitchen dishes, utensils, and cooking implements after a flood.

Agritourism, Your Way

By: Kent Wolfe, Gary Bullen A How-To Guide for Successful Agritourism Enterprises

Agricultural tourism increases the potential for on-farm sales with value-adding products and services, further diversifying the farm operation's product line. There are three agritourism basics: have something for visitors to see, something for them to do, and something for them to buy. This publication covers all elements of planning a successful agritourism enterprise, including business planning, marketing, learning legal rules and regulations, assessing risk and safety considerations, and considering customer satisfaction.

A Gardener's Guide to Soil Testing

By: Lucy Bradley, Deanna Osmond

This publication tells gardeners why they should test their soil, how to obtain a soil test and interpret the results and how to use the soil test to improve their soils.

Local Food Systems: Clarifying Current Research

By: Emma Brinkmeyer, Hannah Dankbar, J. Dara Bloom Local Foods

This publication discusses the environmental, economic, health, and community benefits that local food systems provide to communities.

Let’s Talk About Genetic Engineering: A Guide to Understanding Genetic Engineering and its Applications in Food, Agriculture, and the Environment

By: Khara Grieger, Nick Loschin, Katie Barnhill, Fred Gould

This publication explains genetic engineering and its use in food, agriculture, and the environment. It answers key questions about genetic engineering, including its definition, applications, safety, ethical issues, and related regulations. The publication also discusses potential risks and concludes with resources for more information.

Raising Earthworms (Eisenia fetida) for a Commercial Enterprise

By: Rhonda Sherman

This publication discusses how to set up a worm-growing business. It includes information on potential markets, earthworm biology, and setting up an earthworm-growing operation.

Before You Recycle, Choose to Reuse

By: Rhonda Sherman Water Quality & Waste Management

This publication for individuals and groups describes how to reduce waste by reusing materials, including clothing and household items.

Africanized Honey Bees: Prevention and Control

By: David Tarpy, Jennifer Keller Africanized Honey Bees

This factsheet provides basic information about prevention and control of Africanized honey bees prior to their expected arrival in North Carolina. (Part 2 of a 3-part series.)

Common Pantry Pests and their Management

By: Sydney Crawley, Matt Bertone

Grain products and other foodstuffs kept in kitchen cabinets, pantries, or storage areas can arrive infested or become infested with insects and other arthropods. These food thieves are colloquially referred to as “pantry pests'' since they invade foods that are frequently stored in the pantry. Most human food products, and even pet or wild animal foods, are susceptible to damage by stored product pests. Beetles (Order: Coleoptera) and moths (Order: Lepidoptera) are the most important insect groups responsible for contamination of foodstuffs in the United States, so we will focus on these groups for this fact sheet.

Working Together: A Guide to Collaboration in Rural Revitalization

By: Ann Savage, Sara Brune, Meredith Hovis, S. E. Spencer, Maude Dinan, Erin Seekamp

This publication discusses the components to collaborate successfully in rural revitalization efforts. If focuses on coming together, staying together, and growing together to create a social mechanism stakeholders can use to work toward common goals.

Non-Honey Bee Stinging Insects in North Carolina

By: David Tarpy, Joseph Flowers, Michael Waldvogel

This article describes and defines the different types of insects that sting and are also often mistaken for honey bees.

Collard Greens

By: Extension Master Gardener Volunteers, Jeannie Leonard, Lucy Bradley Grow It, Eat It

This series of publications provides information about how to grow, harvest, and prepare a variety of fruits and vegetables from your garden. Each publication features recipes, recommended uses, nutrition information, and more.

Rainwater Harvesting: Guidance for Homeowners

By: Bill Hunt Urban Waterways

A rainwater harvesting system captures stormwater runoff, often from a rooftop, and stores the water in a cistern for later use. In this guide for homeowners, the authors describe the components of a rainwater harvesting system and how they work together. Guidelines for choosing, sizing and installing the components are included.

Africanized Honey Bees: Where Are They Now, and When Will They Arrive in North Carolina?

By: David Tarpy, Jennifer Keller Africanized Honey Bees

This factsheet outlines the history, movement, distribution, and present status of the Africanized honey bee in the United States. (Part 1 of a 3-part series)

Managing the Impact of Floodwater Contaminants on Soil and Produce in Residential, Community, and School Vegetable Gardens

By: Carl Crozier, Benjamin Chapman, Catherine Kastleman, Elizabeth Shapiro-Garza, Bryan Luukinen, Samuel Cohen, Steve Yang, Luke Gatiboni, Lucy Bradley

This publication discusses how floods can affect food gardens. In it, you'll find recommendations for preparing your garden before a flood, precautions to take after the storm, and how to safely clean up and replant after floodwaters recede.

Blackberries for the Home Garden

By: Gina Fernandez

This publication is a home gardener's guide to planting, maintaining and harvesting blackberries.

Backyard Composting of Yard, Garden, and Food Discards

By: Rhonda Sherman

This publication describes how to build and maintain a composting pile to use the compost in your yard or garden.

How Your Business Can Cut Costs by Reducing Waste

By: Rhonda Sherman Water Quality & Waste Management

This factsheet for business owners describes North Carolina waste reduction programs that can benefit a business. It includes some recommended practices for reducing waste and a list of organizations that can provide information and assistance in planning and conducting a waste reduction and recycling program.

Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases

By: Michael Waldvogel, Charles Apperson Biting and Stinging Pests

This publication will help you identify the several species of ticks found in North Carolina and the diseases they transmit. It also describes chemical and non-chemical ways you can protect yourself from ticks outdoors and control ticks in and around your home.

Selecting and Managing Lawn Grasses for Shade

By: Grady Miller, Ray McCauley, Charles Peacock

Turfgrass, trees, and shrubs are desired in most landscapes because they are attractive and useful. Unfortunately, growing turfgrasses in the presence of trees and shrubs can be a formidable task because each plant group competes with the other for the light, water, and nutrients that are essential for survival and growth. Even so, homeowners can take steps to improve the performance of a lawn growing in shade.

Disease Management and Guidelines for the Honey Bee

By: David Tarpy, Jennifer Keller

It is the goal of every beekeeper to maintain healthy, productive colonies. This can only be accomplished by reducing the frequency and prevalence of disease within beehives. The following is an outline of recommendations for detecting and treating colonies for economically important parasites and pathogens of honey bees so that beekeepers may achieve this goal, and do so in a sustainable way for the long-term health of their colonies.

Protecting and Retaining Trees: A Guide for Municipalities and Counties in North Carolina

By: Robert Bardon, Brandon King

Learn how communities across North Carolina can protect and retain trees. This guide is based on a statewide review of municipal and county land use and tree protection regulations. The authors provide examples of ordinances in North Carolina that regulate tree removal, maintenance and replacement. They also discuss enforcement, incentives and alternatives and common tree conservation issues that NC communities face.

How to Salvage Flood-Damaged Appliances

Disaster Recovery

This publication covers items to consider when trying to salvage flood-damaged appliances.

Worms Can Recycle Your Garbage

By: Rhonda Sherman Water Quality & Waste Management

This factsheet explains how you can set up and maintain a worm composting bin for your home or office. Worm composting reduces the amount of material that ends up in the landfill and provides compost that can enrich the soil.

Butterflies in Your Backyard

By: Christopher Moorman, Jeffrey Pippen, John Connors, Nick Haddad, Mark Johns, Jesse Perry, Liessa Thomas Bowen Urban Wildlife

You can attract the many butterflies found throughout North Carolina to your backyard by following the simple practices described in this publication.

Who Is Responsible for the Trees? A Citizen Guide to Trees in the Community

By: Robert Bardon, Brandon King

This publication provides guidance on who is responsible for the maintenance and care of public and private trees in a community.

Organizing a Community Recycling Program

By: Rhonda Sherman Water Quality & Waste Management

This publication outlines key elements that local governments should consider when planning, implementing, publicizing and evaluating recycling programs.

Reptiles and Amphibians in Your Backyard

By: Christopher Moorman, Jill Anderson, Jeffrey Beane, Jeffrey Hall Urban Wildlife

As urban development continues to expand across the state, it is important that North Carolinians recognize the value of reptile and amphibian populations and learn how to conserve them.

Collard Greens and Common Ground: A North Carolina Community Food Gardening Handbook

By: Don Boekelheide, Lucy Bradley

Community gardens have been part of the American landscape since the mid-1700s. Today, community gardens continue to make positive contributions in neighborhoods across North Carolina. Winner of an American Society for Horticultural Science, Extension Division, 2017 Educational Materials Award, Collard Greens and Common Ground: A North Carolina Community Food Gardening Handbook is a practical guide to community gardening. Based on experience and research, it is packed with best practices, tested strategies, and useful checklists. The guide covers every step in the community gardening process, from starting a new garden to sustainable long-term garden management and policy. Whether you are new to community gardening or a seasoned veteran, Collard Greens and Common Ground will help your community garden flourish.

Africanized Honey Bees: Some Questions and Answers

By: David Tarpy, John Ambrose Africanized Honey Bees

This factsheet answers basic questions about Africanized honey bees. (Part 3 of a 3-part series)

Water-Damaged Carpets and Rugs

Disaster Recovery

This publication offers general guidelines for cleaning or replacing flood-damaged carpets and rugs.

Options for Backyard Stream Repair

By: Wendi Hartup, Mitch Woodward, Bill Lord, Mike Burchell, Barbara Doll

This publication discusses strategies and techniques for stabilizing stream banks where erosion is an issue.

Managing Backyards and Other Urban Habitats for Birds

By: Christopher Moorman, Mark Johns, Liessa Bowen, John Gerwin Urban Wildlife

This publication describes how homeowners can create backyards and other urban habitats that attract a variety of songbirds.

How to Create a Container Garden for Edibles in the North Carolina Piedmont

By: Lucy Bradley, Julie Sherk

In this publication you will find ideas to get you started growing your own edibles. Included are simple designs and potential settings for a single container, a small group of containers and a larger grouping of containers. The benefits and challenges of various planting options will also be explored.

How to Become a Beekeeper in North Carolina

By: David Tarpy, Jennifer Keller

Beekeeping is a very enjoyable and rewarding pastime that is relatively inexpensive to get started. Moreover, it’s a hobby that can eventually make you money! This factsheet is a primer on how to start your first hive and begin keeping bees.

Dealing with Potential Moisture Problems After a Flood

Disaster Recovery

This publication covers potential moisture problems in attics, crawl spaces and walls after a flood or other disaster.

Asparagus

By: Extension Master Gardener Volunteers, Linda G. Brandon, Jeannie Leonard, Lucy Bradley Grow It, Eat It

This series of publications provides information about how to grow, harvest, and prepare a variety of fruits and vegetables from your garden. Each publication features recipes, recommended uses, nutrition information, and more.

Barriers and Strategies to Connecting Urban Audiences to Wildlife and Nature: Results from a Multi-Method Research Project

By: Myron Floyd, Danielle Ross-Winslow, Eric Thompson, Natalie Sexton, Alia Dietsch, Katharine Conlon

This publication summarizes the findings of a research project aimed at understanding urban audiences, identifying barriers to engagement in wildlife-dependent recreation, and identifying strategies that the Service can implement to overcome these barriers.

Extension Models: Exploring Proactive and Reactive Approaches

By: Joseph Donaldson

This publication provides definitions of the Program Planning and Evaluation Model and the Reactive Programming Model for Extension work and how these models inform the work of NC State Extension.

Jumping Worms

By: Matt Bertone

This factsheet covers the description, biology, and management of the jumping earthworm, a common pest in North Carolina gardening.

Reconditioning Flood-Damaged Tractors

By: Gary Roberson Disaster Recovery

This publication offers information and guidance on how to clean and recondition tractors that have been submerged in floodwaters.

How to Prune Specific Plants

By: Barbara Fair Pruning Trees & Shrubs

This final publication in the Pruning Trees & Shrubs series gives tips for pruning specific plants.

Dealing With Snakes After a Storm

By: Michael Waldvogel, Sarah Kirby Disaster Recovery

This publication offers tips to deal with snakes, both indoors and outdoors, during the recovery process of a flood or disaster with strewn debris.

Community Backyard Composting Programs Can Reduce Waste and Save Money

By: Rhonda Sherman

This publication describes how communities can develop and implement backyard composting programs that reduce the amount of waste in the landfill and return nutrients to the soil.

Carolina Athletic Fields: A Guide to Maintaining Quality Turf on Athletic Fields

By: Grady Miller, Matthew Martin, Fred Yelverton, James Kerns, Ray McCauley

A guide to maintaining quality turf on athletic fields, including recommendations for establishing and caring for new fields, maintaining established fields, and managing pests.

A Gardener's Guide to Protecting Water Quality

By: Lucy Bradley, Deanna Osmond

This publication discusses ways that gardeners can protect water quality and avoid runoff and soil erosion.

A Disaster Kit for Staying at Home

By: Sarah Kirby, Benjamin Chapman Disaster Preparedness

This publication covers the supplies you will need at home in the event of an emergency or disaster.

21. Youth, Community, and Therapeutic Gardening

By: Lucy Bradley

This Youth, Community, and Therapeutic Gardening Chapter from the Extension Gardener Handbook helps volunteers understand how these types of gardens can be sucessful and the steps needed to be an effective mentor.

Legal Issues Surrounding Due Diligence for Solar Development

By: Robert Andrew Branan Farm Law for Operators and Landowners

This publication is designed to help landowners learn whether their property might be a candidate for a solar lease and what to expect when a solar developer performs due diligence. It also provides a description of legal issues that may arise, such as unclear ownership, zoning restrictions, and other encumbrances such as liens, easements, and existing leases.

Let’s Talk About Risk: A Guide to Identifying, Assessing, Managing, and Communicating Risk

By: Khara Grieger, Madison Horgan, Christopher Cummings

This publication outlines and describes core concepts of risk that are used in various environmental, health, and societal circumstances. It covers the following topics: defining risks, identifying and assessing risks, managing risks, and communicating risks.

Flood-Damaged Furniture

Disaster Recovery

This publication discusses how to possibly restore furniture, including antiques, damaged by floodwaters.

Water Requirements of North Carolina Turfgrasses

By: Grady Miller, Drew Pinnix, Garry Grabow, Charles Peacock

Water is an essential component for plant growth. In turfgrasses it comprises 75 to 90 percent of the fresh weight of the plant, and irrigation is a key cultural practice in turfgrass management. Only 1 percent of the water absorbed is utilized for metabolic activity. By considering the factors that contribute to water loss, turfgrass managers can devise effective irrigation plans for specific sites.

Returning Home After a Disaster

By: Sarah Kirby Disaster Recovery

This publication offers tips to people returning to their homes and communities after evacuation during an emergency or disaster.

A Gardener's Guide to Fertilizing Trees and Shrubs

By: Ervin Evans

This publication provides basic information on the nutrient needs of trees and shrubs, types of fertilizers to apply and recommended methods and times of application.

Coastal Hazards and Tourism: Exploring Outer Banks Visitors’ Responses to Storm-Related Impacts

By: Erin Seekamp, Matthew Jurjonas, Karly Bitsura-Meszaros

This publication discusses the impacts of coastal hazards on the tourism industry of North Carolina's Outer Banks (OBX) based on a survey of visitors to this popular beach destination.

Using a Compass and Pacing

By: Robert Bardon Woodland Owner Notes

A compass and pacing can be useful in many different woodlot activities. A compass can indicate the direction you are headed relative to magnetic north, and pacing is a simple means of measuring linear distance by walking. This publication will help you use a compass to determine direction and determine your pace.

Developing Successful Tree Ordinances

By: Robert Bardon, Mark Megalos, Amy Graul, Kevin Miller

This publication discusses how communities use tree ordinances as tools to protect trees, preserve green space and promote healthy, managed urban forests. To protect trees and prevent their loss in the urban environment, communities need to understand tree ordinances, their limitations and their proper implementation.

Guide to Understanding and Addressing PFAS in our Communities

By: Khara Grieger, Katlyn May

This FactSheet provides a guide to understanding and addressing PFAS in our communities, which may be helpful for Extension agents, community members, and others who are interested in learning more about PFAS and their potential impacts.

Container Garden Planting Calendar for Edibles in the Piedmont

By: Kim Richter, Lucy Bradley, Mark Kistler, Julie Sherk

This publication offers a guide to growing edible plants year-round in containers. Includes planting and harvest guides.

Tools to Make the Cut

By: Barbara Fair Pruning Trees & Shrubs

This second in a series on pruning offers tips on selecting the right tool for the job and for evaluating a tool’s quality.

The H-2A Visa Program in North Carolina

By: Alejandro Gutierrez-Li, Ph.D.

This factsheet shares some statistics about the H-2A visa program in North Carolina.

Soil, Plots, and Planters

By: Don Boekelheide, Lucy Bradley

This publication, chapter 8 of Collard Greens and Common Ground: A North Carolina Community Food Gardening Handbook, discusses soil management in community food gardens.

Building Local Food Economies: A Guide for Governments

By: Emily Edmonds, Rebecca Dunning, Taylor Smith

This publication serves as a guide on building local food economies for planners, economic developers, and local government professionals.

Before the Cut

By: Barbara Fair Pruning Trees & Shrubs

This first of four publications in the Pruning Trees & Shrubs series introduces basic pruning concepts and key terms. Subsequent publications in the series provide more information on woody plant biology, necessary tools and pruning guidelines for general purposes and specific species.

Kitchen Cleanup After the Flood

By: Benjamin Chapman Disaster Recovery

This publication covers steps to take to clean up your kitchen after a disaster or emergency.

Tips on Writing Turf Contracts and Landscape Specifications

By: Charles Peacock, Matt Martin

Maintenance contracts for turfgrass areas should be written to provide security for all parties involved. The person or company receiving services (the contractor) should be aware of everything it has agreed to and therefore is required to do. This publication provides basic guidelines on how to write a good contract regarding turfgrass maintenance.

Hurricane Preparedness

By: Sarah Kirby, Wilma Hammett Disaster Preparedness

The key to surviving a hurricane is preparation. This factsheet takes you through the thought process of what needs to be done before a storm so that you are prepared.

“Se hacen puentes al andar”: A Resource for Parents & Caregivers of Latino LGBTQ+ Youth

By: Maru Gonzalez, Tania Connaughton-Espino, Bianka M. Reese

“Se hacen puentes al andar” is about highlighting the power of family belonging and the risks associated with family rejection; lack of positive LGBTQ+ representation; and rigid adherence to traditional gender roles. Each story featured is drawn from a study about Latino LGBTQ+ youth belonging within a familial context and includes corresponding research-based and participant-informed recommendations for you—the parent, caregiver, or loved one of an LGBTQ+ youth.

Handling and Cleaning Up Damaged Pesticide Containers at Home

By: Michael Waldvogel, Sarah Kirby Disaster Recovery

This publication offers guidelines if a recent storm results in water damage to pesticide containers or application equipment in your home or on your property.

Growing Food

By: Don Boekelheide, Lucy Bradley

This publication, chapter 9 of Collard Greens and Common Ground: A North Carolina Community Food Gardening Handbook, focuses on planting strategies and planting times for various crops in food gardens.

Protecting Water Supply Springs

By: Greg Jennings Water Quality & Waste Management

This factsheet provides information on spring development, protection and disinfection, and water testing.

Using Web Marketplaces to Reach Untapped Markets

By: Bruno Ferreira, Duarte Morais, Mary Lorscheider

This publication explains how microentrepreneurs can use emerging web-based marketplaces to sell services, goods, and experiences to untapped markets.

Plant Selection for Extensive Green Roofs in the Research Triangle Area of North Carolina

By: Wenyan Fu, Julieta Sherk, Joe Neal

This publication describes the evaluation of plant survival and vigor on 11 extensive green roofs in the Research Triangle region of North Carolina and provides plant selection guidelines for future green roof installations.

Voluntary Conservation Options for Land Protection in North Carolina

By: Mark Megalos, Stephanie Chizmar, Rajan Parajuli Woodland Owner Notes

Landowners share a deep connection to their land and the legacy they’ll leave behind. With so many conservation options to consider, landowners need to have a working knowledge of the choices to protect their land in the near and long term. Landowners should identify their goals before embarking upon a conservation strategy. Once a conservation strategy is selected, then the implications of state and federal taxes can be explored. This publication reviews the most common land conservation and protection options.

Food Garden Design

By: Don Boekelheide, Lucy Bradley

This publication, chapter 4 of Collard Greens and Common Ground: A North Carolina Community Food Gardening Handbook, discusses step-by-step methods for designing a new community food garden.

Agritourism, Farm Visits, Agro-Tourism Oh My! Do Farmers, Residents, and Extension Faculty Speak the Same Language?

By: Samantha Rozier-Rich, Shuangyu Xu, Carla Barbieri, Claudia Gil Arroyo

There is a need for a better understanding of what people mean when they say “agritourism,” so farmers can realize the full economic benefit of this activity. The authors of this publication conducted a study to discover the preferences of farmers, local residents (visitors or potential visitors), and extension faculty in North Carolina and Missouri with regard to labels for and definitions of agritourism, and to determine where common ground lies among these groups.

Funding and Resources

By: Don Boekelheide, Lucy Bradley

This publication, chapter 11 of Collard Greens and Common Ground: A North Carolina Community Food Gardening Handbook, offers information on fundraising, dues, and grants.

A Small Backyard Greenhouse for the Home Gardener

By: Mike Boyette, Ted Bilderback

This publication presents plans and instructions for an easily constructed greenhouse that costs approximately $100 and may be used for many purposes.

A Low-Cost Plastic Bottle and Jug Baler

By: Rhonda Sherman Water Quality & Waste Management

This publication shows how to build a simple, economical bale press and gives instructions on baling plastic bottles and jugs for recycling.

Tornadoes

Disaster Preparedness

This publication offers information on tornadoes and tornado season in North Carolina.

Priorities for Cleanup & Repair

Disaster Recovery

This publication offers a list of steps to take for cleanup and repair of your home following a disaster or emergency.

Situational Analysis / Needs Assessment for Effective Community Engagement: A Guidebook for Extension Professionals

By: Joseph Donaldson

This publication focuses on the importance of needs assessments to address community needs and create positive change for complex problems.

Market Gardens For Small Farms in North Carolina

By: Gary Bullen, Derek Washburn, Amy Forster Small Farms in North Carolina

This guide provides an overview of market gardens for small and beginning farmers in North Carolina, with a focus on planning that can result in a profitable market garden enterprise. This publication is a starting reference point for anyone interested in market gardens.

Introducing Children to Insects in Childcare Center Gardens

By: Sam Marshall, Mary Archer, Lucy Bradley Local Foods: Childcare Center Production Gardens

This factsheet is a guide to introducing children to common garden insects in an early childcare setting. It includes age-appropriate activities for childcare providers to engage young children in identifying garden insects at all life stages.

Applying For FEMA Disaster Assistance

By: Hannah Withers, Sidra Hanson, Daniel Meyers Federal Disaster Aid

If a major disaster has been declared in your area, you may be eligible to receive financial assistance from FEMA. There are four ways to apply for federal disaster assistance: online, in the FEMA app, by phone, or in person.

Common Types of Federal Disaster Aid for Major Storms

By: N. Pace, M. Daigle, S. Hanson, D. Meyers Federal Disaster Aid

The federal government provides several types of disaster aid related to major storm events. Aid programs can be provided to individuals as well as communities. The specific type of aid available will depend on the storm event and its disaster declaration. The disaster declaration will establish the locations and type of aid available for that disaster.

How Beneficial is Agritourism? North Carolina Farmers and Residents Respond

By: Shuangyu Xu, Carla Barbieri, Samantha Rozier-Rich, Erin Seekamp, Duarte Morais

Agritourism, defined as activities offered on working farms and other agricultural settings for entertainment or educational purposes, has been increasing over the last ten years. Despite its growth, there is uncertainty about the benefits that agritourism brings to society, especially to rural communities. Understanding the benefits of agritourism is essential to further develop this recreational activity and to strengthen marketing efforts to attract more visitors to farms. To document perceptions of the socio-cultural, environmental, and economic benefits of agritourism, an online survey was conducted in 2010 among North Carolina agritourism providers (“farmers”) and a non-random panel of current and potential visitors (“residents”).

Heat Stress Disorders

Disaster Recovery

This publication offers safety tips and first aid procedures to prevent and treat heat stress disorders that may occur during clean-up after a hurricane or other disaster.

Getting Started

By: Don Boekelheide, Lucy Bradley

This publication, chapter 2 of Collard Greens and Common Ground: A North Carolina Community Food Gardening Handbook, guides readers through several initial steps in starting a community garden.

Considering an Agritourism Enterprise?

By: Kent Wolfe, Gary Bullen A How-To Guide for Successful Agritourism Enterprises

Agritourism – also known as farm tourism, agri-tainment, agricultural tourism, or agrotourism – has a long history in America. Because of the generation gap between farm and non-farm families, the demand for a slower paced farm experience has now become the catalyst for farm-based recreation to become an important business. Agritourism has become a tool that has a direct economic impact on farms and the surrounding communities.

Agritourism in North Carolina: Summary of Pilot Study Results

By: Shuangyu Xu, Samantha Rozier-Rich

Agritourism–defined in this study as any activity or service provided on a working farm with the purpose of attracting visitors–has grown in popularity due to structural changes affecting farmers and communities across the nation and throughout North Carolina. According to the North Carolina Rural Center, the number of farms in North Carolina has dramatically declined in recent years to just 17% of the total number of farms present in the 1940s. The changing economy, fluctuations in agricultural income, and farmers’ desire to preserve land and resources have pressured North Carolina farmers to examine alternative economic opportunities.

Assessing Historical Significance and Use Potential of Buildings within Historic Districts: An Overview of a Measurement Framework Developed for Climate Adaptation Planning

By: Sandra Fatorić, Erin Seekamp

This publication discusses a pilot study considering 17 historic structures at Cape Lookout National Seashore. The study was performed develop guidance and methods to help inform climate adaptation planning for cultural resources.

Maintenance of Stormwater Wetlands and Wet Ponds

By: Bill Hunt, Bill Lord Urban Waterways

This publication presents maintenance guidelines for stormwater wetlands and wet ponds, two stormwater practices that are being constructed across North Carolina. Stormwater management practices must be kept in proper working order to maintain their intended functions and aesthetic appeal.

Management

By: Don Boekelheide, Lucy Bradley

This publication, chapter 7 of Collard Greens and Common Ground: A North Carolina Community Food Gardening Handbook, offers users management tips for a community garden, including a seasonal maintenance calendar.

Choosing a Contractor

By: Sarah Kirby Disaster Recovery

This publication offers tips on choosing a contractor for home repairs after an emergency or disaster.

Controlling Damage in Pesticide Storage Facilities on the Farm

By: Sarah Kirby, Michael Waldvogel Disaster Recovery

This publication for farmers covers the guidelines to deal with pesticide storage facilities that may have been damaged by a flood or other disaster.

Eliminating Odors From Your Refrigerator and Freezer

Disaster Recovery

This publication offers tips to rid your refrigerator of odors after an extended loss of power due to an emergency or disaster.

A Summary of the National 4-H Science: Building a 4-H STEM Career Pathway Initiative

By: Joseph Donaldson, Karen Franck

This publication summarizes an evaluation of the 4-H Science: Building a 4-H STEM Career Pathway Initiative with the goals of tracking the initiative's implementation, describing the extent to which the initiative goals were being met, and evaluating the 4-H Career Pathway for further implementation.

Updates to FEMA's Individual Assistance Program

By: D. Meyers, N. Pace, M. Daigle, D. Siebert, C. Franze Federal Disaster Aid

On January 22, 2024, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) published a new rule changing the Individual Assistance Program. These changes aim to make the Individual Assistance program more equitable by expanding eligibility for some types of assistance, removing procedural barriers to entry, and simplifying certain processes overall.

Earthworm Composting

Youth Wildlife Projects

This educational resource for children aged 9-12 explains how to make a composting bin to house earthworms and recycle food scraps.

Communities Thrive on Trees

By: Robert Bardon, Kevin Miller, Mark Megalos

This brochure describes the economic, environmental and health benefits that urban trees provide to a community. It provides a list of organizations to contact for more information about urban forestry.

Site Selection

By: Don Boekelheide, Lucy Bradley

This publication, chapter 3 of Collard Greens and Common Ground: A North Carolina Community Food Gardening Handbook, offers community garden organizers insight on choosing potential sites for a community food garden.

Troubleshooting

By: Don Boekleheide, Lucy Bradley

This publication, chapter 13 of Collard Greens and Common Ground: A North Carolina Community Food Gardening Handbook, offers strategies for dealing with common gardening problems in a community garden setting.

Introduction

By: Don Boekelheide, Lucy Bradley

This publication, chapter 1 of Collard Greens and Common Ground: A North Carolina Community Food Gardening Handbook, offers an introduction to and overview of community gardening.

Composting at NC Residential and Summer Camps

By: Rhonda Sherman, Eric Caldwell

Residential camps generate food scraps from meal preparation, plate scrapings, and leftover or spoiled food. Many camps have horses, resulting in manure to manage. Composting and vermicomposting are viable options for managing food scraps, horse manure, and other types of organic waste materials.

Four Lessons to Build Resilience in Agritourism

By: Sara Brune, Olivia Vila, Danielle Lawson, Whitney Knollenberg

This publication documents the lessons learned by agritourism operators whose businesses were impacted by the COVID-19 crisis in North Carolina. Understanding the practices used by these operators provides insights for strengthening the industry's resilience during a public health crisis.

Let’s Work Together in Addressing Environmental and Societal Issues: Guide to Engaging Stakeholders and Communities

By: Khara Grieger, Madison Horgan, Ashton Merck

This publication is a guide for researchers, scholars, extension agents, government officials, and others interested in engaging stakeholders and community members to identify and address potential environmental and societal issues.

Choosing a Pump for Rainwater Harvesting

By: Bill Hunt, Matthew Jones Urban Waterways

A pump for the cistern or tank of a water-harvesting system can increase the system's uses significantly. In this publication get step-by-step guidance on how to choose a pump to best suit the system.

North Carolina Women’s Success in Agritourism: Turning Challenges into Opportunities

By: Mirza Farzana Halim, Carla Barbieri, Susan Jakes, Duarte Morais

This publication presents the results of interviews with women in agritourism across North Carolina. It discusses the successes, challenges, and opportunities these women face in the agritourism industry and offers conclusions on strategies to overcome challenges and improve success.

Reconditioning Flood-Damaged Farm Equipment

By: Gary Roberson Disaster Recovery

This publication offers general information and guidance on how to recondition farm equipment that has been submerged in floodwaters.

Success of Women in Agritourism: She Will Get What She Wants

By: Ann Savage, Carla Barbieri, Susan Jakes, Duarte Morais

This publication examine's women's success in the agritourism industry through survey responses to help maximize the benefits of agritourism to farms and rural communities.

Visitor Profiles Inform the Development of Oyster Tourism in North Carolina

By: Whitney Knollenberg, Ph.D., Emily Yeager, Ph.D., Carla Barbieri, Ph.D., Jane Harrison, Ph.D.

This publication summarizes research about the potential of oysters to become part of the North Carolina tourism industry.

Monitoring Macroinvertebrates

Youth Wildlife Projects

This educational resource for children aged 13-15 explains how to collect and identify stream insects and other tiny invertebrates in a group outing.

Promoting Your Agritourism Business

By: Kent Wolfe, Gary Bullen A How-To Guide for Successful Agritourism Enterprises

The basis of any promotional program is product excellence. If your product or operation is excellent, promotion will enhance your sales. If your product is poor, all the advertising in the world will not help. This publication offers some suggestions for promoting your agritourism business.

Regulations That May Affect Your Agritourism Enterprise

By: Kent Wolfe, Gary Bullen A How-To Guide for Successful Agritourism Enterprises

A wide variety of regulations may affect agritourism enterprise operations. The affect of regulations may depend on the type of attractions offered, location of the enterprise, whether employees are hired and a number of other factors specific to each enterprise. These regulations may be imposed at the federal, state and local levels of government. It is important to investigate all regulations applicable to your agritourism enterprise in order to avoid penalties, fines or interruptions to you business. This resource document provides an introduction to a number of regulations that may impact agritourism operations.

Conserving Working Lands: A Land Legacy Workbook with Tools and Resources to Guide Your Conservation Planning Journey

By: Susan Moore, Mark Megalos, Grizel Gonzalez-Jeuck

Your land is valuable to you and your family. Protection and successful transition begins with a flexible land conservation plan. A conservation plan describes your intentions and methods to achieve a desired outcome. To achieve your specific conservation vision, there are proven checkpoints to complete your journey. These checkpoints will result in a plan you can use to enroll your land in the conservation program(s) that meets your needs. Every plan may be unique but all will have the checkpoints of the journey in common. This handbook provides the recommended checkpoints to help begin your planning journey and simple tools to help you complete a working land conservation plan.

Water Quality and Professional Turfgrass Managers

By: Grady Miller, Ray McCauley Water Quality & Turfgrass Area Development

Although groundwater and surface waters are rarely polluted by turfgrass pesticides, turf managers should consider the potential for environmental contamination when choosing a pesticide.

Site Preparation

By: Don Boekelheide, Lucy Bradley

This publication, chapter 5 of Collard Greens and Common Ground: A North Carolina Community Food Garden Handbook, offers a step-by-step guide for preparing a new garden site.

Appendix H. Community Gardening Resources

By: Mary Jac Brennan, Susan Jakes

This appendix is part of the Extension Gardener Handbook and gives users to the tools to implement a youth, community, or therapeutic garden.

Empacadora Económica para Reciclar Botellas y Garrafas de Plástico

By: Rhonda Sherman

Esta publicación muestra cómo construir una prensa de fardos sencilla y económica y da instrucciones sobre cómo embalar botellas y garrafas de plástico jarras para reciclar.

Farm to Early Care and Education Resource Guide for North Carolina Extension Agents

By: Caroline Hundley, Shironda Brown, Der Holcomb, Courtney Tevepaugh, Dara Bloom, Marcus McFarland, Lucy Bradley, Ivelisse Colón, Eli Snyder

This resource guide explores how Early Care and Education programs serve families and show potential collaborations for Extension agents; inspires new local collaboration by highlighting successful programs within communities; and encourages cross-program activities to increase program support from Extension across North Carolina.

Major Storm Disaster Declarations

By: N. Pace, M. Daigle Federal Disaster Aid

A major storm disaster declaration refers to a formal process that requests federal assistance to deal with a major disaster that overwhelms state and local capacity under the Stafford Act. The formal request allows the federal government to provide support such as mobilizing the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the National Guard as well as other support, depending upon the situation.

Nitrate in Drinking Water

By: Greg Jennings, Ronald E. Sneed

This factsheet explains the problems related to nitrate in drinking water and how to prevent it from affecting your water supply.

Butterfly Buffet

Youth Wildlife Projects

This educational resource for children aged 13-15 explains how to keep detailed records of butterfly observations and recommends which plants would be most beneficial to local butterflies.

Organization

By: Don Boekelheide, Lucy Bradley

This publication, chapter 6 of Collard Greens and Common Ground: A North Carolina Community Food Gardening Handbook, discusses the organization of the community garden, including roles and responsibilities.

Food Safety and Garden Health

By: Don Boekelheide, Lucy Bradley

This publication, chapter 10 of Collard Greens and Common Ground: A North Carolina Community Food Gardening Handbook, discusses food safety when growing crops in a community garden, including pesticides, sanitation, and irrigation.

Growing Fruit Trees in Childcare Center Gardens

By: Mary Archer, Michael Parker, Lucy Bradley Local Foods: Childcare Center Production Gardens

Early childhood educators can easily engage children in growing, harvesting, and preparing tree fruits that provide numerous opportunities for hands-on learning. Fruit trees add year-round value to childcare outdoor learning environments and provide opportunities for children to follow seasonal changes. In addition, fruit trees help to increase the natural diversity of the spaces and provide pockets of shade. While growing fruit trees can be a very rewarding process, proper planning, preparation, and care of the trees takes time and is essential for success.

Nest Structures for Mourning Doves

Youth Wildlife Projects

This educational resource for children aged 9-12 explains how to build, place and monitor a suitable nesting structure for mourning doves.

Estuaries: Nature's Water Filters

Youth Wildlife Projects

This educational resource for children aged 13-15 explains how to build a model of a wetland and its functions or map how stormwater flows between their neighborhoods and the ocean.

Urban Wildlife: Our Animal Neighbors

Youth Wildlife Projects

This educational resource for children aged 13-15 explains how to observe urban wildlife, record information and use findings to develop a wildlife habitat improvement plan.

Wetlands and Water Quality

By: Robert Evans, J.W. Gilliam, J.P. Lilly Water Quality & Waste Management

This factsheet explains how wetlands type and location influence water quality, and it reviews the cases for development or preservation.

Nature's Footprints

Youth Wildlife Projects

This educational resource for children aged 9-12 explains how to identify a wide variety of animal tracks.

Permeable Pavement: Research Update and Design Implications

By: Bill Hunt, Kelly A. Collins Urban Waterways

As the use of permeable pavement increases in North Carolina, practitioners can look to research findings for guidance. Recent research in North Carolina and elsewhere has focused on four aspects: runoff reduction, clogging, long-term hydrology and water quality. This overview highlights research findings, discusses research implications, and provides direct links to the research.

Maximizing the Durability of Athletic Fields

By: Grady Miller

Durable athletic fields begin with sound construction and careful planning. Good management practices can increase a field's durability. The basic concepts presented in this guide can help field managers extend the usability of athletic fields.

Beyond the Garden Gate

By: Don Boekleheide, Lucy Bradley

This publication, chapter 12 of Collard Greens and Common Ground: A North Carolina Community Food Gardening Handbook, offers advice for community gardeners to expand their involvement in the larger community.

Tornado Preparedness

Disaster Preparedness

This publication covers how to spot a tornado, where to go during a storm and tornado survival rules and tips.

“Se hacen puentes al andar”: Un Recurso para los Padres y Tutores de Jóvenes LGBTQ+

By: Maru Gonzalez, Tania Connaughton-Espino, Bianka M. Reese

“Se hacen puentes al andar” es sobre resaltar la importancia de sentirse parte de la familia y los riesgos asociados con el rechazo familiar, la falta de representación positiva de personas LGBTQ+, y el cumplimiento a los rígidos roles tradicionales de género. Cada historia que contamos proviene de un estudio de jóvenes latinos LGBTQ+ dentro de un contexto familiar e incluye recomendaciones correspondientes para usted—el padre, el tutor o el ser querido de un joven LGBTQ+—basadas en evidencia y en las experiencias de los participantes.

Hunting and Fishing Sportsmanship

Youth Wildlife Projects

This educational resource for children aged 13-15 explains basic rules for being a good sportsman while hunting or fishing on another’s property.

Wild Game: From Field to Table

Youth Wildlife Projects

This educational resource for children aged 13-15 explains how to properly handle, store, dress and prepare wild game or fish.

Risk Assessment and Management

By: Kent Wolfe, Gary Bullen A How-To Guide for Successful Agritourism Enterprises

What types of risk are you taking on when you engage in agritourism? The first risk normally thought of is liability. While liability is extremely important, other types of risk are also important for you to consider. To be successful, you must correctly assess and manage risk.

Your Water Supply: Well Construction and Protection

By: R. L. Huffman, Dorothy Miner

This guide describes common types of well construction in North Carolina and offers advice for safely constructing and caring for a well.

Controlled Drainage Management Guidelines for Improving Drainage Water Quality

By: Robert Evans, J.W. Gilliam, Wayne Skaggs

This publication explains how future agricultural practices must be designed and managed to protect water quality.

Stormwater Wetland Design Update: Zones, Vegetation, Soil, and Outlet Guidance

By: Bill Hunt, Jason Wright, Mike Burchell, Kris Bass Urban Waterways

These new design guidelines for stormwater wetlands focus on four design points: internal wetland zones, herbaceous plants that thrive in stormwater wetlands, a proper growing medium, and the importance of a flexible outlet structure and its construction.

HACCP in Your School

By: Angie Fraser, Benjamin Chapman, Audrey Kreske, Michael Waldvogel, Patricia Alder

This manual covers Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP), a food safety plan for schools to reduce the likelihood of foodborne illness by handling food safely from the time it is received until the time it is served.

Creating the Perfect Blend: Community Resources Needed to Support a Sustainable Craft Beverage Industry

By: Claudia Gil Arroyo, Whitney Knollenberg, Carla Barbieri, Kathryn Boys, Alyssa Stroker

The growing craft beverage industry is generating tourism in Wake County. This publication discusses the resources needed to sustain growth in the industry and the related benefits it produces to understand ways to advance craft beverage tourism.

Connecting to Early Childhood Partners in Your Community

By: Caroline Hundley, Shironda Brown, Der Holcomb, Courtney Tevepaugh, Dara Bloom, Marcus McFarland, Lucy Bradley, Ivelisse Colón, Eli Snyder

This chapter of the Farm to Early Care and Education Resource Guide for North Carolina Extension Agents discusses potential partner organizations.

Customer Service

By: Kent Wolfe, Gary Bullen A How-To Guide for Successful Agritourism Enterprises

Customer service encompasses many things including appearance of your operation, reception the customer receives, knowledge of your employees, accuracy of directions and ease of accessibility. While satisfied customers will provide repeat business and attract more customers to your business, dissatisfied customers won't return and they may discourage potential customers from visiting your business. Steps to improve customer service include: developing a written customer plan, identifying your customers, and determining what it will take to satisfy them. If you fall short of full satisfaction, you need to know how to correct the problem as soon as possible.

Qualifying and Quantifying Your Personal Agritourism Potential

By: Kent Wolfe, Gary Bullen A How-To Guide for Successful Agritourism Enterprises

There are a number of questions that must be asked and honestly answered when considering whether to start and operate an agritourism operation. For example, you should evaluate factors such as personal characteristics and skills, target markets, market potential, land and property resources and characteristics, individual and family goals, time and labor considerations, and financial needs and resources. An honest evaluation of these factors will help you understand your potential for success.

Grapes and Berries for the Garden

By: Barclay Poling, Gina Fernandez, R. A. Allen

This guide provides home gardeners with instructions for growing strawberries, blueberries, brambles (blackberries and raspberries), and grapes.

Workplace Community Supported Agriculture: Connecting Local Farmers to Local Workplaces

By: Denise Finney, Nancy Creamer

This guide provides an overview of the community supported agriculture (CSA) program at Research Triangle Institute International (RTI). Filled with ideas, examples, and lessons learned from this workplace CSA pilot project, the guide provides information for farmers, businesses, Extension agents, and others who are considering starting a workplace CSA program.

North Shore Community Climate Readiness: Understanding Visitor Behaviors and Responses to Climate Change Projections

By: Allie McCreary, Erin Seekamp, Mae A. Davenport, Jordan W. Smith

This publication presents the findings from survey research with visitors to the North Shore tourism region along Lake Superior in Minnesota with the intention to to enhance tourism and recreation providers’ understanding of current visitor behaviors and how visitor behaviors may respond to various scenarios of climate change projected for the North Shore.

Extension Programming Models

By: Joseph Donaldson

This publication illustrates the NC State Extension Model for Program Planning and Evaluation for proactive and reactive programming.

Online Sales Platforms for Direct to Consumer Sales

By: Hannah Dankbar Local Foods

Online sales can benefit tech-savvy local food producers who are looking for an emerging way to connect with consumers. There are multiple online sales platforms that can help ease the administrative burden of direct-to-consumer sales and help with online marketing to reach consumers. Here is a list of resources that farmers can utilize and a list of questions to consider when thinking about adopting an online platform. With the growing popularity of online shopping, producers should consider becoming involved in online sales to consumers as a strategy to make their agribusiness more resilient.

Housing Assistance After a Major Storm

By: S. Hanson, D. Meyers, N. Pace, M. Daigle, D. Seibert, C. Franze Federal Disaster Aid

When there has been a major disaster, the federal government often offers housing assistance for people in need. There are two main types of housing assistance. First, housing assistance may be financial, which means that people will receive money to find and pay for housing. Second, housing assistance may be direct, which means that a person will not receive money, but they will receive a place to stay, such as a trailer or RV. The federal government decides what types of housing assistance will be available based on the type of major disaster that has taken place, and it will decide what type of assistance a person may be offered. A person only needs to apply for assistance one time to be considered for all types of housing assistance.

Leaping Lizards

Youth Wildlife Projects

This educational resource for children aged 9-12 explains characteristics of lizards that distinguish them from other animals.

Southeastern Serpents

Youth Wildlife Projects

This educational resource for children aged 9-12 explains how to identify snakes and their behavior in nature.

Farming for Wildlife

Youth Wildlife Projects

This educational resource for children aged 13-15 explains how to plant food plots and manipulate the seed bank to improve food resources for white-tailed deer and other wildlife species.

Pond Management: Good Fishing in the Balance

Youth Wildlife Projects

This educational resource for children aged 13-15 explains how to collect information on fish populations and evaluate it to determine management recommendations for ponds.

Talking Turkey

Youth Wildlife Projects

This educational resource for children aged 13-15 explains how to recognize and record wild turkey vocalizations; then give an oral presentation discussing how turkeys communicate.

Fishing Bait

Youth Wildlife Projects

This educational resource for children aged 9-12 explains the different types of baits and lures and their effectiveness in attracting fish.

Baseball Field Layout and Construction

By: Grady Miller

Knowing a few basics and having some appropriate tools is all that is necessary before you can build your own baseball field. These illustrated instructions can be used to set up a baseball field on a relatively level, open area of ground.

Eat Smart Move More North Carolina: Growing Communities Through Gardens

By: Keith Baldwin, Diane Beth, Lucy Bradley, Nilam Dave, Susan Jakes, Melissa Nelson

Gardens bring communities together. Not only are community gardens a good way to get more fresh fruits and vegetables in our diets, they also allow us to be active outdoors and build a strong community.

Evacuating Safely

Disaster Preparedness

This publication covers the supplies needed for an evacuation due to an emergency or disaster, as well as a checklist of things to do before leaving your house.

Social Relationships Between Wineries and Local Communities: Perspectives of North Carolinians from the Piedmont

By: Jing Li, Shuangyu Xu, Mirza Farzana Halim, Carla Barbieri

This publication discusses the perspectives of locals in the North Carolina Triad with regard to social relationships between wineries and the communities.

Pools of Life

Youth Wildlife Projects

This educational resource for children aged 9-12 explains which bodies of water are suitable for amphibian growth and development.

Tools for Archers

Youth Wildlife Projects

This educational resource for children aged 9-12 explains how to identify and locate household materials to recycle in the construction of archery equipment.

Marketing Your Agritourism Enterprise

By: Kent Wolfe, Gary Bullen A How-To Guide for Successful Agritourism Enterprises

This factsheet describes important considerations for developing an effective marketing plan to promote an agritourism business.

Beavers: Ecosystem Engineers

Youth Wildlife Projects

This educational resource for children aged 9-12 explores studying beaver biology and behavior through inquiry-based learning strategies.

Turtle Tales

Youth Wildlife Projects

This educational resource for children aged 9-12 offers information about turtles and their role in nature.

Houses for Wood Ducks

Youth Wildlife Projects

This educational resource for children aged 13-15 explains how to collect used materials, construct and strategically place nest boxes for wood ducks.

Sharing Space with Wildlife

Youth Wildlife Projects

This educational resource for children aged 13-15 explains how to identify nuisance wildlife situations and make recommendations for minimizing damage.

Animal Appetites

Youth Wildlife Projects

This educational resource for children aged 9-12 explores food preferences in animals through inquiry-based learning strategies.

Water Quality and Home Lawn Care

By: Arthur Bruneau, S. C. Hodges, L. T. Lucas Water Quality & Turfgrass Area Development

This publication will help you care for your lawn in ways that prevent and reduce contamination of our water resources by sediment, fertilizers, and pesticides.

Vacationer Supported Agriculture Summer 2019

By: Bruno Simoes Ferreira, Duarte Morais, Becky Bowen, Susan Jakes, Hannah Dankbar, Mark Blevins, Victoria Patterson, Britt Davis Local Foods

Vacationer Supported Agriculture (VSA) is a project led by NC State’s P1tLab and NC State Extension (Local Foods, Community Development, and Tourism Extension) aiming to connect small farmers with new opportunities to increase farm revenue through direct sales of fresh produce. VSA meets discerning vacationers’ desires to: a) have convenient access to fresh local produce, b) connect with the place they are visiting by buying from local farms, and c) leave positive impacts in the destinations they visit, by coordinating the sale and delivery of produce bags from local farmers. VSA enables vacation home realties to showcase their commitment to the sustainable and equitable development of their local communities by recommending the produce bags to their guests. In each county, the Extension Center and Tourism Authority play the critical role of recruiting and supporting local farmer groups and vacation home rentals. In turn they receive records of the impact this initiative had on farmer revenue and destination competitiveness.

Questions to Ask When Purchasing Water Treatment Equipment

By: Greg Jennings, Ronald E. Sneed

The home water treatment industry has expanded tremendously in recent years. New products are constantly being introduced which claim to solve a variety of water quality problems. Consumers often make costly decisions about water treatment equipment without being well-informed. Many people simply do not know what questions to ask to ensure wise investments. This fact sheet offers the 12 questions consumers should ask of water treatment manufacturers or distributors.

Bird Furniture

Youth Wildlife Projects

This educational resource for children aged 9-12 explores the nesting and feeding requirements of birds and explains how to build nesting boxes.

Engaging Volunteers to Develop a Local Food Directory

By: Hannah Dankbar, Dara Bloom, Robyn Stout Local Foods

A local food directory is a listing of farms and food businesses where customers can find local food. Directories are a tool to connect consumers and producers. People who want to buy local food have to know where to find it. Many Extension offices across the state either generate their own directory or provide support for one. Volunteers, such as Extension Master Food Volunteers can help by helping to gather information about farms and food businesses. This guide outlines a process on how to engage volunteers in building a local food directory.

Focus on Residential Water Conservation

By: A. R. Rubin

Most North Carolina homeowners could easily reduce their indoor water consumption by about 30 percent through the installation of very simple water conserving devices. This publication covers a few suggestions to reduce household water use.

Would You Like to Be a Wildlife Professional?

Youth Wildlife Projects

This educational resource for children aged 13-15 explains the physical and technical skills expected of entry-level wildlife and fishery biologists and/or law enforcement officers, and explains how to evaluate personal abilities along with educational and vocational needs and opportunities.

Precision Agriculture Technology: How to Become a Commercial Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Pilot

By: Gary Roberson

This publication discusses flying unmanned aerial vehicles (drones, model aircraft) for commercial purposes. You'll learn about the requirements becoming a commercial UAV pilot and how to obtain a remote pilot certificate.

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