Cooking Class

The Extension Center in Lincolnton offers up all kinds of classes.

Last week, a cooking class was on the docket.

Anything related to gardening or clean eating is appealing,

and this class was no exception.

The bonus was that several of my Master Gardener friends

decided to take it at the same time,

so it was a social gathering as well.

Most of us grow herbs of some sort in our gardens,

so this class gave us the chance to learn how best to use or preserve them.

The handouts provided included information about harvesting,

drying and using the herbs we grow.

We were also given a half dozen recipes,

and we broke up into groups of two to create our concoctions.

Everything was provided for us,

including ingredients, tools and kitchen appliances.

All we had to do was follow the recipes and do a taste test!

Along with instruction about the food items we were using,

we learned more about knife skills and utilizing the proper equipment.

The main dish included a chicken recipe

with a side of mashed cauliflower and a green salad.

Two of our members produced a delicious dessert using lavender.

My partner and I were on soup duty.

Sweet potatoes were transformed into a luscious bisque.

The chicken cacciatore looked so colorful,

with all of the different veggies mixed in.

This one-pot wonder would be great over rice or polenta.

The mashed cauliflower is an alternative to mashed white potatoes,

with a few more health benefits, including fiber.

The bisque turned out quite well,

if I do say so myself.

This vegetarian dish is allergy-friendly

and will keep well frozen, if you don't eat it all up!

The lavender sugar cookies were delicate and crisp,

with a soft center.

The lavender added a subtle difference in flavor.

We learned, we cooked, we ate and chatted away.
What a wonderful way to spend an evening.
The Cooperative Extension Center is such an integral part of our community.
They offer classes, clubs, and so much more.
I'm honored to be able to partake of all of its offerings.

Want to find out more?

Lincoln County Cooperative Extension Center

Pollinator Workshop

Last weekend, I had the opportunity 
to take a class on pollinator gardens 
at the Catawba Cooperative Extension Office.
The course consisted of a bit of classroom time,
which offered vital information about this beneficial subject.
The second part of the class was hands-on
and we made our way outside
on a gorgeous, crisp spring day.

This triangular piece of land
adjacent to the vegetable garden was the focus of our work.

A plan had been previously devised
and helped us know where to place the designated plants.

After the classroom presentation,
we moved outside to create a pollinator bed.

Tools were gathered for the project.

The Extension Center had an abundance
of rich, valuable compost available for this project.
A couple of us were on mulch duty,
hauling it from one end of the property
to the new bed.

The sheet mulch method
(also known as lasagna gardening)
was utilized,
layering cardboard over the grass
and then covering with compost.
The cardboard is a great weed deterrent,
and is the way I prefer to deal with unwanted grass at home.

Our group was enthusiastic
and it was plain to see
that experience was not lacking.
Many of the volunteers have already been through
the Master Gardener program.

The compost should aid the new residents
in retaining moisture from rainfall,
as well as keeping them cooler during the summer months.
It's also one of the best ways to keep weeds at bay.

Although I had to leave before the project was completed
(we ran a bit over our time),
it was really coming together quickly.
With plenty of room to spread out in the future,
these plants should give the local pollinators plenty to enjoy
over the next few years.
I can't wait to go back to see how it's filled in.

If you are interested in adding some pollinator-friendly
plants to your garden, keep these tips in mind:

~Pollinators need a diversity of flowers.
~Choose plants that bloom at different times of the year.
~Create habitats for those who prefer tight spaces,
using grasses or a handmade "bee hotel".
~Provide a water source as well as
some bare ground for nesting bees.

Check out this link
for a free design planner
to get you started.

Native Plants Class

One of the best things to happen since we moved here,

is the abundance of opportunities for gardeners to prolong their education.

I graduated from the Master Gardener's program in April,

but continue to take classes offered by the Extension Office.

We are fortunate to live close to two different Extension Services,

so there is always something on the schedule to learn about.

Most courses or workshops are held at local libraries,
which couldn't be more convenient.

Last weekend, I had the chance to take a class on one of my favorite subjects,

native plants.

When I lived in Florida,

I gravitated toward this type of gardening,

so this class was a fantastic juncture to put my prior knowledge to use.

gaillardia

Even though we are several zones apart,

it was wonderful to learn that many of the plants I grew in Florida,

are also native here in North Carolina.

The many benefits of gardening with natives include:

1. easily adaptive to temperature changes,

2.  need less water or are drought tolerant,

3.  attract beneficial insects and pollinators,

4.  create food/shelter for wildlife,

5.  prevent invasive plants from overtaking an area because natives are better adapted.

beautyberry

One of the most important aspects of gardening to me

is to provide food, shelter and nesting areas for wildlife.

Many flowers, bushes and trees do just that.

Hummingbirds and butterflies often enjoy nectar from blossoms

on buckeye trees, swamp hibiscus and coral honeysuckle.

This beautyberry is an example of a bush that feeds birds

during the colder part of the year.

Joe Pye weed

Nurturing pollinators ensures that our crops continue to produce.

Butterflies, bees, wasps and birds all aid our food system

by being part of the pollination cycle.

Without these critters, we would be in dire straits.

It just makes sense to support their population.

Joe Pye weed is one of the most visited plants

in the butterfly bed.

milkweed

Some insects are dependent on particular plants,

such as the monarch butterfly.

The native milkweed is the only plant

on which they will deposit their eggs.

The eggs hatch, the caterpillar eats the egg and then begins eating the plant.

In a couple of weeks, it finds a safe spot to form a chrysalis,

where it remains for about 2 weeks,

until the transformation is complete.

What an amazing metamorphosis to witness.

Our class took place at the Maiden library,

where the Advanced Gardener Series also takes place.

This sweet demonstration garden is maintained

by volunteers.

One of the volunteers was in our class,

and explained that she had cut back this gorgeous hydrangea in the spring.

As you can see, it is nearing the top of the window.

You almost can't count the number of blooms!

No doubt, earlier in the year, it must have been a riot of color!

Even though it's no longer a showstopper,

it is still fostering wildlife.

gardenia

I'm not sure what this beauty is,
but it would fit right into my blue garden!
Being able to extend my knowledge about gardening
is such a blessing.
The best part is sharing that experience with others
who are just as passionate about it as you are.

In the spring, I will be looking for more natives to add to the garden.
Thoughts have even crossed my mind
about starting a native nursery,
to aid those who are also interested in encouraging indigenous species.
Who knows?
Anything is possible...

Here's a great resource 
for Native Plants in North Carolina.

How to Take a Soil Sample

It looks like (fingers crossed) spring is here to stay!

With so much activity going on in the garden,

it's a great time to do some soil testing.

This is something I've heard about for years,

but never took the time to get it done.

Having been in our home less than a year,

it seemed like the perfect time to start fresh

and see what the soil around our property needs

for better results in our flower and veggie beds and in the turf grass.

Everything you need to take the sample(s) 

can be collected at your local cooperative extension office.

You can find your local extension office by searching on your county's web page.

Here is our local extension office page.

These boxes can be acquired for the asking, 

and are the containers in which you will place your sample(s).

Directions can be found right on the box!

There is a side panel that needs to be filled out with your name

and contact information,

so that the results can be relayed to you via email.

Each separate area requires a different box.

You'll also need to fill out  a sheet similar to this one. 

This is the front and back of the form,

so you can see what it looks like.

Don't let all the text intimidate you,

it's fairly easy to fill out.

And if you're not sure you are doing it correctly,

just call your local extension agent

and they can walk you through the process.

 The information sheet (that gets handed in with your sample(s),

contains things like your contact information,

what type of samples were taken (flower beds, veggies beds, lawn)

and your local extension information should already  be pre-printed on the page.

Crop codes for the type of samples can be found on the back page.

This simply helps determine what kind of crop is in this location. 

Blueberries, veggies, and roses all need different conditions, 

so it's important to make the distinction.

"Sample identification" is a self-determined abbreviation for the area being sampled.

For example, for my flower beds, I used the code FLBED.

I completed samples for our lawn, a future veggie bed,

flower beds, the back wooded area of our property,

and the SW portion of our driveway

so I included my own abbreviation for each area.

 The Extension Center is all about supporting the gardener.

They can provide you with printed material to make the process easier.

Information can also be found online on their website.

 Here's how I completed my soil sample.

I chose a day when it hadn't rained in a while,

because I wanted the "plugs" I removed to be easily mixed.

The idea is to take 10-15 core samples, from 4-6 inches in depth within one area,

and mix them together in a clean container to incorporate a fair sample of that spot.

Once you have blended your "plugs", place the mixture into the designated box,

and fill up to the pre-determined line.

Once you have all of your samples ready to go,

simply take them into your local extension office with your information sheet

and wait for your results in your email  box.

At this time of the year,

soil testing is done free of charge.

Once you get your results back, 

you can determine what amendments might need to be added

to improve your soil for the next growing season.

Testing can be done every few years

and each time it is undertaken, it improves your soil

and brings you that much closer to  

soil nirvana.

I'm looking forward to getting the results for our samples.

There are so many gardening projects that I have bouncing around in my head,

and this is the first step to bringing them to fruition.

Have you done soil sampling in your garden?

find it here