I'm a Sustainable Agriculture Agent working for NC Cooperative Extension. My work focuses on organic farming, local food, and pollinator conservation.
Pittsboro, NC
Joined August 2009
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I finally finished my stem management article! I started working on this last fall, when I went through the pollinator garden and documented through photos which plants were hollow vs. pithy. I'd love to hear your feedback on this article! growingsmallfarms.ces.ncsu.e…
I am excited to be a part of this project through the North Carolina Pollinator Conservation Alliance! growingsmallfarms.ces.ncsu.e…
Join us tomorrow (Saturday) from 10 am-2 pm for our 4th Annual Chatham County Spring Ag Fest in Pittsboro. Lots of fun exhibits and events and food trucks. Full details on the website. #chathamagfest growingsmallfarms.ces.ncsu.e…
Registration is open for our March 16 ForestHer NC Webinar All About Pollinators! This is the first in our three part pollinator series this year. I will be presenting along with @roadsendnature. Details on my website below. We hope you will join us! growingsmallfarms.ces.ncsu.e…
The Siler City Growers & Makers Market is recruiting vendors for the 2023 season. The market is held every Tuesday afternoon from 4:00-7:00 p.m. March through December. The market will open on March 7th. growingsmallfarms.ces.ncsu.e…
Blueberries require annual pruning to reliably produce a high quality crop and maintain bush height to facilitate harvest. Now is a great time to prune, and Cooperative Extension offers some excellent resources on pruning. growingsmallfarms.ces.ncsu.e…
Last night was the kickoff for our 8 week 2023 Beekeeping School, conducted by the Chatham County Beekeepers' Association and Chatham County Cooperative Extension. We have about 60 students from eight different counties. Great group!
Need help identifying trees? @NCSUExtForestry has a new publication that will help you identify 21 of NC's common trees. By examining different tree parts & using a simple process of elimination, you will be able to identify trees with confidence. content.ces.ncsu.edu/identif…
Spent some time in the pollinator garden this morning potting up three flats of leftover plugs to help them overwinter! Didn't quite finish but got the Verbena hastata done. After handling wet plugs in the shade with temps in the 40s, my hands were done! Back at it tomorrow...
We are so excited to announce that our popular Chatham County Spring Ag Fest is back! Mark your calendars for Saturday March 25, 2023 for this event celebrating Chatham County agriculture, forestry, and natural resources. growingsmallfarms.ces.ncsu.e…
On a recent visit to Granite Springs Farm grower Meredith Leight showed me the antique corn sheller she bought & refurbished. It is such a cool piece of equipment, so effective & ingenious for shelling the Glass Gem heirloom popcorn that she sells at the Pittsboro Farmers Market.
I've been trying to finish this article for over a month, but ironically I was busy doing fall chores in the pollinator garden! I often get asked about garden maintenance so I hope folks find this helpful. growingsmallfarms.ces.ncsu.e…
Starting this week, two of Chatham County’s three farmers’ markets will be hosting special holiday markets to help folks get in the festive holiday spirit! Check the Growing Small Farms website below for details. growingsmallfarms.ces.ncsu.e…
This American lady butterfly is likely grateful for the late blooming Carolina climbing aster vine in the pollinator garden.
This is your regular reminder that the pollinator garden can continue to provide beauty deep into fall, even without blooms!
Serious gardeners know you don't always get to pick the day for garden work. Meaning even when the temps are in the 30s you might need to be out there! I still found a few critters out and about this morning, soaking up the sunshine when they could!
I've been crushing on the beauty of the cottony seedheads and ruby fall color of tall anemone, Anemone virginiana. I tried to capture it here with the native blooming muhly grass providing a lovely backdrop.
I spent a couple of minutes with my camera this morning after working in the pollinator garden. I focused on the native climbing aster, such a rockstar. Saw lots of pollinators including honey bees, bumble bees, and syrphid flies. Note that flowers can have bad hair (petal) days!
Apples were a big part of life for our southern ancestors, especially in rural areas. I enjoy drying apples as a way to both create a tasty snack and connect to my southern roots. Read all about it on the Growing Small Farms website. growingsmallfarms.ces.ncsu.e…
