Service-Learning at Moses Cone Estate

North Carolina Extension Master Gardener Volunteers recently lended their pruning skills for an afternoon of restorative pruning at the Moses Cone Estate. In 2010, a partnership developed between the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, the National Park Service and Watauga County Cooperative Extension to restore the century-old Hydrangea paniculata shrubs located around Bass Lake outside of Blowing Rock. This service-learning project is a valuable tool that not only restores the historical Hydrangea plantings but also teaches hands-on pruning skills to volunteers.

Hydrangea paniculata blooms on new wood, so the pruning time frame is during the dormant season.  Other types of hydrangeas bloom on old-wood, and should be pruned right after blooming.

Pruning cuts were targeted toward dead, diseased or broken branches as well as branches that crossed-over or were rubbing against one another.
 General thinning cuts allowed more sunlight to penetrate the interior leaf canopy, which helps the plant photosynthesize more efficiently and helps the visibility of the blooms once flowering occurs.

The hydrangeas at Moses Cone will bloom in mid-summer with white-colored panicle infloresences that fade to a rosy pink as the summer progresses. This type of hydrangea is a wonderful ornamental addition to any High Country landscape. Be sure and visit Bass Lake in July to enjoy their full blooming glory!

A&T Bedder/Mulcher Helps Improve Local Production

NCA&T State University has a piece of equipment available for local growers to use that can create raised beds, lay drip-irrigation, and cover it all with black-plastic mulch in a single pass.

Farmers are responsible for all field prep (the field must be well-tilled or plowed and disced prior to using the bedder), and of course must have a tractor capable of pulling the implement (40+ HP 4wd for 3' beds, 70+ HP 4wd for 4' beds).

Farmers also purchase their own supplies of drip tape and black plastic.

At right, a model similar to the A&T bedder is used by Upper Mountain Research Station staff to prepare a planting bed for a strawberry crop. In the below photo, Will Thomas of Creeksong Farm pulls some beds for squash in Zionville.

Ashe & Watauga County growers wanting to make use of the A&T Bedder/Mulcher in 2011 should contact Area Agent Richard Boylan at the Watauga County Extension Center.

Holy Shiitake Mushrooms, Batman!

Watauga Extension Agent, Richard Boylan, recently held a shiitake mushroom workshop and distributed spawn to interested producers in the county. Over 65 folks turned out, proving that interest in mushroom production is high. Cooperative Extension and Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture are also doing a mushroom production workshop at Springhouse farm in Vilas this weekend.

Watauga ECA Holds Achievement Luncheon

The Extension and Community Association clubs held their annual achievement luncheon on March 17th. Lunch was prepared and provided by club members and included homemade casseroles and desserts. The Town and Country and Happy Hearts clubs recognized club achievements and honored individual members for their leadership and accomplishments in 2010. The Town and Country Club was awarded first place for club achievement. In 2010, clubs held 4 special events: a Barter Theater outing in April to see"Always Patsy Cline", food canning demonstrations with Watauga FCS Agent Margie Mansure, a summer-time picnic at the Horn-in-the-West park, and the annual wreath contest in September.

Tara Stollenmaier, the Community Educator for Earth Fare, was an invited speaker who talked about the "Eat Smart, Move More" program.

Floating Island Plant Nursery

Runoff from nearby roads and ground surfaces flow into the constructed stormwater wetland creating a great place for bioremediation to happen in Boone. As the stormwater runoff flows through the wetland, the plants, soil, and microbes help break down the pollution.

Nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus are great for plants to grow in your garden, but when they leave the land and enter an aquatic system they are considered pollutants. These nutrients increase the amount of phytoplankton and algae growth, creating a negative affect on water quality and habitat.

Plants are extremely important components of a wetland because they utilize the excess nutrients in the water and provide wonderful habitat for diverse species. Propagating wetland plants can be challenging because the seeds and plants like lots of water and tend to float away if not contained. Bill Lord, NC Extension Specialist, was working with tobacco growers down east and noticed how they start their seedlings in floating systems. He modified the tobacco propagation process to work in a wetland setting. So now we have a floating island with wetland species in the Boone constructed wetlands.

The plants growing on “the island” will mine for nutrients in the water column thereby sequestering even more nutrients. When the plants are ready for harvest we will plant them in other constructed stormwater wetlands.

What you can do at home to reduce nutrients in our environment:
• Purchase Phosphate Free dishwashing detergents! 16 states have banned these type products, but they can still be found on the shelves in North Carolina. Its up to the consumer to be educated!
• Have a soil test done before you add any fertilizer to the lawn and garden! It’s FREE in NC! Stop by the Extension Office to pick up the boxes!
• Have your septic tank pumped. Call Extension with any questions.
• Build a rain garden to capture nutrients from impervious surfaces

Apple Grafting Workshop

Free Apple Grafting Workshop Wednesday, 3/16

6:00 – 9:00 PM

Watauga County Agricultural Conference Center, Boone

Ron and Suzanne Joyner, of Big Horse Creek Farm in Lansing, will teach a grafting workshop on propagating apple trees on Wednesday, 3/16, from 6:00 – 9:00 PM at the Watauga County Agricultural Conference Center in Boone. The Joyners are nationally-known for their conservation and propagation of old Southern Apple varieties. The grafting workshop taught by the Joyners will be hands-on, with participants able to learn via lecture and photographs, and then by trying-out the actual tools of the trade. Apple rootstocks will be available for purchase at the workshop, so if participants choose, they can graft several trees to then bring home and plant themselves. Information about collecting scionwood samples for grafting (and much more about apples) can be found at their website: http://www.bighorsecreekfarm.com/horticulture.htm

To reserve a spot at this workshop, call the Watauga County Extension Center at 828-264-3061. However, pre-registration is not necessary, and drop-ins are welcome.