Do YOU Know the Signs of a Stroke?

YOU Need to Know the Signs of Stroke

Learning to act FAST could save your life.

Stroke Screening - May 25

Find out if you are at risk...

County Blood Drive - May 21

The Red Cross needs all types of blood - can you donate?

Watch Out for Fracking Surprises When Buying Property

Some NC homebuyers have been surprised to learn that the mineral rights to their own backyards don’t belong to them.

Safe Boating Week - May 19-25

May 19-25 is Safe Boating Week in NC. Remember, it is very important to wear a life vest.

The Diderot Effect: The Spiral of “Work and Spend”

The vast majority of Americans are trapped in a “work & spend” cycle.

Nature at Night at the Swannanoa Library

Live nocturnal species will be awake (sort of) & ready to help you learn about their unusual habits.

Cat Food & Supplies Needed

Kitty Food & Supply Drive for FurEver Friends.

Recipe of the Week - Beer Lime Grilled Chicken

Beer Lime Grilled Chicken - you can't get much better than that!

Successful Container Gardens

Container gardens have become very popular for entries, patios and decks. Here are a few tips for planting a successful garden in a container.

• Choose a container with drainage holes or drill holes if needed. Anything that will hold soil can be used as a container: boots, pocketbooks, suitcases, mailboxes, bathtubs….
• Use good potting soil. If the container is very large, you can fill some space in the bottom with pine cones, empty soda bottles, or other light weight items.
• Select plants that suit the light conditions where the garden will be located. Full sun means your plants will receive a minimum of six hours of sunlight daily.
• Consider mixing herbs, flowers, foliage plants, bulbs and grasses.
• For a striking container select a combination of upright, mounding and trailing plants.
• In addition to creating a garden in one large container, you might also make groupings of plants in different size containers and on stands of varying heights. This even allows you to change the selection and arrangement during the season.

For more information, contact Buncombe County Cooperative Extension at 255-5522.

Let's Start with Jams!

With an abundance of berries in season, now is the time to preserve some of those local strawberries and other berries as jam. Come to this hands-on class on Tuesday, May 22 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and learn how to make berry jam.

We will cover making jams with and without added pectin. We will also discuss ways to make sugar free, freezer and other refrigerated jams. You will be able to take home a sample of what we make.

Pre-registration is required and a fee of $10 will cover supply costs for the classes. For more information, call Cooperative Extension at 255-5522.

Supported by the Extension Community Association

Planning For Water Conservation

Starting into the growing season a few inches below normal on rainfall is worrisome. Let’s hope the dry spring is not a preview of the summer ahead. There are things we can do to plan ahead for summer water use:

1. Install rain barrels under downspouts.
2. Plan to water only plants that really need it. Vegetable gardens and fruits need on inch of water per week.
3. Allow lawns to go dormant.
4. Mulch. Use bark products in ornamental beds, straw in the vegetable
   garden.
5. Use fertilizer sparingly. Heavily fertilized plants need more water in
   summer.
6. Don’t plant more plants than you are prepared to water.

For more information, call Buncombe County Cooperative Extension at 255-5522.

Black Mountain Garden Show and Sale - May 19

Black Mountain Garden Show and Sale will be held on Saturday, May 19 from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. on the grounds of the Monte Vista Hotel. Local vendors will offer plants and products, and there will be a Master Gardener information table.

For more information, call Buncombe County Cooperative Extension at 255-5522.