BC Ranks 3rd in the State for Recycling!

A total of 45,285 tons of traditional recyclables were recovered in Buncombe County during FY 2009-10.

Medicare Open Enrollment

Open enrollment has begun. Seniors have more benefits, better choices & lower costs.

US State Dept Issues Worldwide Travel Warning

An alert has been issued for American citizens about possible "anti-U.S. actions".

Don't Forget to Link Your Ingles Advantage Card!

Link your Ingles Advantage™ Card and Ingles will give a portion of those sales to Valley Child Development. It doesn't cost you a thing!

7 Ways to Train Your Brain to Be Happy

You'll be better able to cope with stress or pain & to fight colds, flu, heart disease, & even cancer. Plus you'll be happier!

Composting With Earthworms

Here's how to compost indoors with earthworms.

Spotlight: Fall Color

Find out which trees & shrubs turn which colors in fall - keep color in your yard all year long!

Adopt a "Wildcat"

Adopt a cat that's a direct descendent of the African Wildcat.

Recipe of the Week - Artichoke Mushroom Caps

Congratulations to Michael Noland for his Artichoke Mushroom Caps recipe!

Watch out for the following insects:

• Ornamentals: Check evergreens for bagworms. Half of those bags contain eggs which will hatch in the spring, so remove and destroy them.
  Spruce mites are cool weather mites that become active now. Shake a branch vigorously over white paper to check for them.
• Vegetables: Aphids and several species of caterpillars can be a problem on broccoli, cabbage, collards and other cabbage family plants.

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

We’ve all been there. One day you are at the store and realize that your favorite reusable bag, the one you’ve had for the past several years which has been with you through rain and shine, has a rip that is beyond your ability to repair.

Never fear! ChicoBag has partnered with The Grateful Thread to accept old reusable bags and put them to a new use. Bags that can be repaired will be given to families who can’t afford to purchase reusable bags. Bags that can’t be repaired will be turned into useful new products, such as beautiful hand-woven rugs.

You can mail clean, old reusable bags to this address:

ChicoBag Company
c/o Zero Waste Program
13434 Browns Valley Drive
Chico, CA 95973.

Learn more at www.chicobag.com/t-repurposing_program.aspx.

On October 19 at 10 a.m., Extension Master Gardener volunteers will present Backyard Bullies - Dealing with Invasive Plants.

The class will be held at the Buncombe County Cooperative Extension Office, 94 Coxe Avenue, in downtown Asheville. No preregistration is required and admission is free.

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