Staying Safe During the Holidays - Trees, Lights & Candles

Make sure your holiday is a safe and happy one -- be careful with your Christmas tree, your lights and your candles!

World AIDS Day is Dec. 1 - HIV & Syphilis Increasing in WNC

December 1st marks the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day. This is a time to remember the 25 million people with HIV/AIDS who have died since the beginning of this epidemic.

Don’t Pay for Holiday Spending 2008 in June 2009

As hard as it may be to believe, it is possible to have a wonderful Holiday Season with only inexpensive holiday gifts.

Lake Julian Festival of Lights Extended Thru Dec. 21st

Enjoy the beautiful lights and help Special Olympics at the same time!

Garden Chores for December

It's cold outside, and the last thing you are thinking about is your lawn or garden. There are however, some chores that need to be done in December.

Healthy Tip - Finding Time for Activity during the Holidays

Activity during the holidays doesn’t have to mean hours spent away from family and friends sweating in the gym.

Giving Tree at the Oakley/South Asheville Library

Please help provide new books for disadvantaged children in our community.

Tips for the Water Wise Landscape

While it is true that we usually have adequate precipitation during the winter months to sustain landscape plants, as dry as it has been this year some plants may warrant monitoring.

Pet Pictures of the Week - Want Unconditional Love? Adopt One of Us!

Please consider giving a home to one of these wonderful pets! The shelter is okay, but I would love to have a home of my own!

Recipe of the Week - Sweet Potatoes with Sugared Pecans

Congratulations to Janice Fisher of Asheville for her Sweet Potatoes with Sugared Pecans recipe!

‘Tis the season for giving, and if you’re in the process of shopping for a car or light truck this year, the EPA can help. Environmentally friendly vehicles come in all shapes and sizes, and there are some simple ways to find the best one for your family. There are also easy ways to improve your fuel economy, regardless of what model "sleigh" you drive.

• When shopping for a car, go to EPA’s Green Vehicle Guide to look for vehicles that earned EPA’s SmartWay designation, meaning that they are among the cleanest, most fuel-efficient available; and
• As you do your holiday shopping, be sure to maximize your vehicle’s fuel efficiency by combining trips, driving gently, and keeping your car well-maintained. Use these gas mileage tips to help you get further on a tank of gas.

Source: epa.gov

A beautiful 12-1/2” X 9” handmade dish was donated by Jann Welch of Bakersville, NC to the North Carolina Association of Extension Program Assistants, Associates, and Technicians. The proceeds from the auction will be used for their community service projects. The bids will start at $20.00 and will be accepted until December 12.

The top bidder will be notified on Monday, December 15 and arrangements will be made for them to pick up their prize. If you have any questions please call Mike Ford or Sharon Carter at the Buncombe County Office 828-255-5522. To see the dish choose the link below:

Jann Welch Dish (PDF)

Bids must be received no later that December 12, 2008 at 11:59 pm. In case of tie, bids with the earliest entry will win.

Be sure to put BID in the subject line and send your bids to: Debbie_Sparks@ncsu.edu

Purchasing a cut Christmas tree is not a bad thing. Most trees sold in western North Carolina were grown in neighboring counties. Your purchase helps support the local farm economy, which helps preserve farmland.

But many homeowners would like to have a living tree that can be planted in the landscape after the holidays. This can be a lovely addition to the landscape as long as you make some wise decisions:

• Select an appropriate species for the space you will have to plant. These grow into very large trees.
• Keep the tree in the house no more than a week to 10 days. The longer it is indoors the less it’s chances of survival when taken back outdoors.
• Plant promptly, water well and mulch.

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

Planting for Privacy and Security will be presented by Extension Master Gardeners at the North Carolina Arboretum on December 9 at 10:00 am.

Tuesday is free admission. No registration required. For more information, call Buncombe County Cooperative Extension at 255-5522.