Don't Miss Out on the Tree Seedling Sale!

Don't miss out on our hardwood and pine seedling sale!

Contrary to the growing belief that HIV is no longer a problem in our area, it is still a major health issue and there is no cure.

If you are overextended with debts you can't pay back within 6 to 12 months or if you spend more than 15 to 20 percent of your after-tax income on short-term credit purchases, you may be in financial trouble.

Every year the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) shares its thoughts for the upcoming year. Their predictions for 2008 hit the mark quite accurately.

Register to attend the Spring Garden School and get ready for your spring plantings!

A Year in Asheville contains hundreds of images of everyday scenes shot in and around Asheville between September 29, 2007, and September 29, 2008.

Buncombe County residents can get their male cats neutered and a rabies vaccination for free on February 27th at the Humane Alliance Spay/Neuter Clinic.

Make sure your pet is up to date on its shots! Don't miss out on these low-cost shot clinics! Rabies is just $6!

Can you give a dog a home? Maybe a cat? How about a kitten? These animals need your help.

Congratulations to Nancy Clair for her Peanut Butter Fudge Truffles recipe!

The 16th Annual Organic Growers School will be held on March 21 and 22. Since 1993, the Organic Growers School Spring Conference has been the best way to kick-off the growing season, with over 70 classes and hands-on workshops on a variety of topics—from starting your first vegetable garden, baking bread to saving on home energy costs and raising your own goat herd.

The event also includes a trade show, seed & plant exchange, silent auction, and children’s program. Due to overflow crowds in recent years for the Saturday conference, the Sunday program is a duplicate of the Saturday event.

Early registration is recommended as the hands-on workshops have limited capacity, and prices go up after March 1.

Register online at www.organicgrowersschool.org starting January 15th, or request a mailed registration form: Meredith@organicgrowersschool.org or (828) 450-2026.

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an independent, international organization which certifies forests and forest-based products. The FSC standards focus on environmentally responsible, socially beneficial, and economically viable forestry management practices. The goal of the FSC is forests that conserve biological diversity, minimize logging-related pollution, improve the lives of forest workers and surrounding communities, and encourage long-term health and usefulness of the forest stock.

However, FSC certification doesn’t stop at the edge of the forest. Through a rigorous, chain of custody certification program, FSC follows the tree to sawmill, manufacturing plant, and distribution center. When a paper or building product bears the FSC logo, you’ll know that the trees used to make the product were harvested in the most sustainable way possible.

In 2008, 254 million acres of forest worldwide, representing about 7% of all forests, had received FSC certification. More than 10,000 products are FSC certified. When you shop for building products, paper, and paper products, look for the FSC logo.

For more information, visit www.fscus.org.

February 2009 is designated as Clean Streams Month. In an effort to highlight the importance of protecting and conserving our local and regional water sources, we are holding an educational farm tour on February 18 at 12 pm at the Caldwell Farm at 453 Willow Creek Road, Leicester.

This tour will be a cooperative effort between the Buncombe County Soil and Water Conservation District and NC Cooperative Extension, Buncombe County Center. The tour will begin at 12 pm with presentations from Jeff Bradley, Area Agricultural Extension Agent, and Jenn Beck, Newfound Watershed Coordinator. The tour will focus on Best Management Practices for livestock owners such as livestock exclusion projects, stream crossings, watering systems, and feed waste structures.

A bag lunch will be provided and the meeting will conclude at 1:30 pm. Please RSVP to Jenn Beck at 250-4792 in order for us to plan for lunch. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Jenn at the above number or Jeff at 255-5522.

Need someone to speak to your club or organization? The Extension Master Gardener Speakers’ Bureau offers a number of garden related topics.

There is no fee for this educational service. For further information on available programs, contact the Buncombe County Cooperative Extension office at 255-5522.

Even in hard economic times, the Animal Shelter is reporting an increase in adoptions and a decrease in the number of animals taken in at the Shelter as compared to this time last year.  Here are the stats for January:

• 6% decrease in intake of animals
• 11% decrease in euthanasia

The shelter is reporting increases of 18% in adoptions and 32% in transfers. 

Asheville Humane Society Website