Features

In May, NC Cooperative Extension, Richmond County Center, received a grant from Resourceful Communities to finance and support the Richmond Fresh program. This 12-week program provided boxes of fresh fruits and vegetables on a weekly basis to four low-income communities experiencing food insecurity in the county.

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As August quickly approaches, hay producers should have fall armyworm on their radar. The fall armyworm is a common pest in grass hay and pastures and can decimate a crop overnight. To correctly identify the pest, look for caterpillars with dark heads that are usually marked with a distinct, pale, inverted “Y” on top. Typically, you will find a black stripe down each side of their body and a yellowish-gray stripe down their back. Fall armyworms come in a variety of colors including green, brown or black, which can make identification difficult.

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One thing I’ve been seeing a lot of on social media lately is “Seafood Mac and Cheese,” and like any seafood and mac and cheese lover, I’ve been dying to try some. So after looking through some recipes, figuring out what I thought would be the best combos and hoping for the best — I created my own seafood mac and cheese.

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Photo courtesy of the Hamlet Tree & Beautification Group

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ROCKINGHAM – Alpha Mu Chapter of Alpha Pi Chi National Sorority, Inc. sponsored its 55th Cinderella Ball with a parade of family and friends to present the four enchanting and beautiful young ladies that participated. For the past 54 years, the Cinderella Ball was an evening of beautifully dressed young girls escorted by handsome escorts that waltz and parade throughout the auditorium to celebrate the crowning of a new queen. Girls from the ages of 7 to 12 are given the opportunity to raise money and compete for the title of ‘Miss Cinderella’. Funds raised are used to establish 529 College Saving Plans for each girl, scholarships for High School Seniors, and a host of other contributions are given to local and national non-profit organizations.

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The two black walnut trees by my barn near the river never fail to catch my attention each time I pass by. True, we have five acres or so of trees of all types around our home, but out of all of them these two are easily the most noticeable. It has nothing to do with their size; they are nowhere near the biggest trees on the property. In fact, the oak tree just forty feet away towers over them like a redwood over dogwoods.

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At first, the many Native tribes that lived along the Pee Dee River used dugout canoes to navigate the mighty river. When the white settlers came, they also used small wooden johnboats or rafts on the river.

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As a certified crazy plant person, I enjoy reading about plants, taking pictures of plants, and sharing pictures of plants with like-minded friends and random individuals alike. One thing I’ve noticed: people seem to universally love lavender. For years my parents had a small lavender farm in the Piedmont of NC, and it conferred an assumption of expertise on my part on the growing of lavender, even though I had little to do with my parents’ operation. However, I have tried to live up to that misrepresentation, and I’ve learned a little about growing this wonderful, if somewhat finicky, plant.

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NC Cooperative Extension 4-H stresses the “Learn by Doing” approach, which teaches youth how to gain new skills through interactive, hands on learning opportunities. This may seem a little difficult in the middle of a pandemic. However, there are still ways youth can engage in positive citizenship and community service while staying safe from COVID-19.

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ROCKINGHAM — Ninety-year-old Hattie Bane’s run of success in the Richmond County Agricultural Fair didn’t start of her own accord.

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