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Mecklenburg County Center

Mecklenburg County Center | N.C. Cooperative Extension

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September Newsletter

As we move into fall, the Mecklenburg County Center of N.C. Cooperative Extension is excited to share another edition of our newsletter, bringing you timely education and updates from our Agriculture, Family & Consumer Sciences, and 4??‘H Youth Development programs. Whether you’re growing a garden, supporting a young person, learning new skills, or looking for ways to strengthen your family and community, we hope you’ll find something useful. Our mission is to provide education to improve North Carolinian’s lives.

If you haven’t had your soil tested recently, now is the time to submit your samples! The N.C. Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services Soil Lab begins its busy??‘season fee from Thanksgiving through Easter, so now is the perfect time to submit your samples at no cost. Soil test kits are available at our office, and many Mecklenburg County libraries also keep them on hand — call ahead to confirm availability.

We also invite you to join us on Sunday, September 20th for A Day at the Market: Agriculture, Cooking & Community, a hands??‘on, family??‘friendly event featuring farmer talks, cooking demonstrations, planting activities, and time to explore the Charlotte Regional Farmers Market. It’s a wonderful way to connect with local growers and deepen your understanding of our regional food system.

Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-day-at-the-market-agriculture-cooking-community-tickets-1992361631272

Let’s keep building a stronger, healthier, more connected Mecklenburg community together.

Cultivating Progress

This spirit of collaboration is at the heart of how N.C. Cooperative Extension operates. Our Mecklenburg County Extension office is powered by two amazing land-grant institutions, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and North Carolina State University. Together, they serve as the academic and research-driven backbone of our unified extension system.

The land-grant university system was created to democratize education and bring practical research directly to the public. NC State, founded as a land-grant institution under the First Morrill Act of 1862, has long been a powerhouse for agricultural research, resource management, and commercial farming technologies. It provides Mecklenburg County with deep scientific support, testing services, and large-scale agricultural insights.

N.C. A&T, established under the Second Morrill Act of 1890, was created to ensure access to agricultural and technical education for Black citizens. Historically and today, N.C. A&T brings invaluable, specialized expertise in small-scale agriculture, urban farming, community nutrition, and consumer education, with a strong focus on serving diverse and historically underserved populations.

Rather than operating in isolation, these two universities combine their strengths to form a singular delivery system, with offices in all North Carolina's 100 counties and with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. This cooperative model allows for flexibility and innovation as we work to address the diverse needs of both rural and rapidly growing urban areas like Mecklenburg County.

Recently, both universities have celebrated major achievements. NC State welcomed graduate and astronaut Christina Koch for an on-campus homecoming to celebrate her most recent accomplishments, Around the Moon and Pack Again. Meanwhile, at N.C. A&T, Kamal Bell has been awarded a 2027 fellowship by the Harvard Graduate School of Design. As Bell describes it, he will be "a food systems architect" (Two-Time Alumnus Named Loeb Fellow).

When we highlight these larger accomplishments through our local office, we show how North Carolinians are changing our world on a national and international level and give today's youth aspirational role models. Whether we work to support backyard urban gardens and urban farms, introduce youth to technology through joint 4-H programs, or help local families make healthy, budget-friendly nutritional choices, we are leveraging the combined knowledge of NC State and N.C. A&T and sharing unlimited possibilities for the future.

Collaboration is key. Taking the lead from N.C. A&T and NC State, we are strengthening relationships with the county, cities, and amazing non-profits that serve Mecklenburg County residents. If you currently collaborate with our office, we thank you for your support. Whether you enjoy our educational classes or give your time to others through volunteering, we appreciate you. Please continue to engage with our Mecklenburg County community: one Extension system, supported by two excellent land-grant universities, pursuing a healthier future.

Kind regards, 

Heather Kelejian

What is Kids in Nature Day?

Kids in Nature Day (KIND) is a fun-filled, hands-on adventure and free program that gives youth and families an outlet to explore and learn in nature. This is a great chance for youth to interact with the outdoors in an activity-based and informal setting. It also gives families a chance to meet and connect with an amazing network of organizations, volunteers, and opportunities in Mecklenburg County.

Fall Planting Is Here — Stop By Your Local Seed Library 

Haley Williams

If you've been thinking about starting a garden, this is your season. Cooler nights and shorter days make fall one of the best times to grow in Mecklenburg County — and honestly, one of the most forgiving. Fall crops tend to be less demanding than summer ones, pests slow down, and the greens you plant now will keep producing well into the cooler months.

Our seed libraries are stocked and ready.

What's Available This Fall

Here's what you'll find on the racks at our partner branches:

• Kale — hardy, productive, and sweeter after the first frost

• Spinach — a cool-season staple that thrives once the heat breaks

• Lettuce mix — cut what you need and it keeps growing back

• Radishes — one of the fastest crops you can grow, ready in about a month

• Cilantro — actually prefers fall weather over summer heat

Seeds are free to take, but please limit yourself to 2 packets.

Where to Find Us

Our seeds are available at:

• Allegra Westbrook Regional

• Sugar Creek Library

• West Boulevard Library 

• Bette Rae Thomas Rec Center

• Cornelius Library 

Since the program began, we've put roughly 4,000 seed packets into the community — that's thousands of individual seeds, and thousands of chances for someone to grow their own food.

2026-2027 Pesticide CEU Lunch and Learn Series

Meet Me at the Farmers Market - September

Celebrate the Harvest

As temperatures begin to cool, the harvest continues. September offers some of North Carolina's best eating with crisp apples, pumpkins beginning to appear, sweet potatoes, greens, and late-season tomatoes.

This is also a wonderful time to stock your freezer and pantry with locally grown foods for the months ahead.

Highlights this month include:

• Matthews Community Farmers Market, famous for its seasonal fruit sales, giving shoppers opportunities to purchase larger quantities of fresh North Carolina fruit for canning, freezing, baking, and preserving. 

• Weekly chef demonstrations continue at several markets, helping shoppers make the most of the fall harvest.

• Many markets begin featuring autumn flowers, mums, pumpkins, and decorative gourds alongside fresh produce.

Meet Me at the Farmers Market Challenge

Buy enough local produce to prepare one meal entirely sourced from North Carolina farms.

It’s estimated that North Carolinians spend $35 billion on food every year. If each of us spent 10% of our grocery budget on local food, $3.5 billion would flow into our local food economy!

What is 4-H?

4-H is a youth development organization that was established in rural America over 120 years ago. In its infancy, 4-H focused on connecting youth in small communities, where they would work together to develop educational, practical, hands-on skills. These small clubs and communities mainly revolved around agriculture, animals, horticulture, and family and consumer science. In the early twentieth century, 4-H and the land-grant universities (LGUs) became synonymous through extension after the universities partnered with the USDA under the Smith-Lever Act in 1914.

Over the years, 4-H has expanded its reach into urban areas after the 1960s. 4-H continued to grow in other states, nationally, and even internationally. Now, 4-H is America’s largest youth development organization—empowering nearly six million young people in rural and urban areas to explore career development, leadership, civic engagement, STEM, agriculture, arts, and more.

4-H creates opportunities for young people (ages 5-18) to build positive relationships and develop the skills needed to become responsible, productive citizens through hands-on learning. It is an amazing organization dedicated to making the best better.

N.C. A&T Cooperative Extension is honored to announce its first Urban Agriculture Showcase!

Join us for a fun and engaging, hands-on experience focused on practical urban agriculture techniques, including square foot gardening, drip irrigation, and pest and disease scouting in raised beds.

On Positively Charlotte, Queen City News WJZY-46

• Wed, Sep 23rd, 2026 10-11a
• Wed, Oct 21st, 2026 10-11a

August Recap

• August was a busy month for FCS! We hosted a 4 class Food Preservation series focused on canning, pickling, & fermentation. We prepped & canned various vegetables. We made kimchi, chow chow, quick pickles, & fermented pickles. We learned & practiced how to safely can with a pressure & water bath canner. Participants took home their creations. Check out our pics below & stay tuned for 2027 dates for our Food Preservation Series. We are excited at the opportunity to host more of them & we would love to see you there!

Keep an eye on our calendar for activities for all programs: Events - Mecklenburg County Center, N.C. Cooperative Extension

Food & Nutrition Tips

In Season Produce- Apples

Ways To Enjoy Apples: 

• Preservation

  • Apple Butter

  • Dried apples

  • Apple chutney

  • Freeze apple filling for later use

  • Hot packed slices for water bath canning

• Snacks

  • On the Go. Crunch into a delicious whole apple at snack time, mealtime or anytime at all. Add peanut butter for some additional nutrients

  • Apple Dipping Bar with toppings and additional fruits & veggies for a full snack spread or as a part of a grazing or charcuterie board.

  • Applesauce…Smooth or Chunky? With raisins…or cranberries? Spice it up and make it your own.

• Salads

  • Waldorf salad: Chop 2 large apples into small chunks and add to a large bowl with ½ cup walnuts, 1 sliced celery rib, and ¼ cup raisins. Sprinkle salad with lemon juice. Prepare the dressing by combining ½ cup nonfat plain yogurt, 1-2 tablespoons mayonnaise, teaspoon of lemon zest, and pinch of pepper. Fold dressing into apple mixture and stir well.

  • Apple, fennel, and endive salad: Thinly slice 2 large apples, 1 bulb of fennel, and 3 small endives. Squeeze over half of a lemon and add white balsamic vinegar, olive oil, or a citrus vinaigrette with salt and pepper to taste. Add chopped pecans for an additional crunch.

• Meal

  • Use to add flavor to savory chicken, turkey, or pork

  • Festive Apple Salsa- Mix fresh apples, canned pears and pomegranate to make a delicious holiday salsa to spoon on top of pork chops, grilled chicken, and more!

• Breakfast

  • Add to your oatmeal or morning muffins.

  • Add on top of pancakes, waffles, french toast or toast

  • Add to smoothies

Additional Information about Apples:

• Apples and pears have the longest storage life of the tree fruits, and can be kept in cold storage up to four months under ideal conditions and up to 12 months in controlled atmospheres. 

• Apples and pears quickly soften and become mealy in texture when kept at ambient temperatures. To maintain the quality longer than one week, fruit must be kept in refrigeration.

• Apple season is emerging! There are many varieties locally grown here in NC. They are crisp, juicy, packed with natural sweetness, versatile, & they are delicious. Whether you enjoy them fresh, baked, or blended into your favorite dish, they bring a perfect balance of flavor and nutrition to every bite! A half cup of sliced apples is about one handful or about the size of half of a small apple. Apples are a good source of fiber & several antioxidants.

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