Healthy Food, Healthy Lives, Healthy Community

What if I told you there was money buried in the soil of your backyard or garden pots, would you be interested?! By planting a small garden you can save money and have access to fresh, healthy food.

Gardening is a great way to stimulate your mind and stay physically healthy. With spring officially here, there’s no better time than to plant the seeds for good habits, fresh food, and community interaction. If you can dig what we are putting down, then the Extension Master Gardener^SM Volunteers would like to invite you to some free, upcoming events covering native plants and composting in your backyard. Check out the details below:

Gardening in the Mountains presents: Native Plants in Your Garden

• Thursday, August 16, 2018, 10 a.m. to noon

• Location:  NC Cooperative Extension, Buncombe County Center, 49 Mount Carmel Road, Asheville, NC

Presented by Carolina Native Plant Nursery

Discover the advantages of using native plants in designing your home landscape.  Learn how to incorporate natives into the landscape and maintain your plantings over time.

The talk is free, but registration is required by calling 828-255-5522.

Backyard Composting Demo

August 11, 10 a.m.- 1 p.m.

Jesse Israel & Sons Garden Center, WNC Farmers Market, 570 Brevard Road, Asheville.

Buncombe County Master Gardener^SM volunteers maintain a compost demonstration garden to teach visitors composting techniques, provide printed material, and answer questions. Several compost systems are displayed including a worm composting bin. Master Gardeners educate the public as to good gardening practices using research-based information provided by the North Carolina State University Extension Service.

Find out more about the Master Gardener Volunteers here and stay up to date on Cooperative Extension Events here.

Questions about Gardening?

Extension Master Gardener^SM Volunteers of Buncombe County are ready to answer your gardening questions. The Garden Helpline is open now open Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., during the gardening season—March through September. Our Master Gardener volunteers are available for phone calls, walk-ins, and emails.

Call (828) 255-5522 or visit the Extension office at the location shown below. If you bring a plant sample to the office, please be sure it is large enough for plant identification. You can also email your questions and plant photos to Buncombemg@gmail.com.

Each year, Extension Master Gardener volunteers answer hundreds of gardening questions. From October-February when the Helpline is not open, your questions will be answered by Alison Arnold, Extension Agent, Consumer Horticulture. The Extension office and our Helpline are closed on N.C. state holidays.

Garden Helpline

Monday-Thursday

10 a.m.-2 p.m.

(828) 255-5522

Buncombemg@gmail.com

NC Cooperative Extension

Buncombe County Center

49 Mount Carmel Road

Asheville, NC 28806

buncombemastergardener.org

Going on now through September - Got a gardening question? We’ve got answers! Visit Our Extension Master Gardener^SM Info Table.

Locate the Extension Master GardenerSM Info Table at tailgate markets and garden events in Buncombe County where you’ll find Master Gardener volunteers ready to help.

Ask questions, get advice, and explore trends and best ideas in gardening. Bring samples of plants and insects for identification and problem diagnosis. You can also learn about upcoming Master Gardener programs and pick up soil test kits.

The Extension Master GardenerSM Info Table is open on the first and third Saturdays of every month at the Asheville City Market on N. Market St. from 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.

About the Master Gardeners

The Buncombe County Master Gardeners are community volunteers who support and engage in projects and activities that will enhance the quality of life for Buncombe County residents. Members in the Master Gardeners programs are citizens of the local community who not only take an active interest in their own lawns, trees and gardens, but also strive to promote sound horticultural practices in the community. Members receive invaluable training and continuing opportunities for education, then share their horticultural expertise through a wide variety of projects benefiting Buncombe County residents and organizations.

The Extension Master Gardener program allows the local Extension to extend education to an ever increasing gardening audience. It also provide a highly visible way to meet the public demand for information and to develop a strong support group.