Don’t forget to Join us at the Busy Bee

Good Agricultural Practices Workshop: Wake County June 16, 2015 – 9 am to 4 pm Navigating the USDA GAP Audit ​NC Growing Together (NCGT) is partnering ​with Carolina Farm Stewardship Association (CFSA)​, ​ North Carolina State University and North Carolina Cooperative Extension to deliver workshops across the state with the aim of providing farmers with the tools to reduce food safety risks and meet market requirements. The Navigating the USDA GAP Audit workshop, will combine classroom and on-farm instruction to provide producers with the tools needed to identify potential food safety concerns, as well as strategies to minimize potential contamination. Available resources, including cost-share assistance (available through 7/31/15) and consulting services, will be provided to growers to assist with the implementation of an effective on-farm food safety program. Participants will receive a Certificate of Attendance to fulfill training requirements for USDA GAP/GHP certification. DOWNLOAD the Wake County GAPs Workshop Flyer for all the details! REGISTER NOW ONLINE Register using our Wake County GAPs Workshop Registration Form. Or, call CFSA to register over the phone: 919-542-2402 http://www.cefs.ncsu.edu/

Celebrate the opening of the 2015 Market Season at the annual Pig Pickin’ Celebration, May 6

The Friends of Wake Soil and Water are supporting Raleigh Downtown Farmers Market.

Date // Wednesday, May 6, 2015 Time // 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Where // Raleigh Downtown Farmers Market Address // 400 block Fayetteville Street, City Plaza, Downtown Raleigh Join us May 6 as we officially kick off the 2015 Raleigh Downtown Farmers Market season! Your premier venue for locally grown produce and artisan foods returns to City Plaza with a classic pig pickin’, fun festivities, and an opportunity to connect with 30 of NC’s highest quality growers and bakers. Event Festivities: PIG PICKIN’ (BEGINS AT 11 A.M.): Indulge in a true eastern North Carolina pig-pickin’ from The Pit BBQ, serving famous authentic pulled pork sandwiches from their food truck (available for $5). In addition, local lunch options will be available from Buku, Kimbap, and Rye Bar & Southern Kitchen (NEW!). SHOP: Revel at the sight of a vast quantity of local fresh foods from 30 vendors, including fruits and vegetables, herbs, eggs, cheese, baked goods, vegan items, and gluten-free products. New vendors include: Citizen Pops, The Freezing Pointe, Happy as a Coneflower Farm LLC, Robin’s Kitchen Lab, Rye Bar & Southern Kitchen, Sweets by Shayda, and Vollmer Farm. BCBSNC MOBILE EXPERIENCE: Participate in the Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) Mobile Interactive Experience with XBOX and Wii TM game and fun health facts. LIVE MUSIC (10:30 A.M.-1:30 P.M.): Enjoy acoustic/rock music from Russ Thompson. #HEALTHIE INSTAGRAM CONTEST: Snap your Farmers Market selfie "healthie" for a chance to win $25 in Market Bucks! Follow us at @downtownraleighalliance on Instagram Take a selfie at the Raleigh Downtown Farmers Market on May 6 – be creative (use produce, vendors, The Pit food truck, etc.) Use hashtag #healthie and tag us @downtownraleighalliance in photo caption One lucky winner will be selected to win $25 in Market Bucks. Selection will be based on criteria and creativity. BIKESHARE: Visit the Raleigh BikeShare booth to learn more about plans to bring a bike share system to the Capital City. Visit our website at RaleighEatLocal.com. Learn More

Celebrate the opening of the 2015 Market Season at the annual Pig Pickin’ Celebration, May 6

The Friends of Wake Soil and Water are supporting Raleigh Downtown Farmers Market.

DATE // WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015
TIME // 10 A.M.-2 P.M.
WHERE // RALEIGH DOWNTOWN FARMERS MARKET
ADDRESS // 400 BLOCK FAYETTEVILLE STREET, CITY PLAZA, DOWNTOWN RALEIGH

Join us May 6 as we officially kick off the 2015 Raleigh Downtown Farmers Market season! Your premier venue for locally grown produce and artisan foods returns to City Plaza with a classic pig pickin’, fun festivities, and an opportunity to connect with 30 of NC’s highest quality growers and bakers.

Event Festivities:

PIG PICKIN’ (BEGINS AT 11 A.M.): Indulge in a true eastern North Carolina pig-pickin’ from The Pit BBQ, serving famous authentic pulled pork sandwiches from their food truck (available for $5). In addition, local lunch options will be available from Buku, Kimbap, and Rye Bar & Southern Kitchen (NEW!).

SHOP: Revel at the sight of a vast quantity of local fresh foods from 30 vendors, including fruits and vegetables, herbs, eggs, cheese, baked goods, vegan items, and gluten-free products. New vendors include: Citizen Pops, The Freezing Pointe, Happy as a Coneflower Farm LLC, Robin’s Kitchen Lab, Rye Bar & Southern Kitchen, Sweets by Shayda, and Vollmer Farm.

BCBSNC MOBILE EXPERIENCE: Participate in the Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) Mobile Interactive Experience with XBOX and Wii TM game and fun health facts.

LIVE MUSIC (10:30 A.M.-1:30 P.M.): Enjoy acoustic/rock music from Russ Thompson.

#HEALTHIE INSTAGRAM CONTEST: Snap your Farmers Market selfie “healthie” for a chance to win $25 in Market Bucks!

• Follow us at @downtownraleighalliance on Instagram
• Take a selfie at the Raleigh Downtown Farmers Market on May 6 – be creative (use produce, vendors, The Pit food truck, etc.)
• Use hashtag #healthie and tag us @downtownraleighalliance in photo caption

One lucky winner will be selected to win $25 in Market Bucks. Selection will be based on criteria and creativity.

BIKESHARE: Visit the Raleigh BikeShare booth to learn more about plans to bring a bike share system to the Capital City.

Visit our website at RaleighEatLocal.com.

http://www.wakeforestdowntown.com/ai1ec_event/2015-wake-forest-dirt-day/

Celebrate Spring and the Outdoors at the 2nd Annual Wake Forest Dirt Day held on Historic S. White Street in Downtown Wake Forest!

Wake Forest Dirt Day celebrates all things outdoors at this annual festival that features demonstrations on a variety of interests such as organic gardening, composting, landscaping, home improvement, exercise and more; vendors selling items unique to an outdoor lifestyle; a children’s area with free hands on activities; live bands and entertainment; multiple food offerings and more!

Don’t miss the award winning, fun filled, family friendly outdoor event that focuses on healthy living and healthy life styles!

WHEN: April 4, 2015 @ 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
WHERE: Downtown Wake Forest
COST: Free

http://www.rebusworks.us/thesaturdaymarket/

fresh, local produce, eggs, baked goods, handmade items, and specialty foods

every Saturday, rain or shine from 10-1pm

The Saturday Market is a Farmer’s Market hosted at Rebus Works.
We feature fresh, local produce, eggs, baked goods, handmade items, and specialty foods. We keep the espresso machine humming and we always have a food truck, so come early and stay to stock your fridge for the week and grab breakfast or lunch. Please contact us if you are interested in becoming a vendor.

Check out the latest market line-up here (updated weekly).

Sign up here for the Saturday Market Preview!

Located @Rebus Works (map)
301 Kinsey Street (Boylan Heights)
Raleigh, NC 27603

Twitter: @TheSatMarket
Facebook: /thesaturdaymarket

Gallery

If you know of a past or current student with GIS skills, some
Environmental Education and outreach talent, and a desire to serve as an
AmeriCorps member, please pass this information on to them.
There are students/graduates who want to serve and contribute to our world.
We just need to help them and let them know about various opportunities.

https://americorps.hiringthing.com/job/20508/fire-education-and-prevention-coordinator

Fire Education and Prevention Coordinator (Dry Hydrant Project)
The AmeriCorps member will collect technical field data from rural sites
and communities. This data will help Wake SWCD to implement a new dry
hydrant project that will help improve fire safety for rural landowners.
Water bodies in rural Wake County may or may not qualify as a source for a
dry hydrant.

AmeriCorps member will help map (GIS and GPS work), locate, and document
qualifying factors for potential water bodies. Duties include mapping,
documenting, calculating, and creating report for collaborating partners to
move the project into additional phases.

Qualifications
ArcGIS
Have valid NC Driver’s license
Have environmental or natural resources background

Essential Functions/physical demands
Proficient with computer (office programs)
Must be able to walk distances – through wooded locations

http://projectgeos.blogspot.com/

Thanks,
Dale

Dale Threatt-Taylor
District Director
Wake Soil & Water Conservation District
Agricultural Services Building
4001-D Carya Drive, Raleigh, NC 27610
919-250-1068 work, 919-669-8596 cell
http://www.linkedin.com/in/dalethreatttaylor/

North Carolina’s Capital Conservation District…
Protecting Wake County’s Natural Resources since 1965

From:
Sheila B. Jones
Environmental Education Specialist
Wake Soil & Water Conservation District
4001-D Carya Drive, Raleigh, NC 27610
Office: 919.250.1065; Fax: 919.250.1058
E-mail: sbjones

Hello High School Teachers, Envirothon Advisors, Environmental, FFA and Key Club Leaders, Guidance Counselors, and Scout Leaders across Wake County!

It’s time for teens to apply for summer camp!

Rising seniors, juniors and sophomores are encouraged to apply for a full $475 scholarship to attend the 2015 Resource Conservation Workshop June 21-26 at NCSU!

High school students representing 100 counties across NC spend a week outdoors with professionals in several natural resources fields.

Students also have an opportunity to win college scholarships and/or cash awards on the culminating exam.

Last year Wake District sent four (4) Wake County students with one earning a high score on the exam, and another highly recommended for the Grady Lane College Scholarship.

A video can be seen at this web link: http://www.ncagr.gov/SWC/educational/RCW.html

Deadline is Friday, March 6, 2015.

To apply, students complete the attached sign up form with 250 words explaining their interest in natural resources conservation, why they’re the best candidate, plus 1 letter of reference from an adult (teacher, youth or church leader, or other adult besides parent.)

Application is sent to my attention
by email (sbjones),
or FAX (919-250-1058),
or by snail mail: Wake SWCD, 4001-D Carya Drive, Raleigh,NC 27610.

Please let young people know about this opportunity. Thank you!

Sheila B. Jones
Environmental Education Specialist

RCW Promo 2015.pdf

RCW Info Letter 2015.pdf

RCW Application 2015.doc

Registration for the NC A&T State University’s 2015 Small Farms Week is now open!

Please register and forward this email to all of your contacts, farmers, friends and colleagues.

Small Farms Week is March 22th through March 28, 2015.

· Click on this link 2015 Small Farms Week Registration Form

OR

http://www.ncat.edu/academics/schools-colleges1/saes/cooperative-extension/sfw2015.html

The deadline for registration is March 16, 2015.

From NC A&T State University, Cooperative Extension Program

Please direct questions to the Cooperative Extension Program: (336) 334-7956.

Happy Ground Hog Day!

February 2nd is also Happy World Wetlands Day!

• So it’s perfect timing for Chief Meteorologist Greg Fishel to announce the Top 5 "Wetlands Are Wonderful" posters that he’ll showcase on WRAL-TV 5 the week of March 2-6, 2015 during the 5 o’clock News. Congratulations to Kaeleigh, Natalie, Luke, Emily, and Jennifer — your posters have TV star appeal! Many thanks to Greg for coordinating this prime-time spotlight!

1. See the schedule for which poster will be shown each day of the week. NOTE: Winter weather, severe weather and breaking news can pre-empt our posters from being shown.
2. Visit the World Wetlands Day website of The Ramsar Convention, an international organization that encourages wise use of wetlands and intergovernmental cooperation on wetland issues. http://www.worldwetlandsday.org/ Make a wetland pledge, download teaching materials, and if you’re age 15-24…you can enter a wetland photo contest for a chance to win a flight to a wetland anywhere on Earth! Enter between February 2-March 2. Good luck!
3. Mark your calendar for our special "Wetlands Are Wonderful" field trip:

Sat., April 25, 2015
10am-12pm
Walnut Creek Wetland Center
Raleigh, NC

Sheila B. Jones
Environmental Education Specialist
Wake Soil & Water Conservation District
4001-D Carya Drive, Raleigh, NC 27610
Office: 919.250.1065; Fax: 919.250.1058
E-mail: sbjones

Posters on TV with Greg Fishel 2015.pdf

four categories: grades K-5, 6-8, 9-12, and adult

Deadline is March 31, 2015.

Entries are judged by high school English teachers.

Contest is sponsored by The Center for Human-Earth Restoration (C.H.E.R.) which is led by retired WCPSS high school science teacher Randy Senzig in
memory of his colleague Ross Andrews.

What a great way to nurture a love for language as a way to express a love for nature!

Poetry Contest ross andrews 2015.docx