NC Cooperative Extension - Gaston County Center

10/14/2026

Hatch Day has started at the Cooperative Extension office! 🐣

The eggs are cracking, and the chicks are starting to come out today!

Have questions about the hatching process or embryology?

Contact Gaston County Cooperative Extension office!

(704) 922 - 2110

10/12/2026

If you are looking for a warm, comforting, hearty soup this winter while the farmers market is full of sweetpotatoes and winter squash, try this SweetPotato and Peanut soup recipe. Students made this recipe after their Farmers Market Field Trip and they gave it two thumbs up! So if the students liked it. It's almost guaranteed you will too.

And if you'd like to learn more about cooking with herbs, as well as practicing good knife skills, come learn with me in the Cooking with Herbs Workshop.

Cooking With Herbs class fee: $8

Saturday, November 21, 11am-2pm

Register and Pay Online here: https://go.ncsu.edu/kg9xw9e

Workshop Location: Lucile Tatum Center, 959 Osceola St., Gastonia, NC

This hands-on cooking workshop will teach you to replace salt with flavor using a variety of herbs. You will also gain knowledge of the health benefits of cooking with herbs while reducing salt.

10/10/2026

The weather just didn't want to play nice today and we were not able to entertain the public with out Ag focused tents. Nonetheless, the Heritage Garden in the village stands beautifully planted and thriving in the rain. Our horticulture agent, Payton Flowers, looks at his this curated masterpiece that can be enjoyed both esthetically and educationally with his informative signage.

10/10/2026

10/08/2026

Nature is a great example of how shared resources creates a community for all different kinds of creatures. Seeing this communal space for a green anole and the busy bees brought a smile to my face and brightened my heart.

So take some time today to go for a walk and allow the landscape around your office or home to inspire you.

10/06/2026

Collaborations are foundational!! There is more to come. We are committed to bringing unique experiences to our youth and community, and working together with the community is the way forward! Keep Gastonia Beautiful, Inc. Gastonia Farmers Market Gaston County Schools

10/06/2026

Today was the first Farm to Fork field trip organized by FCS Agent with Gaston County's Cooperative Extension Office. Students from both Forestview High School and South Point High School Foods and Nutrition classes came out and learned about the food supply system. Gastonia Farmer's Market hosted the event, allowing students to learn about the market and how they connect local farmers with customers. Keep Gastonia Beautiful members were also on hand to lead students on a market tour and provided a lesson on herbs that are growing at the market.

Students were amazed to learn that the average distance food travels from farm to grocery store is 1,500 miles, but food at the farmer's market is picked fresh daily and travels about 10-50 miles to reach them directly. It was a win for our Local Agriculture industry to make this connection with high school kids.

Many thanks for the impactful collaboration. Keep Gastonia Beautiful, Inc. Gastonia Farmers Market

10/05/2026

🌿 Medicinal Plants & Mushrooms of the Piedmont 🍄

Interested in learning how to safely identify, prepare, and forage local herbs and fungi? Join us at the N.C. Cooperative Extension – Gaston County Center for an engaging session with guest speaker Owen Washam! Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced enthusiast looking to apply these skills in woodland or on-farm settings, this workshop offers practical, research-based guidance for everyone.

Event Details:
🗓️ Date: Tuesday, November 10, 2026
⏰ Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
📍 Location: Gaston Citizens Resource Center, Dallas, NC
🎟️ Fee: $5.00

Register here: https://go.ncsu.edu/medicinalplantsmushrooms2026 (Note: No refunds unless the event is canceled. N.C. Cooperative Extension is an equal opportunity provider.)

09/29/2026

This past Saturday, Gaston County beef producers got a little classroom education, a little chute-side instruction, and a whole lot of hands-on learning during our Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) training!

We had 15 area beef producers participate, with 14 successfully completing their BQA certification. 🎉

A huge thank-you to Dr. Josh Sullivan for doing a fantastic job teaching our producers chute-side. From responsible cattle handling and understanding the flight zone to vaccination practices, injection techniques, needle selection, and everything in between—Dr. Sullivan brought the information from the classroom straight to the cattle.

Because let's be honest… you can talk about a squeeze chute all day, but eventually somebody needs to actually get in there and show you how it works. 😂

The goal of BQA isn't simply to earn a certificate to hang on the wall. It's about putting science-based management practices into action to improve cattle health, welfare, and ultimately beef quality.

And judging by the questions, participation, and willingness to get their hands dirty, these producers were ready to put the knowledge to work. 👏🐂

Thank you to all 15 producers who participated—and congratulations to the 14 who completed their certification!