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In the Garden

Getting Started with Backyard Composting

Composting is a natural way of recycling organic material like vegetables, leaves and egg shells into a rich soil. Dig in to learn more!

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Watch Our N.C. Wheat Series

Homegrown

How to Make Sourdough Bread Starter in 4 Simple Steps 

Homegrown

How to Feed and Maintain Sourdough Starter for Baking 

Homegrown

Turning N.C. Wheat into Flour 

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Learn and Explore

Discover the latest findings for the kitchen, garden and farm right here. We’ll share tasty, nutritious recipes and safe food prep tips; show you what’s in season and how it’s grown; and help you learn where your food comes from and what it takes to feed North Carolina.

In the Garden

From growing your own produce to composting your kitchen scraps, we’ll take you through the finer points of putting your green thumb to good use. And whether you’ve got a whole backyard ready to be planted or a couple houseplants on your windowsill, we’re here to help. Go ahead, get your hands dirty.

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How to Grow Baptisia in Your Garden

Baptisia is a colorful flowering, native North Carolina plant that's easy to grow and deer resistant. Learn how to add some color to your garden! 

Tips for Starting a Container Garden

Who said a backyard was required for gardening? You can grow potatoes on your porch or strawberries on your stoop with a container garden - find out how. 

Getting Started with Backyard Composting

Composting is a natural way of recycling organic material like vegetables, leaves and egg shells into a rich soil. Dig in to learn more! 

In the Kitchen

Cooking and enjoying fresh, local foods is one of the great pleasures of living in a farm-friendly state like North Carolina. Join us in the kitchen as we share nutritious recipes, expert cooking and food preservation tips to help you make the most of all our state offers.  

Most Recent More Stories

How to Feed and Maintain Sourdough Starter for Baking

Now that you've made your sourdough starter, what do you do with it? Erin McKenney shows us how to feed and maintain your sourdough so it's ready for any recipe! 

How to Make Sourdough Bread Starter in 4 Simple Steps

Sourdough starters can be used to make a variety of delicious recipes - not just bread! Learn how to make your own. 

Understanding the “No Added Hormones” Meat Label

What does the "No Added Hormones" meat label mean? Maybe not what you expect. 

On the Farm

We have a rich agricultural history in North Carolina, and the typical family farm is growing and changing all the time! From pollinators to shiitake mushrooms, there’s always something worth exploring. Come with us as we meet some of the folks who are ensuring our food’s future.

Most Recent More Stories

Turning N.C. Wheat into Flour

We explore how N.C. wheat becomes the flour you’ll find in everyday products and lining the shelves at your local grocery store or farmers market. 

Protect the Pollinator – NC State Works to Preserve Billion Dollar Bees

Dwindling honey bee colonies are a global concern - a $15 billion concern. Bees help pollinate more than 100 crops, providing invaluable support to North Carolina's $84 billion agriculture industry. Busy bees, indeed. 

Supporting Local Businesses During the Holidays

As you go about your holiday shopping this year, don’t forget about local businesses like Sanderson Wreaths, who are using products from N.C. farms to create beautiful works of art.