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Discover the Secret Science of Fireflies

...or is it lightning bugs? Try bioluminescent beetles! Our resident expert sheds some light on these magical summer favorites.

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Get Out and Garden This Spring

It's that time of year. Your yard starts calling to you, and you develop an insatiable itch to grow and mow. It can be overwhelming, like the pollen coating your car. Welcome to spring in North Carolina! Celebrate the season with a gardening grab bag on us.

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Homegrown

Growing a Pollinator Garden 

Homegrown

Getting Started with Backyard Composting 

Homegrown

How Much Fertilizer Should I Use for My Lawn? 

Homegrown

Controlling Fire Ants in Your Yard 

Homegrown

Choosing Cool or Warm Season Grass for Your Lawn 

Homegrown

Foraging for Backyard Edibles 

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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. Go ahead, get your hands dirty.

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Discover the Secret Science of Fireflies

One of the more magical moments of summer is the first firefly (or lightning bug)! These little luminaries are both mesmerizing and mysterious, so our expert shed some light on the subject. 

Pollen Season Is Nothing to Sneeze at

Find out where all that yellow pollen comes from, steps you can take to reduce the impact of pollen on allergies, and how pollen actually plays a critical role in our everyday lives in unexpected ways! 

Planting Fruit Trees in the Home Landscape

Next time you're craving a crisp apple or peach, wouldn't it be nice if you could just stroll over to a veritable fruit factory in your own back yard? 

In the Kitchen

Join us in the kitchen as we share nutritious recipes, expert cooking advice and food preservation tips to help you make the most of all our state offers.  

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Egg-cellent Hollandaise Sauce in a Blender

We humbly submit to the pantheon of condiments: hollandaise sauce. Indulge in a little haute cuisine at home with this rich and creamy sauce that can be made in a blender. 

Fresh Fish and Seafood Safety Tips

Winter is peak season for many seasonal seafood delights in North Carolina. Before diving in and splurging on that seafood platter, make sure you consider food safety first. How do you know if fish is fresh? We'll show you! 

Ginger-Crusted Bass Over Vinegar Rice

Fresh striped bass isn’t just a spring treat anymore. Farm-raised filets are coming to plates near you, thanks to aquaculture industry research at NC State. 

On the Farm

We have a rich agricultural history in North Carolina, and the typical family farm is growing and changing all the time! Come with us as we meet some of the folks who are ensuring our food’s future.

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The Perfect Time for Pickin’ Strawberries

Pollen and gardens aren't the only things bursting anew come springtime in the South – sweet and scrumptious strawberries are back in season! Discover pointers for picking the perfect berries. 

North Carolina Dairy Industry Is Grade A

Got milk? In North Carolina, yes, we do! About 900 million pounds of it annually. Discover how farmers produce milk and other dairy delights you love, and what NC State is doing to grow the industry! 

Real or Fake? In North Carolina, Real Trees Win

Take a quick, animated journey through the North Carolina Christmas tree industry, then head out to claim your live tree today!