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Standards and Guidelines

Standards and Guidelines

We’re excited to introduce our video series, called Homegrown, that NC State Extension and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) have created to provide North Carolinians with timely tips and tools from Extension experts across North Carolina.

Happy little girl in garden
Get hands-on with some of Homegrown’s most popular segments from over the years — watch our greatest hits playlist!

Homegrown aims to grow awareness and engagement with Extension, particularly among new audiences in our urban/suburban communities of North Carolina. The series features short, informative videos that present practical solutions – backed by science – to timely, relevant issues impacting our audiences.

From family-friendly recipes and fun food science to seasonal gardening how-tos, Homegrown provides Extension subject-matter experts with a platform to share their knowledge in new and engaging ways. Working together, we help North Carolinians conquer their kitchens, grow their gardens and discover where their food comes from.

Review this page for an overview of Homegrown video standards and guidelines — and thank you for your participation and support of the program.

~ Homegrown Team

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Video Guidelines

Homegrown will produce at least one new video per month – one for each segment category per quarter – with final video topics determined by a planning committee with input from employees and viewers.

Video Topics Criteria

Homegrown addresses stakeholder needs and interests by leveraging our Extension network of expertise – our goal is not to provide program overviews, but to present practical tips and tools that will benefit people in their daily lives. We provide “everyday solutions for everyday lives.”

We’ve developed a topics rubric, or checklist, to help guide our videos.

When considering a segment idea for Homegrown, start by running it through these questions to determine if a topic is a good fit:

  • Is the topic relevant to adults or families with young kids in an urban/suburban area? Does it address their needs or interests?
  • Does the topic offer a clear, relevant consumer benefit?
  • Are people talking or thinking about the topic (is it timely)?
  • Is an Extension expert available to share simple, research-based solutions or insights related to the topic?
  • Can the audience easily apply the solution in their everyday lives?
  • Can the topic be categorized into Kitchen, Farm or Garden?

    If you answered “No” or “I don’t know” to any question, please continue refining the topic before submitting.

Ready to share a segment idea for Homegrown? Submit your topics here!

Segment Categories

Segments are grouped into three categories: In The Garden, In The Kitchen and On The Farm.

  • In The Garden videos help guide green thumbs with seasonal tips from Extension’s horticultural experts and NC State Extension Master GardenerSM volunteers on establishing and maintaining gardens, lawns, landscapes and house plants. We also address a broader range of home issues ranging from pest management to landscape maintenance.
    • Sample Topics:
      • Home gardening
      • Landscapes
      • Houseplants
      • Urban horticulture
      • Pest management

  • In The Kitchen topics focus on safety practices for food preparation and preservation, tips for cooking nutritious and seasonal local foods, and even the occasional “celebrity” chef sharing their favorite N.C. foods and recipes alongside our Extension experts.
    • Sample Topics:
      • Food safety
      • Food preservation
      • Cost-conscious nutrition
      • Recipes
      • Healthy cooking and eating

  • On The Farm segments introduce N.C. agriculture and the diversity of crops, ag technology and farm operations across the state. We’ll show you the life cycle of the foods you love, from the farm to your family’s table, including feedback from the farmers who produce the food and products that impact our daily lives.
    • Sample Topics:
      • Farm-to-fork process / Food life cycle
      • Agricultural production (small- and large-scale operations)
      • Animal care and welfare
      • Antibiotics, GMOs, hormones
      • Agriculture’s everyday impacts

Length and Tone

  • Videos are roughly 2-3 minutes (usually no more than 5-6 minutes)
  • Address a very specific and timely topic of importance to North Carolinians
  • Keep the messaging simple, conversational and to the point
  • It’s still OK to have fun – Homegrown videos should be engaging, vibrant and social-friendly
  • Get your shoes muddy! Capture on-site footage, interesting visuals and take viewers to places they might not otherwise see

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Submitting Segment Ideas & Videos

Follow the link below to let us know if you would like Homegrown to address a specific topic in one of our videos. Please share as many details as possible, including the Extension expert(s) that would be featured, topic overview, potential dates and locations, and the target timeframe to launch the final video.

If you already have a video that you’d like us to consider featuring, include a link in the contact form to view it on YouTube, or let us know who to contact to access the video.

When creating or submitting your own videos, be mindful of the Homegrown video guidelines summarized on this page, as well as our NC State Extension brand standards.

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Meet the Homegrown Team

A Homegrown planning team meets regularly to review content and production plans, develop marketing and promotional efforts, and chart the course for this groundbreaking Extension video series. The team collectively guides the direction of the program to ensure alignment with Extension/CALS strategic priorities and help drive long-term success for Homegrown.

  • Chris Liotta, Video Production – our seasoned videographer is the lead creative for the program, responsible for shooting, editing and managing post-production aspects for all Homegrown segments.
  • Caro Metzler, Social Media – as the social media specialist for NC State Extension and CALS, Caro promotes the Homegrown series across our various social channels, broadening the program’s reach while engaging with stakeholders.
  • Justin Moore, Marketing and Communications – Justin oversees the strategic direction of Homegrown, working alongside the team and NC State Extension / CALS Comm. leadership to help drive program goals, coordinate production, support content development and market Homegrown to stakeholders.
  • A collection of additional Extension and CALS talent contribute to various Homegrown efforts, from website features and educational resources to content development and strategic marketing. We extend a special thanks to them and everyone who help make the program possible!

Marketing Resources

Discover additional tools to help you promote Homegrown and raise awareness of Extension in your community through this series.

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