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Foraging for Backyard Edibles

summer

Asian needle ant (Brachyponera chinensis)

Jun 11, 2025

Asian Needle Ants in North Carolina: What to Know

Asian needle ants are spreading across North Carolina – and their sting is worse than you think. Learn how to spot them, why they’re a bigger deal than other ants, and how to manage them. 
Honey bees building a comb for their hive.

Jun 18, 2024

Promoting a Honey Bee Haven in North Carolina

Discover more about the bustling and beautiful lives of bees, how NC State is helping to promote and protect these essential pollinators, and what you can do to help! 
Close shot of gloved hands holding and cutting through cooked pork butt barbecue on a red tabletop.

Jun 29, 2021

How to Prepare Perfect Pork Butt Barbecue

Learn how to take a pork butt and turn it into delicious North Carolina style barbecue! 
A glass jar with a "barbecue martini" consisting of pork barbecue, baked beans, cole slaw and pickles sits on a white plate while displayed on a red tabletop outdoors.

Jun 29, 2021

How to Make a Barbecue Martini

I'll have a BBQ-Tini, please. Grilled, not stirred. Hold the gin and olives, add some 'cue and pickles. 
A man in an industrial kitchen setting leaning over a table with various grilling condiments displayed while holding out a plate of barbecue chicken.

Jun 29, 2021

How to Make Barbecue Chicken

Learn how to make good old fashioned shredded barbecue chicken. Good on a sandwich. Good by itself. Quick and easy. 
Close shot of gloved hands holding and cutting through barbecue spare ribs on a red tabletop.

Jun 29, 2021

Making Smoked Barbecue Spare Ribs as Simple as 3-2-1

There are a lot of ways to make successful smoked barbecue ribs, and you're going to love this simple approach. Discover how to make barbecue spare ribs with the 3-2-1 method. 
A cecropia caterpillar is attached to the underside of a partially eaten leaf.

Jun 26, 2021

North Carolina’s Very Hungry Caterpillars

North Carolina is home to nearly 3,000 caterpillar species, of which only about 3% are garden pests. Learn more about these baby butterflies and moths, and their ecological value. 
Close shot of raw pork chops on a red tabletop with a dry rub mix sprinkled over them for cooking.

Jun 18, 2021

How to Make Your Own Dry Rub

Dry rubs can be as complicated or as simple as you want them. We're of the mindset that simpler is better. Learn how to make a simple salt-and-pepper rub that works well with many meats. 
Fireflies or lightning bugs flying at night in the forest.

Jun 17, 2021

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. 
A young girl holds a wooden bowl with greens and flowers.

May 7, 2020

Foraging for Backyard Edibles

Did you know that you can eat some of the plants in your yard? Join Travis Birdsell in this episode of In the Garden to learn which backyard plants you can use to make a fresh spring salad.