Spring Has Sprung April Means Outdoor Events in the Mountains By Jeff Eason The Cradle of Forestry at the Pisgah National Forest will host an Old Time Plowing and Planting Demonstration this weekend. You don’t have to be one of those picnic basket-loving bears at Jellystone National Park to know when hibernation season is over. During the past two weeks, spring has virtually exploded all over the High Country as trees bud, flowers bloom, and ghostly pale arms and legs reveal themselves for the first time in five months. Never mind the pollen, we’re going outside! But what to do out there? Well, the possibilities are endless. In the coming weeks, the High Country will be the seen of many outdoor activities from organized softball to plowing demonstrations to the start of the Watauga County Farmer’s Market. Here’s just a quick sampler of all there is to enjoy outdoors: Agricultural Events The good folks at the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Office in Boone will host a number of public events in conjunction with the start of spring. On Saturday, April 16, from 2 to 5 p.m. the organization will present a Winter cover Crops Farm Field Day at the Otus Branch Farm in Pottertown, NC (northern Watauga County at the border of Ashe). During the visit, you can observe what fall-planted cover crops can do for soil fertility and weed control. A CFSA Potluck dinner will follow—bring a dish to share if you can. All gardeners and farmers are welcome. Admission is free for CFSA members, and $5 for non-members. For more information and directions to the farm, call (828) 264-3061. A Backyard and Worm Bin Composting Workshop will be held at the Cooperative Extension Building in Boone on Saturday, April 23 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. This is a hands-on session to learn how to compost on a small scale in your backyard, or even indoors using a worm bin. Participants have the option to build their own worm boxes, learn how to manage them, and understand more about composting. Speakers will include NCSU Solid Waste Specialist Rhonda Sherman, and Area Agent for Alternative Agriculture Richard Boylan. A concurrent Children’s Program makes the event suitable for the whole family. Cost is $5 per family for the program only, or $30 per family if you want to build and take home your own worm bin. Sign up to reserve your space by calling the Watauga County Extension Office at (828) 264-3061. The Office will also host Spring and Summer Wind Power Workshops to being April 15th featuring a variety of dates and topics from now until September 18th. April 16—5K Fun Run Join your friends for the Great Strides 5K walk/run to benefit cystic fibrosis research and those with cystic fibrosis. The event will take place on Saturday, April 16th beginning at 10 a.m. on the Greenway Trail in Boone. The goal is to raise $5,000 through donations and $10 entry fees. The event will also feature raffles and a silent auction. For more information, contact Brandon Boseman at brandonboseman@bellsouth.net or Sherri Wilson at (828) 264-6314 or wilsonsl@appstate.edu. April 16—Boone Cleanup Day In conjunction with the statewide “Spring Litter Sweep” campaign issued by Governor Easley, the town of Boone will hold a spring cleaning day for our area on Saturday, April 16. Interested participants can come by the Town of Boone Public Works Center on East King Street between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. to pick up cleanup supplies or can pick them up ahead of time. The town of Boone will award monetary prizes for the most unusual litter found within the city limits on Cleanup Day. Rain date for the event is Saturday, April 23. For more information, contact Boone’s Adopt-A-Street coordinator, Marsha Story at (828) 262-4560. The Cradle of Forestry After spending the winter in relative hibernation, the U.S. Forest Service is ready to roll with a family-oriented selection of new programs. The Cradle of Forestry Historic Site in the Pisgah National Forest will open its doors on Saturday, April 16th with an Appalachian Spring Celebration to kick off the 2005 season. From that point the center will be open every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. until November 6th. The Cradle of Forestry will host an “Old-Time Plowing and Planting” demonstration on April 16th from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. “Go back in time as an oxen team plow the Cradle’s garden. Learn plowing and planting skills of days gone by, see old tools used, enjoy gardening folklore and, weather permitting, you can help plant the season’s bounty.” Other events at the center include: April 23: Migratory Bird Day—Practice identifying birds by sight and sound with a walk along the Pink Beds Trail led by science teacher and naturalist Bill Sanderson. The group meets at 8:30 a.m. in the Forest Discovery Center and will conduct an approximately 3.5-mile hike through a variety of habitats. The event is open to everyone aged ten and older. Ages ten through 15 need to be accompanied by an adult. To register for the guided bird walk, call (828) 877-3130. Family-oriented activities will take place from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. and include ongoing games that show the wonder of birds. Folk musician Cindy Carpenter will present a forest music program called Songs of the Big Outdoors at 4 p.m. April 26: Deadline for the Appalachian Spring Photography Contest—Photographers may enter two color photos, no smaller than 8”x10” that are matted, mounted or framed so they can be hung. Judges will be looking at the spring theme, technique, interest, value and composition. The contest is sponsored by Ball Photo of Asheville and photos will be on display at the Cradle of Forestry Historic Site from April 29 through June 5. For an entry form, call (828) 884-5713 ext. 16. May 8: Mother’s Day and Trees in May—Enjoy guided walks, an animal program, tree identification, a nature craft and visit with traditional crafts people at the historic buildings at the site. Pack and picnic and treat mom to a day in the forest! Mother’s Day activities will last from noon to 5 p.m. The animal program begins at 3 p.m. Mom’s are admitted for free on Mother’s Day. May 16: Historic Presentation—Renowned author Dr. Char Miller will present Gifford Pinchot and the Making of Modern Environmentalism, a provocative reconsideration of the life and work of the famed conservationist and progressive politician. This new program offers an intimate telling of the life of Gifford Pinchot, father of forestry and leader of the environmental movement, and is part of the US Forest Service centennial celebration. This evening program will last from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. The presentation is open to the public at no charge. Seats are limited so call the Cradle of Forestry for a reservation at (828) 877-3130. May 28: Walk to the Wetlands—Beaver wetlands, a changing forest, wildflowers and dragonflies are just some of the wonders waiting along the Pink Bed Trail. Bring water, snacks or lunch, and wear good hiking shoes for this approximately 4-mile trek. Hikers meet at 10:30 inside the Forest Discovery Center. Admission to the Cradle site is $5 for adults 16 and older. Admission is free for kids ages 15 and under and those with Golden Age, Eagle and Access Passports. Entry includes: The Forest Discovery Center with 15 hands-on exhibits, scavenger hunt, 18-minute movie, guided trails, historic cabins, antique equipment, living history interpreters and special interpretive events. The Cradle of Forestry is located on Hwy 276 in the Pisgah National Forest near Brevard, NC. This site is close to waterfalls, hiking, camping, fishing, the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education and the Blue Ridge Parkway. For more information, call (828) or go to www.cradleofforestry.org. Watauga County Farmers Market The Watauga County Farmers Market is set to return for another great year. Located next to the Hickory Ridge Homestead at Horn in the West in Boone, the market features fresh fruits and vegetables, handmade food and crafts, starter plants, furniture, homemade jams and preserves, and much more. This year the Watauga County Farmers Market will be open every Saturday from May 7th through October 29th. The market has also extended its Wednesday schedule from June 15th through September 14th. Hours are 8 a.m. until a little after noon.