Describes community gardens, its benefits, how to find or start a garden and tips for growing, storing, preparing and enjoying fruits and vegetables. In addition it highlights state and national gardening resources.
IES is the recognized leader and change agent for the sustainability and advancement of North Carolina industry. IES offers ergonomics solutions that enable North Carolina companies to identify and improve procedures, tools and environments to improve worker performance. Through audits, assessments and other assistance offered by IES, NC companies understand and comply with safe workplace regulations (OSHA and state regulations).
The purpose of the Natural Learning Initiative is to promote the importance of the natural environment in the daily experience of all children, through environmental design, action research, education, and dissemination of information.
Making healthy choices isn't always easy. North Carolina Cooperative Extension's educators help people sort fact from fad, providing research-based programs that promote a lifetime of good health. Programs cover a broad spectrum, from pesticide safety to indoor air quality, from childhood nutrition and physical activity to heart-healthy eating and food safety.
At the NC Research Campus, NC State is extending its outstanding programs bridging basic life science research to real world agricultural applications by
establishing the world's first institute dedicated to the use of genomics, bioinformatics, and systems biology to enhance plant breeding. The major focus of the NC State Institute for Fruit and Vegetable Science Institute at Kannapolis will be to increase the yield of vegetable crops in diverse growth environments, while at the same time improving nutritional quality.
Artistic and athletic competitions to encourage health and wellness in people 55 and better. North Carolina Senior Games (NCSG) involves over 55,000 adults ages 55+ in year round programs in all counties in the state. Competitions are held in 50 athletic events and four "Silver Arts" areas—visual arts, literary arts, performing arts, and heritage arts. Through 53 local Senior Games, about 3,000 participants qualify for the State Finals in Raleigh. About 200 undergraduate and graduate students from the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management volunteer each year to help with the State Finals.
NCSG originated in 1982 in response to a request from the NC Division of Aging, and the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management became an original coordinating agency. The program has emerged as a model Senior Games program for the nation. Participants report increasing physical activity, improving nutritional patterns, strengthening social networks, improving their quality of life, and motivating them to be more active.
The Upper Coastal Plain Learning Council (UCPLC) was formed to provide higher educational opportunities through a collective effort of the University of North Carolina, the North Carolina Community College System and the North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities in order to achieve the UNC-Tomorrow recommendations to increase access to higher education through UNC institutions and Community Colleges. The UCPLC was formed to address this collaboration covering the five county regions including Edgecombe, Halifax, Nash, Northampton and Wilson Counties and including the two private colleges in the region, Barton and NC Wesleyan. The North Carolina General Assembly has provided recurring funding since 2008 for this northeastern North Carolina initiative. The members of the council are exceptional leaders in their communities in the fields of education, business, and government.
Health and Nutrition