North Carolina Cooperative Extension- Lee County Center

North Carolina Cooperative Extension- Lee County Center We serve farmers, gardeners, chefs, families and children through our outreach and education.

Our Mission

North Carolina Cooperative Extension partners with communities to deliver education and technology that enrich the lives, land and economy of North Carolinians. La Extensión Cooperativa de Carolina del Norte se asocia con las comunidades para ofrecer educación y tecnología que enriquecen la vida de los habitantes, la tierra y la economía de Carolina del Norte.

✨ Market Menu of the Week: Herbes de Provence Ratatouille! 🍆🍅🌿Looking for a delicious, cozy dish using fresh ingredients...
09/11/2026

✨ Market Menu of the Week: Herbes de Provence Ratatouille! 🍆🍅🌿

Looking for a delicious, cozy dish using fresh ingredients from the market? Try this week's Herbes de Provence Ratatouille! It brings out all the rich, savory flavors of late-summer produce and feeds up to 12 people—perfect for meal prep or a weekend family dinner.

🛒 Find these fresh ingredients at the Sanford Farmers' Market this Saturday!

⏰ Market hours: Saturday, September 12th I 8:30am-12pm
🗺 Location: Pilgrim's Sanford Ag Marketplace, 157 Charlotte Ave, Sanford NC

🚜 Why Protect Working Lands in Lee County? 🌾Working lands—our farms and managed forests—are at the heart of Lee County’s...
09/11/2026

🚜 Why Protect Working Lands in Lee County? 🌾

Working lands—our farms and managed forests—are at the heart of Lee County’s agricultural economy and heritage. As our community grows, proactive planning and conservation programs are essential so both development and agriculture can thrive together!

Here is a look at the data from the 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture:

📈 A Growing Ag Economy:

-Market value of agricultural products sold has increased by ~10% since 2017.

-14 new farms have joined our local landscape since 2017.

⚠️ The Challenge:

-Total cropland has decreased by 27% since 2017 due to population growth and development.

-Through farmland conservation programs, Voluntary Agricultural Districts (VAD/EVAD), and smart local planning, we can protect our working lands for generations to come.

Learn more about how working land conservation keeps Lee County growing sustainably! 💚🌱

Check out our resources below:
Lee County Cooperative Extension Farmland Preservation Page- https://go.ncsu.edu/farmland-preservation

2022 Census of Agriculture I USDA
https://go.ncsu.edu/2022censusofagricultureusda

✨September & Spice is almost here!✨TOMORROW is our "September & Spice" event! 🍂☕Planning your flavor adventure? We've ma...
09/11/2026

✨September & Spice is almost here!✨

TOMORROW is our "September & Spice" event! 🍂☕

Planning your flavor adventure? We've made it easy for you with this week's market map 🗺️! Locate exactly where to find our vendors at the market tomorrow morning!

👇Check the map below, grab your shopping bags, and come hungry! 🛍️✨

⏰ Market hours: Saturday, September 12th I 8:30am-12pm
🗺 Location: Pilgrim's Sanford Ag Marketplace, 157 Charlotte Ave, Sanford NC

✨🎶 Becky King and Market Bastien will be at the Market this Saturday, September 11th !!🎶✨For our September & Spice speci...
09/11/2026

✨🎶 Becky King and Market Bastien will be at the Market this Saturday, September 11th !!🎶✨

For our September & Spice special event at the market this Saturday, we are excited to welcome back Becky King and Mark Bastien!

This acoustic guitar duo plays a wide variety of tunes that you will know and love accompanied with sweet and soulful vocals. We are definitely in for a musical treat this Saturday!

Bring a chair with you to sit back and relax while you shop this Saturday!

⏰ Market hours: Saturday, September 12th I 8:30am-12pm
🗺 Location: Pilgrim's Sanford Ag Marketplace, 157 Charlotte Ave, Sanford NC

✨ Get ready for a sweet & spicy Saturday at the Market! ✨TOMORROW is our first special market event of September—Septemb...
09/11/2026

✨ Get ready for a sweet & spicy Saturday at the Market! ✨

TOMORROW is our first special market event of September—September & Spice! 🍂🍁

We are showcasing our amazing local bakers and their delicious sweet and savory creations, plus sugar, spice, and everything nice across the entire market! Here’s a taste of what’s waiting for you:

🥐 Sweet & Savory Baked Goodies:

-Hot breakfast biscuits from Meme’s Bakery

-Hot & crispy Filipino lumpias from Catherine Ann’s

-Pumpkin spiced bagels, apple cinnamon focaccia, and sweet sourdough treats from Rye Family Farms

-Decadent ooey-gooey bars & cinnamon rolls from Hook and Kee

-Spicy & savory sausage balls, and so much more!

🍳 Market Favorites & Specialty Foods:

-Seasoned sausages from our local meat vendors

-Spiced jams, jellies, herb spreads, and herb & spiced apple goat cheese blends

-Fresh coastal oysters brought to you by Homegrown Oysters

🌱 Plants & Gardens:

-Herb and spice plants from our nurseries so you can grow your own at home

-Trees and fall vegetable starts like black magic kale, scarlet kale, and mustard greens

🎨 Crafts & Wellness:

-Lavender body and home products from Agape Lavender Farm

-Gorgeous cut flowers from Bloom at Chesapeake

-Fall-themed stained glass, beeswax pumpkins, aromatic simmer pots, and unique handcrafted goods!

Come hungry, bring a friend, and browse all the incredible local products this weekend. We can't wait to see you there! 🛍️✨

To learn more about our market tomorrow and upcoming events check out the link below:
https://go.ncsu.edu/farmersmarketnewsletterseptember12th

⏰ Market hours: Saturday, September 12th I 8:30am-12pm
🗺 Location: Pilgrim's Sanford Ag Marketplace, 157 Charlotte Ave, Sanford NC

09/11/2026

Big news in the garden! 🌦️📊

As the Pollinator Haven Garden approaches its 10th anniversary next year, we’re looking ahead—not just for the next decade, but for the next 100 years! We officially installed our first-ever weather station right in the garden beds!

We set up a TempestOne station to collect research-grade data right here on site. 🌡️🌧️ General weather apps give us Sanford trends, but this system tracks the exact microclimate our plants and pollinators experience—from summer heat spikes to sudden rain deluges.

Check out the video to see our new setup in action, and track our live garden weather here: https://go.ncsu.edu/pollinatorhavenweatherleeco 🎬👇

What weather metric are you most curious about tracking in the garden? Temperature? Rain totals? Wind speed? Let us know in the comments!

Our Cultivate and Create Youth Garden Club is not meeting today, but we are looking forward to seeing everyone on Friday...
09/11/2026

Our Cultivate and Create Youth Garden Club is not meeting today, but we are looking forward to seeing everyone on Friday, October 9 for Fall Garden Explorations!

Register here: https://go.ncsu.edu/cultivateandcreateyouthleeco

$5 per family! Homeschool Groups welcome!

New culinary skills and food preservation classes are coming to the Pilgrims Sanford Agricultural Marketplace Teaching K...
09/10/2026

New culinary skills and food preservation classes are coming to the Pilgrims Sanford Agricultural Marketplace Teaching Kitchen.

This fall, build your confidence in the kitchen, learn new techniques, and sharpen your culinary skills with hands-on classes designed for home cooks and preservers!

Be on the lookout for more classes added to the fall/winter lineup!

All NC Cooperative Extension, Lee County events can be found at: lee.ces.ncsu.edu/events/

Address

2420 Tramway Road
Sanford, NC
27332

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+19197755624

Website

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