From Our Readers

Finest Public Garden: Sarah P. Duke Gardens

Megan Mendenhall/Duke University

THIS MONTH: Carolina’s Finest

Ever wonder where you could find the best bakery in North Carolina? Have you pondered what main street, of all our state’s quaint downtowns, is the finest? Well, ponder no more — our readers have voted on the finest our state has to offer, and their picks (for best bakery, best main street and eight other categories) are sure to please. Explore the winners of 2021 Carolina’s Finest awards, starting on page 12.

—Scott Gates, editor

From Our Readers

Diverse Communities Thank you for the diverse stories you show in Carolina Country.

I notice you show a diversity of people in our community, with ages, people of all colors, genders, all-abilities (disabilities) and backgrounds. I enjoy reading stories from the diversity of everyone in our community, and I notice the ads, too. The September cover photo of the family from Sankofa Farms caught my eye, and I enjoyed the story.

How about more about folks with disabilities? I remembered and found your 2018 article online (“Inspiration on the Farm,” September 2018, page 10).

Maria Troiani Howard, Chatham County, a member of Central Electric

Editor’s Note: Thank you, Maria — we’re always looking for new ways to highlight the diverse communities served by electric cooperatives, and we’ll do more to feature those with disabilities going forward.

Community Garden Conversion Q: Do y’all have any information on how to reclaim abandoned or long-unused property as a community garden? Any info or pointers would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Amy, via carolinacountry.com

A: How wonderful to be transforming a vacant lot into a community garden! Start by learning how the site has been used in the past and prepping it for your garden: ■ Check your dirt! Identify which types of contaminants may be present and what steps you can use to protect your gardeners.

Learn more at bit.ly/check-dirt. ■ Remove any solid waste, including old cars, broken glass, used needles and other trash. ■ Remove weeds and invasive plants from the site. ■ Nurture soil health by adding compost and planting cover crops. Start small — one of the most common and most damaging mistakes community garden leaders make is taking on too much, too fast. Build a team of supporters to foster the development of the garden, and increase the size as you have the resources to joyfully support the additional load. Learn more at carolinacountry.com/ CommunityGardens.

—Lucy Bradley, NC State University Extension Specialist

(ISSN 0008-6746) (USPS 832800) Volume 53, No. 4

Published monthly by

3400 Sumner Blvd., Raleigh, NC 27616-2950

Warren Kessler Publications Director Scott Gates, CCC Editor Renee C. Gannon, CCC Senior Associate Editor Karen Olson House Contributing Editor Tara Verna Creative Director Edgar Serrano Digital Media Keith Alexander Advertising Keith@carolinacountry.com

Joseph P. Brannan Executive Vice President & CEO Nelle Hotchkiss Senior Vice President & COO

North Carolina’s electric cooperatives provide reliable, safe and affordable electric service to 1 million homes and businesses. The 26 electric cooperatives are each memberowned, not-for-profit and overseen by a board of directors elected by the membership. Why Do We Send You Carolina Country Magazine? Your cooperative sends you Carolina Country as a convenient, economical way to share with its members information about services, director elections, meetings and management decisions. The magazine also carries legal notices that otherwise would be published in other media at greater cost.

Your co-op’s board of directors authorizes a subscription to Carolina Country on behalf of the membership at a cost of less than $5 per year. Subscriptions: Individual subscriptions, $12 per year. Schools, libraries, $6. Carolina Country is available on digital cartridge as a courtesy of volunteer services at the NC Department of Cultural Resources, Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Raleigh, NC 888-388-2460. Periodicals postage paid at Raleigh, NC, and additional mailing offices. Editorial offices: 3400 Sumner Blvd., Raleigh, NC 27616-2950. Carolina Country® is a registered trademark of the North Carolina Association of Electric Cooperatives, Inc. POSTMASTER: Send all UAA to CFS. (See DMM 707.4.12.5); NON-POSTAL AND MILITARY FACILITIES: Send address corrections to Carolina Country, 3400 Sumner Blvd., Raleigh, NC 27616-2950. All content © Carolina Country unless otherwise indicated.

Contact us

Phone: 919-875-3091 Mail: 3400 Sumner Blvd. Raleigh, NC 27616-2950 Web: carolinacountry.com Email: editor@carolinacountry.com Change of address: Please contact your electric co-op or go online to carolinacountry.com/address Experiencing a power outage? Please contact your electric co-op directly to ensure prompt service. Visit carolinacountry.com/co-ops to find yours online.

North Carolina Arts, History & Nature Fall in One Place

The leaves are changing and a wide range of colorful events are sweeping our state. Autumn is a perfect time to take in everything North Carolina has to o er, from the gorgeous weather to local foods to traditional music. This fall we’re kicking o a new season with the NC Symphony, spectacular new exhibit openings at our Raleigh Museums and rich arts programming across the state. We invite you to explore everything we have to o er this fall. Find it all in one place at ncdcr.gov/fallinoneplace.

#fallinoneplaceNC

NC DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES