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Master Gardener News

2021

Scholarships increased to $1500. (11/21/2021)  The Northern Shenandoah Valley Master Gardener Association has voted to increase its scholarships to $1500 each. Applications are due by March 31, 2022. (Read more …)

2022 Scholarship application available. (9/21/2021)  The Northern Shenandoah Valley Master Gardener Association is now accepting applications from high-school and home-school seniors for $1000 scholarships. Applications are due by March 31, 2022. (Read more …)

FallFest (9/21/2021) Join us on October 9, 2021, for a fun day of educational talks, hands-on crafts, music, and more at Richard’s Fruit Market. FallFest is back!

GardenFest (3/12/2021) With more vaccines being administered, COVID cases dropping, and restrictions regarding gatherings being eased, NSVMGA is pleased to announce that GardenFest 2021 will go on in person! Hope to see you at Belle Grove Plantation on June 5, 2021.

Gardening in the Valley Symposium (3/6/2021) NSVMGA’s first virtual symposium was a great success.

Symposium Silent Auction (2/18/2021) Bidding is now open for garden items, gift baskets, gift certificates and more! Check out the Symposium Silent Auction. 

Gardening webinars (2/14/2021) Registration is open for NSVMGA’s FREE webinars for beginning vegetable gardeners.

Gardening symposium online (1/1/2021) NSVMGA’s annual Gardening in the Valley Symposium will be a completely virtual event on March 6, 2021.

2020

Many activities have been curtailed, temporarily suspended, or canceled due to the pandemic. If you have questions about our programs, please email us at NSVMGA.info@gmail.com.

Scholarship deadline extended. (3/31/20) There is still time to apply. The Northern Shenandoah Valley Master Gardener Association has extended the deadline for high-school and home-school seniors to apply for $1000 scholarships. Applications are due by April 30, 2020. (Read more …)

All in-person Master Gardener activities have been suspended. (3/22/20) Due to the outbreak of COVID-19, Master Gardeners are not hosting or participating in any public events. You can still seek gardening advice via e-mail (Read more …) and follow us on Facebook to see gardening videos and ideas for garden-related children’s activities.

10th Annual Master Gardener Seed Exchange. Project lead Elaine Specht and VCE Agent Mark Sutphin talked seeds. (River 95.3, 12/20/19) [podcast no longer available] 

2019

Master Gardener Program Going Digital! The VCE MG Program in the Northern Shenandoah Valley now offers an online component. (Winchester Star, 11/1/19) Read more…

Become an Extension Master Gardener! The Trainee Class of 2020 , accepting applications now, is going digital! Project leads Stacey Smith, Elaine Specht, and VCE Agent Mark Sutphin talked about changes to the upcoming training program on the radio. (River 95.3, 8/30/19) [podcast no longer available]

Get Ready for GardenFest! The Northern Shenandoah Valley Master Gardener Association holds its 16th annual GardenFest on Saturday, June 1, 2019, at Belle Grove Plantation in Middletown, Virginia. (Royal Examiner, 5/23/19) Read more…

Gardening in the Valley Symposium Coming Up! Project lead Lynn Hoffmann, NSVMGA President Bob Gail, and VCE Agent discussed this year’s day of gardening education on the radio. (River 95.3, 2/15/19) [podcast no longer available]

2018

Want to be a Master Gardener? Class of 2019 is now accepting applications. Hear VCE Agent Mark Sutphin discuss the next training class. (River 95.3, 12/20/18) [podcast no longer available] 

Put Your Garden to Bed! Watch Extension Master Gardener Bob Gail discuss fall gardening tasks. (Club Connect, 10/4/18) Watch more…

Fall Gardening Talks and Information with Extension Master Gardeners. Join the Fall Roundup at Belle Grove. (Winc FM, 9/16/18) Read more…

Spotted Lanternfly Detection Program. Extension Master Gardeners join Virginia Tech and VCE in monitoring for Spotted Lanternfly. (Northeastern IPM Center, 7/26/18) Read more…

Blooms for Bees, Birds, and Butterflies. Create a colorful, pollinator-friendly garden with Extension Master Gardener Stacey Smith (Northern Virginia Daily, 7/15/18) Read more…

Learn How to be a Master Gardener! Class of 2018 now accepting applications. (Northern Virginia Daily, 6/14/18) [article no longer available] 

2017

2016

  • 2016 September Barn Series Press Release
  • 2016 August Barn Series Press Release
  • 2016 May Barn Series Press Release
  • 2016 Greenline Press Release
  • 2016 NSVMGA Scholarship Press Release
  • 2016 Seed Exchange Press Release
  • 2016 class press release
  • 2016 Symposium Press Release
  • 2016 HJB Seed Starting Press Release

Master Gardeners teach seed starting to the community. Join FREE talk at Hilda J. Barbour. (NSVMGA, 2/4/16) Read more…

2015

Extension Master Gardeners join the Gathering. Stop by and ask your gardening questions! (The Indian Village, 9/29/15) Read more…

Master Gardeners lead volunteers at “Sam Moore Slave Cemetery” at Corhaven. Under project lead Sarah Kohrs, volunteers begin work to honor those buried in the cemetery. (In the Coracle, 5/27/15) Read more…

Homeowners Can Get Free Gardening Help from Extension Master Gardeners. County Greenlines are ready for questions. (NVMGA, 4/8/15) Read more…

Junior Master Gardener Homeschool Program Offered. Youth can sign up now to learn more about gardening (NSVMGA, 2/23/15). Read more…

Master Gardeners Offer $1,000 in Scholarships to Graduating Seniors. Students can download an application now. (NSVMGA, 2/8/15) Read more…

Become a Master Gardener! Class of 2015 now accepting applications. (NSVMGA, 1/12/15) Read more…

Vegetables to Plant

Spotted Lanternfly Information

Spotted Lanternfly
Photo: VCE-Frederick

Save the Date!

  • Children’s Gardening Workshops in Shenandoah County – Saturdays, Now through October, 10-11 a.m. 
  • Nature Surprises for Kids: We Love Lavender – August 11, 5-6 p.m.
  • Nature Surprises for Kids: Squish and squash and harvest seeds – September 8, 5-6 p.m.
  • Belle Grove Barn Series: Floral and Vegetable Arrangement – September 15, 10:30-Noon, $25/person, registration required
  • FallFest – October 1
  • Belle Grove Barn Series: Autumn Harvest Wreath Making – October 12, 10:30-Noon, $20/person, registration required
  • Nature Surprises for Kids: We love scarecrows – October 13, 5-6 p.m.
  • Nature Surprises for Kids: Decorate with fruit – November 10, 5-6 p.m.
  • Nature Surprises for Kids: Conifers are cozy – December 8, 5-6 p.m.
  • Belle Grove Barn Series: Holiday Arrangement – December 15, 10:30-Noon, $25/person, registration required

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Northern Shenandoah Valley Master Gardener Association

1 day ago

Northern Shenandoah Valley Master Gardener Association
Garden Advice – True or False? Compost Tea Helps Plants and Soil by EMG JennFor the next few weeks on Fridays, we’re going to explore common garden advice and myths and whether they are supported by scientific research. Today’s topic: the murky world of compost tea. Many books and websites will tell you that you can steep compost in a bucket of water to make an elixir that will feed your plants and your soil. Sometimes the mixture is aerated by bubbling water through it; sometimes additional sugars like molasses are added. Is this a good idea?Compost itself is a great idea! It contains beneficial bacteria and fungi as well as nutrients. If you think your soil is deficient, adding compost will help. Compost not only provides these organisms, but its structure gives them water, nutrients, and air, so they flourish. But compost tea doesn’t have this structure, and BAD bacteria like E. coli can grow, especially if you add sugars like molasses! If your soil has poor structure, compost tea is not going to help it. Better to use straight compost! What about using compost tea as a foliar spray? Yes, to a limited extent, it can work, but if you have bad bacteria in your compost tea and spray it on fruits or vegetables, it can make you very sick!Want to read more? See extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing/2019-08-14-compost-tea-miracle-product-or-snake-oilPhoto by University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Extension ... See MoreSee Less

Compost Tea- Miracle Product or Snake Oil?

extension.illinois.edu

I love compost. If you have ever sat in one of my classes, you will know that 1) Soil tests can be so important, 2) Always read and follow your pesticides labels (and are those poisons really necessar...
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