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Habitat Gardens

Habitat Garden for Flora and Fauna Recognition Program
Register your Habitat Garden
with the Northern Shenandoah Valley Master Gardener Association. Learn more below.

What are Habitat Gardens?

A Habitat Garden is earth friendly, critter tolerant, and pollinator and native plant friendly. Native plants, composting, and knowing how to keep pests under control, as well as supporting native species of birds, frogs, bats and insects are all goals of the program.  

Pollinators are extremely important to our gardens and our food production. Without these beneficial insects, our ability to grow food would be truly impacted. Habitat loss, invasive and exotic bugs, and disease are growing concerns, along with homeowners’ increased and improper use of pesticides.  By providing a season-long source of food and living conditions for insects, birds, reptiles, and animals, you’ll help with protecting plant diversity and food sources.

Master Gardeners are helping Northern Shenandoah Valley gardens keep an eco-friendly balance for the home garden landscape.

Why should you register your habitat garden with the Northern Shenandoah Valley Master Gardener Association?

The Habitat Garden program is an ever-expanding resource for homeowners in our area. We will include frequent resource updates, share upcoming events pertinent to your garden, and provide you with a way to contact Master Gardener helplines when you need questions answered or need help to help solve programs. This program is free, and you’ll receive a certificate of recognition when you meet the minimum requirements.

You may also choose to purchase a weather-proof sign to add to your garden.

Register Your Garden.

Ready to register your Garden as a Sustainable Habitat? Complete our registration form.

Choose the elements you have in your garden. We’ll follow up with your certificate and, if you’d like, the opportunity for you to submit up to two photos of your garden to add to our list of Recognized Habitat Gardens 

Contact NSVMGA’s Extension Master Gardeners

Resources to Learn More about Creating Sustainable Habits

Already registered? Order your full-color weatherproof garden sign.

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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