Virginia Cooperative Extension

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES (ENR) CLASSES

Virginia Cooperative Extension Horticulture classes are free (unless noted) and open to the public. Pre-registration is required for classes. Note that class cancellations are determined by the weather and number of registrations. For more information or to register, call the Extension Horticulture Help Desk at 703-792-7747 or email [email protected].

If you are a person with a disability and desire any assistive devices, services, or other accommodations to participate in this activity, please contact Christina Hastings at 703-792-6285/TTY 711 during business hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. to discuss accommodations 5 days prior to the event.

Vegetable Gardening Course 2024.  Registration is open through June 16, 2024, there is a $10 registration fee.

Growing your own food, using nature as a guide and incorporating sustainable practices is good for our bodies and good for the earth.  This course covers the essential topics - planning the garden from seed to harvest, using organic and sustainable techniques to develop healthy productive gardens, growing good soil, dealing with wildlife and specific techniques for container and indoor vegetable gardens.  Taught by the Master Gardener Cook’s Garden Team.  

The course is set up to allow you to learn at your own pace. The videos and handouts will be available online.    Discussion boards will allow you to interact with the instructors and there will be 3 live question and answer sessions.  You must register for this course, there is a $10 registration fee.  Enrollment is on-going through June 16, 2024, so you can register even after the course has started.

UPCOMING IN-PERSON CLASSES:  Saturday in the Garden.  All Saturday in the Garden classes are held at the Teaching Garden 9535 Linton Hall Rd, Bristow, VA.  Classes begin at 9:00 am and run approximately 1 to 1 1/2 hours. 

May 4 – Garden Tool Sharpening with Master Gardener Hank Spencer/Plant Sale. Hank will explain proper garden tool maintenance and demonstrate proper sharpening techniques.  Bring along any of your garden tools you have questions about or that may need sharpening.  Hank will give you a diagnosis/evaluation. Register.  Then stop by the Master Gardener’s Plant Sale.

June 1 – Firewise.  Department of Forestry representative(s) will provide tips on how using native trees, shrubs, and plants around your home can reduce your house and property’s vulnerability to wildfires.  Register.

July 13 – What is that Insect? Come and walk around the Teaching Garden with Capital Naturalist, Alonso Abugattas and learn about what insects, good and bad, might be in the garden during the summer.  Register

 August 3 - Cover Crops/Turf. Join VCE for this two- part session.  First Ag Agent Thomas Bolles will give us tips on using cover crops to invigorate and improve the soil.  Then Environmental Educator, Elisha Young will talk about the dos and don’ts of maintaining healthy turf.  Register.

September 7 – Art in the Garden/Plant Sale. Gardening is a form of Art, so why not join VCE at the Teaching Garden for a lesson in sketching and/or painting.  Register.  Afterwards stop by the Master Gardener’s Fall Plant Sale.

October 5 – Fall Bulbs. Master Gardener Ross Eagles will share his knowledge and expertise on what bulbs to plant in the fall for a beautiful spring garden, the best time to plant and how to care for them.  Register.

New classes are being scheduled for the coming months, please check back for updates.

Several VCE units are working together to provide a variety of online recorded garden-focused classes and informational videos. See the links below.

View Recorded Classes and Informational Videos at:

VCE-Prince William: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCieUH29UpfDHJiaEfon5qCQ
VCE-Arlington/Alexandria: https://mgnv.org/reading-room/master-gardener-virtual-classroom/
VCE-Culpeper: https://video.vt.edu/playlist/dedicated/1_vhxqtf04/
VCE-Fauquier: https://fridaysinthegarden.blogspot.com/
VCE-Stafford: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtUGDaw8YUMOe2eWCdBPq1w
VCE-Master Gardener Program: https://www.facebook.com/VCEMasterGardenerProgram/live
VCE-Virtual Farm to Table Tour: https://fauquier.ext.vt.edu/programs/FarmtoTable.html

 

Virginia Cooperative Extension complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you are a person with a disability and require auxiliary aids services or other accommodations for a workshop or meeting, please discuss your accommodation needs at least five days prior to the event with Virginia Cooperative Extension 703-792-6289/TDD PC 1-800-828-1120.