- Home
- Government
- Community Operations
- Parks and Recreation
- Programs
- Cooperative Extension
Cooperative Extension
Cooperative Extension is a joint program of Virginia Tech, Virginia State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and state and local governments. Virginia Cooperative Extension provides programs and information covering the broad areas of agriculture, families and 4-H. Our goal is to help our citizens maintain and improve the quality of their environment. We proudly offer programs such as diet and nutrition education, financial management, gardening and lawn care, and youth camps and clubs.
Plant a Row for the Hungry
Join Cooperative Extension and Chesterfield Master Gardeners in support of Plant A Row for the Hungry (PAR), a national people-helping-people program that encourages gardeners to grow a little extra and donate the produce. Chesterfield gardeners can help feed the hungry by donating extra produce at the Cooperative Extension office, Mondays from 9 a.m. to noon, from May 2 to Oct. 31 (excluding county holidays - check the county calendar for all dates). Donated produce should:
- be recently harvested
- have no signs of mold, spoilage, bruising or insects
- have excess dirt brushed off, but remain unwashed
- be brought in clean paper bags (preferred) or plastic bags
Donated produce will be given to support SEVA Truck, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing hunger in the Richmond area by serving free nutritious meals to those in need.
Sign Up and Stay Informed
Extension Connections - Cooperative Extension Newsletter
Sign up to receive Extension Connections, our quarterly newsletter, which gives an overview of news, programs and upcoming events from Chesterfield Cooperative Extension. View past issues of Extension Connections.
View quick tips for your home and garden featured in Extension Connections:
- Spring Quick Tips for your Home and Garden (PDF)
- Summer Quick Tips for your Home and Garden (PDF)
- Fall Quick Tips for your Home and Garden (PDF)
Cooperative Extension Social Media Resources
Follow us on our social media handles for more Cooperative Extension information:
Virtual Help Desk
Within our new normal, there are so many changes to the ways we go about our daily routines. One thing that hasn’t changed is our dedication to helping you with your gardening and landscaping questions, and that’s why we’re happy to share a new way for you to reach us through our Master Gardeners Virtual Help Desk email.
Simply email your questions and we’ll assign a Master Gardener to assist you. If needed, you may attach photos or a short video to illustrate your question; review guidance on submitting your photo to the Plant Disease Clinic (PDF). Our Master Gardeners will respond, and we’ll either call (if provided) or email you with our response.
Review our Identification Services page on how to collect and submit a sample.
Ask an Extension Expert
The Ask an Extension Expert system offers one-to-one expert answers from Cooperative Extension staff and volunteers within participating Land-Grant institutions from across the United States.
Volunteer with Cooperative Extension
Cooperative Extension offers volunteer opportunities help individuals connect with others to expand their knowledge and make a difference in the local community by educating the public.
4-H Volunteers
Are you interested in leading a club? Do you have a special talent that you would like to share with youths? Do you have a passion for getting youths involved in their communities? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then 4-H needs you! We are actively seeking volunteers to help the youth of Chesterfield County grow into confident leaders. To learn more about how to become a volunteer, please email Bethany Eigel or call 804-751-4401.
Master Gardeners
Virginia Master Gardeners are volunteer educators who work within their communities to encourage and promote environmentally sound horticulture practices though sustainable landscape management education and training. Learn more about Chesterfield County’s Master Gardener program.
Master Food Volunteers
Master food volunteer training includes basic nutrition and meal planning, cooking techniques and food safety, and exercise and healthy lifestyles. Opportunities for services include food demonstrations and displays at health fairs, farmer’s markets and schools; grocery store tours; and newspaper or newsletter articles on healthy eating, physical activity, and food preparation. To learn more, email Ann Vargo, nutrition outreach instructor.