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Events, Programs and Workshops
Workshops and Classes
Cooperative Extension offers workshops and classes taught by staff and trained volunteers. If you would like to suggest as topic for a class or workshop, email Cooperative Extension.
How to Grow a Community Garden: Planning to Planting - Wednesday, Feb. 8
There's both an art and a science to building a successful community garden that goes far beyond digging in the dirt. Learn the planning and communication steps that prepare the ground for a successful project that grows rich community engagement and yields a bountiful harvest from Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Cindy Steely.
View the county calendar for time, location and registration details.
Intro to Spring Gardening - Saturday, Feb. 18
While it's too early to think tomatoes, there's plenty of delicious vegetables to grow through the spring.
Learn how to start seeds and best timings for a bountiful harvest. Discover ways to use season extenders to protect tender seedlings from late fronts. Explore interplanting to maximize square footage, and how to protect plants form pests. Learn how to hide spent spring bulbs and when to prune spring blooming shrubs. This workshop is led by Master Gardeners Gail Coltes and Cathy Wendle.
View the county calendar for time, location and registration details.
Sustainable Landscaping: Your Soil and Water - Saturday, Feb. 18
The foundation of our home landscaping is the soil and water elements. Whether you grow fruits and vegetables or landscape flowers, shrubs and grass, the key to your success is your soil and water along with the sun/shade and space or shape. Learn about the type and makeup of your soil and water uses for optimal growth. Instructor is Rick McCormick, Master Gardener for more than 10 years.
View the county calendar for time, location and registration details.
Gardening with Native Plants - Wednesday, Feb. 22
Did you know that native plants are essential to sustain pollinators and other forms of wildlife? In this presentation you'll learn about the critical role that these plants play in our ecosystem and how you can effectively utilize them in your landscape.
View the county calendar for time, location and registration details.
Gardening 101: Gardening for the New Homeowner - Saturday, Feb. 25
Are you a first-time homeowner? Have you just bought a home and have no idea where to start on your landscaping? Gardening 101 will give you the basics on creating goals, developing your overall plan for your landscaping and how to complete your first project. Tips include making a basic layout, reading a plant tag and navigating your garden center. presented by Master Gardener Terry Watson.
View the county calendar for time, location and registration details.
Gardening 101: Gardening for the New Homeowner - Wednesday, March 1
Are you a first-time homeowner? Have you just bought a home and have no idea where to start on your landscaping? Gardening 101 will give you the basics on creating goals, developing your overall plan for your landscaping and how to complete your first project. Tips include making a basic layout, reading a plant tag and navigating your garden center. presented by Master Gardener Terry Watson.
View the county calendar for time, location and registration details.
Straw Bale Gardening - Saturday, March 4
Create a garden anywhere, even without good ground soil. Straw bale gardening can happen on a sunny sidewalk or patio, grow almost any plant from potatoes to flowers, and provide easier access than inground gardens because the plants are raised on top of the bales.
Visit a working straw bale garden followed by a class to learn the basics for getting started on your own!
View the county calendar for time, location and registration details.
Oyster Mushrooms - Tuesday, March 7
Join Cooperative Extension for an oyster-on-a-roll mushroom workshop. Participants will immerse a roll of toilet paper in boiling water then cool the roll. The conditioned roll will then be inserted into a grow bag and inoculated with oyster mushroom spawn. While the roll cools, the participants will learn about growing other mushrooms at home as well as the care and culture of their new mushroom farm.
View the county calendar for time, location and registration details.
Home Food Preservation 101 Series - Wednesday, March 8
Growing and preserving your own food can be very satisfying and beneficial. This three-part series will go over the science behind home food preservation. the basics will be covered as well as water-bath canning, pressure canning, freezing and fermentation. There will be examples of equipment and demonstrations for the class.
View the county calendar for time, location and registration details.
Vegetable and Herb Gardening - Tuesday, March 14
Whether interested in better food, enhancing your surroundings, meeting neighbors, saving money, resilience, or getting sunshine and exercise, learn how to use your space and time wisely. Pros and cons of serval gardening methods will be reviewed, plus selections and care for popular herbs and vegetables. Priorities, timing and resources will be considered to help you succeed.
View the county calendar for time, location and registration details.
Home Food Preservation 101 Series - Wednesday, March 15
Growing and preserving your own food can be very satisfying and beneficial. This three-part series will go over the science behind home food preservation. the basics will be covered as well as water-bath canning, pressure canning, freezing and fermentation. There will be examples of equipment and demonstrations for the class.
View the county calendar for time, location and registration details.
Sustainable Gardening: Planting with Purpose - Saturday, March 18
With everything we hear about climate change and decreasing numbers of bees and butterflies, have you wondered how you personally can make a difference? Did you know that you can start in your own back yard (or deck or porch), no matter its size?
In this presentation you’ll learn about steps you can take to positively impact our ecosystem - including attracting and supporting pollinators - with an emphasis on utilizing native plants from Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Robin Hulbert.
View the county calendar for time, location and registration details.
Oyster Mushrooms - Tuesday, March 21
Join Cooperative Extension for an oyster-on-a-roll mushroom workshop. Participants will immerse a roll of toilet paper in boiling water then cool the roll. The conditioned roll will then be inserted into a grow bag and inoculated with oyster mushroom spawn. While the roll cools, the participants will learn about growing other mushrooms at home as well as the care and culture of their new mushroom farm.
View the county calendar for time, location and registration details.
Home Food Preservation 101 Series - Wednesday, March 22
Growing and preserving your own food can be very satisfying and beneficial. This three-part series will go over the science behind home food preservation. the basics will be covered as well as water-bath canning, pressure canning, freezing and fermentation. There will be examples of equipment and demonstrations for the class.
View the county calendar for time, location and registration details.
Beneficial and Beautiful: Creating Your Own Pollinator Patch - Saturday, March 25
Virginia's seasonal flowers provide a feast for our eyes and a buffet for the pollinators that are essential for the environment and the foods we eat. Join monarch managers and Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners Judy Lutz and Elizabeth Bock to learn how to build your own pollinator garden and choose the plants that will fill it with life.
View the county calendar for time, location and registration details.
What if There Were No Bees - Saturday, April 8
We need bees, those fuzzy, buzzy pollinators to create our food and sustain our environment. What if they weren't here anymore? If you're concerned about the loss of bees, join us for a presentation on what we can do to prevent it from happening.
Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Rick McCormick will describe the impact of pollinators with a focus on bees. He will also answer questions about the life of bees and bee queens to give us insight on several ways to help save the bees.
View the county calendar for time, location and registration details.
Programs
Cooperative Extension offers both one-time and annual programs and services that assist with educating attendees about topics such as landscaping, lawncare and well water testing.
Demonstration Garden
Master Gardeners are developing gardens to teach homeowners, gardeners, youth, green industry professionals and others about a range of issues including water conservation, pollinator preservation, food production, sustainable maintenance practices and locally adapted plants.
Grass Roots
Get a healthier lawn with the Grass Roots program!
Are you frustrated with the condition of your lawn? Tired of throwing away money on seed and fertilizer, only to see no improvements? Get to the root of the problem through the Grass Roots program! Grass Roots offers residents the opportunity to learn about and remedy specific problems contributing to your lawn’s current condition. The program includes:
- A site visit by a Master Gardener who measures your lawn area and takes soil sample(s).
- A detailed site evaluation of lawn, including soil compaction and weed cover.
- Some personalized recommendations tailored to your lawn’s needs.
Registrants receive the following:
- Personalized lawn care report - and recommendations to help you get started
- Publications on lawn care in our area are referenced throughout the report
- Seasonal newsletter with tips and information on upcoming lawn care seminars
Safety Guidelines
With the safety of our volunteers and you as our clients in mind, Grass Roots follows a zero-contact policy. For the safety of our Master Gardener Volunteers (MGVs), you must stay distant when MGVs are measuring your yard and collecting soil samples - do not approach them.
MGVs have been instructed to leave a property immediately if they are approached by homeowners or loose pets. We reserve the right to forego soil sampling and evaluating properties if pets have not been removed from the sampling area during the stated evaluation timeframe.
We understand that you may have questions about the program or your lawn. Please call the Extension Office at 804-751-4401 or email our office with any questions or concerns – do not approach the MGVs.
Registration
Registration for the 2022 season is closed. If you would like to be placed on a waiting list for the 2023 season, you can call us at 804-751-4401 or email the Cooperative Extension Office for more information.
Additional Resources
Learn Your Landscape
Learn how to maintain and enhance your property with help by Chesterfield Master Gardeners.
The program includes a site visit by trained Master Gardener volunteers who will evaluate and answer site specific questions regarding your property, such as:
- What plants will grow well in my area of Chesterfield County?
- What plants are on my property and how do I take care of them?
- How can I create habitat for beneficial wildlife like birds and bees?
Registration
Registration for the 2022 season is closed. If you would like to be placed on a waiting list for the 2023 season, you can call us at 804-751-4401 or email the Cooperative Extension Office for more information.
Cost
Program cost is $30, which covers the cost of supplies, materials and personalized guide. A limited number of registrations are accepted, so register early if you would like to take part.
Program Details
Soil sampling will not be included with the visit, but you will be provided with a soil sampling kit that you can submit on your own, see Grass Roots for more information. Trained Master Gardener volunteers will review registration applications and schedule initial site visit.
Initial site visits include:
- Master Gardener volunteers assess your landscape (limited to 1.5 hours)
- Site assessment of landscape - prioritized by preferences listed in application
Final site visits include:
- Take place several weeks after initial site visit
- One-on-one review of recommendations with Master Gardener volunteers (limited to 1 to 1.5 hours)
- You will receive a map of property with current plantings and site conditions noted from initial visit
- You will receive a customized reference binder full of fact sheets on current plantings and general gardening info for our area
This program features an optional wildlife habitat component to the site assessment, in cooperation with the Habitat Partners © Program of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.
Well Water Testing Clinic
Affordable, confidential water testing and education will be offered through Virginia Cooperative Extension offices in Chesterfield County. Participation is voluntary and confidential. Water samples collected by participating homeowners will be analyzed for 14 parameters, including bacteria, metals, nitrate and hardness at a cost of $65 (per kit).
Pick up and drop off of kits are at the Cooperative Extension office. Results and water system care and maintenance information will be sent to each participant either by email or mail, and a pre-recorded video or live presentation will be made available to help explain the summary results and recommendations to address problems.
2023 clinic dates have not yet been finalized. Please contact Sierra Seekford by email or call 804-751-4401 with any questions. For more information about the Virginia Household Water Quality Program, as well as many resources relevant to private water systems, please visit the Virginia Household Water Quality Program website.
Annual and Seasonal Events
Annual and seasonal events occur once a year or for a seasonal timeframe. For example, the Farmers Market runs each year from May to September.
Bumblebee Jamboree
Bumblebee Jamboree is metro Richmond’s premier National Pollinator Week event hosted by the Chesterfield County Master Gardeners and Virginia Cooperative Extension, along with other community partners tied to pollinator conservation.
Date: 2023 date to be announced
Location: Maymont Park, Children’s Farm Entrance, 1000 Spottswood Ave., Richmond, VA 23220
Cost: Free and open to the public during Maymont’s hours.
For more information, visit us on our Bumblebee Jamoree Facebook page (@bumbleejamboree).
Chesterfield County Farmers Market
Virginia farmers markets are an important resource for communities to provide access to local fresh produce, food, horticultural goods and hygiene products. You also support local businesses by shopping at a farmers market. Visit the Chesterfield County Farmers Market Facebook additional information.
Become a 2023 Vendor
Join us for the 2023 Chesterfield County Farmers Market! Those interested in being a 2023 farmers market vendor (or food truck for events on Chesterfield County property) should complete the Food Truck and Farmers Market Vendor application. For questions regarding farmers market applications, contact the farmers market manager.
Location
6707 Mimms Loop, Chesterfield, VA 23832
Shopping Farmers Markets Benefits
Shop local because farmers markets:
- Have better taste and nutrition: Products are grown locally and picked at the peak of the season, making nutrients more abundant.
- Give opportunities to meet your farmers: The same people who grow the food sell their products and have a wealth of knowledge to share.
- Support local business: When you shop at local farmers markets, you’re keeping money in your own community going directly to the farmer.