Local Programs
Virginia Cooperative Extension Gloucester County Needs Assessment Survey.
https://vce.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_74ev02csbUlkOJE
Gloucester’s office of Virginia Cooperative Extension is conducting a needs assessment. This survey will help us to identify needs in our community, and may serve as a guide to future programing—so that we may better help you. If you would take 5- 10 minutes to complete this survey, we would very much appreciate it. You do not need to have participated in our programs, or even to be familiar with them, to participate. We would like to hear from as many as possible—all walks of life. The survey is easy to access and mobile friendly. Please help us by sharing this survey with others who live or work in Gloucester County.
2023 Junior 4-H Camp at Jamestown was a blast! See you next year.
Jamestown 4-H Center also has specialty weekend camps throughout the year for youth ages 5-13 with counseling opportunities for older youth. Visit Jamestown on the web at www.jamestown4hcenter.org.
2023 4-H Summer Day Camps
July 11–13, 1-4 PM @TC Walker: Chef in the making for ages 9-13. Participate in a food challenge as you try out cooking techniques and flavors; learn to make your own preserves and plant seeds for an herb garden. $30
July 25-27, 1-4 PM @TC Walker: Sewing Camp. The art of sewing for ages for ages 9-13. Learn to use the sewing machine and make 3 separate projects while also participating in a service project as you sew cat toys for an animal rescue. $30
August 8-10, 1-4 PM @ TC Walker: STEM Camp: an intro to drones and forensic science for ages 10-14. Learn the basics of flying a drone; retrieve DNA from a strawberry; explore the life cycle of insects and investigate what an owl eats by dissecting your very own owl pellet sample. $30
August 22-24, 9-12 PM @ Beaverdam Park, Whitcomb Lodge: Cloverbud Camp for ages 5-8. Come learn about agriculture with garden projects, farm arts and crafts, and fun. Learn camp songs and games from our fantastic counselors. $30
4-H Clubs in Gloucester
In Gloucester we have 4-H horse clubs, community and animal science clubs and a group for 4-H cloverbuds (ages 5-8).
Typically 4-H clubs meet once a month. They provide lots of fun learning experiences while building leadership and citizenship skills through work on 4-H projects and community service.
Call (804) 693-2602 for information about joining a club, volunteering, and starting new clubs.
4-H Peer Teacher/Jr. Interpreter Program
2024 Application period will be announced when set.
Frank Long, ANR Agent
Middlesex Extension Office
(804) 758-4120
Robbie Longest, ANR Agent
Essex Extension Office
804-443-3551
robbiel7@vt.edu
The Virginia Master Naturalist (VMN) program is a statewide corps of volunteers providing education, outreach, and service dedicated to the beneficial management of natural resources and natural areas within their communities.
Composed of 30 semi-independent, locally focused chapters, the program is actively supported, guided, and represented by the over-arching statewide VMN program.
Become a Master Naturalist HERE
Soil samples are analyzed for specific soil nutrients to determine proper application rates of fertilizer and lime for optimum plant growth. Routine analysis includes soil pH, P, K, Ca, Mg, Zn, Mn, Cu, Fe, and B. Soluble Salts and Organic Matter tests are also available. Completed soil test results, along with a recommendation on fertilization and liming, are mailed to the client. Sampling and mailing instructions are found on the sample boxes and forms, which should be sent directly to the lab with the soil sample and payment.
Soil sample boxes and information sheets are available at these locations:
* VCE Gloucester Office
* Tractor Supply (6499 Market Dr, Gloucester, VA 23061)
* Ace Hardware (2384 Hayes Rd, Hayes, VA 23072)
In State samples are $10.00
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SEND A PLANT DISEASE IDENTIFICATIONSAMPLE INSTRUCTIONS HERE |
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How to pay for your sample (BEFORE SHIPPING)
Note: If you are unable or do not wish to pay by credit card via the Destiny One Payment website, you may pay by check or cash at the Gloucester VCE Office. The Plant Disease Clinic will not accept check or cash for payment. Virginia Cooperative Extension Gloucester County Office 6099 TC Walker Rd PO Box 156 Gloucester, VA 23061 |
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The Virginia Tech Insect Identification Lab provides identification and control recommendations to Virginia Cooperative Extension agents. Insect samples and insect damaged plant material from any structural, plant, or animal hosts are accepted. Insects are identified to the lowest taxonomic level needed for control decisions. Control recommendations accompany insect identification results, which are sent back electronically to each Virginia Cooperative Extension office. Digital photos can also be used for identification.
Many insects can be identified and control recommendations provided by your local Extension Office.
2023 Well Water Clinic
Thank you to everyone who participated in the 2023 Well Water Testing Clinic for Gloucester, Mathews and Middlesex County.
Please join us for an interpretation meeting if you have questions about your results:
August 28 @ 12:00 PM at T.C Walker Educational Center (Gloucester)
August 28 @ 6:00 PM at Cooks Corner Office Complex (Saluda)
August 29 @ 10:00 AM at Mathews Extension Office
August 29 @ 6:00 PM at T.C Walker Educational Center (Gloucester)
Three Things to Know about Well Water
1. We’ve heard a lot about lead and other metals in drinking water recently, but what you may not know is that it is incredible rare for these metals to be naturally found in groundwater. Instead, water that is either too low in pH, and/or has other corrosive elements, is leaching the metal from plumbing components. The water doesn’t have to be all that corrosive or acidic to leach metals either, it’s generally recommended that drinking water have pH above 6.5 to prevent corrosion, which means regular rain water is more than acidic enough to leach metals from your pipes!
2. There are quite a few different sources of potential contaminants to drinking water; surface contaminants could be getting into your drinking water, especially if the well head or grouting is not well maintained, metals could be leached from your plumbing, sodium may be added from your softener, and many contaminants come naturally from the groundwater if they aren’t addressed with treatment devices.
3. How often should you test your drinking water? Generally, it’s recommended to test for bacteria annually, and do more comprehensive tests every three years or so, including testing for pH, total dissolved solids and other local concerns. Testing is particularly important since some of the contaminants most detrimental to your health (E. coli, nitrates, lead, among others), may be at high enough levels to cause serious health issues without you ever noticing a different smell, taste, or appearance.
The Family Nutrition Program’s mission is to teach limited-resource families and youth how to make healthier food choices and become better managers of available food resources for optimal health and growth. Our programs focus on basic nutrition, physical activity, safe food handling, and thrifty food shopping.
The Family Nutrition Program is offered through Virginia Cooperative Extension, an educational outreach partnership between Virginia Tech and Virginia State University.
Our funding comes from the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to offer the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) and from the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to offer Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) in Virginia.
The Family Nutrition Program offers a range of programs to teach the basics of healthy eating, active living, food safety, and menu planning on a budget.
If you are interested in signing up for one of these programs or would like to work with the Family Nutrition Program to offer these programs in your organization, please contact Elizabeth Hayes at (804) 693-2602.
SUBMIT A QUESTION TO THE
GLOUCESTER MASTER GARDENERS HERE
Our mission as trained volunteers in partnership with the Gloucester County, Virginia Cooperative Extension, is to provide horticultural educational opportunities to the public, through research-based horticultural education programs and activities to enhance the environment and lives of residents in our community.
Become a Master Gardener HERE
Second Saturdays with Master Gardeners at Brent and Becky’s Bulbs
The Gloucester Master Gardeners will present Second Saturday programs throughout the summer. These gardening presentations will be at Brent and Becky’s in the Chesapeake Room at 10:00 a.m.
Join us for :
August 12th- Native Bees
September 9th- How Plants Work
October 14th- TBA
November 11th- Growing Green Indoors
December 9th- Plan Now for Next Years Great Garden
RESOURCES:
Virginia's Home Garden Vegetable Planting Guide
VTechWorks (VCE) Publications Database (search by topic to pull up publications)
Engaging with Communities
Virginia Cooperative Extension specialists in community viability work with Extension agents, campus-based faculty, organizational partners, communities, and individuals to further opportunity and build capacity in five program areas:
- Leadership & Planning
- Community Enterprise and Resiliency
- Community Food System and Enterprises
- Community Planning
- Emerging Community Issues
Examples of our work include training county elected officials, educating entrepreneurs, facilitating collaborative projects, supporting the growth of community food systems and local economies, enhancing agent skills and community capacity in facilitation and leadership, conducting problem-driven research, and creating publications and tools that address critical community needs.
Do you have a question about Community Viability?
Perhaps one of the Community Viability specialists below can help you. Contact a Community Viability specialist or direct a question to them using our Ask an Expertsystem.
Community Viability Specialists