Northern Neck Master Gardeners 

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Master Gardener Help Desk

    NNMGs answer gardening questions via phone, e-mail and in person at local extension offices from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM one day a week.  In particular, they help diagnose plant, insect and disease problems and provide information/advice on a wide range of horticultural issues. From April through October, NNMGs are in the Westmoreland Extension Office on Wednesday morning and in Lancaster on Thursday morning.  They are in the Northumberland Extension Office on Tuesday morning throughout the year.


Plant Clinics

    NNMGs hold plant clinics in various public places to help people with gardening problems, e.g. insect, disease and plant identifications. Currently plant clinics are held on Saturday mornings at the Irvington, Heathsville and Tappahannock Farmer’s Markets from April through September. They are also held annually at Murphy’s Seed in Hague, VA; Allison’s Ace Hardware in Lottsburg, VA; Stratford Fall Festival near Montross, VA; and the Earth Store in Kilmarnock, VA.

    In addition, NNMGs hold a pruning clinic late winter/early spring to teach community residents how to prune trees and shrubs correctly.

I-SEA Program

      Integrated Shoreline Evaluation Assistance (I-SEA) is a dynamic initiative of community action, education on water quality and promotion of ecologically sound shoreline erosion control methods.  During 2012, NNMGs will hold several community workshops to inform Northern Neck residents of the ecological and recreational value of natural shorelines, the need to prevent shoreline erosion and the negative impact of nutrient pollution.  These workshops will be held in Colonial Beach at the Placid Bay Civic Association Building on April 19, in Hague at the Central Rappahannock Regional Library on June 2 and in Kilmarnock at the Rappahannock Community College on September 15. 

      On request, NNMGs will also make an on-site visit to inspect a homeowners' property and collect soil samples.  Using Coastal Management Decision Tree tools developed by the College of William and Mary's Virginia Institute of Marine Science and the Coastal Commission of Resources Management (VIMS/CCRM), NNMGs will determine the ecologically preferred shoreline treatment and provide written recommendations to the homeowner.  They will also provide the property owner an extensive Homeowners Guide to Shoreline Management.   Site evaluations, soil test and educational materials carry a fee of $40.  The I-SEA program is based in the Lancaster County Extension office.


Children’s Education

SUMS

    SUMS (Students Using Math and Science) is an after school program for 3rd graders at Lancaster Elementary School. NNMGs meet with the children to study horticulture for one hour on Wednesday afternoons from October through May. Outdoor activities include planting and tending 8 beds and a berm in a garden next to the school and indoor activities include hands-on lessons such as planting, observing and recording seed development, deciphering seed catalogs and planning gardens, and studying local farm crops.

    With contributions from several local businesses, NNMGs have created a teaching garden called “A Backyard Classroom (ABC) Garden” next to primary school.  This garden has herb and vegetable beds, perennial beds, fruit trees and a grape arbor.  Teachers and students in all classes at the primary school use this garden for educational activities.

3RD Grade Science Program

    During the school year, NNMGs present science programs to third grade students at both Lancaster and Northumberland Elementary School. The programs focus on soils and shoreline ecology. For example, for the shoreline ecology program, children visit a series of stations that demonstrate shoreline organisms and their needs; erosion and other shoreline problems, their prevention and solutions; and the effect of pollution and runoff on watersheds.

Ready, Set, Grow Program

    In cooperation with the Chesapeake Bay Garden Club, NNMGs teach first  graders at Northumberland and Lancaster Elementary Schools about horticulture using hands-on demonstrations. For example, the children plant flowers in milk cartons to be planted at school or taken home.  The NNMGs also conduct this program for third graders at the Lancaster Primary School.

Earth/Arbor Day

    As part of the annual Earth Day/Arbor Day celebrations in both Lancaster and Northumberland Elementary Schools, NNMGs conduct an educational activity, have a tree planting ceremony, and give every child and teacher a tree sapling to take home and plant.

 

Horticultural Therapy

     NNMGs conduct horticultural activities for the residents of The Orchard, an assisted living and nursing home facility, in Warsaw, VA on the third Friday of each month.  
 

Teaching Gardens

    NNMGs have created several teaching gardens for specific educational purposes, e.g. demonstrating how to landscape along the water’s edge, showcasing native plants or teaching children and adults how to grow food locally.   The current teaching gardens managed by the NNMGs in cooperation with hosting organizations are:

  • A Shoreline Garden at the Reedville Fisherman's Museum in Northumberland County, which demonstrates the effective uses of native shoreline plants to protect water quality in the Chesapeake Bay.

  • A Colonial Kitchen Garden managed by the NNMGs in cooperation with the National Park Service at the George Washington Birthplace Memorial National Park in Westmoreland County, which educates the public on herbs and other plants in a historical kitchen garden.

  • A Typical Residential Entrance Demonstration Garden at the Northumberland County Extension Office in Heathsville, VA, which  includes rain water harvesting for use in the garden.

  • A Community Garden located at the Northern Neck Farm Museum in Northumberland County, which is a garden designed to help children and adults learn about and participate in growing food locally.  The produce from this garden is donated to local food banks.
     

Rain Barrel Workshops

     From 2008 through 2011,   NNMGs  held workshops for the general public on how to construct a rain barrel.  Reusing fifty-gallon barrels supplied by pickle and other manufacturers, participants are guided through steps that lead to the transformation of a basic container into a functional and affordable rain barrel, complete with spigot, screened lid and overflow pipe.  Rain barrels not only provide a source of clean, sodium-free water for the garden, but also help eliminate run-off problems that may occur after rainfall.  See the Master Gardener calendar for 2012 workshop dates and locations.  Registration for workshops is through the Northumberland Extension Office.


Gardening in the Northern Neck Publication

    In 2001, NNMGs wrote and published a publication called Gardening in the Northern Neck as a resource for people who are just starting to garden or who need help with gardening when they first move to this area. NNMGs  updated and expanded this publication in 2007. The updated version can be purchased for $10.

Gardening in the Northern Neck Seminar

    Each year NNMGs offer one or more seminars on subjects related directly to gardening in this area. Subject matter and format change from year to year. The seminars are taught by local NNMGs and other experts on horticultural issues. In March, 2011  NNMGs sponsored a seminar entitled  “Survival:  New Garden Realities”.  This seminar provided information on the role of native plants and the benefits of designing gardens with those roles in mind.  It also included a Vendors' Marketplace that offered attendees the opportunity to interact with local merchants and organizations.

Speakers Forum

    NNMGs receive requests from organizations for talks on horticulture. MGs volunteer to present programs on topics in which they are interested and knowledgeable. When NNMGs do no have the expertise or time to give a requested presentation, they may recruit other knowledgeable members of the community to give presentations.

Northumberland Beautification Projects

    Northumberland County is providing grants for  landscaping/beautification projects to businesses within the county.  NNMGs will help grantors select appropriate plants for these projects.


Just Gardens Tour

    Just Gardens Tour is an annual event to showcase gardens of interest in this area and raise money for the Haven Shelter. NNMGs participate as chief hostesses and guides to help the public get as much horticultural information as possible out of their garden visit.