MGACRA :FREDERICKSBURG & THE COUNTIES OF STAFFORD, SPOTSYLVANIA, KING GEORGE & CAROLINE
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MGACRA-SPONSORED EVENTS CALENDAR for |
August 2021
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Some MGACRA lectures and events will be offered via You-tube or ZOOM technology. The Free Lance Star and MGACRA Facebook page will also be used to post/advertise all activities.
All gardening, insect, plant disease, and horticultural related questions can be called into our VCE office: 540-658-8000. Guy Mussey is our VCE Agent for the four-county area and Fredericksburg. Additional resources are available at: ext.vt.edu where subjects of interest can be searched.
MG Monthly Meetings: Monthly GENERAL meetings will be held via ZOOM until October 2021. Registration will be required to access any meetings being conducted via Zoom prior to October 2021.
11 Aug - MGACRA Board Meeting, 1:30 p.m., Via ZOOM (link will be emailed to Board on April 9). POC: Tina Will, brianandtina.will@gmail.com.
18 Aug – MGACRA General Meeting, Time 7:00 p.m., conducted via ZOOM at https://virginiatech.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUocemhqT8tGtduS8PG0tetWaCbuf2wjsWm..
POC: Kathie Holliday, klholliday7@gmail.com. The guest speaker/subject: Beth Daly. Widewater State Park Native Plant Garden.
Other Calendar Events:
24 Aug – 4th Tuesday Series (Free & Open to the Public), Guest Speaker/Subject: Frank Reilly/”Firewise Landscaping”. Frank Reilly is an Extension Master Gardener and Research Associate and Senior Consultant with Logistics Management Institute, has many years experience in researching and advising people on many environmental issues. Recently he has given a series of lectures on climate change and weird weather. The session will begin at 7:00 p.m. and will be conducted via ZOOM. Registration link for the lecture is https://virginiatech.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwkdeyvpzIuE9fdVKPc2WAykSv4soltVe26
MG Volunteer Opportunities:
30 Jul – 8 Aug - Fredericksburg Fair! This year’s co-coordinators will be Judy Jones and Tina Will. Volunteers are need to prepare our displays, set-up tables and displays, man the MGACRA booth and takedown and return material to Rowser VCE Office. Check your email for detailed information and instructions. Any questions? Please contact Tina Will, Brianandtina.will@gmail.com
:
Fredericksburg Fair Volunteer Schedule is as follows:
DATES TIMES SHIFTS
Mon-Thurs, 26-29 Jul Assembly & Set-up Contact Tina Will
Time TBA
Fri, 30 Jul 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. 5 to 9
Sat, 31 Jul Noon – 10:00 p.m. 12 to 3
3 to 6
6 to 9
Sun, 1 Aug Noon – 10:00 p.m. 12 to 3
3 to 6
6 to 9
Mon-Fri, 2-6 Aug 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. 5 to 9
Sat, 7 Aug Noon – 10:00 p.m. 12 to 3
3 to 6
6 to 9
Sun, 8 Aug Noon – 10:00 p.m. 12 to 3
3 to 6
6 to 9
Mon, 9 Aug Disassembly/Return to Rowser VCE Contact Tina Will
Time TBA
The Rte3/Gordon Rd Plant Clinic is being organized by Ray Mikula. A link to Signup Genius will be sent via email soon, and will also be posted on our website: mgacra.org. The clinic will run every Saturday thru September from 8:45 a.m. to 12:10 p.m. All volunteers should be vaccinated because there will be contact with the general public and children who are not vaccinated. The sign-up link is https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B044DA9A623AAFF2-rt3farmers
Cedell Brooks: Coordinator Alvin Calhoun welcomes volunteers to join him at Cedell Brooks Park workdays every Thursday from 9am - 12noon! can let Alvin know you're coming by signing up in Better Impact (click on the Opportunities tab, go to the Opportunities Calendar, and click on whatever Thursday works for you!), or you can just turn up with your tools. Please contact Alvin if you have any questions at aac.a4@gmail.com
Native Garden at Widewater State Park: Coordinator Beth Daily welcomes all volunteers to join her at Widewater State Park. Reach out to Beth with any questions, and the park rangers on site are also happy to answer any questions you may have while working in the garden. Snacks and water are available for purchase in the gift shop, and parking is free for garden volunteers! Beth can be reached at elizabethdaly@juno.com.
**MG Class Facilitators: We still have several slots open for facilitators for this year’s MG class. For those that have not facilitated before, duties include arriving a little before class starts to help start coffee and gather any handouts or other materials for the class, passing out handouts during class, keeping Guy in a steady supply of coffee, and generally making sure things run smoothly. We also ask facilitators to stay a few minutes after class to help tidy up. Please let me know if you’re interested and what dates you’d like to volunteer! The syllabus was sent out via email. Please contact Lisa Ellis if you can facilitate or have additional questions.
**VA State Fair: The VA State Fair will go on this year, though there may be a few things that are different in light of Covid restrictions. Tracy Day has coordinated this event for many years, but she is not available to be there this year. If you would be interested in coordinating, Tracy would be happy to help you get the ball rolling! Please contact Lisa Ellis if you’re interested – and who wouldn’t be interested in free tickets to the Fair?
**Deacon Commons Community Garden: Coordinator Jen Lin is looking for a few volunteers to help her with planning a selecting plants for this brand new project, which will include a native plant area! If you’d like to lend your design eye and plant expertise, please contact Jen at ravin@vt.edu
**Berea Church “Joy Fellowship”: Lisa is still on the hunt for a speaker for the Berea Baptist Church “Joy Fellowship”, a 50 and older group, that would like to invite a Master Gardener to attend their luncheon and lead a 20-30 minute Gardening Q and A session at their March 9, 2022 meeting. The luncheon begins at 12 noon. Please contact Lisa if you are interested!
**Mary Washington ElderStudy: Mary Washington ElderStudy (www.elderstudy.com), in Fredericksburg, VA, is a community organization of (mostly) retired seniors interested in lifelong learning opportunities. They would like to invite a Master Gardener to do a presentation for their group in 2022! Many of their members are big fans of our annual Symposium, so they are hoping that the presentation could also serve as free advertising for that event. Contact Lisa if you are interested.
Smart Green Lawns: Smart Green Lawn volunteers are super busy and the season is just getting started! Additional volunteers are needed. No special lawn knowledge is necessary, and one-on-one training will be provided via via zoom or in the Extension office. New volunteers will be work with our veteran SGL volunteers to really learn the ropes. Please contact Lisa Ellis if you are interested in volunteering or have questions about the project!
Belmont Nature Trail: MG Jody Wilken is the Grounds Coordinator at Belmont, and she is looking for some volunteers to work on the Nature Trail giving educational walking tours to visitors. Though you would be volunteering as an MG, Belmont has its own internal volunteer process as well, which includes a background screening (paid for by Belmont). Don't let that process scare you off, though, you'd still be earning Master Gardener hours! Please contact Lisa Ellis or Jody (jwilken@umw.edu) to get started!
Chatham Historical Gardens: Did you know that you can earn volunteer hours every Wednesday, year-round, from 8am-1pm by joining project Coordinator Carol Hyland in the beautiful Chatham Historical Gardens? Interested? You can sign up in Better Impact (click on the Opportunities tab, go to the Opportunities Calendar, and click on whatever Wednesday works for you!), or you can just turn up with your pruners. Please contact Carol if you have any questions at cahyland@cox.net
Continuing Education:
Q&A with Guy: Guy will be hosting his final lawn and garden Q&A session on 20 Aug 2021 at 10:00 a.m.. The sessions are informal, FREE, and open to the public. Pass the word, it is free and open to the public..
Soil Sample Video: The Extension Office has prepared a short video on how to take a good soil sample! The video is now up on YouTube and will be posted on our website. You can also click on the link here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4J93LtWMTs0
Watching the video WILL COUNT towards your Continuing Education hours.
(Page last updated: 8/20/2021 RF)
All gardening, insect, plant disease, and horticultural related questions can be called into our VCE office: 540-658-8000. Guy Mussey is our VCE Agent for the four-county area and Fredericksburg. Additional resources are available at: ext.vt.edu where subjects of interest can be searched.
MG Monthly Meetings: Monthly GENERAL meetings will be held via ZOOM until October 2021. Registration will be required to access any meetings being conducted via Zoom prior to October 2021.
11 Aug - MGACRA Board Meeting, 1:30 p.m., Via ZOOM (link will be emailed to Board on April 9). POC: Tina Will, brianandtina.will@gmail.com.
18 Aug – MGACRA General Meeting, Time 7:00 p.m., conducted via ZOOM at https://virginiatech.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUocemhqT8tGtduS8PG0tetWaCbuf2wjsWm..
POC: Kathie Holliday, klholliday7@gmail.com. The guest speaker/subject: Beth Daly. Widewater State Park Native Plant Garden.
Other Calendar Events:
24 Aug – 4th Tuesday Series (Free & Open to the Public), Guest Speaker/Subject: Frank Reilly/”Firewise Landscaping”. Frank Reilly is an Extension Master Gardener and Research Associate and Senior Consultant with Logistics Management Institute, has many years experience in researching and advising people on many environmental issues. Recently he has given a series of lectures on climate change and weird weather. The session will begin at 7:00 p.m. and will be conducted via ZOOM. Registration link for the lecture is https://virginiatech.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwkdeyvpzIuE9fdVKPc2WAykSv4soltVe26
MG Volunteer Opportunities:
30 Jul – 8 Aug - Fredericksburg Fair! This year’s co-coordinators will be Judy Jones and Tina Will. Volunteers are need to prepare our displays, set-up tables and displays, man the MGACRA booth and takedown and return material to Rowser VCE Office. Check your email for detailed information and instructions. Any questions? Please contact Tina Will, Brianandtina.will@gmail.com
:
Fredericksburg Fair Volunteer Schedule is as follows:
DATES TIMES SHIFTS
Mon-Thurs, 26-29 Jul Assembly & Set-up Contact Tina Will
Time TBA
Fri, 30 Jul 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. 5 to 9
Sat, 31 Jul Noon – 10:00 p.m. 12 to 3
3 to 6
6 to 9
Sun, 1 Aug Noon – 10:00 p.m. 12 to 3
3 to 6
6 to 9
Mon-Fri, 2-6 Aug 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. 5 to 9
Sat, 7 Aug Noon – 10:00 p.m. 12 to 3
3 to 6
6 to 9
Sun, 8 Aug Noon – 10:00 p.m. 12 to 3
3 to 6
6 to 9
Mon, 9 Aug Disassembly/Return to Rowser VCE Contact Tina Will
Time TBA
The Rte3/Gordon Rd Plant Clinic is being organized by Ray Mikula. A link to Signup Genius will be sent via email soon, and will also be posted on our website: mgacra.org. The clinic will run every Saturday thru September from 8:45 a.m. to 12:10 p.m. All volunteers should be vaccinated because there will be contact with the general public and children who are not vaccinated. The sign-up link is https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B044DA9A623AAFF2-rt3farmers
Cedell Brooks: Coordinator Alvin Calhoun welcomes volunteers to join him at Cedell Brooks Park workdays every Thursday from 9am - 12noon! can let Alvin know you're coming by signing up in Better Impact (click on the Opportunities tab, go to the Opportunities Calendar, and click on whatever Thursday works for you!), or you can just turn up with your tools. Please contact Alvin if you have any questions at aac.a4@gmail.com
Native Garden at Widewater State Park: Coordinator Beth Daily welcomes all volunteers to join her at Widewater State Park. Reach out to Beth with any questions, and the park rangers on site are also happy to answer any questions you may have while working in the garden. Snacks and water are available for purchase in the gift shop, and parking is free for garden volunteers! Beth can be reached at elizabethdaly@juno.com.
**MG Class Facilitators: We still have several slots open for facilitators for this year’s MG class. For those that have not facilitated before, duties include arriving a little before class starts to help start coffee and gather any handouts or other materials for the class, passing out handouts during class, keeping Guy in a steady supply of coffee, and generally making sure things run smoothly. We also ask facilitators to stay a few minutes after class to help tidy up. Please let me know if you’re interested and what dates you’d like to volunteer! The syllabus was sent out via email. Please contact Lisa Ellis if you can facilitate or have additional questions.
**VA State Fair: The VA State Fair will go on this year, though there may be a few things that are different in light of Covid restrictions. Tracy Day has coordinated this event for many years, but she is not available to be there this year. If you would be interested in coordinating, Tracy would be happy to help you get the ball rolling! Please contact Lisa Ellis if you’re interested – and who wouldn’t be interested in free tickets to the Fair?
**Deacon Commons Community Garden: Coordinator Jen Lin is looking for a few volunteers to help her with planning a selecting plants for this brand new project, which will include a native plant area! If you’d like to lend your design eye and plant expertise, please contact Jen at ravin@vt.edu
**Berea Church “Joy Fellowship”: Lisa is still on the hunt for a speaker for the Berea Baptist Church “Joy Fellowship”, a 50 and older group, that would like to invite a Master Gardener to attend their luncheon and lead a 20-30 minute Gardening Q and A session at their March 9, 2022 meeting. The luncheon begins at 12 noon. Please contact Lisa if you are interested!
**Mary Washington ElderStudy: Mary Washington ElderStudy (www.elderstudy.com), in Fredericksburg, VA, is a community organization of (mostly) retired seniors interested in lifelong learning opportunities. They would like to invite a Master Gardener to do a presentation for their group in 2022! Many of their members are big fans of our annual Symposium, so they are hoping that the presentation could also serve as free advertising for that event. Contact Lisa if you are interested.
Smart Green Lawns: Smart Green Lawn volunteers are super busy and the season is just getting started! Additional volunteers are needed. No special lawn knowledge is necessary, and one-on-one training will be provided via via zoom or in the Extension office. New volunteers will be work with our veteran SGL volunteers to really learn the ropes. Please contact Lisa Ellis if you are interested in volunteering or have questions about the project!
Belmont Nature Trail: MG Jody Wilken is the Grounds Coordinator at Belmont, and she is looking for some volunteers to work on the Nature Trail giving educational walking tours to visitors. Though you would be volunteering as an MG, Belmont has its own internal volunteer process as well, which includes a background screening (paid for by Belmont). Don't let that process scare you off, though, you'd still be earning Master Gardener hours! Please contact Lisa Ellis or Jody (jwilken@umw.edu) to get started!
Chatham Historical Gardens: Did you know that you can earn volunteer hours every Wednesday, year-round, from 8am-1pm by joining project Coordinator Carol Hyland in the beautiful Chatham Historical Gardens? Interested? You can sign up in Better Impact (click on the Opportunities tab, go to the Opportunities Calendar, and click on whatever Wednesday works for you!), or you can just turn up with your pruners. Please contact Carol if you have any questions at cahyland@cox.net
Continuing Education:
Q&A with Guy: Guy will be hosting his final lawn and garden Q&A session on 20 Aug 2021 at 10:00 a.m.. The sessions are informal, FREE, and open to the public. Pass the word, it is free and open to the public..
Soil Sample Video: The Extension Office has prepared a short video on how to take a good soil sample! The video is now up on YouTube and will be posted on our website. You can also click on the link here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4J93LtWMTs0
Watching the video WILL COUNT towards your Continuing Education hours.
(Page last updated: 8/20/2021 RF)