MASTER GARDENER ASSOCIATION OF THE CENTRAL RAPPAHANNOCK AREA - (MGACRA) (FREDERICKSBURG & THE COUNTIES OF STAFFORD, SPOTSYLVANIA, KING GEORGE & CAROLINE)
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Seed swap day


The Seed Swap has been postponed.


The 5th Annual Seed Swap postponed: Based on the Governor's current guidance, the Central Rappahannock Master Gardeners have postponed the 5th Annual Seed Swap, originally scheduled for January 23, 2021. We hope to reschedule the event in March or April, at an outside location, and will let everyone know once a new plan has been approved.











Save the Date and your Seeds for
the 
Central Rappahannock Area Master Gardeners


Picture

The event is FREE and open to the public.
Bring seeds and miscellaneous garden items to swap.
Don’t have seeds to swap? Plan to come anyway!
Co-Chairs:  Linda Kline and Joan Pope

For more information call Lisa Ellis at the VCE Office.
540-658-8000
As you’re cleaning your garden sheds, garages and storage areas, set aside any no long wanted garden related items.  Bring them to the SS for the miscellaneous swap table and take home a different item.  Weather permitting, the miscellaneous Swap tables will be outside at the KGCC.  In addition, bring your extra plants, seedlings and cuttings to swap.
COVID precautions will be followed in accordance with VA state guidance in place at the time.  Based on current guidance, here are the planned rules for the Seed Swap:
                Masks and Social Distancing Required Inside the KGCC and outside in the Misc Swap area
                One-way traffic flow & limited numbers assess to assure appropriate distancing 
                Bring your own snacks and beverages as none will be provided or shared
Use these directions and labels to get ready!!!

​Save your seeds and package them at home; invite a friend to help and label each package with the following info.
  
Year, name: common & Latin (if known), annual or perennial, light conditions, other info. Arlene Wilkinson is in charge of the seeds again this year and has created Seed Package Labels that you may print on Avery labels or print and glue on.

Any questions on packaging your seeds, labeling your seeds or you are unable to package your seeds,
​contact Arlene Wilkinson at:  
jbmwilkinson@verizon.net


4th Annual Seed Swap-
​January 25, 2020

          Thanks to Tracy Blevins and Sherry Graham for these pictures!

 A Big Thanks to Walter Hamm 
for the Photos above!


Seed Swap 2020!   Goodies, presentations, and activities, "Oh, My!"


From Our Gardens to Yours!

​The Rowser Building
1739 Jefferson Davis Highway
Stafford VA 22554
​

Getting ready!

Speakers have been updated and confirmed for the Garden Talks:
10:30     Karen Brace: Ticks Suck! A look at ticks and how they can harm you.

12:00     Brent Hunsinger*: The Pollinators of Virginia
              *from Friends of the Rappahannock

1:30       Tracy Blevins:  De-coding seed packets and seed-starting terminology
New this year 
Children’s activities and garden/environment related non-profits. 
                                -------------------
​Garden Talks will be held in a separate room, the Library

All other activities will be in the gym.
Picture
​Plan to sow your 2020 garden with something NEW. Coinciding with National Seed Swap Day, the last Saturday in January, the Central Rappahannock Area Master Gardeners will be hosting their 4th Annual Seed Swap. This FREE and open to the public event is scheduled for January 25, 2020 from 10am to 3pm at the Rowser Building, 1739 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Stafford. Plan to stay for the whole time, but you are welcome to come for any part of it! It’s a great way to spend a January Saturday.

Don’t have seeds to swap? Come anyway! There is so much more to do! 
Interesting and informative speakers are scheduled throughout the day at 10:30 am, noon and 1:30 pm. There also will be fun garden-related activities for children including fairy gardens, crafts, water conservation activities, games and story time. Master Gardeners will be available to answer your gardening questions. Don’t miss the FREE TRADE TABLE where you can bring usable garden related items that you are ready to pass on, such as tools, magazines and books, and take home something you need. In addition, there will be free seed catalogs, handouts and door prizes to add to the fun. This is a great opportunity to exchange garden tips, learn from experts and get encouragement to try something new from fellow gardeners!



Bring to Swap

Please bring seeds (either saved or purchased), plants, cuttings, tools, books (including cookbooks), magazines, flowerpots, etc. that you no longer need and swap them for what you do need! Please label your seeds/plants with common name and date. Scientific name and additional information about growing the plant are always welcome. Please do not bring hybrids, invasive or noxious plant seeds. 
The following websites are helpful for identifying invasive and noxious weeds and the basics of seed saving:
Invasive plant list for Virginia: http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural-heritage/invsppdflist  
Federal list of noxious weeds: http://www.invasive.org/species/list.cfm?id=16
Information about saving seeds: https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/yard-garden/saving-seed-7-602/.

Speakers 2020

Speakers will present a variety of interesting topics intersperse throughout the day’s activities.

Karen Brace will give the first presentation at 10:30 am, “Ticks Suck! A look at the ticks of Virginia and how they can harm us.” Karen is a Master Gardener, and a wildlife advocate. 

At 12 noon Brent Hunsinger, an environmental educator, Special Projects Coordinator at Friends of the Rappahannock, VA certified horticulturist and owner of a landscaping company, Brent’s Native Plants, will explore the “Pollinators of Virginia, their importance and how to attract them to your yard”! 

Tracy Blevins will give the last talk at 1:30pm, “De-coding seed packets and seed-starting terminology.”  Her talk will cover some of the frequently used terms on seed packets that may not be obvious and other terminology associated with seed starting such as “days to maturity,” “before last frost,” “germination triggers,” “cold stratification,” and tips for success. Tracy is a Master Gardener and co-founder of a website community that hosts botanical collections with customized tools that solve the challenges of documenting, organizing, mapping, tagging and sharing information about plants.  


Thanks for these 2019 Pictures,
​Sean McLaurin


... and Tracy Blevins!

"National Seed Swap Day"  
in the Central Rappahannock Area

Was a Welcome Taste of Spring!!!

This is a Virginia Cooperative Extension program put on by Extension Master Gardeners.
The event is sponsored by the Master Gardener Association of the Central Rappahannock Area (MGACRA) and is the
time that the Fredericksburg area has participated in National Seed Swap Day events.  



Second Annual Seed Swap Day- January 2018 ...
​was a big SUCCESS!!!


2018 Pictures thanks to Tracy Blevins , Sean McLaurin,
Glenn Valdez, & ​Ron Singleton
​

Picture

Seed Swap Day Event - Saturday, January 27, 2018
Free and Open to the Public - Sponsored by Fredericksburg Area Master Gardeners

SEED SWAP!!!!
A day of Spring in the middle of Winter!


The Central Rappahannock Extension Master Gardeners
(MGACRA) celebrated National Seed Swap Day, January 27, 2018 by hosting a Seed/Gardening Swap at the
Central Rappahannock Regional Library on Caroline Street in Fredericksburg, VA.
          A host of seeds*, plants*, cuttings*, tools, books, magazines, flower pots, etc were on display for swapping!
​Gardening information and enthusiasm were shared by all!
​
Picture





Swap Fun 2017!!

​National Seed Swap Day was celebrated in style, in Fredericksburg, VA on Saturday, January 28, 2017,  thanks to the hard work and copious preparation of Karen Brace and Katy Stewart, and their large cadre of volunteers. Not only were there seeds and cuttings to swap, but three excellent speakers filled attendee’s heads with stirring words:
  • Gryphon Corpus helped us understand our vital, native pollinators,
  • Ann Gorrell gave practical advice on growing herbs to spice up our lives, and
  • We were provided brilliant answers for the question, “What’s a gardener to do in the winter?” by Mr. David M. Roos.​ 




Virginia Cooperative Extension programs and employment are open to all, regardless of age, color, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran status, or any other basis protected by law. An equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Virginia State University, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture cooperating. Edwin J. Jones, Director, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg; M. Ray McKinnie, Administrator, 1890 Extension Program, Virginia State University, Petersburg.
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The Master Gardener Association of the Central Rappahannock Area (MGACRA) serves the City of Fredericksburg and the counties of Stafford, Spotsylvania, King George and Caroline.  MGACRA is affiliated with Virginia Tech and Virginia State University through its sponsoring organization, the  Virginia Cooperative Extension, which has its administrative offices in the Rowser Building, 1739 Jefferson Davis Highway, Stafford, Va.
  • Home
  • Calendar
    • January
    • February
    • March
    • April
    • May
    • June
    • July
    • August
    • September
    • October
    • November
    • December
  • Projects
    • Demonstration Garden
    • Volunteer Opportunities
    • Plant Clinics
    • Widewater SP- New Project
  • EVENTS
    • 2020 Symposium >
      • 2019 MGACRA Symposium
    • Seed Swap Event
    • Meetings & Activities
    • K G "Green Talks" >
      • Past KG Green Talks
    • Boxwood Workshops
    • More Events
    • 4th Tuesday >
      • Past Programs
    • Gardening Events in VA
  • Donations
    • Amazon Smile Contributions
    • Brent & Becky's Fund Raiser
  • About Us
    • Master Gardeners >
      • Become a Master Gardener
    • MGACRA in the News
    • Merchandise Sales
    • Board of Directors
    • MGACRA Documents
    • Contact Us
  • Newsletters
    • Winter 2019
    • Autumn 2018
    • Summer 2018
    • April 2018
    • February 2018
    • December 2017
    • October 2017
  • Courses Offered
    • Home Landscape Course
    • Tree Steward Course
    • Plant ID Course
    • Master Gardener Course
  • Current Master Gardeners
    • Garden Wonders
    • Master Gardener College
    • MGACRA Membership
    • Gala Awards Dinner
    • Annual Picnic
    • Year-end Gathering