New Reads for the Earth-Loving Gardener
August 9th marked the annual observance of National Book Lovers Day, but much more than a single day will be needed to take in the recent crop of fresh reads for the gardener. Among them is an array of new…
Watch Out for Mysterious Seeds in the Mail
If you receive seeds in the mail you did not order, please do not plant them, and do not throw them in the trash. That’s the urgent request of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. According to a…
The 4 R’s of Sustainable Management #5
As Extension Master Gardeners, we are passionate about sharing the many ways each of us can have a positive impact by following sustainable environmental practices. Among them are the 4 R’s of Waste Management: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Rot (i.e….
The 4 R’s of Sustainable Waste Management #4
As gardeners who support sustainable environmental practices, we affirm the 4 Rs of waste management: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Rot (i.e. compost). Last week’s article covered some of the challenges of basic recycling. This post will focus on recycling plastic…
The 4 R’s of Sustainable Waste Management #3
As gardeners we support sustainable environmental practices and affirm the 4 R’s slogan: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Rot (i.e. compost). The first two articles in this series focused on reducing consumption and reuse as ways to keep materials out of…
The 4 R’s of Sustainable Waste Management #2
As gardeners who support sustainable environmental practices, we affirm the 4 Rs slogan: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Rot (i.e. compost). The first article in this series focused on reducing consumption as a way to scale back our waste. This second…
The 4 R’s of Sustainable Waste Management #1
As Extension Master Gardener volunteer educators, we are dedicated to investing in our local communities by teaching sustainable landscape and sound horticulture practices. We are also passionate about sharing the many ways each of us can make a positive impact…
National Pollinator Week
National Pollinator Week, June 22-28, was launched by the Pollinator Partnership 13 years ago to celebrate pollinators and their impact on plants, people and the health of the planet. The Partnership’s mission is “to promote the health of pollinators, critical…
Spotted Lanternfly, the Newest Invasive
A new invasive pest entered our state in January of 2018 called the Spotted Lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula. By the fall of 2019, it had spread over 40 to 45 square miles (about 26,000 acres) in Northern Virginia, specifically Frederick County….
It’s Time to Love Your Watershed
People around the globe observed World Environment Day on June 5th, taking a moment to consider that the “foods we eat, the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the climate that makes our planet habitable all come from…