In Season - College 2018

S

ER

MA

ST

www.ext.vt.edu

SPECIAL EDITION

AT OPER IVE EX T CO

N SIO EN

VIRG INI A

In Season

ER G RDEN A

Master Gardener College

A publication of the Virginia Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Program and the Virginia Tech Department of Horticulture

Volume 32, Number 2, March 2018

Dave Close State Master Gardener Coordinator

John Freeborn Assistant Master Gardener Coordinator Devon Johnson Communications Project Coordinator

Sue Edwards Master Gardener Program Development

Gabrielle Sanderson Program Support and Implementation Intern 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.

Table of Contents Letter From the State Coordinator’s Office

5

“Our Master Gardener College Experience”

6

Schedule At a Glance 7 Keynote Speaker Highlight 8 Wednesday Schedule 10 Thursday Schedule 11 Friday Schedule

15

Saturday Schedule 21 Sunday Schedule 28 Registration Information 30 During Your Stay... 31 Breakdown of Costs 32 Thank You To Our Sponsors 33

31st Annual Master Gardener College

You’re Invited!

When?

June 21 - 24, 2018

Where?

The Virginia Tech campus in Blacksburg, Virginia

Why? Master Gardener College is an annual event that draws Master Gardeners from around the Commonwealth together for four days of education, networking, and fun.

Master Gardener College also presents the opportunity to become certified through advanced Master Gardener training. This year, Master Gardener College will offer advanced Tree Steward training.

In Season | EMG College 2018 |Page 4

Letter From the State Coordinator’s Office Hello from Blacksburg!

Happy Spring to everyone! It has been a long winter in Blacksburg, with the coldest two weeks on record during January, and then several late season snows in March. As we are looking forward to spring and summer, one of the big events on the horizon is this year’s 31st Annual Master Gardener College!

John Freeborn, Assistant State Master Gardener Coordinator

EMG College, our statewide continuing education opportunity for Master Gardeners, will be held in Blacksburg from June 21-24, and this year we will be offering Tree Steward training as the advanced Master Gardener training for those interested. The Master Gardener Advisory Team has been working hard since last August to put together a great lineup of tours, workshops, and speakers! In the following pages, you will read about 7 exciting keynote presentations, 33 concurrent sessions, and 16 different tours, workshops, and ways to enjoy the New River Valley.

Sessions this year will cover emerging insect issues, plant diseases, plant identification, and much, much more! Everything from Marketing your EMG program to Unusual Edible Plants and Fungi will be covered, so there’s something for everyone.

All that said, the education is a great part of EMG College, but my favorite part is the networking and socializing that occurs among Master Gardeners from all across the state. New and perennial attendees interact, talk about educational programs, and share ideas. Friendships are both established and renewed, and I look forward to getting to see everyone here in Blacksburg for a few days and have time to hear first-hand how things are going.

Please take a look through the program and watch for registration to open at the beginning of May. If you have questions about EMG College, ask your local Agent or Unit Coordinator for more information or check our EMG College website page for updates: https://blogs.lt.vt.edu/ mastergardener/master-gardener-college-updates/ We are looking forward to EMG College, and we invite you to come to Blacksburg this June for this educational and fun event!

John Freeborn In Season | EMG College 2018 |Page 5

John Freeborn Assistant Master Gardener Coordinator

Our Master Gardener College Experience at Virginia Tech By: Gwen Douglas, with Darlene Smith New River Valley Extension Master Gardeners Gwen Douglas and Darlene Smith share their experiences from 2017 Extension Master Gardener College.

Virginia Tech hosts Virginia’s Extension ourselves meeting and greeting many friendly Master Gardener college here each summer. people, sharing our garden stories, and learning about our different zones and experiences.

Last year, Darlene and I both applied for The programs are taught by professors and the scholarship that is offered by our New River experienced EMGs, and cover a wide range of Valley Association and the Association decided topics, from ornamentals to soil analysis, forestry we would split the funds so that we would and vegetables, and conservation and pest and each have the benefit of attending, with some disease management. The course schedule is assistance for our tuition. We had experienced too extensive to list here, and it varies each year. this four-day event the prior year, as moderators or drivers, and decided to go “all-in” in 2017 Darlene especially enjoyed hearing to immerse ourselves in this fun learning the presentation by Dr. David Gibby, who opportunity. The program includes two full days founded the Master Gardener Program in of classes, with field trips in the area, a welcome 1972 in Seattle, Washington. I had two favorite reception and a closing party at the end. Visitors programs - soil reclamation and moss gardens. from out of town stay in the dorms, meals are We both urge anyone interested in attending available for everyone, and transportation is Master Gardener College to apply early and select well coordinated, both on and off campus. the classes that interest you as soon as possible, We both agreed, the best part is meeting the because we found that they fill up quickly. The other attendees. Extension Master Gardeners program is held in Torgersen Hall, with a large come to Virginia Tech from all over the state, and auditorium and many classrooms available. it is like summer camp for plant geeks. Whenever They have book sales, receptions with drinks there’s a break between the classes, we found and snacks, and garden-related items for sale. • In Season | EMG College 2018 |Page 6

SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE Wednesday Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

9:00 am - 5:00 pm 1:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Tree Steward training Check-in

9:00 am - 5:00 pm 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Tree Steward training Optional day of experiencing the New River Valley, tours, and workshops

5:00 pm - 6:15 pm

Dinner

6:15 pm - 7:00 pm

Keynote - Holly Scoggins

7:00 pm - 8:00 pm 8:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Milestone ceremony Reception

7:00 am - 8:30 am 8:30 am - 9:00 am

Breakfast Welcome

9:00 am - 10:00 am 10:00 am - 10:30 am 10:30 am - 12:00 pm 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm 3:00 pm - 3:30 pm 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Keynote - Joe Murray Break Concurrent Session 1 Lunch Concurrent Session 2 Break Keynote - Alex Niemiera

5:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Dinner

7:00 am - 8:30 am 8:30 am - 9:00 am 9:00 am - 10:00 am 10:00 am - 10:30 am 10:30 am - 12:00 pm 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm 3:00 pm - 3:30 pm 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm

Breakfast VMGA endowment recognition Keynote - Jeanie Davis Break Concurrent Session 3 Lunch Concurrent Session 4 Break Keynote - Peggy Singlemann Dinner Evening events

7:00 am - 8:30 am

Breakfast

9:30 am - 10:30 am 10:30 am - 11:00 am 11:00 am - 12:00 pm 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Keynote - John Seiler Break Keynote - Dennis Dimick Closing event

In Season | EMG College 2018 |Page 7

KEYNOTE SPEAKER HIGHLIGHT HOLLY SCOGGINS Dr. Holly Scoggins teaches courses in ornamental plant production, herbaceous landscape plants, greenhouse management, and public gardens maintenance and management. Her research and Extension interests include improving greenhouse and nursery production systems for herbaceous perennials with an emphasis on propagation, nutrition and rhizosphere management. Her latest efforts have been focused on field production of hops.

Awards include 2008 Academic of the Year (Perennial Plant Association), and 2012 Professional of the Year (Virginia Nursery and Landscape Association)

JEANINE DAVIS Dr. Jeanine Davis is an associate professor and extension specialist in the Department of Horticultural Science at NC State University. She is located at a research and extension center in western NC near Asheville. For 30 years, she has researched new crops, vegetables, and organic agriculture and shared her knowledge on these topics with farmers and home gardeners across the country. Her current efforts are focused on woodland botanicals, hops, truffles, broccoli, organic tomatoes, and industrial hemp. She is the lead author of the book “Growing and Marketing Ginseng, Goldenseal and Other Woodland Medicinals”. Jeanine and her family operate Our Tiny Farm where they raise garlic, shallots, honey, potatoes, and herbs and board horses and donkeys.

JOE MURRAY Joe’s educational background includes the completion of a Master of Science in Plant Pathology from Virginia Tech, Master in Teaching from the University of Richmond, and a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Radford University. Joe is a certified arborist, certified utility arborist, and a Tree Risk Assessment Qualification instructor. Joe, a former college biology professor, is a trainer for the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture and an independent consulting arborist. Joe is in the process of retiring and focusing his energy on growing medicinal herbs and naturalizing habitat for pollinators on a little farm in the highlands of Virginia (www.7acrewoodfarm.com).

ALEX NIEMIERA Dr. Niemiera holds a Ph.D. from Virginia Tech, where he is currently a professor for the Department of Horticulture and assistant dean of student programs in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Dr. Niemiera’s teaching focuses on woody landscape plants, and he is a member of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Academy of Teaching Excellence.

Dr. Niemiera developed the instructional materials to teach woody plant identification to Virginia Nursery and Landscape Association personnel, and he has gained national recognition for his research program, which focuses on strategies to improve irrigation and fertilization efficiency of container-grown crops.

In Season | EMG College 2018 |Page 8

KEYNOTE SPEAKER HIGHLIGHT JOHN SEILER John Seiler is an Alumni Distinguished Professor in the College of Natural Resources and Environment. His on line alias is much simpler “Dr. Dendro”. As Dr. Dendro he answers hundreds of tree question submitted by the public every year. He has been at Virginia Tech for over 35 years and teaches numerous classes and conducts research with his graduate students on how environmental stress impacts tree growth and health.

DENNIS DIMICK Dennis Dimick has focused his more than four-decade journalism career on the collision between human aspiration and the planet. In 35-plus years at National Geographic, he served for more than a decade as the magazine’s environment editor, and guided creation of major projects on climate change, energy, freshwater, population, and food security. From 2008-2012 he coorganized the Aspen Environment Forum in partnership with the Aspen Institute. In 2010 he was the Governor Tom McCall Memorial Lecturer at Oregon State University, and in 2017 for his work in communication of agricultural issues, Dimick was named the Seaman A. Knapp Memorial Lecturer, honoring the founder of the Cooperative Extension Service.

Recipient of many awards from Pictures of the Year International and the Society of Environmental Journalists, Dimick is a 20-year faculty member of the Missouri Photo Workshop, and in 2013 he received the National Press Photographers Association Charles M. Sprague Award for service to photojournalism.

Dimick is co-founder of Eyes On Earth, an educational project designed to inspire a new generation of environmental photographers. The son of fisheries biologists, Dimick grew up on a sheep and hay farm in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. He holds degrees in agriculture and agricultural journalism from Oregon State University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

PEGGY SINGLEMANN Peggy M. Singlemann, Maymont’s Director of Park Operations and Horticulture, has designed, planted and maintained historic and specialty gardens at the 100-acre estate for over 30 years. She serves as host of central Virginia’s monthly gardening show, Virginia Home Grown with co-host Pat McCafferty on PBS’ WCVE/WHTJ. As Maymont’s Director of Park Operations and Horticulture Ms. Singlemann is responsible for and oversees all phases of grounds operations, building maintenance, security, new building and habitat construction and all horticultural aspects of park operations.

Singlemann lectures throughout the mid-Atlantic region and has been published in local and national periodicals such as “American Nurseryman”, “Horticulture”, “Virginia Gardener” and ‘Richmond Parents Magazine”. She is a Certified Horticulturist through the Virginia Nursery and Landscape Association, a Certified Arborist through the International Society of Arboriculture, a Certified Landscape Designer through the Virginia Society of Landscape Design. In 2016 Ms. Singlemann was recognized by the Virginia Nursery and Landscape Association as Professional of the Year.

In Season | EMG College 2018 |Page 9

WEDNESDAY Tree Steward Training WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY The Advanced Master Gardener - Tree Steward Program Training was offered in conjunction with Master Gardener College in 2006, 2009, 2012, and 2015 and will be offered again in 2018. This training is intended to help units that are unable to host the training in their home unit. Core training in both technical areas and in programming will be offered at MG College, but the trainees will be expected to return to their units, and work closely with their Agent and/or Unit Coordinator to complete the exercises required to become an Advanced Master Gardener. More importantly, any Advanced Master Gardener volunteer will be expected to investigate the needs of their home community and establish a new program – or – evaluate and retool their unit’s existing program.

Prerequisites:

Topics covered include:

• Must be a Master Gardener. This training is not open to Master Gardener Trainees nor interns. All participants must have completed all of the requirements to become a Master Gardener prior to commencing this Advanced Master Gardener Training.

• Benefits of Trees to the Community & How Volunteers Can Help the Urban Forest

• Must have the express permission of their local Agent and/or Unit Coordinator.

• Must pay an additional fee for the additional instruction, and the handbook.

• A Model for Success (Tree Steward): Advanced Master Gardener Programmatic Training • Assessing Urban Soils • Program Evaluation

• Background Information for Plant Identification & Considerations for Species and Cultivar Selection

• Specific Uses of Trees & Trees for Various Sites



Tree icon denotes tree steward training class

• Tree Biology

• Plant Management & Construction Impacts

• Diseases & Pest Maintenance Pruning, Wound Closure • Tree Hazard Assessment Workshop

In Season | EMG College 2018 |Page 10

THURSDAY 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

PRE-COLLEGE TOURS & WORKSHOPS Get to know Virginia’s New River Vally or take an in-depth workshop with an optional day of pre-conference tours, workshops, and activities. Mix and match from the morning and afternoon workshops and tours below, or choose an all-day tour. Please note that there may be additional fees for certain tours and workshops.

PRE-COLLEGE WORKSHOPS Morning Workshops Fruit of the Rot: Growing Gourmet and Medicinal Mushrooms | 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Learn how to grow several different types of specialty mushrooms using low-tech, low-cost methods in your garden or woodlot. Discussions will include biology and ecology of fungi in agriculture, using mushrooms for personal and ecological health, and methods for cultivating shiitake, oyster, lion’s mane, reishi, and other mushrooms in wood, straw, and compost, harvesting, and marketing. Hands-on mushroom log activity will prepare you to grow your own! *Appropriate for beginning mushroom enthuasists; limit 30 participants. $40 fee.

Junior Master Gardener Program: Train the Trainer | 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

The JMG Junior Master Gardener program is an international youth gardening program of the university cooperative Extension system. JMG engages children in novel, “handson” group and individual learning experiences that provide a love of gardening, develop an appreciation for the environment, and cultivate the mind. JMG inspires youths to be of service to others through service learning and leadership development projects and rewards them with certification and recognition. Stephanie Huckestein, JMG Coordinator for Virginia, and Michelle Dickerson, Montgomery County Cooperative Extension 4H Agent, will lead a “Train the Trainer” workshop on the Level 1 JMG Curriculum and other complimentary curricula: Learn, Grow, Eat, and Go!, Wildlife Gardener, and Literature in the Garden. Participants will gain knowledge and experience of the Level 1 JMG program.

Participants will receive a JMG training presentation as well as handouts of research-based studies and other helpful information that will enable you to lead a JMG training workshop for your local teachers and other educators. *No additional fee.

In Season | EMG College 2018 |Page 11

THURSDAY

CONTINUED

Afternoon Workshops Grilling with Vegetables Food Demonstration | 1:30 PM - 4:30 PM

Participants will learn how to partner with Family and Consumer Science (FCS) and the Family Nutrition Program (FNP) to use food demos to enhance their programming. Several vegetables will be demonstrated, and sampled, using the Mobile Demonstration Kitchen from VCE Central District. Several participants will get the opportunity to assist with our tasty recipes as we discuss food demonstrations, food safety and the power of providing recipes to encourage utilizing unfamiliar foods. Come and join us for food and fun!. *$10 fee; limited to 20 participants.

Design a Secret Garden Within the Hahn Garden | 1:30 PM - 4:30 PM

The secret garden: That small, tucked-away space that most people walk past without giving it a second glance. We have identified such a space in the Hahn Horticulture Garden and we want to transform it into a secret garden for the lucky few who stumble upon it.

This hands-on design workshop will allow you to explore your creativity and practice your design skills. We will provide a base drawing and guidance, just bring your imagination and your preferred drafting/illustration tools and design a new space for the HHG. *No additional fee. Limit 16 participants.

PRE-COLLEGE “EXPERIENCE THE NEW RIVER VALLEY” Full Day Tours Gardens of the NRV | 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM

New for 2018, the popular “Gardens of the New River Valley” tour has been expanded into a full day. Participants will travel extensively around the New River Valley, visiting some of the most spectacular private gardens in the New River Valley. *$15 Transportation fee. Limit 28 participants.

Canoe the New | 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM

Spend a day canoeing the New River! This 7 mile paddle will take you past scenic vistas and even a few rapids as you explore the New River, one of the oldest rivers in North America! Canoe trip begins in Radford and ends in Peppers Ferry, Virginia; transportation and all equipment rentals are included in additional fees. *$10 Transportation fee + $55 rental cost, includes lunch. Limit 15 participants.

In Season | EMG College 2018 |Page 12

THURSDAY

CONTINUED

Morning Tours Hiking at Pandaps Pond in Montgomery County | 9:00 AM - 11:30 PM

Join the ever energetic and engaging Holly Scoggins as she leads a nature walk around Pandapas Pond, a pastoral, 8 acre pond located just outside the town of Blacksburg. It sits on the Eastern Continental Divide and is surrounded by a forest of hardwoods and rhododendron. The walk will be on a mostly level trail around the pond. Join Holly as you explore this area with pollinators, dragonflies, turtles, songbirds, waterfowl, and much much more! *$10 Transportation fee. Limit 20 participants.

Afternoon Tours Let’s go Underground! A guided tour of Dixie Caverns | 1:15 PM - 3:45 PM Explore Dixie Caverns on a guided tour of this limestone solution cave located in Salem, Virginia. Dixie Caverns expands underneath a hill and includes natural “rooms” full of still-forming cave features. Discovered in 1920, Dixie Caverns is one of the few caverns in Western Virginia that’s open to the public. *$10 Transportation fee + $10 ticket cost. Limit 20 participants.

Black Garlic Processing Facility | 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Black garlic, an aged value-added product is a gourmet ingredient sought after by chefs.

Learn how it’s made on this tour of a local processing facility. *No additional fee. Limit 20 participants.

PRE-COLLEGE TOURS Morning Tours VT Gardens & Greenhouses | 9:00 AM - 11:30 AM

Always popular, join Stephanie for a guided tour through this year’s themes and update you on what is taking place at the Hahn Horticulture Garden. Also get a behind-the-scenes look at the VT Horticulture Department’s greenhouses. *No additional fee. Limit 16 participants.

Guided Tour of the Historic Smithfield Plantation and Garden | 9:15 AM 11:30 AM Visit Smithfield Plantation on the Virginia Tech Campus for a tour of the historic house In Season | EMG College 2018 |Page 13

THURSDAY

CONTINUED

and grounds. The finest example of an original, pre-Revolutionary structure in Western Virginia, Smithfield Plantation is the historic home of William Preston. This tour includes a tour of the historic house, kitchen gardens, and heirloom orchard. *No additional fee. Limit 20 participants.

Visit the The Massey Herbarium | 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM

Founded in 1927, the Massey Herbarium is an important resource for researchers and home gardeners alike. Massey has over 115,00 specimens of vascular plant, fungi, bryophytes, and lichens, with a substantial part of the collection focused on plants collected in the South Eastern United States and in Virginia. Learn about the functions of a herbarium, new digitization efforts, and how you can take advantage of this valuable resource--and look at a lot of cool plants--on this tour guided by Dr. Jordan Metzgar, herbarium curator. *No additional fee. Limit 14 participants.

Afternoon Tours VT Labs Tour | 1:30 PM - 4:30 PM

Ever wonder who processes soil, insect, or plant samples sent to the on-campus labs? You’ll have an opportunity to meet the folks that process samples and see first hand the facilities where your samples are analyzed. *No additional fee. Limit 22 participants.

Belliveau Winery--Vines, Wines, and More! | 1:30 PM - 4:30 PM

Travel to a local winery and vineyard to sample local wines and chef-prepared snacks. *$10 Transportation Fee + Tasting and snacking fee TBD. Limit 20 participants.

 Tree Steward Educational Tour | 1:30 PM - 5:00 PM

This urban forestry tour is open to Tree Stewards and general attendees. Specific locations TBD; keep an eye on the EMG website for updates. Required for Tree Stewards. *$10 Transportation fee, waived for Tree Stewards. Limit 20 participants.

5:00 PM - 6:00 PM

DINNER

6:15 PM - 7:00 PM

KEYNOTE Cutting Through the Muck Dr. Holly Scoggins

And there’s a lot of it! Long ago, before the proliferation of gardening blogs, Vlogs, YouTube, etc., not everyone was an expert on everything. How do you filter out the noise and find the real In Season | EMG College 2018 |Page 14

THURSDAY 6:15 PM - 7:00 PM

CONTINUED

KEYNOTE (CONTINUED) thing? Dr. Scoggins will share the BEST science-based and trusted horticultural resources available to assist you, the Master Gardener, and your efforts to educate the public.

7:00 PM- 8:00 PM

MILESTONE CEREMONY Extension Master Gardener Milestone Award Ceremony

Join the Extension Master Gardener State Office as we recognize Master Gardeners who have reached important milestones in the last year.

8:00 PM - 9:00 PM

RECEPTION Cake and Ice Cream Reception

FRIDAY 7:00 AM - 8:30 AM

BREAKFAST

8:30 AM - 9:00 AM

WELCOME

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

KEYNOTE Zen and the Art of Composting Joe Murray

Compost happens. Just as there is an impulse in nature to build complex structures from simple compounds, there exists a corresponding impulse to disassemble those complex structures back into their original simple compounds. The art of composting works with the latter impulse, orchestrating the interaction between compostable materials and organisms responsible for the disassembling. Composting connects us with the “other-half� of nature associated with dying, death, and decay.

Often, gardeners focus solely on the germination, growth and harvest of plants and pay scant attention to the remainder of the greater cycle at play in their gardens. Actively becoming involved in composting provides a sense of balance to the garden and gardener as well.

In Season | EMG College 2018 |Page 15

FRIDAY

CONTINUED

10:00 AM - 10:30 AM BREAK 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM CONCURRENT SESSION 1 Mushrooms and Microbes: An Emerging Citizen Science for Organic Farming and Gardening Mark Jones, Sharondale Farms

As our planet rapidly changes, we must find solutions to retain and build resilience in our agroecosystems. Explore alliances with fungi and microbes that provide opportunities to support and grow biodiversity of our farms and gardens, enhance plant and animal growth, develop ecosystem services, and grow food and medicine for our communities and the planet. We will discuss low cost techniques for mushroom growing and how to use mycelium and microbial farming as solutions to advance organic horticulture and grow a regenerative agriculture.

(Intermediate) provides a sense of balance to the garden and gardener as well.

 So You’re a Master Gardener and You Can’t Even Identify That Plant! Part 1 of 2 - predominantly classroom Guy Mussey

You can’t learn how to identify trees and shrubs from a slide show. You need to see, touch, smell, and in some cases taste the plants to truly learn them. This workshop will start with a lecture to give you the tools to use in plant identification. A walk on campus will follow to put those tools to use. It is recommended but not required that attendees take both part 1 and 2 in this series.

Food Allergies 101: What’s the Big Deal? - Food Allergy Awareness Training for Food Preparers Sandy Stoneman / Melissa Chase

Do you prepare food at demonstrations or fundraisers? Did you know that food allergies across the population have doubled in the past 20 years? According to the Center for Disease Control, 15 million Americans have food allergies in the US and Virginia has recently joined other states in passing food allergy awareness laws that could affect you.

Attend this workshop to understand the seriousness of food allergies and gain the knowledge that will allow you to prepare and serve food safely to those affected. A certificate of training will be awarded to all participants.

In Season | EMG College 2018 |Page 16

FRIDAY

CONTINUED

10:30 AM - 12:00 PM CONCURRENT SESSION 1 (CONTINUED)  Building a Stronger Program Together – Exploring Shared Expertise, Learning and Accountability Karen Vines Engaged models of Cooperative Extension program delivery call for shared learning, expertise and accountability within communities. In this interactive session we will talk about what engagement means for Cooperative Extension and explore what difference this can make in your role as an Extension Master Gardener Volunteer.

Opening the Door to your Community through Gardening: The VA Community Garden Network Kelli Scott, Meredith Ledlie

Come learn more about our budding statewide network for community gardens. This network was created to allow gardens to learn from each other, share resources, and become more visible to their communities via a statewide map. Learn practical skills for creative community outreach.

Networking time will be included.

Spotted Lanternfly Update and Monitoring Project Eric Day

As you are probably aware, Spotted Lanternfly (SLF) was discovered in Virginia on January 10, 2018. The known population is in Frederick County near Winchester and has the potential to be an ag and forest pest as well as a nuisance in the home landscape. Join Eric as he provides an update on Spotted Lanternfly and discussion of a monitoring project.

 Ecology and Natural History of Virginia Tech’s Old Growth Forest – Stadium Woods John Seiler

The Virginia Tech campus is home to a rare 11.5 acre old-growth forest known as Stadium Woods. The age of the trees, structure of the forest and its urban location make this forest very rare and unique. The forest is an integral part of the Virginia Tech experience as many travel through the woods on their way to fall Hokie football games, and while traveling to and from classes. During this 2 hour tour we will visit and examine some of the largest trees, some of the smallest trees (yet still a state champion tree!), examine old growth forest characteristics, and explore some of the “ruins” left from past uses of the wooded area. The In Season | EMG College 2018 |Page 17

FRIDAY

CONTINUED

10:30 AM - 12:00 PM CONCURRENT SESSION 1 (CONTINUED) impact of invasive species and urban pressures will also be discussed and we will examine tools and techniques used in forest ecology.

New Tools to Help You Find Your Soils, Watersheds, Tree Cover and More...

Frank Reilly

It has never been easier to find out your soils, watershed, environmental oddities or plant identifications than it is today. You can get information or even map the resources on your yard or your client’s home.

12:00 PM - 1:30 PM

LUNCH

1:30 PM - 3:00 PM

CONCURRENT SESSION 2 Rediscovering Indoor Plants Stephanie Huckestein

Houseplants are back in vogue and they’re good for you! Learn how to select and care for indoor plants. Whether you’re new to houseplants or a longtime indoor gardener, you’ll learn from and enjoy this presentation. Topics include choosing the right containers and media as well as lighting and watering requirements. Stephanie will share ideas for easy-to-maintain options as well as some that may surprise you.

She’ll also discuss the benefits of nurturing your green thumb.

Important Disease Carrying Ticks in Virginia: How to Identify Them and Prevent Tick Bites David Gaines

The most important tick species and the diseases they may carry in Virginia, the geographic regions of prevalence of different tick species, their seasonal activity, preferred habitats, the best methods of tick bite and disease prevention, and easy identification of the important disease carrying tick species.

 Backyard Fruit Management - Managing Your Own Edible Resources Mike Parrish

The discussion will cover the challenges of establishing or renovating a back yard orchard.

In Season | EMG College 2018 |Page 18

FRIDAY 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM

CONTINUED

CONCURRENT SESSION 2 (CONTINUED)  Advanced Soil Management Practices for Gardeners Leonard Githinji

It’s not dirt cheap!!! Ardent gardeners acknowledge that a good-quality, healthy soil is anything but cheap to build and maintain. For this session, we will have an in-depth discussion of the best strategies to build a healthy soil that is both productive and sustainable in the long run for your garden. The session will include a hands-on exercise on some soil management practices for assessing the health of your soil.

 So You’re a Master Gardener and You Can’t Even Identify That plant! Part 2 of 2 - predominantly tours Guy Mussey

You can’t learn how to identify trees and shrubs from a slide show. You need to see, touch, smell, and in some cases taste the plants to truly learn them. This workshop will start with a lecture to give you the tools to use in plant identification. A walk on campus will follow to put those tools to use. It is recommended but not required that attendees take both part 1 and 2 in this series.

Let’s Talk Turf: Tips, Tricks, and Nutrient Management Mike Goatley

How can we make turfgrass work for, not against, the environment?

We’ll detail the principles in environmental lawn management and discuss a new collaborative state/private industry nutrient management program that may be of interest to your EMG unit. Bring your smart devices to this seminar to explore the possibilities.

 Can You Afford to Give Your Program Away FREE? Joyce Latimer

Of course you do a budget when planning a program, event, or training.

However, have you ever done a deep dive into the cost of putting on that program or event? Joyce will demonstrate a VCE budget tool that helps you with the deep dive so you can accurately determine the cost of a program. Knowing the true cost along with the amounts of sponsor funds or inkind donations, allows you to set registration cost appropriately. Still want to give it away free? That’s ok, you’ll just know how much it is REALLY costing you. And, we’ll give you a few ideas on what your audience may have been willing to pay! Time In Season | EMG College 2018 |Page 19

FRIDAY 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM

CONTINUED

CONCURRENT SESSION 2 (CONTINUED) permitting, attendees will be able to utilize the spreadsheet and work through a real world example...or two! So, bring some of your own figures!

As Above, So Below: How Much of a Plant Expert Can You Be Without an Awareness of Soil Health?

Joe Murray Plant experts are quick to point out that the majority of plant disorders are caused by problems in the soil environment; yet upon diagnosing disorders, these experts typically restrict their observations to the above ground portion of plants. Such a shortsighted approach leads to recommendations that only address symptoms, or worse, further degrade plant and soil health. Plant health and soil health are interdependent. Properly assessing plant health also means assessing soil health. To truly be a plant expert, one must also be a soil expert.

Learning more about soil health improves your diagnostic skills and enables you to offer more comprehensive recommendations to address soil and plant disorders.

3:00 PM - 3:30 PM 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM

BREAK KEYNOTE Plant Gems for the Nearsighted – Or You Just Need to Look More Closely Alex Niemiera

We often view trees and shrubs from a distance and do not pay close attention to the exquisite detail of bark, leaves, flowers, fruit, and other such plant structures - truly living art. Additionally, there are plant cultivars (variants of a species) that offer an array of fascinating and visually tantalizing traits that will almost make your eyeballs start rolling in their sockets! Alex will present these often overlooked features of numerous plant taxa that are charming and some that are no-lessthan-spectacular!

In Season | EMG College 2018 |Page 20

FRIDAY

CONTINUED

5:00 - 6:00 PM

DINNER

6:30 PM - 10:30 PM

EVENING EVENTS Friday Night at the Floyd Country Store--Music

Take a trip to the neighboring town of Floyd to hear live music. Advanced registration required. $30 fee.

SATURDAY 7:00 AM - 8:30 AM

BREAKFAST

8:30 AM - 9:00 AM

VMGA ENDOWMENT RECOGNITION

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

KEYNOTE Why have a Ho-Hum Garden? Grow Some Unusual Edible Plants and Fungi Jeanine Davis

Are you a wee bit competitive with your gardening friends? Do you enjoy growing something that no one else has? Or are you just looking for something a little out of the ordinary to grow in your garden next year? This presentation will introduce you to a wide variety of edibles you may never have thought of growing in your own backyard, including wasabi, hops, truffles, and yard long beans plus some unusual varieties of common vegetables. You will leave with your imagination stimulated and enough information to further explore growing some unique and tasty garden goodies next year.

10:00 AM - 10:30 AM BREAK

In Season | EMG College 2018 |Page 21

SATURDAY

CONTINUED

10:30 AM - 12:00 PM CONCURRENT SESSION 3 For the Table, Growing Your Garnish Peggy Singlemann

After a farm to table food preparation experience what can a gardener garnish their culinary masterpiece with? Learn what to grow for garnishing and how to grow them for use on the plate.

Virginia’s Tick-borne Diseases: Symptoms, Prevalence, Geography and Diagnostics David Gaines

Learn about each tick-borne disease in relation to its characteristic symptoms prevalence, and geography. As there are misconceptions among healthcare providers that diagnose tick-borne diseases, learn about issues related to Lyme disease diagnosis, and why some diseases like Rocky Mountain spotted fever are greatly over-diagnosed while others like ehrlichiosis are likely to be significantly underdiagnosed-issues that lead officials and citizens to focus on the wrong tick species as being important.

Advanced Vegetable Gardening Leonard Githinji

There are many factors, abiotic and biotic, that interact to determine the yield of your vegetable garden. For this session, we will discuss some advanced techniques that optimize these interactions to maximize the yield of your garden. You will receive a handout describing some selected advanced gardening techniques.

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About the Solitary Bees But Were Afraid to Ask Tim McCoy

This will be a comprehensive description of some of Virginia’s solitary bees, their biology, pollination habits, and ecological status. Methods for rearing solitary bees to enhance your garden pollination will be covered, as well as sampling methods to identify what bees are visiting your yard.

In Season | EMG College 2018 |Page 22

SATURDAY

CONTINUED

10:30 AM - 12:00 PM CONCURRENT SESSION 3 (CONTINUED) EMG Coordinator’s Session & Open Forum with the State EMG Office Freeborn / Close / Smith

Join the Extension Master Gardener State Office for an overview of new policy information, training resources, and office updates. There will also be time at the end of this session for a question and answer period, so bring your questions and suggestions for the State Coordinators! This is a unique opportunity to learn about the State Coordinator’s Office, ask questions, and offer your own input.

 An Introduction to Landscape Tree Liability and the Basic Practices of Tree Risk Assessment Eric Wiseman

Sometimes trees uproot or fall apart in the urban forest, potentially causing harm to people and property or disrupting our day-to-day activities. Two common questions we face are (1) how can we tell if there might be a tree failure, and (2) who is responsible if there is a tree failure. During this lecture and field demonstration, we will discuss basic concepts of tree failure liability, tips for minimizing liability for tree failure, and field techniques for identifying potentially hazardous trees.

 Restoring the American Chestnut Tree Carl Absher

Only a hundred years ago the American chestnut was arguably the most common and useful tree in the Appalachian region. It furnished food for people, livestock and wildlife; cash for subsistence farmers; and a light, rot-resistant wood for construction and household furniture. An introduced fungus first discovered in 1904 killed over 4 billion of these magnificent trees over the next 50 years. Learn about this tree’s history, the efforts to bring it back, the problems faced by the scientists working to restore the chestnut, and how you can help.

 Building Your Idea Greenhouse: Learn How to Graft Your Ideas On To Others Curt Friedel We are all agents of change, meaning that we all have ideas on how to solve problems and implement our desired solutions to problems on a regular basis. This workshop will explore how problem-solving style In Season | EMG College 2018 |Page 23

SATURDAY

CONTINUED

10:30 AM - 12:00 PM CONCURRENT SESSION 3 (CONTINUED) contributes to the acceptance or rejection of someone’s ideas, regardless of culture, status, age, and expertise. This 90-minute session will be both informative and interactive as we discuss ideas shared by our fellow agents of change in teams and organizations.

Storytelling Photos from Your Phone for Social Media and Promotion Dennis Dimick

The camera in your phone can produce useful and beautiful pictures to include in your website, promotions, and social media postings, but like with good writing, good pictures require editing. Dennis Dimick, for more than three-decades a photo editor at National Geographic, will explain how he anticipates action, composes compositions, and what tools he uses to crop, tone and enhance images coming from mobile devices. He uses an iPhone but will discuss photo editing apps that are available for both iOS and Android, such as Google’s SnapSeed. His tips also apply to those of you who use “regular” cameras, he certainly does.

Bring your questions!

The Right Plant for the Right Place Alex Niemiera

“What tree/shrub should I plant in front of my house”? Answer: “It depends.” Alex Niemiera will review the many decisions that need to be addressed when siting trees, shrubs, and other woody plants in a landscape/garden. He will cover the environmental, architectural, landscape function, maintenance, as well as aesthetic issues that dictate woody plant placement.

In Season | EMG College 2018 |Page 24

SATURDAY

CONTINUED

12:00 PM - 1:30 PM

LUNCH

1:30 PM -3:00 PM

CONCURRENT SESSION 4 Creating Your Own Medicinal Herb Shade Garden Jeanine Davis

If you have a shaded area on your property, or are willing to create one, you can grow your own woodland pharmacy. In this session you will be introduced to the many native shade loving herbs that can be grown in this region. In this colorful presentation we will cover the basics for how to grow these herbs and touch on how they are used. This will be followed with a propagation demonstration and time to share experiences, problems, and solutions.

 Getting the Word Out! Marketing Your EMG Program Devon Johnson

Do you need help advertising events and attracting new Master Gardeners to your unit? Learn how to use communications and marketing resources from the State Coordinator’s Office to write press releases, create or improve your website, and maintain a social media feed. Updates on State Office cmmunications improvements and communications survey results will also be discussed.

Challenges of An Older Garden for an Older Gardener George Graine / Peggy Fox

Age is just a number. Change a lifetime of gardening habits and learn the new KISS principle - Keep It Small and Simple and how to incorporate some principles of the Japanese Wabi-Sabi approach to gardening. The beauty of imperfection will teach you how to have a green thumb without an aching back.

Yard = Garden: What We’ve Done for Food and for Fun with In-Town Permaculture Ben Capozzi Ben Capozzi will walk you through the basics of permaculture design, and share how he’s used them to transform his corner lot on Main street South Boston into a unique permaculture landscape for Southside Virginia. He’ll cover successes, failures, guiding principles, and his enthusiasm for this most satisfying approach to working with Nature, and our place in it.

In Season | EMG College 2018 |Page 25

SATURDAY 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM

CONTINUED

CONCURRENT SESSION 4 (CONTINUED)  Taking Account of Urban Forest Assets: Concepts and Practices of Tree Inventory Eric Wiseman

A tree inventory is the process of collecting, analyzing, and reporting information about individual trees. There are numerous applications of this information, such as identifying tree health threats, prioritizing maintenance needs, calculating ecosystem services, and educating people about trees. During this lecture and field demonstration, we will discuss basic concepts of tree inventory and get some hands-on experience with tools used for collecting and analyzing tree inventory data.

 Nature’s Broken Vase: Dutch Elm Disease Jay Stipes

Dr. Stipes is “an old fixture” at Virginia Tech, having taught here over 50 years (pre-Cambrian period) but never stopping! Kind of scary, don’t you think? He has taught “everything,” and mentored 24 graduate students (M.S. and Ph.D.) in his program. At this meeting, he will address probably his “favorite disease,” Dutch elm disease. This will feature a lecture and campus elm stroll where elms are flourishing “big time.”

 Connecting Citizens to Their Community Forest in Coastal Zone Eight Ed Bradley

How can we reach as many people as possible to increase awareness and appreciation of the trees that surround them? Learn how Master Gardeners in Coastal Virginia developed tree trails and tree tours in multiple locations to broaden public participation in the community forest where they live, work, study, and play.

In Season | EMG College 2018 |Page 26

SATURDAY 3:00 PM - 3:30 PM

BREAK

3:30 PM - 4:30 PM

KEYNOTE

CONTINUED

Maymont’s Gardens, 100+ years and growing Peggy Singlemann

Through their keen interest in gardening and trips abroad Mr. and Mrs. James H. Dooley created a country house estate filled with overflowing gardens and beds of flowering shrubs. Upon the Dooleys passing in the mid-1920’s the gardens floundered, starting in the 1970’s the gardens rose like a phoenix with renovations and restorations to what it is today. Not resting any laurels, Maymont’s plans for the future include additional garden restorations.

This talks also covers the vital role volunteers play in caring for every aspect of Maymont, but particularly the gardens and Maymont’s evolution over the decades.

5:00 PM - 6:00 PM

DINNER

6:30 PM - 7:30 PM

VIRGINIA MASTER GARDENER ASSOCIATION ANNUAL MEETING All Master Gardeners are invited to attend the Virginia Master Gardener Association’s annual meting to celebrate accomplishments and to find out what is in store for the next year. Come and see what VMGA is all about!

7:30 PM - 9:30 PM

RECEPTION Come out for a great time of fun and fellowship with your fellow Extension Master Gardeners. There will be live music as well as food and drinks. This will also be a time for winners to pick up their silent auction items. Please note there will be adult beverages available for purchase at the cash bar.

In Season | EMG College 2018 |Page 27

SUNDAY 7:00 AM - 9:30 AM

BREAKFAST

9:30 AM -10:30 AM

KEYNOTE Within the Forests of Virginia: Eating, Drinking, and Gossip John Seiler The forests of Virginia are some of the most diverse in the world. This talk will provide an overview of the factors controlling tree distribution and productivity in Virginia’s forests. Some of the “most amazing” things about tree biology will be discussed ranging from carbon and water uptake to tree “communication.”

10:30 AM - 11:00 AM BREAK 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM KEYNOTE The Human Age: Our Anthropocene Conundrum Dennis Dimick

A narrated visual journey through our fossil-fueled modern world of 7.5 billion people that considers looming environmental challenges threatening society’s continued prosperity without an energy transition.

For most of human existence we survived on current and recent sunshine – water, wind, and wood – to power society. Over the past three centuries we have transitioned to stored fossil sunshine – coal, oil, and natural gas – to power our lives. We now rely primarily on this ancient sunlight, the fossilized carbon remains of ancient plants and animals, to turn our wheels and light our world. Fossil fuels have allowed extraordinary expansion of the human enterprise – our food supply, material wealth, and population. In less than 70 years world population has tripled from 2.5 billion in 1950 to 7.5 billion now, and this “Great Acceleration” has profoundly altered the land, seas, and atmosphere of our finite planet. Scientists call this new humandominated era on Earth the Anthropocene, or “Age of Man.” Worrisome trend lines from ongoing fossil fuel use – rising temperatures, extreme weather, melting ice, and rising seas – indicate that humanity’s continued prosperity is at risk as wild habitats and species vanish,

In Season | EMG College 2018 |Page 28

SUNDAY

CONTINUED

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM KEYNOTE (CONTINUED) pollution accumulates, and the planet heats up from the effluent of our aspirations. We approach a turning point: What can create a soft landing for civilization? Can ingenuity, wisdom, and those same fossil fuels build a bridge to a low carbon energy future powered again primarily by renewable current sunlight? The future of our modern society likely turns on the success of this energy transition.

12:00 PM - 2:00 PM

CLOSING EVENT Picnic Reception

Join us to celebrate the end of Extension Master Gardener College with a reception.

In Season | EMG College 2018 |Page 29

REGISTRATION INFORMATION REGISTRATION Get registration information from your local Agent or Unit Coordinator. Registration is open to certified EMGs. Contact your local EMG coordinator or agent for details, as registration will open around May, 1 2018. Due to new registration practices, the minimum amount that can be refunded is $25.00. Amounts less than that are considered non-refundable. This year, please register online, by fax, or by mail. Due to staff limitations, phone registrations need to be reserved to those who have special needs.

Open registration will also be announced through the VMS and you can get more information from your local Agent or Unit Coordinator.

EXTENSION SCHOLARSHIPS VMGA seeks to award scholarships to those EXTENSION Master Gardeners who, through their dedicated efforts of volunteerism toward VCE goals, have demonstrated exceptional leadership potential or significant contributions in their respective units.

Additional criteria are included on the application form. All VCE Master Gardeners planning to attend EMG College 2018 are eligible for these scholarships if they have never been awarded one.

For more information about nomination guidelines, visit: http://www.vmga.net/ scholarships.php For scholarship nomination guidelines, visit: http://www.vmga.net/scholarship-criteria.php

In Season | EMG College 2018 |Page 30

DURING YOUR STAY...

HOUSING We will again be in the dorms, but local hotel information is also available on the website (http://blogs.lt.vt.edu/mastergardener/ current-master-gardeners/mg-college/faq-2/).

We recommend The Inn at Virginia Tech, Hilton Garden Inn Express, the Inn on Main Street, the newly-constrcted Hyatt Place Blacksburg or the Residence Inn by Marriott Blacksburg. Please see page 32 for information on on-campus housing costs.

MEALS If you are staying in the dorms, it is the policy of Virginia Tech that you must a meal plan with your housing reservation.

If you are staying off campus, you can either purchase meals individually with cash, check, or credit cards, or purchase a meal plan for the entire conference from Conference and Guest Services. Even if you stay off campus, consider purchasing a meal plan to enjoy the company of other Master Gardeners during meal time.

Meals will be in the D2 Dining Center. Hours of service are: Breakfast: 7:00 am to 9:30 am

CLASS SELECTION

Lunch: 11:30 am to 2:00 pm Dinner: 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm

Classes are offered on a first come first serve basis, so make sure to register early to make sure that you get the classes you want.

Switching schedules is not advised unless you trade spots with someone. All the classes with limited enrollment are filled by pre-registrations, and there will not be enough materials for unregistered attendees. Please be considerate to your peers and do not “crash� a class, tour, or workshop.

In Season | EMG College 2018 |Page 31

BREAKDOWN OF COSTS REGISTRATION Early Registration fee (Before June 5th): $185.00 Standard Registration (After June 5th): $195.00 Daily Registration: $75.00

Two-day Registration: $125.00

MILESTONE AWARD DISCOUNT Total cost: 500 hour = $168

Total cost: 1,000 hour = $154 Total cost: 2,000 hour = $142 Total cost: 3,000 hour = $132 Total cost: 4,000 hour = $123

Total cost: 5,000+ hour(s) = $0.00

ROOM AND BOARD If you would like to stay on-campus in the university dorms, the cost is: $52 per night for double occupancy $61 per night for single occupancy

Please note that if you are staying on-campus, it is Virginia Tech’s policy that you purchase a meal plan. The breakdown of costs are as follows: Breakfast = $8.00 Lunch = $11.30

Dinner = $13.85

*Additional taxes will be added In Season | EMG College 2018 |Page 32

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

VIRGINIA MASTER GARDENER ASSOCIATION

ASSOCIATION SPONSORS

SPONSORS AS OF MARCH 29 In Season | EMG College 2018 |Page 33