Goochland Leadership Enterprise 18th Class for 2013-2014

Horticulture Help Line:

Residents with

questions regarding

gardens, lawn care,

pruning and more are

invited to contact the

Goochland Extension

Office for free advice.

The Goochland-

Powhatan Master

Gardeners are

available at the office

every Thursday

beginning in March

through September

from 1pm until 4pm.

You can reach them at

804-556-5874 or stop

by the Goochland

Extension Office.

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS 2

TIPS ON MANAGING YOUR PRIVATE WATER WELL SUPPLY

2

UPCOMING EVENTS CALENDAR

3

IN THE 4-H SPOTLIGHT 4

AN UNUSUAL YEAR FOR LAWNS

5

KUDZU BUG 5

EXTENDING THE GARDEN SEASON

6

Inside this issue:

Third Quarter, Summer/Fall 2013

Virginia Cooperative Extension, Goochland Office Quarterly Newsletter

Summer Canning Series at the Virginia House Kitchen

Virginia Cooperative Extension offered a 4 part canning series covering Jams, Beans & Pickles, Tomatoes, Chutney & Relish this summer. We would like to thank Virginia House for allowing us the

use of their wonderful kitchen and to Jane Henderson, Amelia County FCS agent for teaching.

Would you like to learn more about Goochland County?

The Goochland Leadership Enterprise (GLE) is now accepting applications for its 18th Class. GLE classes introduce Goochland residents to their county by providing information on topics such as the county’s history, county departments and services, agriculture, economic development and the budget process. Participants are introduced to both country and state government officials. GLE hosts 15 sessions, typically every other Thursday, at 7:00 PM from September 19th through the end of March. Sessions are held at different locations in the county to provide further insight into Goochland's history and environment. Registration is in progress and continues until the class is filled. For additional information, brochure, and an application call the Goochland Extension Office at 804-556-5841 or go online at http://offices.ext.vt.edu/goochland/.

Summer News for Emergency Preparedness By: Rachel Grosse, Extension Agent - Ag & Natural Resources

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Virginia Cooperative Extension, Goochland Office Quarterly Newsletter

Spring has come and gone and we can’t complain about this weather. After several years of drought we are looking good this year thus far and hope to continue this way, however, staying

prepared for disasters is very important. Virginia Cooperative Extension assists localities with disaster assessment. In the case of a disaster, I as the Agriculture Extension Agent will aid in assessing and reporting agricultural damage to government officials. If you should incur such damages such as lost crops, livestock, downed fences, barns, damaged equipment or other please contact me so we can report those losses to the county. My contact information is inside this newsletter if you should have any questions. With hurricane season approaching, it is very important to be prepared for the worst case scenario. 2012 brought extreme winds, called a derecho, that negatively affected many farmers’ crops, buildings and equipment in Goochland County. An estimate of almost

$128,000 worth of agricultural damage was assessed in Goochland County after the derecho storm last year. Let’s hope this year we don’t see anything like this but we should always stay prepared. Check out Ready.gov for more information about what items to have on hand for your family in case of a disaster. Being prepared for disasters is very important so that there is a plan for your animals and livestock also. In this plan you should include contact information for resources in and outside of your locality. This may include family, neighbors, employees, veterinarian, animal transport services, alternative animal shelter locations, poison control, VDACS, County Extension Office, feed sources and more. Generators will most likely be necessary for powering wells to ensure water availability for animals in the case of downed power. Contingency plans for alternate feeding and watering should be thought out incase these areas are compromised. Plans should be made for vegetable and fruit production as well, where and how will fresh produce be stored or preserved. For more information feel free to contact me and I would be happy to help. I hope everyone has a safe and productive rest of their summer and I look forward to seeing you around the county!

1. Check your well annually for cracks or damage. Make sure the well cap is secure. 2. Have your well tested each year for total coliform bacteria and E. coli. Every three years, test for pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), nitrate, and other contaminants of local concern. 3. Use a certified lab to perform all water tests. Compare test results to the EPA's public drinking water standards, which serve as good guidelines. 4. Keep the area around the well clean and accessible, free of debris, paint, motor oil, pesticides, and fertilizers. 5. Make sure the well is at least 100 feet away from potential contamination sources such as chemical storage facile ties, oil tanks, or septic tanks. 6. Ensure that the ground slopes away from the well to prevent water from pooling around the casing, causing possible contamination to your system. 7. Make sure the well is properly constructed. The casing should be 12 inches tall, with a sealed sanitary cap or

sturdy concrete cover (on a bored well) to prevent contamination from insects, small mammals, etc. 8. Have your well inspected every five to 10 years by a professional with a WWP (water well and pump) classification. 9. Keep careful records of well installation, maintenance, inspections, repairs, and water tests. 10. Have a water well professional properly decommission your well before abandoning it to avoid contaminating nearby wells and groundwater. Erin Ling is a water quality Extension associate in the Department of Biological Systems Engineering at Virginia Tech; Jen Pollard Scott is a former research associate in the Department of Biological Systems Engineering.

Photo by Rachel Grosse of barn damage after a derecho

Don't "Run On Empty"!: Ten Tips for Managing Your Private Water Well Supply By: Erin Ling and Jen Pollard Scott

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Upcoming Extension Events:

August Rain Barrel Workshop - Aug. 20th, $45 at the Monacan Soil and Water Conservation Office. Learn the importance of having a rain barrel and construct your own! All tools and materials will be included in the registration fee. Pre-registration is required.

September Forage and Grazing Workshop – Sept. 10th, $15. This workshop will provide pasture managers the information necessary to manage their pastures so as to maximize for age growth through rotational grazing, stockpiling and weed identification.

4-H Thunderhooves Club - Equine club focused on learning about the equine industry. Next meeting—Sept. 12th, 6:30pm at the Goochland Extension Office. Ages 9-18

4-H Animal Science Club - This club focuses on learning about livestock animals and agriculture. Next Meeting—Sept.13th, 7pm at the Goochland American Legion building. Ages 5-8 & 9-18 **Please call the Extension Office to verify that the meeting will be as scheduled**

Field Day of the Past - Sept. 20, 21, 22. Come and join the Goochland County Extension office at our vast display at Field Day of the Past. Goochland 4-H will have many livestock exhibits, club displays, children’s activities, the Goochland 4-H Livestock Show and much more. The Goochland Powhatan Master Gardener Association, Bob Whitehead (Horticulture Associate) and Rachel Grosse (Ag agent) will be available to answer your gardening, lawn or agriculture questions. For information on times and tickets for the event contact Field Day of the Past at 804-741-8468 or at www.fielddayofthepast.net.

Composting & Vermiculture - Sept. 28th, $40. Learn various composting methods including composting with worms. Start composting in Oct. with worms and have your first batch of compost ready for spring planting. All tools and materials will be included in the registration fee. Pre-registration is required.

October & November iPad Play - Oct. 7 & 8th, FREE. Grades 6-8. This is a onetime afterschool activity for middle school students with transportation provided from the middle school to the Extension Office. You will learn how to plan, design a storyboard, and other aspects of filming while making an iPad movie. We will also explore the many other ways to use an iPad. iPads will be provided for use during this activity. 4-H Trailblazers Club - Youth will learn about a variety of subject areas such as geocaching, photography, science and more. Next Meeting– Oct. 8th, 6:30pm at the Goochland Extension Office. Ages 5-8 & 9-18 4-H Thunderhooves Club - Equine club focused on learning about the equine industry. Next meeting—Oct. 10th, 6:30pm at the Goochland Extension Office. Ages 9-18

4-H Animal Science Club - This club focuses on learning about livestock animals and agriculture. Next Meeting—Oct. 11th, 7pm at the Goochland American Legion building. Ages 5-8 & 9-18

Pillowcase Pizazz - Nov. 5th, $15. This is a onetime afterschool activity for middle school students with transportation provided from the middle school to the Extension Office. During this class youth will learn and be able to demonstrate basic sewing techniques. Each youth will create and design and take home their very own pillowcase. If you are a person with a disability and desire any assistive devices, services or other accommodations to participate in these activities, or any activity listed in this newsletter, please contact Goochland Extension Office at 804-556-5841 during business hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. to discuss accommodations 5 days prior to the event. *TDD number is (800) 828-1120.

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See what 4-H has to offer for you!! Here is a list of our 4-H Clubs:

The Goochland County 4-H program is growing throughout the county. 4-H provides “learn by doing” opportunities for youth to receive “hands on experiences through work or activities. 4-H is for all youth, both boys and girls between the ages of 5-18 years of age regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, handicap or political affiliation. For further information or questions regarding any of these programs please contact the 4-H office at 556-5841.

Goochland 4-H Shooting Education Club: Ages 9-18 The Shooting Education Club focuses on teaching responsible handling of any firearm, including safety, cleaning and proper storage. The youth will have a chance to compete in several 4-H sponsored shooting event throughout the year. The 4-H club is lead by qualifies, trained 4-H volunteers who are certified instructors in the following disciplines; archery, rifle, shotgun, pistol, air rifle.

4-H Trailblazers: Ages 5-18 Youth will learn about a variety of subject areas such as geocaching, photography, science and more. Meetings will be held in the Goochland Extension Office. 4-H Thunderhooves: Ages 9-18 The Thunderhooves is an equine club that focuses on learning more about the equine industry. The 4-Hers will participate in equine workshops, visit farms and show equine at local 4-H horse shows. Youth do not need to have a horse to be a member just interest in the equine industry. The 4-H members meet once a month on the second Thursday at 6:30pm at the Extension office. Goochland 4-H Animal Science 4-H Club: Ages 5-18 The Animal Science 4-H club focuses on learning about livestock animals and agriculture. Throughout the year, the youth participate in workshops on different species of livestock; have guest speakers within the industry and show at the local 4-H livestock shows. Youth do not need to have a livestock animal to be a member just an interest. Youth 5-8 years of age, can be a part of this club as Cloverbuds until they reach the 4-H age of 9. This 4-H Club meets once a month on the second Friday at 7 pm at the American Legion Building in Goochland.

Afterschool Programs:

Jr. Master Gardener’s:

Grades 3-5

3:15 - 5pm

Cost $18 for 6 week program/snacks and materials provided During this 6 week program we will study fall gardening, leaf/tree I.D., butterflies, terrariums and more. There will be several take home projects. This afterschool program will be run by our very own Goochland Powhatan Master Gardeners.

Space is limited. Preregistration is required. Contact Jocelyn Dailey at jddailey@vt.edu or 556-5873.

Randolph Elementary School: Mondays, for 6 weeks Sept. 16th - Oct. 28th (except Oct. 14th)

Byrd Elementary School: Tuesdays, for 6 weeks Sept. 17th - Oct. 22nd

Goochland Elementary School: Thursdays, for 6 weeks Sept. 19th - Oct 24th

In School Clubs & Programs:

**Stay tuned for more information regarding great new opportunities for kids to participate in 4-H. If you have any questions please contact Jocelyn Dailey, 4-H agent at 804-556-5873 or jddailey@vt.edu. **

AgDiscovery camp is a 2 week overnight camp at Virginia State University where campers learn and engage in hands on activities involving different aspects of agriculture while experiencing campus life. Campers learn about the importance of agriculture to our food supply and our economy. Additionally, campers learn that agriculture is not only about farming, and they begin to see agriculture from a business and USDA perspective. Different aspects of farming were demonstrated by visiting

dairy and beef cattle farms, VSU’s meat goat farm, and even a fish farm, where the campers learned how to seine ponds, and properly catch, dissect, and process fish. The importance of eating healthily was demonstrated by a trip to Polyface farms, an organic farm that grass feeds their animals and raises them as free range livestock. Campers also took a trip to the local farmer’s market in Petersburg. There, they learned the value of supporting their area’s economy by buying locally produced food. Other topics, such as animal welfare and small animal veterinary procedures were covered as well. This camp demonstrates different career opportunities in agriculture and different ways to contribute to local agricultural communities.

The Goochland 4-H Shooting Education Club has been meeting since early this spring. Thankfully, the weather has been cooperating and we have had several fun practices at Cavalier Pistol and Rifle Club. Our members are improving with every practice. One of the Clubs goals this year has been to raise money. Our goal is to build a proper skeet field including a skeet house. We raised $450 through the Virginia Diner Peanut Fundraiser. Thank you to everyone who purchased peanuts to support the Club. Our Fundraising committee has been busy looking for other ways for us to raise money and reach our goal. We are hoping to sponsor a corn hole tournament in the near future. You might want to start practicing now as there are some fierce competitors among us! The Club recently learned we had received a grant from the NRA. This generous grant will allow us to purchase three skeet throwers and a base. We are also planning some community service projects. We will be helping Cavalier by doing some clean up (and also as a way to say thank you to them for their support). Date to be announced. Don’t forget that Field Day of the Past is in September. Our booth always generates a lot of interest and it is a great way for the Club to have visibility in the community. Some of our members will be competing at the 2013 Southeast District 4-H Shoot on June 22 at the Wakefield 4-H Center. Last year several of our members won awards at the competitions we attended. Good luck to all competitors and especially to the members of Goochland 4-H Shooting Education Club! The Club members would like to thank all of the adult volunteers who give their time to help us run the club. We could not do this without you. Also special thanks to Cavalier Pistol and Rifle Club who allow us to practice at their facility. Thank you Cavalier for your generosity.

4-H is a great volunteer opportunity that allows you to share your interests, skills and time available with the youth in Goochland County. Interested in learning more? Contact Jocelyn Dailey, 4-H Youth Development at 804-556-5873 or jddailey@vt.edu for more information.

“When adults take time to help young people through 4-H, they exert an enormous, positive

influence on the lives of youth.” – Retired General Colin Powell

As a 4-H Volunteer, You can:

*Lead youth within school-based and after-school programs, camp settings or 4-H clubs. *Serve as a chaperone, board member, or judge for a 4-H contest *Develop and support community service opportunities for youth to make a difference in Goochland County. *Teach youth using research-based university curricula *Work with other adults to create fun, new programs for youth. *Make a difference in the lives of youth

AgDiscovery Camp at Virginia State University By Helena Trevor, Animal Science 4-H Club member

In the 4-H Spotlight…..

Goochland 4-H Shooting Education Club By Carter Burcham, Goochland 4-H Shooting Education Club member

Page 5

An Unusual Year for Lawns By: Bob Whitehead, Horticulture Associate

Invasive Species Pests to Keep an Eye out for: Kudzu Bug

By: Rachel Grosse, Extension Agent – Agriculture & Natural Resources

Page 6

With all of the rain we have had this spring and into the summer, you may have spent more time behind or on a lawn mower than you may have liked. Plus, your lawn may have been a bit soggy at times. In a “normal summer” without extraneous irrigation your lawn would usually be brown and crunchy. Either way a homeowner is faced with many challenges to keep the lawn healthy and beautiful. Here in the mid-Atlantic transition zone where cool season turf is the norm, late summer and fall is the prime time for lawn maintenance and improvement. If this is a challenge you choose to pursue, the first step is to assess the current state of your lawn, your long term objectives for improvement and your budget for lawn care. A simple lawn care program intended to strengthen the turf, reduce disease and weeds and achieve relatively uni-form appearance is a reasonable approach. Start with a soil test if you haven’t had one in the last 3 years. A pH of 6.2 – 6.5 is optimal for cool season lawns. Implementing the lime and fertilizer recommendations on the soil test report will ensure that you are not wasting money on unnecessary amendments. Subsequent steps for effective lawn care include: 1) Plant cool season grasses (Tall Fescue, Kentucky bluegrass and Perennial Ryegrass) in the fall, if possible. 2) Fertilize the lawn primarily in the fall. If fertilizer is applied in the spring, apply smaller amounts consisting of slow release water insoluble nitrogen. Calibrate lawn spreaders for assurance that required amounts of lime, fertilizer or pesticides are being applied accurately. 3) Lawns need about one inch of water per week during warm weather and especially during the heat of summer. If consistent irrigation isn’t an option for you, it is best to avoid infrequent watering. The turf will go dormant and recover when adequate rainfall returns. 4) Reduce soil compaction by core aeration in the fall. This is stressful to cool season lawn grasses, so the fall is the optimal time to allow the turf to recover. 5) Mow the lawn at the optimal height and compost or leave the clip-pings on the lawn, if possible. For Tall Fescue this is about three inches high. 6) Be patient and methodical utiliz-ing a more scientific approach to lawn care. For more detailed strategies, call the Goochland Extension office for lawn care advice and/or to register for class. The next lawn care class is scheduled for August 10, 2013 at the Goochland Library. Call the office at 804-556-5841. To learn more about Lawn care, see the following websites for useful lawn care information: http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/category/lawns.html http://www.anr.ext.vt.edu/lawnandgarden/turfandgardentips/

In 2012, many counties in the southern part of the state were found to be infested with kudzu bugs (KB). This year so far 20 counties, including Goochland, have had positive IDs of these insects. This new pest arrived in Georgia in 2009 and has been causing destruction since. Soybeans are the largest crop affected currently. Yield losses have been seen on average of 20% and as much as 50%. Damage is caused by their piercing/sucking mouth parts that they use to suck plant juices out of the plants by the immature and adult KBs. Scouting should be done to ensure timely pesticide applications to control this pest. Based on the research coming out of Georgia and South Carolina, the protocol for treatment should be followed if fields are flowering or developing pods and an average of one nymph

(big enough to see) is captured per sweep net sweeper. For example, 15 nymphs in a 15 sweep sample. If you should have any questions about products to use to control these insects in a commercial agriculture setting please let me know. Also, if you encounter these insects in your crop fields or at home we would appreciate being informed so we can follow their spread. For more information contact our office at (804) 556-5872 or drop by our office located at:

1876 Sandy Hook Road Goochland, VA 23063.

photo credit: Lindy Tucker, Ag Agent , Lunenburg Extension Office

(Photo not to scale)

Primary Business Address Your Address Line 2 Your Address Line 3 Your Address Line 4

Phone: 555-555-5555 Fax: 555-555-5555 E-mail: someone@example.com

Visit our website at: http://offices.ext.vt.edu/

goochland/ For more programs and

information! Also search Virginia

Cooperative Extension Goochland on Facebook!

G O O C H L A N D E X T E N S I O N O F F I C E

Extending the Vegetable Gardening Season By: Bob Whitehead, Horticulture Associate

The bounty of the spring and summer vegetable garden is so welcomed and enjoyed that many people hate to see it end with the shorter days and autumn frost. Fortunately there are ways to extend the growing season and if you are really industrious you can sometime manage to grow some vegetable types nearly all year long. Cold Frames and low tunnels and floating row covers allow gardeners to stretch the harvest into the colder months. For the salad green lovers, fall is a wonderful time for lettuce, spinach, carrots, beets, radish. Cole crops which include broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, brussels sprouts, and kohlrabi need a bit of planning to get them off to good start using transplants in the garden in August. Often you will need to grow your own transplants since the garden centers may not have a broad selection. Lettuce, spinach, carrots, beets and radish can be direct seeded into the vegetable garden in August and September when the night time temperatures are cooler. As these plants approach maturity, the cooler temperatures and, frost actually enhance their flavor and crispness. Floating row cover is used to protect warm season vegetables so that they can ripen fully when the first frosts arrive. Floating row cover can provide 2-3 degrees of frost protection. It also can be used as an exclusion barrier for insect and animal pests who often invade the garden. Many insect pest populations are at their peak during late summer and fall and deer and rabbits are never shy about sampling your salad greens. A low tunnel and cold frame provide a means of reducing evaporation and trapping solar energy during the day which protects the plants during a cold night. Cold tolerant vegetables especially Swiss chard, kale, spinach, and carrots grown in these structures can extend the harvest into January. A low tunnel is a hoop framed structure with clear plastic stretched over the frame to shield the plants. A cold frame is a structure often made from wood with slanted sides and a glass cover over the top to provide a passive green house effect. Both structures should be oriented from east to west to benefit from the track of the sun in the fall sky. Daytime heating is an issue and both of these structures need to be vented during bright sunny days to prevent damage to the plants. Regular watering and periodic weeding are necessary too. Many find the fresh taste of home grown vegetables in the colder months of the year worth the effort. For more information on fall vegetable gardening and season extenders call the Goochland Extension office at 804-556-5841 or see the publications on the Virginia Cooperative Extension publication website at http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/

Come Grow with the Master Gardeners Come and meet the Master Gardeners and learn about becoming a Master Gardener through classes and also about the many ways in which these volunteers work with the Goochland and Powhatan communities to encourage productive, environmentally friendly gardening and horticulture practices.

Goochland Powhatan Master Gardeners will be hosting five Meet and Greets at the Powhatan and Goochland Libraries:

Applications are being accepted through November 1, 2013, for the 2014 training program. For more information contact Jean Cauble at (804) 794-4987 or jfcid1@gmail.com. Information is also available at the Goochland Extension Office, (804) 556-5841, or the Powhatan Extension Office, (804) 598-5640.

Wednesday August 28 1pm – 2pm Goochland Library

Tuesday September 10 10am – 11am Powhatan Library

Monday September 23 6pm – 7pm Powhatan Library

Tuesday October 8 1pm – 2pm Goochland Library

Tuesday October 22 4pm – 5pm Powhatan Library