Educational Opportunities

14 January 2008

Virginia Cooperative Extension, Charlottesville/Albemarle County Office
460 Stagecoach Road, Charlottesville, Virginia 22902
phone: 434.872.4580   fax: 434.872.4578

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The winter season offers us many opportunities for learning and the topic of gardening is no exception. From professional conferences and technical workshops to community classrooms and University outreach, we find a variety of presentations, workshops, short courses, and seminars that can feed our heads. Whatever you desire it is nice to know what is out there so you make your choices.

Here are some of the upcoming continuing education opportunities of the horticultural variety that I know about. I hope you see something you like and if you know of some others please let me know (peter@vt.edu) so I can pass them on.

The 25th Annual Central Virginia Landscape Management Seminar featuring Rick Darke on Grasses and the Design of Mid-Atlantic Livable Landscapes, Dr. Jay Stipes on Experiences as a Tree Doctor, Nancy Ross Hugo on Remarkable Trees of Virginia and Ridge Schuyler on Collecting Rainwater: Is a Practice of the Past a Wave of the Future? To be held at the Albemarle County Office Building Auditorium, 401 McIntire Road, Charlottesville, VA 22902 on Thursday, February 14th, 2008 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For more information call April Pekary at (540) 894-9228 or check with www.piedmont-landscape.org.

The Ninth Annual Virginia Biological Farming Conference is themed Opportunities In Organic Farming. There are four tracks of presentations concerning opportunities in organic horticulture, organic field crops, organic livestock and marketing. Experienced farmers and scientists will discuss production systems which have proven to be successful. It will be held February 15-16, 2008 at the Sheraton Richmond West Hotel Richmond, VA, for more information check with www.vabf.org or Marilyn Buerkens, Conference Registrar at (540) 291-4333 biofarmingconf@hotmail.com.

UVA School of Continuing and Professional Studies is offering classes in medicinal herbs, organic gardening, perennial gardening, and a landscape design workshop. You can register online at www.uvaenrichment.info.

The Ivy Creek Natural Area is a great place to hike and there are educational programs offered every month of the year. Check with http://www.ivycreekfoundation.org/calendar.html to their latest offerings.

Piedmont Virginia Community College offers three horticulture classes this spring in Environmental Factors in Plant Growth, Soils, and Plant Pest Management. Check with http://www.pvcc.edu/index.asp for more information.

25th Annual Virginia Vineyards Association's Technical meeting and Trade Show featuring a Petit Verdot workshop conducted by Tony Wolf and Bruce Zoecklein, and includes wine tasting with guest speakers, Virginia Grape Grower of the Year Award, and 25th Anniversary Dinner. This will be held 7-9 February 2008 at the Omni Hotel Charlottesville, for more information check with Kay Thompson at 434-277-9463 and vva@hughes.net

Piedmont Master Gardeners Spring Lecture Series, Thursday Evenings in March, featuring presentations on monarch butterflies, moss gardening, water wise gardening, and landscaping your home. For more information check with www.piedmontmastergardeners.org or 434-872-4580.

Tree Steward Volunteer Training Course featuring classes on everything you every wanted to know about trees but were afraid to ask on Monday mornings in Charlottesville from February 25 to May 14, 2008, For more information please call 434-872-4580.

2008 Mid-Atlantic Horticulture Short Course featuring more than 70 professional speakers presenting 160 Green Industry sessions. This will be held January 27 - February 1, 2008 at The Founders Inn & Spa, Virginia Beach for more information check with www.mahsc.org or call (757) 523-4734.

Virginia Cooperative Extension Master Gardener classes in Fluvanna and Louisa counties beginning in early 2008. Please call your local Extension office for more information.

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For more information about this and other landscape topics contact your local Virginia Cooperative Extension office. The local Virginia Cooperative Extension office numbers are Albemarle 872-4580, Fluvanna 591-1950, Greene 985-5236, Louisa 540-967-3422, and Nelson 263-4035.