Virginia Cooperative Extension - Roanoke

Virginia Cooperative Extension - Roanoke Virginia Cooperative Extension in Roanoke is your local connection to Virginia's land-grant universi

Join us for a FREE virtual Lunch & Learn and discover how easy backyard composting can be!Composting 101: Basics & Benef...
05/29/2026

Join us for a FREE virtual Lunch & Learn and discover how easy backyard composting can be!

Composting 101: Basics & Benefits of Backyard Composting

👨‍🏫 Presenter: Vijay Chaganti, Assistant Professor & Extension Specialist, Virginia Tech
🤝 Hosted by: Virginia Composting Council

📅 Date: June 9
⏰ Time: 12:00 – 1:00 PM
💻 Location: Online (link provided after registration)

🌿 Healthy soil starts with compost. Register today and start turning waste into a resource!

Registration link: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/0CblthkpQbuSsChPkoEvjg

After much positive feedback from our first drought webinar, Virginia Beef Cattle Center of Excellence will be hosting a...
05/22/2026

After much positive feedback from our first drought webinar, Virginia Beef Cattle Center of Excellence will be hosting a Part II to the Emergency Drought Management Webinar. This webinar will take place on June 3rd, 2026, at 7pm via zoom.

Topics will include:
• Summer Management Strategies for Livestock
• Managing Hay Shortages
• Cattle & Drought outlook

The Zoom link to join is linked below:
https://virginiatech.zoom.us/j/89848088059

05/21/2026

New Gardening Workshops Start up at the Market this Season!

Join us for a monthly, hands-on gardening workshop series hosted by The Salem Farmers Market and the Roanoke Master Gardeners.

This FREE workshop series is for home gardeners of all levels and will include expert guidance from local Master Gardeners on a wide range of topics throughout the season.

The first workshop, "Planting and Transplanting for Summer Success," takes place this Saturday. Meet at the Farmers Market Information Table at 10am and then make the short walk over to the Salem Giving Garden (located just behind the market parking lot) for the workshop.

For more information, email us at: [email protected].

Grant Writing for Small and Beginning Farmers Tuesday, June 2, 2-3 PM EasternLearn tips and tricks about how to apply fo...
05/13/2026

Grant Writing for Small and Beginning Farmers

Tuesday, June 2, 2-3 PM Eastern

Learn tips and tricks about how to apply for grants to support your farm. This workshop will cover available grant opportunities from federal and state agencies, as well as foundations that can give your farm a financial boost to become successful. Presented by Marian Dalke, Virginia SARE and VSU Small Farm Outreach Program Assistant.

Please register for this virtual event:
https://tinyurl.com/grantwriting-farmers

If you are a person with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Katie Trozzo at [email protected] or (540) 232-2233 at least 10 days prior to the event.

The Roanoke Master Gardener Association is excited to host thier Biannual Plant Sale on May 16 from 9:00 AM–1:00 PM at t...
05/06/2026

The Roanoke Master Gardener Association is excited to host thier Biannual Plant Sale on May 16 from 9:00 AM–1:00 PM at the Brambleton Center!

They’ll have a wonderful selection of garden plants available, including many native species that support pollinators and wildlife. Here’s just a sample of what you’ll find:

• Golden Alexander (Zizia aurea)
• Lynnhaven Robin’s Plantain (Erigeron pulchellus var. pulchellus ‘Lynnhaven Carpet’)
• Soft Rush (Juncus effusus)
• Lyreleaf Sage (Salvia lyrata)
• Autumn Bride Alumroot (Heuchera villosa ‘Autumn Bride’)
• White Wood Aster (Eurybia divaricata)
• Goldenrod ‘Fireworks’ (Solidago rugosa ‘Fireworks’)
• Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa)
• Bluebird Smooth Aster (Symphyotrichum laeve var. laeve ‘Bluebird’)
• Clustered Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum muticum)

Whether you’re creating a pollinator garden, adding native beauty to your landscape, or simply looking for great plants and gardening advice, we’d love to see you there!

Cash and checks accepted only.

Water-Wise Landscaping: Practical Tips for Drought Conditions📊Tip #5: Track Every Drop—Use a Rain Gauge to Water Smarte...
04/29/2026

Water-Wise Landscaping: Practical Tips for Drought Conditions

📊Tip #5: Track Every Drop—Use a Rain Gauge to Water Smarter

During the growing season (April–September), most vegetable crops need about 1 inch of water per week—enough to moisten the soil 5–6 inches deep. Some crops, like tomatoes and muskmelon, may need up to 2 inches per week for best production. Use a rain gauge or local weather data to track rainfall and supplement with irrigation as needed.

Understanding Nutrition in Pasture-Based Livestock Systems: Forage Quality, Supplementation, and Animal PerformanceThis ...
04/27/2026

Understanding Nutrition in Pasture-Based Livestock Systems: Forage Quality, Supplementation, and Animal Performance

This full-day event brings together farmers, researchers, and extension agents for an in-depth look at nutrition in grass-fed pasture-based livestock systems. We're thrilled to feature two outstanding speakers:

Joel Salatin - Farmer, author, and co-owner of Polyface Farm in Swoope, Virginia
Dr. Matt Poore - Professor and extension specialist in ruminant nutrition at NC State University

Participant, we'll explore questions like:
• How do forage and hay nutritional profiles change over time and across environmental conditions?
• What are the most common nutritional gaps in grass-fed systems, and how do we address them?
• What are best practices for mineral supplementation?
• How can stocking density and adaptive rotations optimize available nutrition?
• What emerging research and on-farm innovations are reshaping our understanding of ruminant nutrition?

Date: Thursday, May 7, 2026

Location: Catawba Community Center | 4965 Catawba Creek Rd, Catawba, VA
Schedule
9:00–9:30 AM | Registration & Welcome
9:30–11:30 AM | Presentations
11:30–12:00 PM | Q&A
12:00–1:00 PM | Lunch
1:00–4:30 PM | Pasture Walk with Field Exercises

Here is the registration link: https://forms.gle/tLzwQ6k8EESNmKMt7

Catawba Valley Farmers Market:- Thursday, May 7th!! Opening Day! Kirk’s Famous BBQ Food Truck will also be in attendan...
04/27/2026

Catawba Valley Farmers Market:
- Thursday, May 7th!! Opening Day! Kirk’s Famous BBQ Food Truck will also be in attendance
- Thursday, May 21st – Military Appreciation Day – all active military and Veterans receive a $5 Wooden Token to use with our Vendors!
- Thursday, June 18th – Kids Day! FREE ice cream to youngsters 12 and under, while supplies last!
- Thursday, July 2nd – Customer Appreciation Day! FREE hotdogs, bag of chips and bottled water for all Customers, while supplies last
- Saturday, August 8th – Farm to Table Dinner! Menu and additional information available in the near future!
- Thursday, September 17th – Apple Day! FREE apple to all Customers
- Thursday, October 1st – Customer Appreciation Day! FREE chili, soups and sourdough bread for all Customers, while supplies last
- Thursday, October 8th – Last Day of the 2026 Regular Season
- Saturday, December 5th – Holiday Market! Additional details at a later date

Water-Wise Landscaping: Practical Tips for Drought Conditions🟫 Tip #4: Mulch Your GardensApply and maintain a 2–3 inch ...
04/27/2026

Water-Wise Landscaping: Practical Tips for Drought Conditions

🟫 Tip #4: Mulch Your Gardens
Apply and maintain a 2–3 inch layer of organic mulch (coarse leaves, shredded bark, pine needles, or wood chips) to help your garden thrive. Mulch works hard for you by:
• 💧 Improving soil structure as it breaks down and increasing soil water holding capacity
• 🌡️ Regulating soil temperature to reduce evaporation
• 🚫 Suppressing weeds that compete for water

♻️ As a bonus, mulch recycles plant materials that might otherwise end up in the landfill!

Address

3738 Brambleton Avenue
Roanoke, VA
24018

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+15407727524

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Virginia Cooperative Extension - Roanoke posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category