Winter Activities for Weed Warriors
- January 15
- 1 - 4:0 p.m.
- Ivy Creek Natural Area, Charlottesville
- Free
Winter is not for hibernating! At this Blue Ridge PRISM Quarterly Meeting, you will learn that winter is a great time to tackle invasive plants. Our panel will discuss a practical “To Do” list for the cold winter months and answer your questions relating to plant and season-specific challenges you may have on your land.
Panel Members:
- William Hamersky – Blue Ridge PRISM Leadership Team & Charlottesville Area Tree Steward
Jim Hurley – Blue Ridge PRISM Leadership Team & Area Steward
Nicola McGoff – Director and Aquatic Ecologist – Wild Ginger Field Services
Brian Morse – Certified Wildlife Biologist – Virginia Forestry & Wildlife Group
David Powell – Senior Area Forester – VA Department of Forestry
Register on Facebook or Eventbrite - space is limited.
2020 Virginia Forest Health Professional's Conference
- January 27-28
- Virginia Crossings Hotel, Glen Allen
- $110 for Jan. 27 & 28; $80 for Jan. 27 (prices increase 12/21)
Conference topics will include: Spotted Lanternfly, Invasive Plants, Oak Decline, Imported Fire Ants, Soil Health, Emerald Ash Borer, Longleaf Restoration, Science Communication, Prescribed Fire and Forest Health, Pollinator Protection, Pesticide and Legal Updates.
Full agenda coming soon!
Register on-line
Gaining a Competitve Edge - 2020 ApSAF Winter Meeting
- January 29-31
- Sheraton Norfolk Waterside Hotel, Norfolk
- $254 SAF members
- $295 non-SAF members
Join foresters from across the three state division as we explore how to gain a competitive edge for ourselves, our businesses and our states.
Woods in Your Backyard Webinar Series
- Wednesdays, January 29 - March 25
- 7 - 8 p.m.
- On-line
- $45
The Woods in Your Backyard Webinar Series teaches stewardship of your land through nine, one hour, live online evening lectures that can be viewed from the convenience of your home computer. By enhancing or creating natural areas and woodland, landowners provide habitat for wildlife, improve water quality, expand recreational opportunities, and enhance aesthetics. If parcels connect with others there is opportunity to make an even bigger impact. Join us to learn how owners of even just a few acres can positively influence the environment by implementing simple stewardship practices. Live lectures are recorded and can be viewed again.
This online workshop is designed specifically (but not exclusively) for smaller landowners, those with 1-10 acres. If you own land that is wooded, have natural areas, or you are interested in creating natural areas, providing wildlife habitat, improving water quality, and enhancing aesthetics then this workshop is for you!
The workshop uses the manual The Woods in Your Backyard: Learning to Create and Enhance Natural Areas Around Your Home. This self-directed book will guide participants through the process of developing and implementing projects to enhance their land’s natural resources. Each participant will receive a complimentary, full-color, 108 page copy of The Woods in Your Backyard manual (a $29 value).
Register online: https://extension.psu.edu/woods-in-your-backyard-webinar-series
For more information, contact Vinnie Cotrone at vjc1@psu.edu or (570) 825-1701
Montpelier's Nature Exploration Series: The Seasons and the Groundhog's Shadow
- February 1
- 10- 12
Celebrate Groundhog’s Day with a family-friendly walking tour exploring the science behind the groundhog’s shadow. Learn how the cyclical changes in nature, called phenology, helped Mr. Madison determine when to plant and when to harvest. We will stroll the grounds looking for current phenologic clues to determine if the groundhog’s prediction is true.
Woodland Stewards Webinar Series
- 4 Thursdays, February 6, 13, 20, 27
- 7 - 8:30 p.m.
- Fees vary by location
- Website
- View at one of these locations:
- Fauquier County Extension Office, 540-341-7950
- Goochland County Extension Office, 804-556-5841
- Halifax County Extension Office, 434-476-2147
- Russell County Extension Office, 276-889-8056
- Southampton County Extension Office, 757-653-2572
- Wise County Extension Office, 276-328-6194
- Fauquier County Extension Office, 540-341-7950
Feb. 6 - Woodland Management: What is Right for Your Woodland?
Managing your woodlands to grow healthy forests and produce revenue depends on making the right choices for your location. Selecting the right trees to plant depends on many biological factors of your land such as the range of soil types and the climate. There are other factors that may limit your trees’ growth too, such as sunlight, water availability and temperature. Planting and management choices are also influenced by the financial aspects of the current and potential future markets. This session will help woodland owners to understand how stand dynamics and market considerations are used in the application of management.
Feb. 13 - Understanding the Financial Aspects of Woodland Management
Your woodlands are not just for enjoyment but can also be a source of revenue for you and your family. Financial decisions that you make today will have ramifications for your timber property for years to come. Learn more about what you need to know to make sound financial decisions. This session provides an overview of financial factors that affect your woodland management such as when to re-plant, when to thin, when to harvest, when to use cost-share programs and more.
Feb. 20 - More than Timber: Income Opportunities from Non-Timber Forest Products
While selling timber from your woodlands may be a great revenue source, it is not the only option for income. There are a range of possibilities to generate income from your woodlands that depend on your location, forest type and more, that are compatible with timber management too. For some areas, pine straw can be a revenue source while other woodlands may be ‘farmed’ for medicinal plants and more. In this session learn more about the opportunities to generate income from your woodlands.
February 27 - Your Woodland Legacy: Intact, In Forest, and in Family Ownership
The love of your land, your management ethic, your desire to see your property remain intact, in forest, and in family ownership – these are components of your woodland legacy. Most woodland owners cite legacy as one of their main reasons for owning land, and a large majority express concern over their ability to keep the land intact. This session is designed to help you find the best way to pass this legacy intact to your heirs.
For more more information contact Jennifer Gagnon, jgagnon@vt.edu, 540-231-6391, or call the individual Extension offices to register.
2nd Annual Woods & Wildlife Conference
- February 15
- 8:30 - 4:30
- Hollins University, Roanoke
- $45/person; $80/couple
This one-day conference will include topics suitable for owners of both large and small woodlands, and both new and experienced owners. Learn from natural resource professionals as well as from other woodland owners. Breakfast, lunch, and refreshments are included in the registration fee.
Contact Jennifer Gagnon, jgagnon@vt.edu, 540-231-6391, for more information.
16th Annual Woods & Wildlife Conference
- February 29
- 8:30 - 4:30
- Daniel Technology Center, Germanna Community College, Culpeper
- $45/person; $80/couple
This one-day conference will include topics suitable for owners of both large and small woodlands, and both new and experienced owners. Learn from natural resource professionals as well as from other woodland owners. Breakfast, lunch, and refreshments are included in the registration fee.
Contact Adam Downing, adowning@vt.edu, 540-948-6881, for more information.
On-line Woodland Options for Landowners
- March 2 - May 22
- On-line in the comfort of your home
- $45/family
- Syllabus
This 12-week, self-paced course will cover the basics of woodland management. Topics Covered Include:
- Setting management goals and objectives
- Writing a management plan
- Using aerial photos, topographic maps & soil surveys
- Determining boundary lines
- Forest ecology and management
- Working with natural resource professionals
Students completing all the advanced activities will finish the class with a draft forest management plan. Additionally, a group of mentors, consisting of natural resource professionals and experienced landowners, will interact with students weekly via discussion boards.
An optional end-of-semester field trip will allow students to hone their new skills and interact with one another and natural resource professionals. The 2020 field trip will be held at the Holiday Lake 4-H Educational Center in Appomattox on June 6.
Registration fee includes field trip, all on-line materials, and 3 books:
- Common Forest Trees of Virginia
- American Forests: A History of Resiliency and Recovery
- Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas
Register on-line
Register by mail
Contact Jennifer Gagnon, 540-231-6391, jgagnon@vt.edu, for more information.
Montpelier's Nature Exploration Series: Magnificent Trees of Montpelier
- March 14
- 10- 12
Montpelier is home to a wonderful collection of stately trees. This walking tour will take us around the property to visit these old giants. We will learn how to determine the height and width of these specimens.
Roanoke Tree Care Workshop
- March 18
- Virginia Western Community College, Roanoke
More information coming soon on the Trees Virginia website.
Central Virginia Beginning Woodland Owners' Retreat
- March 20 - 21
- Holiday Lake 4-H Educational Center, Appomattox
- Individual, No Lodging - $40
- Couple, No Lodging - $70
- Individual, Thurs. & Fri. Lodging - $90
- Couple, Thurs. & Fri. Lodging - $170
Developed for landowners new to woodland management, this entry-level program covers the basics of keeping your woods and wildlife healthy and productive, while working towards meeting your ownership goals. A combination of classroom, field trip, and hands-on activities are used to explore these concepts of sustainability. A variety of natural resource professionals will be available throughout the program.
Registration fees includes 3 meals on Friday, 2 meals on Saturday, refreshments, field trip transportation, and all materials.
On-site lodging is available and encouraged.
Register on-line
Register by mail
For more information, please contact Jennifer Gagnon, jgagnon@vt.edu, 540-231-6391.
Albemarle Open Doors Program: Invasive Plant Identification & Management Workshop
- April 16
- 6:30 - 8:30
- $20
- Albemarle High School, Charlotteesville
Non-native invasive plants are quickly overwhelming many properties by tearing down the forest canopy and overtaking our native plants at the tree, shrub and/or groundcover levels. These plants are also overwhelming the ability of many landowners to understand what invasive plants exist on their land and what it will take to control them. These two identical sessions will cover:
- How to identify and treat some of the most common and destructive invasive plants in this area
- Pros and cons of different methods to remove invasive plants
- What methods can be used in late fall and over the winter
- Where to obtain various kinds of assistance
- Discussion of where to source equipment and herbicides
- Availability of additional training and information
Register on-line
Contact Blue Ridge PRISM for more details.
Montpelier's Nature Exploration Series: Spring Ephemerals
- April 18
- 10- 12
Montpelier’s Horticulture team and the Virginia Master Naturalists will guide us through the Landmark Forest looking for spring’s fleeting flowering plants. We will search the forest floor for orchids, bloodroot, toothwort, and Dutchman’s breeches. April is the best month to see these native beauties.
Virginia Forestry Summit: Seeing the Forest Through the Trees
- April 28 - May 1
- Hotel Madison, Harrisonburg
Join landowners and natural resource profesisonals for this annual educational meeting hosted by the Virginia Forestry Association, the Virginia Division of the Society of American Foresters, and the Virignia Chapter of the Association of Consulting Foresters.
More information coming in early 2020.
Shiitake Growing Open-house Demonstration
- May 9
- 8 - 12
- Madison Farmer's Market, Madison
Details coming soon.
Contact Adam Downing, adowning@vt.edu, 540-948-6881, for more information.
Albemarle Open Doors Program: Invasive Plant Identification & Management Workshop
- May 14
- 6:30 - 8:30
- $20
- Albemarle High School, Charlotteesville
Non-native invasive plants are quickly overwhelming many properties by tearing down the forest canopy and overtaking our native plants at the tree, shrub and/or groundcover levels. These plants are also overwhelming the ability of many landowners to understand what invasive plants exist on their land and what it will take to control them. These two identical sessions will cover:
- How to identify and treat some of the most common and destructive invasive plants in this area
- Pros and cons of different methods to remove invasive plants
- What methods can be used in late fall and over the winter
- Where to obtain various kinds of assistance
- Discussion of where to source equipment and herbicides
- Availability of additional training and information
Register on-line
Contact Blue Ridge PRISM for more details.
Southwest Virginia Beginning Woodland Owners' Retreat
- May 15-16
- Mathews State Forest, Galax
Developed for landowners new to woodland management, this entry-level program covers the basics of keeping your woods and wildlife healthy and productive, while working towards meeting your ownership goals. A combination of classroom, field trip, and hands-on activities are used to explore these concepts of sustainability. A variety of natural resource professionals will be available throughout the program.
Registration fees includes 3 meals on Friday, 2 meals on Saturday, refreshments, field trip transportation, and all materials.
On-site lodging is available and encouraged.
For more information, please contact Jennifer Gagnon, jgagnon@vt.edu, 540-231-6391.
- Registration will open in March, 2020
- Save the Date Flier
SE Virginia Beginning Woodland Owners' Retreat
- September 25-26
- New Kent Forestry Center, Providence Forge
Developed for landowners new to woodland management, this entry-level program covers the basics of keeping your woods and wildlife healthy and productive, while working towards meeting your ownership goals. A combination of classroom, field trip, and hands-on activities are used to explore these concepts of sustainability. A variety of natural resource professionals will be available throughout the program.
Registration fees includes 3 meals on Friday, 2 meals on Saturday, refreshments, field trip transportation, and all materials.
On-site lodging is available and encouraged.
For more information, please contact Jennifer Gagnon, jgagnon@vt.edu, 540-231-6391.
- Registration will open in January, 2020
- Save the Date Flier