Southside Master Gardener Association: events

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Native Plants and Tool Sharpening at the Halifax Farmers Market

The Second Saturday with the VCE Southside Master Gardener Association will feature tool sharpening and a native plant sale from 9 to Noon at the Halifax Farmers Market on September 12th.

Garden tools are an extension of the home gardener’s hand. Good tools are an investment, one that needs to be protected especially when money is tight. Fortunately, this is not difficult to do. Bring your hand tools to the Halifax Farmers Market on September 12 and the Master Gardeners will cheerfully clean and sharpen your tools for free.

Bring your garden tools to the Halifax Farmers Market on September 12 from 9 to Noon. The Master Gardeners will cheerfully clean and sharpen them free of charge. Native plants will be available for sale.

Jason Weaver said he started his Courthouse Plants business from his love of birds. He thought about what do birds need to thrive and the answer is insects. What brings in insects – native plants. Native plants are simply defined as plants that were here when the colonists came. Unlike non-native plants, especially invasive aliens, native plants perform ecosystem services to wildlife. A real plus about natives is that they are perfectly suited to our clay soils and our hot summers. They don’t want to be fertilized and don’t need irrigation. But they are beautiful additions to our gardens.

Bring your hand tools to the Halifax Farmers Market on September 12 from 9 to Noon and the Master Gardeners will clean and sharpen them at no charge. As always, Master Gardeners will be there to answer your gardening questions. Pick up some great native plants while you wait. Plan to visit the regular vendors with veggies, fruits, organic meats, herbs and eggs. Inside vendors have an assortment of handmade items and collectibles. If you want to know more about the Master Gardeners and their programs, call the Master Gardener Help Desk at 830-3383 or e-mail ask@ssmga.org.

Perennials the focus of Second Saturday at the Halifax Farmers Market

It’s the middle of summer and plants are looking a bit weary. Now isn’t the best time to divide plants to make more plants to share. But with the cooler temperatures and the rain, it can be done successfully. Join the VCE Southside Master Gardeners on Saturday, August 8 from 9 to noon, at the Halifax Farmers Market for a perennial display. Master Gardeners will show how to divide a perennial that has overgrown its space.

Right now we are not positive about what plants we will have but we usually have quite a variety. We’ll share the conditions the plants prefer so you know where to locate them in your own garden.

Visit the Halifax Farmers Market on August 8 where the Southside Master Gardeners will have a perennial display from 9 to noon where lucky attendees can take home a piece of a perennial for their own yard. A good chance that some breaded iris will be available. For more info call (434) 830-3383 or visit their website at www.ssmga.org.

As always, the market will have lots of fresh veggies, organic eggs and meat, baked goods, arts and crafts. Plenty of good stuff for everyone. The Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer all your gardening questions

If you have gardening questions, you can reach an Extension Master Gardener by calling the Help Desk at (434) 830-3383. Be sure to give us your first and last name, telephone number and the nature of the call. The Help Desk phone is routinely checked. Someone will get back to you, although it may be from a different telephone number. For information about the Master Gardener program, please call the Halifax Extension Office at (434) 830-3383, visit the website at www.ssmga.org or e-mail ask@ssmga.org. Visit the market for the freshest and best local products and support local growers, our friends and neighbors.

Learn about bees and make a bee house at Halifax Farmers Market

The Southside Master Gardener Association will have a display on native and honey bees at the Halifax Farmers Market on July 11 from 9 AM to noon. You will also be given the opportunity to make and take home a native bee house at no cost. All supplies will be provided.

Honey bees were brought here by the colonists so they are not considered native. Honey bees have elaborate hives and an intricate social system. Because a hive can consist of hundreds of female bees, she will sting if provoked. Males or drones are only around for a short time to mate with the queen. Males cannot sting.

This native bee is a leafcutter bee. It cut small bites out of plant leaves to seal its brood cells. Native bees are docile so chances of getting stung are slim. Learn more about bees at the Halifax Farmers Market on July 11.

Native bees for the most part are solitary bees. This means that the female is solely responsible for the continuation of the species. The only native bee that is social is the bumblebee. They have small hives with a queen. At the end of the season, all the bumble bees die except a queen who will go dormant in the winter, emerge in the spring and start a new hive. The solitary female bees are very docile. They either cannot sting or are very reluctant to since this would mean the end of her life with unfinished business. After mating, the female bee creates cells in a hollow structure which can be hollow plant stems or holes in trees made by birds or insects. Within the cell, the egg is surrounded by what is termed bee bread. This bee bread is made of pollen and nectar the female has collected. Then she closes the cell with mud or chewed up plant parts. Generally unfertilized eggs are laid close to the nest entrance. These become the males who emerge first. Just like men tend to hang around the Ladies Room when they are looking for some action, the males hang around the nest awaiting a female to emerge for mating.

Solitary bees have a complete metamorphosis consisting of four stages: egg, larva, pupa and adult. We only see the adult stage since the others take place in the brood nest. The egg remains in this stage for about three weeks before hatching into a grub like larva. At this stage the larva will eat the bee bread and continue to grow until time to form into a pupa. During this stage the pupa will take on adult features and be wrapped in a protective covering for eight to nine months. When emerging the bee will be a fully functional adult ready to eat, mate and build her own brood nests.

You can attract these docile bees to your garden by providing native plants. Courthouse Plants will be setting up along side the Master Gardeners. Jason Weaver said he started his Courthouse Plants business from his love of birds. He thought about what do birds need to thrive and the answer is insects. What brings in insects – native plants. Native plants are simply defined as plants that were here when the colonists came. Unlike non-native plants, especially invasive aliens, native plants perform ecosystem services to wildlife. A real plus about natives is that they are perfectly suited to our clay soils and our hot summers. They don’t want to be fertilized and don’t need irrigation. For the most part, deer don’t like them. But they are beautiful additions to our gardens.

So come out and make a simple bee house that the female may use to lay her eggs. All supplies needed will be provided and there is no charge to participate. This is fun for both adults and kids. While there, purchase some native plants which are often difficult to find in our local nurseries or big box stores. The market has vendors with fresh produce, eggs, local honey and many craft items inside the building. The Halifax Market is open from 8 to 1 and the Master Gardeners will be there from 9 to noon. Hope to see you there!

Crafts Available at the May 9th Plant Sale at Halifax Farmers Market

The Southside Master Gardener Association Plant Sale will once again be held at the Halifax Farmers Market on Saturday May 9^th from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The market is located at 209 S Main St, Halifax. Parking will be available in the upper Library parking lot and in designated spots at the market.

Master Gardeners have been busily working every week on various hand made crafts for the plant sale. One popular item is the wine bottle wind chimes. Also available are tea pot bird houses, hypertufa bowls and cement hands.

Master Gardeners Rebecca Reichlin and Tammy Tillotson are holding the wine bottle wind chimes that will be for sale at the May 9 Master Gardener Plant Sale at the Halifax Farmers Market. Sale is open from 8 AM to 1 PM.

There will be an educational table on honey bees showing the parts that make up the bee hive. This will also feature bee and butterfly landing pads for bird baths so the insects can drink without drowning. The kids will be able to make seed balls.

The plant sale will offer a variety of plants including trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals, herbs and vegetable starts. Maples, dogwoods, peonies and irises are some of the offerings.

Bring your garden tools for sharpening while you shop. Look for Master Gardeners in the green aprons to ask your gardening questions. There will be educational displays on honey bees and container gardening and seed bombs for the kids.

At the market, local vendors will be selling fresh fruits and vegetables. Inside are many vendors with crafts, homemade creations and collectibles.

Master Gardeners at April 25 Earth Day

Do you have questions about your garden property, your lawn or your farm? Do you know that you can keep your soil healthy? Would you like to learn what you can do to help the earth? Get some answers to these and other questions at the VCE Southside Master Gardeners' booth at the local Earth Day celebration, April 25th between 10 am - 2 pm at the Halifax Farmers Market. This is a perfect opportunity to learn how to incorporate Regenerative Agriculture and Sustainable Gardening in your agricultural and gardening activities.

Join the Master Gardeners on Earth Day at the Halifax Farmers Market to learn about growing wildflowers from seed bombs.

From young to old we can all help heal our earth. Children will enjoy hands-on activities such as flower puzzles and coloring. Visitors will be provided free seeds and "seed bombs". In addition, we will teach participants how to make their own "seed bombs" so bare soil can be converted into wildflowers which will then host pollinators for your gardens and farms. Master Gardeners will be on hand to describe techniques to aid you growing your own food while helping the earth to sustain us all. Bring your questions!

The Earth Day theme for 2026 is, "Our Power, Our Planet". Earth Day has been celebrated every April since 1970 when a Wisconsin Senator inspired the nation to rally for awareness of environmental issues. Since then over one billion people have celebrated, participated and mobilized to protect the planet.

Join us on April 25th and meet our current Master Gardener students. Consider becoming a Master Gardener to gain knowledge for yourself and to share with others. An annual course is held locally and taught by local experienced Master Gardeners and other experts. To find out more, contact the Extension office in Halifax at 434-830-3383.

Upcoming Garden Activities

By Joan Wilson

Southside Master Gardener

Finally weather that inspires gardening! Upcoming activities are sprouting like my jonquils.

At the Museum is a Fresh Flowers design class March 16, 12pm to 3pm. Mail your $25 fee to cover all supplies and reserve your spot to Rose and Garden Club, c/ Juanita Johnson, 1093 Ashbury Church Road, Halifax, VA 24558 by March 10. You will take home your own finished arrangement!

I am thrilled to learn that the town is drilling a new well at the Botanical Gardens! Thanks to all the high schoolers who helped tote water buckets and hoses last year.

Also at the Botanical Gardens, more native plants will be planted in the Native Plant garden. A senior citizen therapy and sitting area is planned, with the help of an AARP grant applied for by Dan River Basin Association. They have also applied for a Monarch butterfly waystation to feed the butterflies in their migrations.

Healthy Harvest Garden in Halifax will be planting their potatoes soon. Stop by and help!

The Master Gardener Plant Sale is May 9 at Halifax Farmers Market. In addition to plants grown by master gardeners, there will be crafts, and cookies for sale, to help send our 4 H young people to attend camp at Smith Mountain Lake. And a wonderful camp it is!

Master Gardeners will be present at the South Boston Farmers Market first and third Saturdays May through September, and the Halifax Farmers Market second Saturdays.

Sedentary gardeners can request front porch gardens by contacting Linda Logan through the Extension Office at 434-830-3383. The Master Gardeners will bring containers, soil, and plants to your home.

Consider testing your soil and water before planting. Soil test kits can be obtained through the Extension Office at 171 South Main Street, Halifax, VA 24558.

Master Gardener Plant Sale at the Halifax Farmers Market on May 9

This whimsical birdhouse and others with a similar design, will be for sale at the May 9 Master Gardener Plant Sale at the Halifax Farmers Market. Sale is open from 8 AM to 1 PM.

There will be a good selection of annuals, perennials and succulents as well as vegetable starts. Pick up locally grown plants at bargain prices to enhance your landscape. Try a new type of herb for summer menus.

At the market, local vendors will be selling fresh fruits and vegetables. Inside are many vendors with crafts, homemade creations and collectibles.

You Ain’t From Around Here being presented at Museum

The VCE Southside Master Gardener Association will hold a special gardening presentation at the South Boston – Halifax County Museum on Thursday, March 12from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The museum is located at 1540 Wilborn Avenue in South Boston. The program is free and open to the public but registration is requested and can be made by emailing ask@ssmgs.org or calling the Halifax Extension Office at 434-476-2147, option 0.

Jennifer Gagnon of the Landowner Education Program, will be speaking about invasive alien plants at the South Boston Halifax County Museum on March 12.

Each quarter my husband and I are sent a copy of the Virginia Forest Landowner Update. It contains articles related to landowner forestry, obviously. But the one I go for first is “You Ain’t From Around Here” by Jennifer Gagnon, Coordinator, Virginia Forest Landowner Education Program. Some recent articles include trifoliate orange, Asian needle ant and European deer keds which are insects, not sneakers. You can signup to get a copy at https://forestupdate.frec.vt.edu/newsletter.html.

Jennifer will be discussing some invasive exotic pests that are currently causing problems in the state. Please join us for an enlightening talk about why these pests wreak havoc on our native species.

Call the Halifax Extension Office at 434-476-2147, option 0 or email ask@ssmga.org to make a reservation. Light snacks will be served and Native Plants of the Southern Piedmont will be offered for sale. Hope to see you there!

Why take the VCE Master Gardener Class

By Joan Wilson, Southside Master Gardener

A year ago I decided to do something just for myself. After decades devoted to the study and practice of medicine, I returned to my farm girl childhood and took the Master Gardeners class. For 16 weeks every Tuesday I got to be with others also in love with growing things and learn from Virginia Cooperative Extension experts how to be conservators of our beautiful land. As we learned, we had opportunities to help grow vegetables for the community at Healthy Harvest Community Garden, and help preserve and extend the Southern Virginia Botanical Gardens, consisting of numerous areas open to the public and used for teaching school students in horticulture, agriculture, and landscape classes. We took outings to local farms to see the skills we were being taught in use and to the Halifax County Service Authority’s water purification plant to learn how the town’s water is made safe.

This year, the classes will be on Saturdays February 14 from 930-1230 through June 13 at the South Boston Halifax Museum of Fine Arts and History classroom, 1540 Wilborn Avenue, South Boston, VA. Makeup classes will be arranged as needed. If you are interested, email ask@ssmga.org, or call 434-830-3383, the Extension Master Gardener Help Desk. You may leave a message. Or you may call Lee Baldwin at 919-623-3556. You will be contacted to discuss your interest and questions. Applications are available at the Virginia Extension office at 171 South Main Street, Halifax, beside the library. The deadline for signing up is January 31. Cost is the same as last year: $165, which pays for the class textbook.

Dorothy Day, a Master Gardener, states that she took the class because she loves flowers and has done a lot of planting trees and shrubs and ‘thought it was about time’ to learn what to do. She reminds me you don’t have to have a garden to take the class. Or, your garden can be a few pots, indoors or outside. Perhaps you garden in raised beds, or want a native plant garden, or have trees and shrubs that that need pruning, or have pests that need controlling. There are even classes on handling erosion and water collection.

Most importantly, you can make lifelong friends and help your community.

Lisa Randall writes that she has become a better steward of her own land, and is helping to build a stronger community through education and knowledge-sharing.

Anne Rexrode writes that it is a wonderful class! It covers many subjects, all useful to anyone who wants to have a great garden, whether growing flowers, fruit, or food. She praises the textbook and the extra information provided as handouts for classes.

Vicki Hickman is putting her 26 acres of farmland in Campbell County into the Virginia Tech native perennial reintroduction project. She extols the hands-on wealth of accumulated knowledge of Master Gardeners and Extension experts.

Lee Baldwin first began to garden in graduate school, with a tiny vegetable garden that her neighbor claimed could have fed the entire town of Radford ! In her forever home in Clarksville, her husband created a ‘gardener’s dream’ of a space in which she began growing vegetables, and later tending an apple orchard. When she read an article about Master Gardeners the thought of gardening with others who love the soil and of community outreach thrilled her. The Community Garden captured her, as did the joy of working beside the wonderful friends she has made.

All mention the love of the land and the friendships and camaraderie shared in class and caring for the botanical gardens at Edmonds Park, the Healthy Harvest Garden, and the farmers markets.

I enjoyed the school children, whether they were there just to tour the Native American, music, natural trail, native plants, healing, beekeeping and other sections of the botanical gardens, or there as high school class students to help dig, plant, mulch and water the different areas.

The money made by the sale of plants and crafts at the Halifax Farmers Market special events is used to help County students attend the amazing 4-H camp on Smith Mountain Lake. The couple of days I got to help there were so much fun!

We have incredible resources here in the Southern Virginia Botanical Garden and the 4-H camp. Virginia Cooperative Extension Master Gardener classes are a great way to access them. Do it just for yourself and your community!

Master Gardener Course coming in February

You may have been thinking about taking the Master Gardener course for a while. This might be the time to finally go for it. Halifax Virginia Cooperative Extension and the Southside Master Gardener Association will hold the Master Gardener course beginning on Saturday February 14 and running through June 13. The class will meet each Saturday from 9:30 to 12:30 at the South Boston Halifax County Museum.

Topics covered in the Master Gardener class include typical horticultural topics like soils and nutrients, botany, entomology, pruning, landscape design and water quality. It also includes vegetable and herb gardening, container plants, perennials, native plants and everything in between. The course normally includes classroom sessions with some hands-on activities and field trips. You will learn a lot about the environment around you and make new friends. You will find that not only do Master Gardeners grow plants but the food is really good as well.

Now for the downside. There are tests but they are take home and open book, so don’t freak or fret over them. No one has failed yet. There is a $165 fee for the course that covers all the course materials you receive including the Master Gardener Manual and the Pest Management Guide.

Once you’ve completed the technical portion of the training and move from trainee to intern, you need to volunteer in any of our many projects for 50 hours to achieve Master Gardener status. Volunteer opportunities are normally vast. If you enjoy working with children, there are opportunities at the Southern Virginia Botanical Gardens and working with our VCE 4-H. If you prefer seniors, there are opportunities with the Therapy Gardens and independent living/nursing homes. Working the Help Desk at the South Boston Farmers Market or in the office are good for some people. Second Saturdays at the Halifax Farmers Market are a fun way to help the public by providing tool sharpening, make and take Fairy Garden for kids, make and take hypertufa and dividing perennials. There are also craft days making items for the annual plant sale. If none of those suit your fancy, you can create a project for something important to you

Applications for the course will be accepted through January 15, 2026. If you are interested in taking the Master Gardener course you can either pick up an application at the Halifax Extension Office, send an email to ask@ssmga.org, or call and leave a message at the Extension Master Gardener Help Desk at 434-830-3383. You will be contacted to discuss your interest in the class and have an application sent to you. We hope you will consider joining the 2026 Master Gardener course. You’ll make new friends, have fun, and learn more about gardening and your landscape so you can help others improve or gain gardening and landscaping tips and skills.

George Flickinger to Speak at Museum

The VCE Southside Master Gardener Association will present George Flickinger, Chief Meteorologist at WSET, Channel 13 on Friday, October 10^th at 11 a.m. at the South Boston Halifax County Museum. George will be discussing Everything you need to know about Virginia weather such as how the weather is changing and the impact on our gardens. This program is free and open to the public. Reservations are requested by calling 434-476-2147, option 0 or emailing ask@ssmga.org.

Chief Meteorologist, George Flickinger will be speaking at the South Boston Halifax County Museum on Friday, October 10 at 11 a.m. He will talk about all aspects of Virginia weather. Program is free and open to the public.

On October 24, Jessica Driver, VDACS Plant Inspector, will discuss new invasive pests in our gardens. She will include the Box Tree Moth, a recent pest of boxwoods. This program is free and open to the public. Reservations are requested by calling 434-476-2147, option 0 or emailing ask@ssmga.org.

The museum is located at 1540 Wilborn Avenue in South Boston. Look for the big red caboose. Hope to see you there!

Fall Gardening Programs Coming to Museum

The VCE Southside Master Gardener Association will present two fall gardening programs on October 10 and October 24 at the South Boston Halifax County Museum. On Friday, October 10 at 11 a.m., George Flickinger, Chief Meteorologist at WSET, will present a program on Everything You Wanted to Know About Virginia Weather. George hails from Orange, Texas. He was fascinated with hurricanes as a kid so a career in meteorology was a given. He is a graduate of Texas A & M University, Texas’ Land Grant University. In a dedicated effort to keep the public informed about dangerous weather, he interrupted an NFL game to warn Tulsa residents about an encroaching wildfire. Although he was fired for his efforts and to his credit, the game continued split screen, we in the Southside appreciate his dedication to keep us safe. So come out and hear George talk about his favorite subject, weather and the impacts on Southside. Jessica Driver, VDACS Plant Inspector, will be talking about the latest pests attacking our landscape plants at 11 a.m. on October 24. Specially, she will discuss the Box Tree Moth, a recent pest of our already pest laden boxwoods. She will talk about other new pests in gardens.

This Box Tree Moth and caterpillar are a new pest of boxwoods. Come to the Museum on October 24 to hear Jessica Driver discuss this latest pest. These programs are free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served. The Museum is located at 1540 Wilborn Avenue, just look for the caboose. Please call 434-476-2147, option 0 to make a reservation or email ask@ssmga.org. Hope to see you there!

2026 Master Gardener Course Coming in February

Are you a gardener or landowner who would like to learn more about the soils and plants of our area and around you?

Would you like to learn how to fix that problem area in your yard or landscape?

Would you like to learn more about sustainable horticultural and environmental practices and to share this learning with others?

The Halifax Virginia Cooperative Extension Office is proud to announce that we are now taking applications for the upcoming 2026 Master Gardener Course that will start on Tuesday February 17, 2026.

The Master Gardener program is a volunteer program offered by Virginia Cooperative Extension, an educational arm of Virginia Tech & Virginia State University. The program is designed to prepare citizens to become Master Gardener volunteers who help spread best practices and research-based information from our two Land Grant Universities to the community. We currently have 85 active Master Gardeners who proudly serve the citizens of Halifax County and Southside Virginia.

You may be someone who has participated in one of our Master Gardener public educational programs. Why not come join us, learn some new skills, and have fun sharing with others! You might be wondering, is the course really for me?

Anyone can become a Master Gardener – you don't need a degree in horticulture or extensive gardening experience! You do, however, need to have a sincere desire to learn and share information about plants of all types and care about protecting our environment.

Although it helps if you have practical experience or knowledge of gardening, beginners and those who don’t have that proverbial “green thumb” finish the course with a wealth of knowledge that hasn’t been tainted with years of ‘bad practices,’ and develop new confidence in their gardening abilities.

Southside Master Gardeners, once trained, spend their time sharing that knowledge with others in our communities. Some of what they share is how to put the right plant in the right place, how to control pests without harming the environment, how to use/conserve water wisely and how to plan and plant gardens, as well as planning landscapes that are beautiful, functional and sustainable.

If you enjoy working with other people, from youth to mature adults, and enjoy growing plants of all types, this course could be for you. The course takes 3 hours out of each week for seventeen weeks to become a better gardener and to develop the skills and abilities to share with your neighbors and fellow Southside citizens.

You will gain knowledge from some of the best instructors we have in Southside Virginia. We draw educators from professionals from Virginia Tech, botanists, researchers, and some of our very best experienced Master Gardeners.

You will learn how to apply research-based answers to your and others’ questions about the culture of vegetables, herbs, fruits, nuts, lawns/turf, flowers, bulbs, houseplants, trees and shrubs, ornamental grasses and roses as well as integrated management of insects, diseases and other pests.

You will get a greater understanding of our soils and nutrient management, as well.

In addition to the excellent training that you will receive, you will meet people with common interests. Even more important, you will develop enduring friendships and gain satisfaction and recognition from using your talents to enhance the quality of life for the people you help.

You will continue to learn "on the job," and may participate in advanced training opportunities. Active Master Gardeners will automatically receive a subscription to the “In Season” newsletter from Virginia Cooperative Extension.

With the privilege of taking the classes comes the responsibility of "helping others learn to grow." When you sign up for the program, you make a commitment to give back at least 50 hours of your time volunteering during the first year.

For example, you can help with our “Help Desk”, help maintain and improve landscape design, or provide tours at Southside’s only botanical garden, the Southern Virginia Botanical Gardens. Perhaps you will find yourself working on educational displays for public educational programs that we put on throughout the county and towns. You will have an opportunity to assist in some of our joint projects with educational services with other partnering non-profit organizations throughout the county.

Some of the educational programs our Master Gardeners are involved in include plant care, tool care, rain barrel, hypertufa and other workshops, pruning clinics, and other proposed and existing horticulture related classes at different venues in Halifax County. Teaching others about gardening and land care is very rewarding.

If you enjoy working with youth, Master Gardeners engage in youth educational activities through VCE’s 4-H program. Soil and Plant Sciences are part of the curriculum for our public and private schools. You may want to assist with educational programs through our joint efforts at the Southern Virginia Botanical Gardens at Edmunds Park and the Healthy Harvest Community Garden in Halifax.

Opportunities abound and are available to enjoy helping others in our community or public or private school gardens. Other options include maintaining a horticulture therapy garden, staffing informational booths at public events, giving gardening talks or demonstrations in the community, or even providing administrative assistance to the Master Gardener program.

Sign-ups for volunteer opportunities begin during the classes, and continue throughout the year. Many Master Gardeners choose to continue "helping others learn to grow" year after year. We have Master Gardeners who have been teaching and volunteering for over thirty-three years.

I can tell you from experience that being a Master Gardener is rewarding, enjoyable, and yes, at times, challenging as you learn new environmental skills. And, if you ask any of our active Master Gardeners, they will tell you about the FUN and comradery they enjoy as volunteers.

If you are interested in taking the course and in helping both yourself and others, you can download an application here. Applications are also available at the Halifax Virginia Cooperative Extension office located at 171 S. Main Street (next to the Library) in the town of Halifax.

You can learn more about the Master Gardener Course and Program by sending an email to ask@ssmga.org, stopping by the office or calling 434-830-3393 and requesting a call back from the Master Gardener Coordinator or a Master Gardener.

Native Plants and Tool Sharpening at the Halifax Farmers Market

The Second Saturday with the VCE Southside Master Gardener Association will feature tool sharpening and a native plant sale from 8 to 11 AM at the Halifax Farmers Market on September 13th. Garden tools are an extension of the home gardener’s hand. Good tools are an investment, one that needs to be protected especially when money is tight. Fortunately, this is not difficult to do. Bring your hand tools to the Halifax Farmers Market on September 13 and the Master Gardeners will cheerfully clean and sharpen your tools for free.

We all know that sharp tools, especially pruners, are easier to use, but did you know sharp tools are better for the plant? Dull pruner blades can tear bark or mash a stem leaving a wound that is open and susceptible to the entry of diseases or insects. The plant has defenses to heal from a sharp clean cut made at the proper place. Jason Weaver said he started his Courthouse Plants business from his love of birds. He thought about what do birds need to thrive and the answer is insects. What brings in insects – native plants. Native plants are simply defined as plants that were here when the colonists came. Unlike non-native plants, especially invasive aliens, native plants perform ecosystem services to wildlife. A real plus about natives is that they are perfectly suited to our clay soils and our hot summers. They don’t want to be fertilized and don’t need irrigation. But they are beautiful additions to our gardens. Bring your hand tools to the Halifax Farmers Market on September 13 from 8 to 11 AM and the Master Gardeners will clean and sharpen them at no charge. As always, Master Gardeners will be there to answer your gardening questions. Pick up some great native plants while you wait. Plan to visit the regular vendors with veggies, fruits, organic meats, herbs and eggs. Inside vendors have an assortment of handmade items and collectibles. If you want to know more about the Master Gardeners and their programs, call the Master Gardener Help Desk at 830-3383 or e-mail ask@ssmga.org. Caption for picture Bring your garden tools to the Halifax Farmers Market on September 13 from 8 to 11 AM. The Master Gardeners will cheerfully clean and sharpen them free of charge. Native plants will be available for sale.

Perennials the focus of Second Saturday at the HFM

It’s the middle of summer and plants are looking a bit weary. Now isn’t the best time to divide plants to make more plants to share. But with the cooler temperatures and the rain, it can be done successfully. Join the VCE Southside Master Gardeners on Saturday, August 9 from 8 to 11 am, at the Halifax Farmer’s Market for a perennial display. Master Gardeners will show how to divide a perennial that has overgrown its space.

Visit the Halifax Farmers Market on August 9 where the Southside Master Gardeners will have a perennial display from 8 to 11 where lucky attendees can take home a piece of Mountain Mint for their own yard. For more info call (434) 830-3383 or visit their website at www.ssmga.org. As of this writing, Mountain Mint Pycnanthemum muticum, will be the featured plant. This native perennial has flowers that are greenish. It blooms pretty much all summer and is a bee magnet. As with most natives, Mountain Mint wants full sun, although it can take some shade, is drought tolerant once established and doesn’t like to be fertilized. Take home a piece of this plant as long as divisions last. As always, the market will have lots of fresh veggies, organic eggs and meat, baked goods, arts and crafts. Plenty of good stuff for everyone. The Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer all your gardening questions If you have gardening questions, you can reach an Extension Master Gardener by calling the Help Desk at (434) 830-3383. Be sure to give us your first and last name, telephone number and the nature of the call. The Help Desk phone is routinely checked. Someone will get back to you, although it may be from a different telephone number. For information about the Master Gardener program, please call the Halifax Extension Office at (434) 830-3383, visit the website at www.ssmga.org or e-mail ask@ssmga.org. Visit the market for the freshest and best local products and support local growers, our friends and neighbors. :

Halifax Farmers Market and Master Gardeners Join Forces for Annual Plant Sale

It’s that time of year when the Southside Master Gardeners are gearing up for their annual fund raiser plant sale on Saturday, May 3. Its going to be a larger event this year since the group has joined forces with the Halifax Farmers Market located at 209 S. Main Street, Halifax. The event just keeps getting larger every year and this year will be no exception. Plants this year will be grown by Master Gardeners which will make for quality plants. Plants on tap to be available for sale will be perennials, annuals, trees, shrubs, herbs and vegetables. Master Gardeners pride themselves in offering good quality plants at fair prices. Tea pot bird feeders were a huge success last year and will be available again this year. Along with tea pot bird houses, wine chimes, hypertufa hands and hearts, garden art, flower pots and much more. Along with the plants and crafts for sale, there will be free tool sharpening. There will be a bake sale along with a seed exchange booth. Profits from the plant sale will benefit local youth scholarships and community improvement projects. Questions or anyone wishing to donate specialty plants can call 434-830-3383. The plant sale will start at 8am to 1pm, on May 3, same as Farmers Market hours.

Plants for Sale at the SoBo Farmers Market

The VCE Southside Master Gardener Association will have a plant sale at the South Boston Farmers Market On Saturday, October 19 from 8 a.m. to noon. The sale will be held rain or shine. All types of ornamental plants will be for sale including perennials, bulbs and shrubs. There will also be some garden items such as plant stakes, garden art and decorative pots.

These and other plants will be for sale at the South Boston Farmers Market on Saturday October 19 from 8 to noon. Fall is a great time to plant because the plantings have the opportunity to get a good root system established before spring encourages leaf growth and flowering. As always, there will be fresh produce available. The market is located on 300 Broad Street.

Master Gardener Course coming in January

Are you a gardener new to the Southside Virginia and want to learn about our soils and what plants thrive here? Maybe you are new to gardening and want to learn the right way to approach it? Then the Master Gardener Course may be just the ticket. Halifax Virginia Cooperative Extension and the Southside Master Gardener Association holds a Master Gardener course beginning on the second Tuesday of January, January 14, 2025 and running through the end of April, meeting each Tuesday from 9 to noon. Topics covered in the Master Gardener class include soils and nutrients, botany, entomology, pruning, landscape design, water quality and everything in between. The course normally includes classroom sessions with some hands-on activities and field trips. You will learn a lot about the environment around you and make new friends. You will find that not only do Master Gardeners grow plants but the food is really good as well.

Master Gardeners at work (play) helping children with their make and take Fairy Gardens at the Halifax Farmers Market. Join the 2025 VCE Master Gardener Class so that you too can participate in these fun activities. Now for the downside. There are tests but they are take home and open book, so don’t freak or fret over them. No one has failed yet. There is a $165 fee for the course that covers all the course materials you receive including the Master Gardener Manual and the Pest Management Guide. Once you’ve completed the technical portion of the training and move from trainee to intern, you need to volunteer in any of our many projects for 50 hours to achieve Master Gardener status. Volunteer opportunities are normally vast. If you enjoy working with children, there are opportunities at the Southern Virginia Botanical Gardens and working with our VCE 4-H. If you prefer seniors, there are opportunities with the Therapy Gardens and independent living/nursing homes. Working the Help Desk at the South Boston Farmers Market or in the office are good for some people. Second Saturdays at the Halifax Farmers Market are a fun way to help the public by tool sharpening, make and take Fairy Garden for kids, make and take hypertufa and dividing perennials. If none of those suit your fancy, you can create a project for something important to you Applications for the course will be accepted through December 6, 2024. If you are interested in taking the Master Gardener course you can either pick up an application at the Halifax Extension Office, send an email to ask@ssmga.org, or call and leave a message at the Extension Master Gardener Help Desk at 434-830-3383. You will be contacted by a Master Gardener to discuss your interest in the class and have an application sent to you. We hope you will consider joining the 2025 Master Gardener course. You’ll make new friends, have fun, and learn more about gardening and your landscape so you can to help others improve or gain gardening and landscaping tips and skills. 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.

Perennials the focus of Second Saturday at the HFM

It’s the middle of summer and plants are looking a bit weary. Now isn’t the best time to divide plants to make more plants to share. But with the cooler temperatures and the rain, it can be done successfully. Join the VCE Southside Master Gardeners on Saturday, August 10 from 8 to 11 am, at the Halifax Farmer’s Market for a perennial display. At 9:30 a special demo will be held showing how to divide a perennial that has overgrown its space.

Visit the Halifax Farmers Market on August 10 where the Southside Master Gardeners will have a perennial display from 8 to 11 with a special demo at 9:30 where lucky attendees can take home a piece of Mountain Mint for their own yard. For more info call (434) 830-3383 or visit their website at www.ssmga.org. As of this writing, Mountain Mint Pycnanthemum muticum, will be the featured plant. This native perennial has flowers that are greenish. It blooms pretty much all summer and is a bee magnet. As with most natives, Mountain Mint wants full sun, although it can take some shade, is drought tolerant once established and doesn’t like to be fertilized. You’ll walk away with a piece of the plant if you attend the 9:30 demo. As always, the market will have lots of fresh veggies, organic eggs and meat, baked goods, arts and crafts. Plenty of good stuff for everyone. The Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer all your gardening questions If you have gardening questions, you can reach an Extension Master Gardener by calling the Help Desk at (434) 830-3383. Be sure to give us your first and last name, telephone number and the nature of the call. The Help Desk phone is routinely checked. Someone will get back to you, although it may be from a different telephone number. For information about the Master Gardener program, please call the Halifax Extension Office at (434) 830-3383, visit the website at www.ssmga.org or e-mail ask@ssmga.org. Visit the market for the freshest and best local products and support local growers, our friends and neighbors.

Native Plants and Hypertufa coming to the Halifax Farmers Market

The Southside Master Gardeners will hold a make and take hypertufa workshop at the Halifax Farmers Market on July 13th from 8 to 11 a.m. Cost for the workshop is $6 to cover all the supplies and materials needed but it can get messy so old clothes are suggested. CourtHouse Plants will have a display selling an assortment of native plants.

Amsonia is an early blooming native plant, good for attracting pollinators and beneficial insects. Join the Master Gardeners at the Halifax Farmers Market on July 13 from 8 to 11 to make and take your own hypertufa container. Cost is $6 to cover supplies and materials. While there, purchase some native plants to have your garden blooming all summer. Hypertufa is the art of mixing Portland cement, sphagnum peat moss, perlite and water to make stone-like garden pots. The mixture can be made into many different shapes depending on what is used for molds. Boxes, bowls, baskets and old flowerpots can be used. Hypertufa pots have the appearance of an alpine trough, but are much lighter and easier to handle. They can add a natural, organic look to your landscape. Unlike clay pots, hypertufa does not crack if left outside over the winter. Sedums and Hens and Chicks are good plants for the containers and winter hardy. Jason Weaver said he started his Courthouse Plants business from his love of birds. He thought about what do birds need to thrive and the answer is insects. What brings in insects – native plants. Native plants are simply defined as plants that were here when the colonists came. Unlike non-native plants, especially invasive aliens, native plants perform ecosystem services to wildlife. A real plus about natives is that they are perfectly suited to our clay soils and our hot summers. They don’t want to be fertilized and don’t need irrigation. But they are beautiful additions to our gardens. Hypertufa is fun to make and easy enough for kids to participate. Bring out the family to the Halifax Farmers Market on July 13th and have fun making your own hypertufa container. As always, the freshest local produce and homegrown and homemade items will be available for sale. Visit the indoor market for a variety of special crafts, homemade soaps and lotions and collectibles. Stop by the Courthouse Plant display to purchase a native plant or two for your garden. What a great opportunity to support your friends and neighbors and feed your family the best food available. See you there!