Info Meeting Tonight by the Roanoke Valley Master Naturalists
The Roanoke Chapter of the Virginia Master Naturalists is offering a general information session tonight, Tuesday, Aug. 28 for folks who would like to learn more about its 2012 basic training course being offered this fall. The info session begins at 6 p.m. in the public meeting room of the Hollins Public Library, located at 6624 Peters Creek Road in Roanoke, and is free and open to the public.
The fall basic training course will begin on Tuesday, Sept. 18, and is the first step in becoming a Master Naturalist. The course will take place on Tuesday evenings from Sept. 18 through Nov. 27, from 6-9 p.m., at either the Salem or Hollins Public Library. Topics will focus on a range of subjects such as climate, geology, wetlands, forests, plants, animals, education skills, the history of the naturalist movement, and more. In addition to the weekly lectures, four Saturday field trips are scheduled to give participants a chance to enhance their classroom learning. The course culminates in a written exam and a hands-on practical test.
The cost to take the Master Naturalist basic training course is $100, and the deadline to register is Saturday, Sept. 8. It’s open to anyone age 18 or older.
If you’re interested in learning more about the course, you are encouraged to attend the information session tonight, although this is not a prerequisite for applying to the program.
More information about the Virginia Master Naturalist program and its requirements can be found on the organization’s website at http://www.virginiamasternaturalist.org/. An application form for the basic training course is available on the chapter web page at https://sites.google.com/site/roanokenaturalists/. If you have any questions about the course, please contact chapter vice president Nancy Fabian at nfabian55@gmail.com or the chapter sponsor, Denny McCarthy, at Dennis.McCarthy@dof.virginia.gov.
August 28, 2012 - 7:43 AM
Deep Roots, the last seed I saved from a tomato I put on waxed paper. Makes getting them off much easier. I tried the soaking method and like you, quit.
Deep Roots: The last tomato seeds I put up were on wax paper with no issues on drying. And like you, I tried the soaking one year, then canned that pronto. Never saw a diff in germination.
I have been busy canning and preserving the harvest so have not been reading this blog. Glad to see there is an article on seed saving. I have saved seeds from our heirloom tomatoes for the last 3-4 years. I generally just put some seed on a sheet of wax paper and write on the sheet the variety’s name. Of course, I save seed from the biggest and best specimen. Then in the spring, I just peel the seeds off and plant them.
I have had cantaloupe and pumpkins come up as volunteers in the garden. They seem to be the same as the parent plant. This will only happen the first year after I plant the original plant.
Yes, wd, with hot peppers, we have let them dry whole and then in the spring we plant the seeds from them. That has worked with our Thai hot peppers. We have also collected collard seed and plant it each fall and spring. This year, I collected some dill seed and some kale seed and we will see how it does next year.
We planted green beans and peas a couple weeks ago. They are doing well – hope to have a late crop of both. Looking for some spinach seed for a fall crop – does anyone know where we could find a pack of seeds for sale?
Back to canning and freezing.
DC, Northwest Hardware on Brambleton has Burpee packs for $1.79. As of 12:39 PM today. I think that’s on your travel route. How about Simpsons in Copperhill? They always have loose, bulk seed. In Salem, Hammerhead Hardware also carries seed in quart jars. Being a spring and fall crop, you should find them still out.
wd – looked in the town of Floyd for spinach today – none! But on the way back home, we stopped at the local country store on 221 – Ingram’s and they had some!! Got it in the ground just before the rain started.
The stink bugs are back! Those brown ones. For some reason they love our yellow sided house. Last year we counted them as we knocked them off of the house while we made one circuit around – we got 1500, yep, 1500 in one go around. As many as we killed last fall, I would think there shouldn’t be any left!
Found a pack of spinach from 2010 and had some red sails lettuce left over from spring, so they went in the dirt before the ground. Not a fan of spinach so if it don’t make it, no loss.
KH, if you plan on attending the “master nature show” whatever that entails, ask about the early leaf drop and the cause. I’ll be interested in their answer. Should be good.