Local Programs
Agriculture and Natural Resources offers programs to help sustain profitability of agriculture and forest production, while protecting and enhancing land and water resources. Effective management alternatives for livestock and poultry enterprises are presented through educational programs.
What We Offer
- Soil Testing & Fertilization Recommendations
- Insect, Disease, & Weed Identification & Control Measures
Extension Master Gardeners
Extension Volunteer Master Gardeners are volunteers dedicated to working with the community to encourage and promote environmentally sound horticulture practices through sustainable landscape management.
What We Offer
- Speakers Bureau
- Community Gardening
- Local Horticulture Education
- Answers to Gardening Questions
- Diagnosis of Plant Problems
- Booths at Community Events
- Educational Gardens
Since 2010, Extension Master Gardeners have contributed over 140,000 hours of volunteer time valued at over $3,000,000 to the Lynchburg, Amherst, and Campbell communities. In addition to supporting established educational activities such as staffing the Help Desk during the growing season, speaking to civic groups and providing information booths at various community events, provide programming at Lynchburg City and Amherst County schools and in community centers, and most recently, a community garden was created at HumanKind in Lynchburg, VA. Residents receive education about current gardening methods and environmental practices that can be utilized in individual and community gardens. Since opening and slowly expanding, there has been $14,000 raised in grant monies, eight different demonstration garden beds established along with three raised beds, 14 community garden plots created, and over 1,000 lbs. of food distributed in Lynchburg’s seven food deserts.
Learn more about what Hill City Master Gardeners do!!
Visit Hill City Master Gardeners web page
Read more about Virginia's Volunteer Master Gardeners at: https://blogs.lt.vt.edu/mastergardener/
4-H Youth Development is a comprehensive program for youth ages 5 to 18 to engage in hands-on learning experiences. Members learn how to make decisions, manage resources, work with others, and use effective communication while developing into contributing citizens.
Learn more about Lynchburg 4-H
What We Offer
- In school Enrichment
- Science Fair
- Jr. 4-H Camp
- Teen Leadership
- State 4-H Congress
- Special Interest Clubs
4-H Camp
Lynchburg 4-H Summer Camp
4-H Camp offers educational fun and adventure! Enjoy classes - swimming, canoeing, archery, rifle marksmanship, scuba diving, horsemanship, fishing, high and low ropes, outdoor living, nature, sports, theater, arts, crafts, and MORE! In afternoons, campers will have the opportunity to swim and play games with their fellow campers. In the evenings, campers join in exciting games and special activities, followed by songs and stories around the campfire. Youth must be at least nine by September 30th but no older than 14 by January 1 in order to attend as campers. Youth who are at least 14 by January 1 but no older than 19 may apply to become teen leaders. Training and screening are required for all teen and adult volunteers. Contact Kelsey Laubach at 434-455-3745 or kelseyl20@vt.edu for more information.
Engaging with Communities
Virginia Cooperative Extension specialists in community viability work with Extension agents, campus-based faculty, organizational partners, communities, and individuals to further opportunity and build capacity in five program areas:
- Leadership & Planning
- Community Enterprise and Resiliency
- Community Food System and Enterprises
- Community Planning
- Emerging Community Issues
Examples of our work include training county elected officials, educating entrepreneurs, facilitating collaborative projects, supporting the growth of community food systems and local economies, enhancing agent skills and community capacity in facilitation and leadership, conducting problem-driven research, and creating publications and tools that address critical community needs.
Do you have a question about Community Viability?
Perhaps one of the Community Viability specialists below can help you. Contact a Community Viability specialist or direct a question to them using our Ask an Expert system.