Local Programs
Services Available Through the Isle of Wight Extension Office
Insect Identification Laboratory
Homeowners and farmers can submit insect samples for identification by bringing a live or dead insect sample (well preserved) to the Isle of Wight Extension Office. Bring sample in a zip lock plastic bag. Master Gardener volunteers or Extension Agents will try to identify and make a management recommendation if necessary. If we are unable to identify the insect, we will submit it to the Insect ID lab at Virginia Tech. You should have an answer in about 10-days.
Plant Disease Laboratory
Homeowners and farmers can submit plant samples for disease identification by bringing a plant sample with root intact in a ziplock bag with one pint of moist soil to the Isle of Wight Extension Office. If Extension Agents or Master Gardeners are not able to identify the disease, we will mail the plant sample to the Plant Disease Laboratory at Virginia Tech. You should have an answer in about 10-days.
Weed Identification Laboratory
Homeowners and farmers can submit weed samples for identification by bringing freshly dug weed with root wrapped in a moist paper towel inside a ziplock bag to the Isle of Wight Extension Office. If Extension Agents or Master Gardeners are not able to identify the weed, we will mail the sample to the Weed ID Laboratory at Virginia Tech. You should have an answer in about 10-days.
Soil Testing
Homeowners and farmers can submit soil samples to the Soil Testing Laboratory at Virginia Tech by picking up soil sample boxes at the Isle of Wight Extension Office. We will provide you with the application form and instructions for taking the soil sample and mailing to the lab. A report will be mailed to you from the Soil Testing Lab with recommendations for the plant/crop you plan to grow. Soil samples generally take two weeks to receive a report back in the mail.
Western Tidewater Master Gardener Volunteers
Extension Master Gardeners are trained volunteer educators. VCE-MGs work within their local communities to encourage and promote environmentally sound horticulture practices through sustainable landscape management education and training. As an educational outreach component of Virginia Cooperative Extension, the Master Gardener program brings the resources of Virginia’s land-grant universities – Virginia Tech and Virginia State University – to the people of the Commonwealth.
After completing an application process, participants will attend a nine week training course from January through April. All volunteers are trained with at least 50 hours of horticultural classes and return at least 50 hours of volunteer community service through their local Extension office. Contact our office or visit the Isle of Wight Master Gardener Facebook page for more information.
Historic Southside Master Naturalist Volunteers
The Virginia Master Naturalist Program is a statewide corps of volunteers providing education, outreach, and service dedicated to the beneficial management of natural resources and natural areas within their communities.
Interested Virginians become Master Naturalists through training and volunteer service. Click here for more information on the local Master Naturalist chapter.
We would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to the Isle of Wight County 4-H Web Page. We will be listing links to other web sites we feel will be helpful to you and your 4-H'er, 4-H forms you may need throughout the year and we are going to have answers to some of the more frequently ask question the public has about 4-H. Please let us know if you have any suggestions for this web site.
Isle of Wight County 4-H (PDF)
Frequently ask questions about 4-H
In Isle of Wight County anyone between the ages of 5-19 can join 4-H by coming into the Virginia Cooperative Extension office in Isle of Wight County or by contacting the Isle of Wight County 4-H agent at 757-365-6261.
Activities available for youth vary by age. Cloverbuds are kids between the ages of 5-8 and 4-Hers are between 9-19.
No, you don't have to live on a farm to be in 4-H. In Isle of Wight County we have over 70 projects to choose from. We have something for everyone. 4-H offers opportunities in projects from computers to food/nutrition to citizenship to natural resources. We have a thriving 4-H community club that has something for everyone.
4-H is a hands-on educational program for youth. It is concerned with helping youth increase their knowledge in four key pillar areas: STEM, Agriculture, Healthy Living, and Civic Engagement. The 4-H Program uses a combination of club work, projects, and activities to help accomplish this goal. 4-H is a great opportunity to meet new people, make lasting friendships, learn new skills, get the skills to be tomorrow’s leaders, and HAVE FUN!!!
To join 4-H there is no cost, but some activities do have a cost with them. This will vary on the activity.
In Isle of Wight County we have a 4-H Camp that takes place every year during the summer. It is a five days and four nights at Airfield 4-H Center in Wakefield, VA. You can also choose to join our community club as well.
Clubs
Isle of Wight County has a community club that meets on a monthly basis.
Additional Information
- 4-H Livestock Program and Show is held in conjunction with the Isle of Wight Fair each September. Livestock participation is due in mid-June of each year and entries must be received at the Extension office at this time.
- 4-H day camps are held throughout the year and summer. Please see the newsletter for updates on what day camps are being held.
- General Participation Rules for Isle of Wight County 4-H Competitions (PDF)
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 Expertsystem.