Busy, Busy, Busy! Week Two

I cannot believe it is already the end of my second week! Time seems to be flying by and I know it is only going to seem faster the busier we get around the office. I knew extension agents were busy, but I had no idea just how much. This week we have been spending a lot of time prepping for 4-H camp which is right around the corner, only one week away. There has been lots of paperwork to do, along with me getting ready for the class I am going to help teach on electricity. The students will be learning about simple and parallel circuits by making a lamp. I think it will be fun and I hope they enjoy it. This will be my first experience at 4-H camp, so I am not entirely sure what to expect, which makes it all the more exciting. It sounds to me like there are a ton of fun activities planned.

Next week Steve, Suzanne, and myself will all be gone to Virginia Tech for the Livestock-Dairy-Forages Inservice for three days. We have been trying to get everything done at the office before we leave.

            
This week consisted of many more farm and home visits, as well as a visit to a new local composting facility, Commonwealth Compost & Recycling Services, Inc. Apart from the smell, the facility was very neat. The facility has a composter that can have the compost ready in just one week! They use waste from Virginia Tech as well as manure from the Wytheville Livestock Market. They are also looking to expand and buy even more equipment.

            
On a visit to see a lady’s grape vines, I was able to help identify the cause for some galls on the vines as well as on the leaves. We found that she had Grape Tumid Gallmakers, but that they were not causing enough damage to warrant spraying them. I took lots of pictures.

            
I love getting to go out and gain experience with crops I have never dealt with before! In addition to the grapes, I’ve been identifying weeds, pasture grasses, dealing with nematodes in boxwoods, and even Christmas trees. So far I love the variety in extension. Each day brings something entirely different, and you never know what you are going to get into.

            
Next week is going to be busy, busy, busy. We are going to be holding a beekeepers meeting, attending the in-service at VT, and more 4-H camp preparations. Stay tuned!