Bedford Extension Master Gardeners

Bedford Extension Master Gardeners For the full non-discrimination statement, please visit ext.vt.edu/accessibility. Each spring BAMGA offers educational gardening seminars, open to the public.

Virginia Cooperative Extension is a partnership of Virginia Tech, Virginia State University, the USDA, and local governments, and is an equal opportunity employer. In the summer of 1991 a small group of Master Gardener Volunteers began meeting monthly. They elected officers and formally established the Bedford Area Master Gardeners Association (BAMGA) in 1992. BAMGA followed guidelines established

by the VCE/Virginia Tech Master Gardeners Program for the mission of its organization, as well as continuing education of its members (BAMGA offers members a wide range of service opportunities to facilitate accumulation of volunteer and continuing education hours required annually in order to maintain their Master Gardener certification). BAMGA initiated information booths at the Farmer’s Market and local festivals such as Farm Day, Centerfest, and Sedalia Center functions to provide research or Q&A assistance regarding plant, tree, gardening or related insect problems. New festivals and functions continue to be added or changed as the community grows. Educational service projects were established at Claytor Nature Center, Wharton Gardens, Poplar Forest and other area facilities. A Greenline “hot line” service function was added at the VCE office, where Master Gardener volunteers research and respond to questions from area citizens regarding plant, tree or gardening related matters. In 2010, BAMGA began offering Master Gardener training through a unique computer-based, self-paced, independent study format with hands-on labs. Master Gardener College, offering Continuing Education Units (CEU)-credit hours, is held each Spring at Virginia Tech and has been attended by a number of BAMGA members. Partial and full scholarships are offered by BAMGA, subsidized by profits from the BAMGA-sponsored Spring and Fall Plant Sales (where plants grown from seed or donated from member gardens are offered for sale to the public). Master Gardener Volunteers of all ages and scope of talent and interest are added every year to the very active and growing Bedford Area Master Gardeners Association.

Learning at the Bedford Master Gardener Fruits Training Lab is so fun! Grapes, Blueberries, Mulberries, Raspberries and ...
06/21/2026

Learning at the Bedford Master Gardener Fruits Training Lab is so fun! Grapes, Blueberries, Mulberries, Raspberries and Gooseberries Oh My!
Become a Bedford Master Gardener! Class of 2027 is forming now! Get application on our website www.bedfordareamastergardeners.org!
Photos by Jan S.

We are proud to have been nominated in the Agricultural Award category by the Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce along wit...
06/18/2026

We are proud to have been nominated in the Agricultural Award category by the Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce along with other well-deserving groups. May the best group win! :)

🎉 Please join us in congratulating our 2026 Excellence in Business Awards nominees! 🥂

For 87 years, these awards have served as a way to honor, celebrate, and publicly appreciate outstanding organizations and individuals in our community. Award winners will be announced during our Annual Gala on Wednesday, September 23 at Cedar Oaks Farm of Bedford.

Small Business of the Year:
FASTSIGNS
ML Realty
Wicked Diesel

Large Business of the Year:
Select Bank
Spring Oak at Bedford

Nonprofit of the Year:
Brook Hill Retirement Center for Horses, Inc
Food for Kids - Weekend Pack a Sack Program
Good Samaritan Hospice
Mae's Haven
Smith Mountain Arts Council

Agricultural Award:
Bedford Extension Master Gardeners
Bedford Urban Gardens
Fables & Feathers Winery
Mae's Haven

Rising Star Award:
Smith Mountain Lake Insiders
A Little Bit of Everything

Employee of the Year:
Kasey Bruffy, Media Squatch
Katie Clark, Bedford County Public Schools

Boss of the Year:
Cory Giles, Wicked Diesel
Kyle Draper, Bedford Water

Thank you to everyone who submitted a nomination, and congratulations again to the nominees! Keep an eye out as we continue to promote our nominees leading up to the Gala ✨

Gardening and bird watching go together like a horse and carriage. This new edition of the Virginia Bird Atlas will help...
06/13/2026

Gardening and bird watching go together like a horse and carriage. This new edition of the Virginia Bird Atlas will help you understand the birds you see out in your yard and around your garden.

This is a beautiful Virginia Tech lily in Jan S.'s garden! It was part of the Beautiful Garden project years ago.
06/08/2026

This is a beautiful Virginia Tech lily in Jan S.'s garden! It was part of the Beautiful Garden project years ago.

Having fun with the Bedford Master Gardeners at one of our evening meetings!
06/08/2026

Having fun with the Bedford Master Gardeners at one of our evening meetings!

June is only 3 days old so still plenty of time! If you are in the Bedford Area then you are mainly in zone 7B. Ready, s...
06/03/2026

June is only 3 days old so still plenty of time! If you are in the Bedford Area then you are mainly in zone 7B. Ready, set, plant! https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Bz6hqp8YL/

June is here, and with it an abundance of plants for your vegetable garden!

Check out our recommendations for planting in your hardiness zone.

Direct Sowing:
Zones 6A, 7B, and 8A: Bush Beans, Pole Beans, Lima Beans, Cucumbers, Muskmelons, Okra, Pumpkins, Southern Peas, Summer Squash, Winter Squash, Sweet Corn, Sweet Potato, Watermelon

Zones 6B and 7A: Bush Beans, Pole Beans, Lima Beans, Cucumbers, Muskmelons, Okra, Potatoes, Pumpkins, Southern Peas, Summer Squash, Winter Squash, Sweet Corn, Sweet Potato, Watermelon

Zone 8B Direct Sowing Recommendations are available in the linked publication.

Transplanting:
Zone 6A: Tomatoes, Eggplant, Leeks, Peppers

Zones 6B, 7A, 7B, and 8A: Tomatoes, Eggplant, Peppers

Zone 8B Transplanting Recommendations are available in the linked publication.

You can prepare for the entire planting season by visiting https://brnw.ch/plantguide - including recommendations for Zone 8B. To determine your USDA zone, you can enter your zip code here: https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/

Chamber News! Opportunity to learn more about AI and Network.
06/02/2026

Chamber News! Opportunity to learn more about AI and Network.

If you're curious about how AI can help you work smarter, S.M.A.R.T. Networking: AI Made Practical is a guided, hands-on session focused on practical, everyday uses of AI in the workplace.

This session will be facilitated by Dr. Cayce Myers, who will walk participants through real-world applications of AI and help demystify how these tools can support communication, marketing, productivity, and problem-solving. Attendees will also learn how to craft effective prompts—and practice using them—to get better, more useful results right away.

Join us for coffee, networking, and an interactive learning experience designed to give you confidence and clarity in using AI tools responsibly and effectively.

Seats are limited! Register today at https://business.bedfordareachamber.com/events/details/2026-s-m-a-r-t-networking-ai-made-practical-21678?calendarMonth=2026-07-01.

Our friends at Rockbridge Master Gardeners (RAMGA) are busy building new gardens!
05/28/2026

Our friends at Rockbridge Master Gardeners (RAMGA) are busy building new gardens!

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1059 Turning Point Road
Bedford, VA
24523

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