Virginia Cooperative Extension - Loudoun

10/22/2026

If you're planning to attend Leesburg's first annual Pumpkin Smash on November 1, be on the lookout for Loudoun County nutrition educators as they'll be making pumpkin seed trail mix and sharing information on cooking edible gourds. 🎃

Interested in additional community nutrition education opportunities? Learn more at: https://www.loudoun.gov/Nutrition

10/21/2026

Savvy spenders joined Loudoun's Financial Literacy Educator to learn real-life money management skills in the four-session fall series of Money Smart for Homeschool Kids. By the third class, students shared their understanding of credit and its uses, participated in decision-making scenarios, and left with a broader knowledge of healthy and damaging credit habits.

If your student middle school-aged student is also interested in strengthening their financial skills, we invite you to sign up for the two-day Real Money, Real World simulation next week. Learn more at: https://www.loudoun.gov/Calendar.aspx?EID=19713

10/20/2026

The Loudoun County Government Community Survey is open for one more week. Residents' input helps to guide future county decisions and priorities. loudoun.gov/survey

County residents are encouraged to participate in the county’s 2026 Community Survey. We’re looking for your feedback on government services, the county’s quality of life and priorities for government initiatives. The survey will be open through October 26, 2026. Details here: https://bit.ly/4iSEBIg

10/19/2026

Join Loudoun County’s Financial Literacy Educator and the Workforce Resource Center for a lunch & learn deep dive into workplace benefits. Walk away feeling empowered to make decisions around health insurance plans, HSAs, investing options, tuition reimbursement, EAPs, and more!

Registration: 🔗
https://interwapp22.loudoun.gov/wrcw/

Date: 📆
Thursday, October 22
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Location: 💻
Virtual

10/19/2026

County wants to know what you know about invasive plants. As part of the county’s continuing efforts to assist landowners with removing and preventing invasive plant species, the county is launching an Invasive Plant Species Knowledge Survey. The brief survey is intended to better understand residents’ awareness of invasive plants and ability to identify common invasive species and current experiences and practices related to invasive plant management. Take the survey: https://bit.ly/4dnPjD0

10/19/2026

Did you know that you can earn more money by saving the money you already have? Learn about saving and interest with activities from Loudoun’s Financial Literacy Educator in this week's class, How to Grow Your Money.

Date: 📆
Wednesday, October 21
6:30-7:30

Location: 📍
Gum Spring Library
24600 Millstream Drive
Stone Ridge, VA 20105

Target Audience: 👤
Children in grades 3-5 (ages 8-10)

10/17/2026

Join Loudoun County Extension Educator Emily Jacobs to learn how to prepare and preserve low-sugar apple pie jam at home.

Registration: 🔗
http://tinyurl.com/applecanning

Date: 📆
Monday, October 19
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

Location: 💻
Virtual

10/16/2026

Loudoun Farms wrote up a helpful checklist to make the most of your Farm Tour weekend! Even if you don't have an itinerary plotted out, do visit the tour map find which farm is nearest to you. With nearly three dozen Loudoun farms participating, there's sure to be one a short distance away. Our Nutrition Educator and Registered Dietician, Emily Jacobs, will be at Permaculture Gardens both Saturday and Sunday afternoons at 1:30 making "Everything But the Garden Hose" stir fry.

The is tomorrow!

To help you prepare for your farm visits this weekend, we've compiled a checklist of Farm Tour must-haves!

✅ Comfortable walking shoes are a must! Many farms are working farms so it may be bumpy and muddy out there. Be sure to wear shoes that can keep you comfortable and safe all day!
✅ This weekend calls for much cooler fall temps and plenty of sunshine! Wear weather-appropriate clothing, bring an extra sweater, and sport those sunglasses because it will be bright and sunny!
✅ A Farm Tour map is your guide to the tour. It helps to have your routes planned as there is so much to see! Also, many farms do not have public restrooms, so be sure to mark the locations that do. Need route ideas? Check out: https://hubs.li/Q04B0T5N0
✅ Plan to purchase farm-fresh goods? We recommend bringing a reusable or insulated shopping bag. Don't have one? If you see one of our friendly faces (and you'll know us when you see us) just ask! We may have some extra!
✅ Water and snacks keep you hydrated and fueled as several farms do not offer food or drink for purchase.
✅ In addition to reusable or insulated bags, a cooler can help keep your purchases cold and freezer-ready!
✅ Family and friends make the day so much better! Pack the car, hit the road, see the views, and check out the farms!
✅ Many farms have hands-on activities and guided (or unguided) tours of the farms, offering an inside look at daily farm life!
✅ Be sure to bring bug repellant and stay safe from ticks. They live in both the woods and tall vegetation, so be on the lookout! You can get more information about tick safety from the Loudoun County Health Department: https://hubs.li/Q04B0T6j0

The Loudoun Farm Tour begins October 17 at 10 am and runs until 4 pm on Saturday and Sunday. To see participating farms and to get a digital map, visit https://hubs.li/Q04B0Tk40

We'll see you tomorrow!!!

10/16/2026

10/16/2026

Do you need to become a certified food protection manager or recertify? This ServSafe® Manager training will cover sanitation, food storage, safety regulations, pest control and safe food handling practices. Register early for additional time to review the textbook before the exam.

Registration: 🔗
https://tinyurl.com/ServSafeLoudoun

Date: 📆
Tuesday, November 17, 2026
9:00 am - 5:30 pm

Location: 📍
VCE Loudoun
750 Miller Drive SE
Suite 131
Leesburg, VA 20175

Cost: 💲
Full Class Enrollment is $160. The fee includes instruction, textbook, practice, and certification exam. Itemized and group rates are available.

The ServSafe Food Protection Manager Certification is recognized by the Virginia Department of Health as meeting the requirements to be a Certified Food Protection Manager.