Tech on Tap’s first virtual event on April 22 featured Virginia Cooperative Extension agents from Northern Virginia with a message to help encourage social distancing with an eye toward Earth Day. 

These new virtual events, hosted while social distancing is part of our everyday lives, serve to continue Virginia Tech’s connection to the community around the Innovation Campus in Potomac Yard and extend the discussion to our wider Virginia Tech community.

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Guest speakers Kirsten Conrad, an Extension agent with Arlington County and the City of Alexandria, and Adria Bordas, an Extension agent with Fairfax County, discussed their work in the region with the Master Gardener programs and resources that could be found through local VCE offices, like seed sharing in Alexandria and the tool lending library in Fairfax. The discussion touched on a variety of topics, from the similarity of gardens grown during this pandemic to the Victory Gardens from WWII, as residents look to grow food and flowers to keep them occupied and to give a measure of self-sufficiency.

The virtual event, moderated by Ed Jones, director of the Virginia Cooperative Extension, drew nearly 200 participants. Tech on Tap partners also joined in to briefly share what they are offering residents while the stay-at-home order is in effect. 

Participants are encouraged to share their progress in the garden by using the hashtags #VTEarthWeek and #VCE and spread the word about Tech on Tap using #VTinDC.

Resources mentioned during the event:

View the Presentation PDF

Virginia Cooperative Extension

Seed for the Garden Publication

Tech on Tap Partners:

Port City Brewing Company

Alexandria Economic Development Partnership

Alexandria Library

By Kerone Wetter

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