Wicomico County

Our Vision:  University of Maryland is the preeminent Extension organization in the nation by providing the residents of Maryland with the highest quality of public service, distinguished educational programming, and cutting-edge research that addresses their needs.

Our Mission:  To enhance the quality of life for people and communities by disseminating unbiased, research-based, educational information.

Who we are... Extension is a national partnership between the U.S. Department of Agriculture, state land-grant universities, and county government. In Maryland, Extension comprises the off-campus educational arm of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources of the University of Maryland, College Park. As faculty members of the university, county Extension agents and educators teach residents research-based information concerning agriculture and natural resources, family and consumer sciences and 4-H youth development in their communities.

University of Maryland Extension has continued to provide science-based solutions for over 100 years and our goals have never wavered. We are passionate about building healthier families, homes, and communities, improving our agricultural production systems, instilling valuable life skills in our youth, and creating a sustainable environment and Chesapeake Bay.

The Wicomico County UME faculty and staff provide a broad range of outreach through workshops, seminars, classes, clinics, newsletters, consultations, and media efforts related to the following topics:   

  • 4H Youth

    4-H & Youth

    Melissa Esley-Collins, 4-H Program Assistant
    mesleyco@umd.edu
    667-253-3911

  • Agriculture, Farming

    Agriculture

    Haley Sater, AG Educator
    hsater@umd.edu
    667-253-3909

  • Master Gardening

    Home Gardening

    Ginny Rosenkranz, Horticulture Educator & Master Gardener Coordinator
    rosnkrnz@umd.edu 
    Office: 667-253-3903

  • Food, Nutrition

    SNAP-ED

    Lauren Holfeld, SNAP-ED Educator
    lholfeld@umd.edu
    Office: 667-253-3901

  • Sliced squash, zucchini, tomatoes, and onion in an iron skillet.

    Health & Wellness

    Lynn Matava, FCS Educator
    lmatava@umd.edu 
    Office: 667-253-3902

  • Chesapeake, Tidal, Wetlands

    Sea Grant

    Jennifer Dindinger, Watershed Restoration Specialist, Sea Grant Extension
    jdinding@umd.edu
    Office: 410.228.8800

Parthenocissus quinquefolia

Plant of the Week... also known as Virginia creeper, a native deciduous woody vine that can be called a weed or a beautiful native vine. The vine prefers to grow in full sun to partial shade and rich moist but well drained soils, but it is also tolerant of many different soil conditions. Full sun will best support the brilliant fall color. Plants can grow 30-50 feet vigorously up almost anything as it needs no support, clinging to bark, wood, brick or stone with sucker disks or holdfasts which are located at the ends of each tendril. The sucker disks adhere to walls or bark of trees without the use of penetrating rootlets, so they do not damage brick or stone buildings or trees. If there is nothing nearby to climb up the Virginia creeper can spread out on the ground 5-10 feet wide creating a light groundcover. Each palmate leaf is made up of 5 leaflets with a toothed margin and a pointed tip. Each leaflet expands up to 6 inches long. The leaf emerges in early spring with green and purple coloring, turning a dull green in summer. When cool nights are followed by warm days, the leaves turn to crimson red or reddish purple, glowing among green plants that don’t change color in the autumn. In late spring, small greenish flowers grow in open branched clusters that mature in the autumn into bluish fruit about ¼ inch round. Both the flowers and the fruit are often covered by the foliage and are never noticed until the leave fall off in the autumn. Native birds feast on the berries in the fall and winter. These lovely native vines and be planted on slopes to control erosion, as a ground cover or as a climber on trellises, arbors, fences and trees. No serious disease or insect pests.

Ginny Rosenkranz

Free Internet Training

Marylanders Online offers FREE internet training and support to help you learn to use the internet. Call the Marylanders Online Call Center to build your internet skills and online confidence at your own pace.

Sign up today. 1-866-206-8467. Monday-Friday, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm, marylandersonline@umd.edu.

If you wish to speak with the Lower Shore Tech Educator, contact Keri Grant, 240-758-4533; kgrant16@umd.edu.

Agriculture in Wicomico County