Agriculture & Natural Resources

Welcome

Berkeley County is home to many small farms producing diverse commodities from fruit to honey, grain to meat, and dairy to poultry. Diverse farming operations offer diverse habitats of fields and hedgerows, orchards and woodlands for area wildlife to live, forage and rear young. Whether you are a back yard gardener, an orchardist, or a farmer, our focus is to be your local connection to up-to-date agricultural information. Scroll to bottom of page for links to external agriculture organizations and agencies in the local area.

Your Berkeley County WVU Extension Agriculture Agent is Mary Beth Bennett. Follow the links below to find the information you seek, call our office 304-264-1936, or send email to Mary Beth.

Lawn, Gardening & Pests

This Month in the Garden Calendar

Varieties to Grow a Rainbow of Peppers in WV

Peppers are a staple in most gardens. While green peppers seem to be the most popular and abundant, most varieties start green and ripen to any number of colors — yellow, orange, red and purple, to name a few. The variety of a  pepper will dictate its color and flavor.

All peppers contain antioxidants that support heart and  eye health, in addition to anti-inflammatory properties. Color plays an important factor in the taste and nutrient quality of  the vegetable. Green peppers, being less ripe, are slightly bitter in taste. This also explains why green peppers tend  to be cheaper, since they are harvested sooner. When left to mature to a yellow, orange or red color, the vegetable grows sweeter and increases in the content of vitamins A and C.

More from the Garden Calendar

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