Volunteer Opp's Bulletin
October 2019 || Volume 5 Issue 9
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In This Month's Edition of Vol Opp's:
- Activity Spotlights:
- Morgan County MGs help Hospice
- Fall Decorations for SMART YARDS
- Etowah County MGs renew our interests
- A Shout out From Kerry Smith
- CAMGA's Big Projects
- Blount County Fair
- Baldwin County Invitation
- Coffee County MGs Help Out During Farm Week
- Volunteers Needed For The MG Helpline
- Lunch And Learn Schedule
- Upcoming Events and Announcements
- Harvest for Health Volunteers Needed
- 2019 Webinar Series
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Hospice of the Valley, Decatur Alabama
(Vicki Morese)
Hospice of the Valley is a community-based not-for-profit agency that provides care and support to residents of Morgan, Lawrence, and other counties in North Alabama, who are facing end-of-life care decisions, hospice care for those with life-limiting diseases, and grief support groups for anyone who has suffered a family loss. Over the past 12 years, the Morgan County Master Gardeners Association, thru the leadership of Rita Schick, has donated hundreds of plants to the patients of Hospice of the Valley.
In 2007, the Morgan County Master Gardeners Association had only a few outreach programs. Master Gardener Rita Schick, and the director of Hospice of the Valley, with Carolyn Dobson, also a Master Gardener, developed a program where Rita would select, propagate and grow plants at the Master Gardener Greenhouse. Each month they take the plants to the Hospice of the Valley office. The Hospice of the Valley caregivers then deliver them to patients along with a gift card to attach to each pot.
In 2010, Rita was diagnosed with cancer and began her journey with treatment. During her chemotherapy and radiation MG Judi Owens helped to care for and deliver the plants to Hospice. In 2012, Rita was able to resume delivery of the plants. This period seemed to fortify this MG-Hospice outreach activity.
Over the years we’ve been able to step up our hospice plants by providing uniform pots for all plants and increased the number to 12 plants a month. Several types of plants are propagated each month depending on the mother-plants available in the greenhouse, the season, and current holiday. Special consideration is given when selecting just the right plant for a Hospice patient’s room. Rita uses small varieties, like Sedums, because they are slow growers and can tolerate the warmer rooms the patients often have. She is careful to select plants that are not heavily scented or ones that would grow too large and quickly need repotting. (Photo of Rita in Greenhouse propagating plants for Hospice donations)
Some of the plants Rita has used are: Fairy fern, Bolivian Jew, coleus, shamrocks, strawberry begonia, jade, wandering Jew, spider plant and Kalanchoe.
Hospice of the Valley has a beautiful memory garden behind their office in downtown Decatur. The garden is a passive area with shade trees and flowerbeds, providing an area for those grieving - to just sit and reflect. Master Gardeners Nancy Shannon and Carolyn Dobson volunteer and help maintain the garden with weeding, pruning and annual planting beds. (Photo of Nancy Shannon in Garden)
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Everyone gets the chance to learn how Smart Yard techniques can be made spooky this year! Meet Composted Carrie. A fun decoration combining a seasonal scarecrow and a yard compost bin. This idea is one way to make gardening fun for all ages. If you're in the Huntsville area this fall, make time to visit Carrie. She's at the Demonstration Vegetable Garden at HBG!
Courtesy Carolyn Wade, MGNA.
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Fall Plant Swap
Who: Etowah County MGs
When: Saturday, Oct. 5th from 10am-Noon
Where: 3200 West Meighan Boulevard, Gadsden, AL 35904
Are you feeling burnt out on your gardening tools and toys? Want to see what other plants could be grown in your area? Interested in a hobby with plants? Visit with Etowah County Master Gardeners on October 5th! These volunteers share a passion for horticulture, and they hosting a Trade Day. Bring any plants(indoor or outdoor), tools, or other garden related items and see what people are willing to swap for them. Fun conversation and a potluck is awaiting your arrival!
There is no catch as no money exchanges hands. EVERYTHING IS SWAP/TRADE ONLY!
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It’s Time to Brag on Community Projects – Get Your Pen Ready!
Fall is also the time to prepare award applications. If you attended AMGA’s Annual Conference in Clanton, I hope you saw the Search for Excellence winner displays. Did they make you think of your own winning projects? See our previous 23 project winners here, http://mg.aces.edu/search-for-excellence-competiton/ .
The application is simply an outline of your project, http://mg.aces.edu/resources/ – and should emphasize how the project made a community impact. Notice there is a Search for Excellence Guide AND a Search for Excellence Application. SFE has 7 categories, allowing you to apply with a wide variety of projects. MGAs can submit projects for these awards every year, but each project can only win one time.
I’m happy to help you with your application. Just call or email and we can schedule a time to visit. I look forward to hearing from you!
Thank you for EVERYTHING you do for Extension and Master Gardener – Kerry
(Left, watermelon seed spitting contest at BCMG’s Summer Fun Day with 4H. Right, a few of ACMGA's Demonstration Garden crew.
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The Ripple Effect
(Jane Mobley)
During the spring and summer of 2019, CAMGA embarked upon a multiphase project that has had ripple effects in their community.
In April members learned how to make miniature gardens. Their teacher was Rhona Watson, CAMGA’s president and bonsai expert, who had been experimenting with adding stories to her bonsai projects. Because they wanted to use this idea with the public, many of whom would not be up to the rigors of grooming bonsai, they opted for small outdoor and indoor plants. During this process they focused on: - the ideas of proper soil preparation - choosing plants that would remain an appropriate size for the containers - would have the same water and light requirements - knowing when or when not to water - deciding how many plants and figures to use per pot - and how to develop balanced design of materials and color. This was a time for members to experiment with mini-gardens and make some to take home too. In early May, those who trained in April used their skills to make gardens to sell at the plant sale.
At the beginning of July, we took our show on the road by volunteering to teach senior citizens at the Elmore County Senior Center. Nineteen students made miniature gardens to take home for themselves, after working with our trained MG members. Participants learned and put into use all of the big ideas of gardening mentioned above. Participants were absolutely thrilled with their tiny gardens. Some of the seniors remarked that they were going home and make more so they could share their success with their extended families. They also wanted to know when we could come back and do other “plant things” with them. All of us had a wonderful time.
Unplanned effects from this project. Many of our members used what they learned to teach their grandchildren. One member held a Grandma camp at her house featuring the making of miniature gardens. My own grandson made miniature gardens and took them to a nursing home as his volunteer project for Honor Society. While at the nursing home, some employees commissioned him to make gardens for them to buy; a summer job for him and kept him off video games for awhile. This project turned into an excellent way to involve both seniors and kids in learning about gardening on a small scale.
Our next use of this skill is that we are going to a rehab facility and make miniature gardens with patients there.
[Extra note from Kerry - I love that two MGAs coincidentally have similar projects to share this month, Morgan and Central Alabama. Did you know that plants help people heal? Check it out!!! - https://consumerhort.org/nich-releases-plantsdothat-inside-infographic-3-where-we-heal/ ]
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Blount County Fair - They Couldn't Do It Without the Blount County MGA
(Sherilyn Osborne)
Blount County MGs did it again! The Blount County Fair was Sept. 10-14 and they had another terrific year. Literally thousands of visitors attend to see the many exhibits, livestock competitions, flowers, jams/jellies, awards, and enjoy amusement rides and food; it’s the real deal!
MG volunteers do all the registration and returning of exhibit items, work inside security during fair operations, design and build their own booth, and promote the Extension-MG partnership. This year, their very own Sherilyn Osborne (pictured, bottom left) was recognized for her many years on the Fair Committee. Many other BCMGs are also dedicated to this Blount County celebration, giving numerous hours of service to it each year. It’s two full weeks of effort, but it’s also fun and rewarding for their team of volunteers.
The County especially appreciates their many volunteer hours and dedication because this one event funds the annual budget at the Blount County-Oneonta Agri-Business Center.
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Baldwin County Fall Workshop
When? Saturday, October 12th from 9:00 AM-12:00 PM
Where? Gulf Coast Regional Research Center, 8300 Highway 104, Fairhope, AL
Who? Extension Agents: Beau Brodbeck and Jack Rowe along with MGs: Michelle Johns, Marilyn Mannhard, and Myra Lassere. Other experts: Chris Francis, Fred Nation. That's a LOT of talent in one day!
Topics include Tree planting and Care, Fall Color plants, Composting, and Native Restoration. Cost for entry is $10. There will be light refreshments. For more info contact 615-308-4963.
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Coffee County MGs Help Out During Farm Week
(Jacque Hawkins)
The Coffee County Master Gardener's Association (CCMGA) spent two days volunteering at the Coffee County Farm Week "Petting Zoo" and Agricultural Exhibits which were held at the Farm Center in New Brockton. This has been a fun and rewarding event for several years.
Seed packages of small, medium and large seeds were displayed, and explained to the more than 1,000 pre-schoolers who attended the event over the two-day period. A cotton plant and a peanut plant pulled from the ground were furnished by Skinner Farms in Hartford. The students were encouraged to feel the cotton bolls - prickly on the outside and soft on the inside. Students and adults alike were amazed to learn that peanuts actually grow underground. Various herbs were on hand for the students to touch and smell - basal, mint, rosemary and chives. Each teacher was given a package of fall seeds for the students to plant.
Barbara Oliver and Sheron Enfinger were co-chairs of the Master Gardeners booth for this event, CCMGA's the 11th year! During this time, the seed display has been viewed by more than 10,000 students.
[MG volunteers, Sep 26 (left to right) Maggie Sickler, Sheron Enfinger, CCMGA Vice President Jacque Hawkins, Janine Coles, Alice Hersant, Fran Garza, Barbara Oliver and Brenda Evans. MG volunteers, Sep 27 (left to right) CCMGA Vice President Jacque Hawkins, Paula Allman, Maggie Sickler, Anne Edwards, CCMGA President Ed Speigner, Fran Garza, Janine Coles, Barbara Oliver, Sheron Enfinger and Brenda Evans.]
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Helpline Volunteers Needed!
Do you know your stuff when it comes to gardening? Have a passion for helping others? Wouldn't it be fun to learn things you don't know, while helping others?
If you said yes to any of those questions, please volunteer to work the Alabama Master Gardener Helpline. Volunteers are needed in the following counties: Autauga, Elmore, Lee, Montgomery, Jefferson, Chilton, Etowah, Madison, Lauderdale, Baldwin, and Mobile
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Volunteers Needed to Mentor Harvest for Health Participants
Master Gardeners are needed to mentor in Harvest for Health, a joint program between the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Alabama Extension’s Home Grounds Team. We pair MGs with cancer survivors in order to study the health and healing benefits of gardening. Mentors are expected to visit the participant twice monthly, once for a garden visit and once in a phone call. Build new friendships and share a hobby you love with others! Contact Renee Thompson, ACES-Harvest for Health Outreach Coordinator, at 334-826-1590 or thomprw@auburn.edu.
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A message from Renee Thompson:
"We are still in need of wonderful, caring MGs to be mentors in the following counties:
Blount
Calhoun, Cherokee, Coffee, Covington, Cullman
Dale, Dekalb
Houston,
Jackson, Jefferson
Lauderdale
Madison, Marshall, Montgomery, Morgan
Shelby, St. Clair
Tuscaloosa
And a fun thought to share: 'One is nearer to God's heart in a garden than in anywhere else on Earth.' - Dorthy Frances Gurney
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October Lunch and Learn Schedule
(Events start at 12:00pm and participants are encouraged to bring a sack lunch)
- October 1st, Wiregrass
- What's Bugging You? : Houston-Love Memorial Library
- October 2nd, Montgomery
- Thos Pesky Fire Ants: Armory Learning Center
- October 3rd, Autauga
- Japanese Maples: Trinity United Methodist Church
- October 8th, Elmore
- Bugs In and Around the Home: First Presbyterian Church, Wetumpka
- October 9th, Morgan
- DIY Succulent Crafts: Aquadome, Decatur
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Scale Insects on Ornamental Plants! October 4th, 2019
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Do you have a cool story or project you'd like to share? We'd love to hear what your MG association is doing in your community. Send your stories to Kerry Smith at smithkp@auburn.edu.
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