Volunteer Opp's Bulletin
April 2019 || Volume 5 Issue 3
|
|
In This Month's Edition of Vol Opp's:
- Activity Spotlights:
- Claybank MGs Tour Mayim Farms
- Coffee County MGs Complete Advanced Master Gardener Course
- Harvest for Health Volunteers Needed - See Announcement Below
- Lab update: The Low-Down on Lichens
- Lunch And Learn Schedule
- Upcoming Events and Announcements
- Covington County Lunch and Learn
- Upcoming Plant Sales
- Lee County MGA Spring Mulch Sale
- Jackson Co. Park Work Days
- Lee County: Volunteers Needed for CityFest
- Jackson County Tomato Workshop
- All Bugs Good and Bad 2019 Webinar Series
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Claybank MGs Tour Mayim Farm
The Claybank Master Gardeners kicked off Spring with a visit to Mayim Farm in Opp, Alabama. Mayim Farm, owned and operated by Greg and Carole Lolley, is a farming operation with a focus on improving the soil naturally to improve the quality of their produce. While touring, the Claybank MGs learned about aquaponics and building healthy soil. They also had lunch on the grounds and got a sneak peek at the Permaculture Fruit Orchard that the Lolley's are adding to the farm. (photo credit: Carole Lolley)
|
|
|
|
|
Wiregrass MGs Are Making a Mark at Landmark Park
This past February at Landmark Park, Wiregrass Master Gardeners hosted a pruning workshop led by Tom Boyle. Master Gardeners and Interns immediately put their newly gained knowledge to use and pruned roses, hydrangeas, grapes, and various other shrubs and vines at Landmark Park.
They are eager for their next big project: Spring Farm Day. At this event the MGs will assist in a living history demonstration to educate the public on what gardening was like a century ago.
|
|
|
|
|
|
We need you on our team – our Home Grounds Extension Team.
WSU Cooperative Extension started planning the MG Program in 1971 with a single purpose – foster a crew of Extension ambassadors who would expand their educational programs. Ten years later, Alabama Extension adopted the MG program for this same reason.
How are you an Extension ambassador? It happens every time you mention the ACES-MG connection. Last year, Alabama MG volunteers made over 2.5 M public contacts through educational programs. That was 2.5M opportunities to promote our partnership and a huge brag point to an Extension Administrator. Please don't miss this opportunity.
Vol. Opp’s is a tool we use to tell the MG story. Send us your stories illustrating the mission of the ACES-MG partnership. We need each other and we need you as an ambassador on the Home Grounds Extension Team.
|
|
|
|
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 the 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, with one garden visit and 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.
|
|
|
A message from Renee Thompson:
"We are so excited to see Harvest for Health gardens popping up all over our state! We are still in need of wonderful, caring MGs to be mentors in the following counties:
Shelby, 8 mentors needed
Lee, 15 mentors needed
Tallapoosa, 2 mentors needed
Elmore, 5 mentors needed
Coffee, 2 mentors needed
Dale, 3 mentors needed
Houston, 6 mentors needed
Montgomery, 12 mentors needed
I'll leave you with a fun thought: 'One is nearer to God's heart in a garden than in anywhere else on Earth' -Dorthy Frances Gurney."
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
Lab Update: The Low-Down on Lichens
You may have noticed some funky-looking things growing on the branches of woody shrubs and trees that are declining. These are most likely lichens. Lichens come in many shapes and forms. They are often thought to be a parasitic pest, but this is a myth. Although they often show up on distressed plants, lichens do not harm their hosts. Lichens are made up of a fungus and algae. They obtain water and nutrients from the atmosphere, not by sucking nutrients out of their hosts. In fact, lichens actually benefit the host plant by adding a protective layer between the plant and the environment. Lichens also help convert carbon dioxide into oxygen and absorb pollutants from the atmosphere.
If you begin to notice an excessive amount of lichens on your plants, check for underlying causes that could be causing stress to the plant. This could be over-watering or under-watering, compacted soil, or wounds from physical damage. There is currently no treatment for lichens, as removing them can damage the host plant.
|
|
April Lunch and Learn Schedule
(Events start at 12:00pm and participants are encouraged to bring a sack lunch)
- Apr 2, Wiregrass
- All About Blueberries; Houston-Love Memorial Library, Dothan
- Apr 3, Montgomery
- Growing and Cooking w/ Herbs; Armory Learning Arts Center
- April 4, Autauga
- Fruit Tree Care; Trinity United Methodist Church
- Apr 9, Elmore
- Native Plants For Our Area; First Presbyterian Church, Wetumpka
- Apr 10, Morgan
- Butterflies of Alabama; Aquadome Recreation Center, Decatur
- Apr 12, St. Clair
- Gardening in the Shade; First United Methodist Springville
|
|
Lunch & Learn: Covington County
On April 11th from 12:00 p.m. until 1:00 p.m., Coffee County Advanced Master Gardener Brenda Evans will be speaking at the Covington County Extension Office (23952 AL Hwy. 55, Ste. 4 Andalusia, AL 36420). The topic is "Hummingbirds". The cost to attend this Lunch & Learn is $10 and lunch will be provided.
|
|
|
|
Upcoming Plant Sales:
Morgan County: Saturday, April 27th from 8:00 am until 4:00 pm and Sunday April 28th from 1:00 pm until 4:00 pm at the Morgan County Fair Grounds
Cash or checks will be accepted,
garden related arts and crafts will
also be available for purchase
Jackson County: Saturday, April 27th from 9:00 am until 2:00 pm; tentative location at the Jackson Co Fair Grounds
|
|
|
Lee County MGA Spring Mulch Sale
Lee County Master Gardener’s will be selling pine bark mulch on April 6th and April 27th 2019 from 9:00am unil 1:00 PM at the Lawrence Farm (3327 Moores Mill Rd, Auburn). The pine bark, purchased from a local lumber mill, is excellent for soil amendment or top-dressing. The price, cash or check, is $25 per cu. yard for coarse and $35 for fine. There is a front-end loader tractor available for loading trucks or trailers. There will be Master Gardener’s available to answer any questions. If Saturday is a rainy day, Sale will be rescheduled . For more information, contact Steve Cater by phone (334)332-6100 or email sec4500@gmail.com
|
|
|
|
Jackson Co. Park Work Days
Jackson Co. MGs have ongoing scheduled volunteer times at the Jackson County Park. On Wednesdays they meet at 7:00 a.m. for trail maintenance and on Thursdays at 7:00 a.m. the take care of flower beds. If you're interested in taking part in these opprotunites contact Jerry Akins and Lily Noble.
|
|
|
Lee Co: Volunteers Needed for Auburn CityFest
Volunteers are needed to work in 3 hour shifts for Auburn CityFest on Saturday, April 27th. Contact Debbie Murphy at djmurphy915@yahoo.com or 850-240-2632 to book a volunteer slot.
|
|
|
Jackson County Tomato Workshop
On Saturday, April 27th from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm, the Jackson County MGA will host a workshop on Tomatoes with guest speaker Dan Porch at the Scottsboro Public Library. This workshop is open to the public.
|
|
|
|
All Bugs Good And Bad 2019 Webinar Series
Throughout the year, Extension teams from Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and Texas will partner together to offer a free webinar series. These Webinars will take place on the first Friday of every month at 1:00pm Central Time.
Some upcoming topics include: The Ins and Outs of Termite Treatments, GMOS and the Effect on Insect Populations, Red Imported Fire Ants in the Landscape, and many other interesting topics!
For more information about the topic schedule and how to tune in, visit https://articles.extension.org/pages/74786/2019-all-bugs-good-and-bad-webinar-series |
|
|
|
|
|
