Volunteer Opp's Bulletin
July 2019 || Volume 5 Issue 6
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In This Month's Edition of Vol Opp's:
- Activity Spotlights:
- CARE-ing for Our Elders
- Coffee County MG Recognition
- Lovelady Center- Jefferson County MGs
- Advanced Master Gardener Recognition
- Volunteers Needed For The MG Helpline
- Lab update: Reduce and Recycle!
- Bug Watching
- Lunch And Learn Schedule
- Upcoming Events and Announcements
- Lee Co Volunteers Needed
- GMOs 2019 Webinar Series
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Above is a touching story about these two volunteers that gave their time to assist the elderly. Kate Musso and Joyce Shevin helped to create a sensory garden for CARES. This is a program run in Birmingham that offers assistance to elderly with memory or movement disorders such as Alzheimer's or strokes. This garden offers a cognitive stimulation to calm and relax the guests staying there, as well as give them time outdoors. The picture on the right is just a few of the pots they created that show off four of the senses that can benefit from plants.
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Coffee County MGs were always at work this last month. Every Monday in June, a few members hosted a class for information and sharing of ideas among fellow MGs and company. These were hosted at the Elba Rec Center. Some topics included "Pollination with the Emphasis on Butterflies" and the "Uses of Plants." The last session allowed for a unique experience. The CCMGA members met with other participants, and they planted some vegetables at the Giving Garden in the tunnel house. "Any chance we can get to gather and share not only ideas, but a community service is a chance worth taking."
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FRIENDLY REMINDER!
With the mild winter and warm spring we have had, it would be a good time to keep your eyes open for pests. One of the major ones to be wary of is the Japanese Beetle. This little guy has no preference when it comes to munching away at your beautiful garden or sod. At the larval stage, the white grubs will feed on the roots of almost any grass. After that, the adult stages begin their destructive path of feeding. They will eat away the foliage of many plants used in landscapes. If you suspect that you may have Japanese Beetles, then do not hesitate to get in contact with your local Extension agents to discuss management methods.
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Jefferson County Master Gardeners have adopted a new project with the Lovelady Center in Eastlake. On Earth Day weekend, volunteers from many organizations planted around 800 square feet of gardening space for vegetables and cut flowers. The Lovelady Center is a residential facility for women participating in a nine-month recovery program. They are provided with a setting which allows children to live with their mothers. In May, Bethany O’Rear, ACES Regional Extension Agent, initiated a six-week pilot project of teaching science-based gardening skills to the residents. A classroom was made available out of the remaining space at the center. The class has planted tomatoes, bush beans, cucumbers, watermelon and squash. With the assistance of Jefferson County Master Gardener Kate Musso, Bethany has introduced the class to basic botany, entomology, plant pathology, cultivation and a love of weeding. A second level of curriculum will be introduced in the fall and other Jefferson County Master Gardeners are being enlisted to teach the classes quarterly. Wish them the best of luck in their studies!
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Lucy Edwards (right) Extension Agent for Homegrounds, presented a certificate and a golden acorn pin to Brenda Evans (left) recognizing her as an Advanced Alabama Master Gardener. The certificate stated, "Advanced Alabama Master Gardener is conferred on Brenda Evans, in the Program of Pollinators, by the Alabama Extension System, Alabama A&M and Auburn Universities. Mrs. Evans is supporting Home Grounds Extension outreach in the Wiregrass. A special thanks from her Extension Agent Lucy Edwards!
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Plant Sale Shoutout!
MGNA have enjoyed a successful plant sale. Sue Khoury and other local MGs worked hard to host this public fundraising event. It is one of the big chances they get to showcase their skills as Master Gardeners; donations were the only source of their plants. Bonnie was also kind enough to donate some vegetables this year. A major highlight was the $9000 raised in sales. This was a new high over recent years. Khoury informed us that they have many ongoing projects, so this money will help fund everything for those to continue. As well as the huge success in the sale, the MGs have been granted use of a vacant store to host future public classes. These classes will include ideas on soil pH testing and "Ask a Master Gardener." A lot of hard work has been put into this sale as well as the ongoing projects that it supports. Those behind the scenes are extremely proud of all the success they have brought.
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Helpline Volunteers Needed!
Do you know your stuff when it comes to gardening? Have you got a passion for helping others? Wouldn't it be fun to learn things you didn'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
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."
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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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Rain Barrels!
We would all like to save a little water here and there over the summer. One way to help the water bill and the planet is to use a Rain Barrel. Here in Alabama, it would make sense to utilize the free resource that seems to never end. Rain barrels can be attached to gutters to catch all the roof runoff after a heavy storm. Just a quick look online will prove that there are many designs to pick from. Some barrels are completely automated with the ability to water small garden beds, while others are a simple spigot attached to the edge for a hose to be added whenever ready. There are even classes that you can take if you would like to learn more, just call our Helpline and ask if an Extension agent is hosting one near you!
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July Lunch and Learn Schedule
(Events start at 12:00pm and participants are encouraged to bring a sack lunch)
- July 3rd, Montgomery
- PRUNING: Who, What, When, Where, and Why: Armory Learning Arts Center, Montgomery
- July 9th, Elmore
- Snake Identification: First Presbyterian Church, Wetumpka
- July 11th, Autauga
- Easy Fruit to Grow: Trinity United Methodist Church, Prattville
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GMOs And Insects! 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. The next webinar isn't till August, so take a break and catch up on any that you have missed so far.
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
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