Georgia Magazine - April 2013 - (Page 42)

BY PAMELA A. KEENE W TEDDIE BERRY/MASTER GARDENERS OF MIDDLE GEORGIA COURTESY OF ALLAN ARMITAGE / UGA TRIAL GARDENS hen you call your local cooperative extension office with a plant or gardening question, most likely you’ll talk with a Georgia Master Gardener. Armed with plant, disease and pest-reference materials, these diligent volunteers seek out remedies for fire blight on tomatoes, bagworms on cypress and yellowing leaves on azaleas. They’re the front line to help stretch the resources of extension offices across Georgia. But Master Gardeners do more than answer plant, landscape and insect questions. Throughout Georgia, many hands make light work of gardening education. The Georgia Master Gardeners Association provides the framework for nearly 2,500 gardeners in local chapters who also teach youngsters about plants, educate the public about gardening, install and maintain community and demonstration gardens, and host plant and garden sales as fundraisers. “Our goals are education and networking,” says Carole Teja, president of the Georgia Master Gardeners As- sociation. “It’s amazing to experience the dedication and enthusiasm of all our members for gardening— from educating young Troup County Master Gardeners, from left, Michael Searcy, people through the Junior Ron Martin and Jeff Wright study plant propagation at Hills Master Gardener Program & Dales Estate in LaGrange as part of their 2011 program. to helping landscape a home for Habitat for Humanity. And program,” says Sheri Dorn, state all the while, we’re having great fun.” Master Gardener coordinator. “In adThe group has more than 60 lo- dition to overseeing the Master Garcal programs across the state, with dener training, we offer advanced members donating their time to the training programs to help the local community and gardening educa- programs and their volunteers be tion. Annually, typically in the first more effective.” Sandy Lee, of Perry, has always quarter, each local program trains 20 been interested in gardening, and to 25 garden enthusiasts to become Master Gardeners. Taught by experts her love of learning lured her to in horticulture, soil science and en- Master Gardener classes in 2005. Totomology, the students log 30 to 35 day, the former softball coach is an hours in classroom training and are active member of the Master Gardenrequired to volunteer for 50 hours ers of Central Georgia, which serves of community service their first year Houston, Bibb and adjacent counbefore they can claim to be certified ties. Her group has about 120 members who conduct two plant sales Master Gardeners. Headquartered in Griffin, the and a home and garden show each statewide training program is over- year to raise funds that support comseen by the University of Georgia munity projects. “We’re a dynamic, self-sustaining Cooperative Extension, group, and we’re just like family,” Lee and trainees are selected by county agents and their says. “There’s a joy in being with othstaffs. People are either er gardeners and sharing our knowlnominated by fellow Mas- edge with the community that can’t ter Gardeners, or they reach be described. And our No. 1 goal is out to their area extension public education.” LaGrange’s Joan Benz moved to agent to be considered for Georgia from the Midwest and found the annual training. Many trainees go on to partici- gardening a challenge with the red pate in their local programs, Georgia clay. “I had a wonderful garserving as officers, commit- dening neighbor who introduced tee chairs or community me to gardening in the South,” says Benz, a member of the Troup Counvolunteers. “The state program is ty Master Gardeners, which serves part of the University of Troup and Meriwether counties. “We Master Gardeners from Middle Georgia plant the Georgia, and we bring vi- have about 100 active members, and People’s Garden, a teaching garden at the USDA Fruit sion and resources to the we support the county extension ofand Nut Research Station in Byron. 42 42-43.garden_SW_0413.indd 42 More online at www.georgiamagazine.org GEORGIA MAGAZINE 3/13/13 12:33 AM TEDDIE BERRY/MASTER GARDENERS OF MIDDLE GEORGIA Georgia Master Gardeners blossom JOAN BENZ/TROUP COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS A growing interest http://www.georgiamagazine.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Georgia Magazine - April 2013

Georgia Magazine - April 2013
Contents
Viewpoint
Mailbox
Liberty Notes
Picture This?
Georgia News
Calendar of Events
Festival Guide
Currents
The Blessing of the Fleet
A Tale of Two Soldiers
The 2013 Readers’ Choice Awards
Mug Jugs
Along Our Borders
Travel Guide
Get Out in the South
My Georgia
Georgia Gardens
Georgia Cooks
Snapshot
More Snapshot Photos
Gardening Tips for April; Plant of the Month
April’s Online Trivia Contest
Second Helping: More Earthfriendly Recipes
Georgia Grown Spotlight
Colleges Host “Open House” Events

Georgia Magazine - April 2013

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