According to Kelly Hill, Master Gardener project coordinator for the event, the group will provide both educational information and plants for local gardeners at two booths-one inside the auditorium and another outside.
"We're going to have a booth inside the auditorium where we will primarily have educational materials available and will have a representative available to answer questions on yards and gardens," said Hill. "We'll have answers available immediately for most common types of questions on gardening. For questions we're unable to answer on the spot, we'll find the answer and call the questioner back later with the answer.
"Also inside, we'll have smaller plants in small containers that people can purchase," she explained. "We will also provide a demonstration on how to properly take soil samples.
"Outside we'll have a wide variety of bedding plants that the Master Gardeners have grown in the greenhouse," she explained.
Hill said the event will serve as a fundraiser to help fund the various community activities of the Master Gardeners.
"We are always looking for non-monetary donations, such as seed, plants and supplies," she said. "These aid in our efforts to maintain a demonstration garden.
"Our main focus is to provide an educational resource for the public. We're all volunteers who have gone through 40 hours of intensive training to qualify as Master Gardeners. In turn, we agree to volunteer for at least 40 hours as payback for the training during the first year."
In subsequent years, Master Gardeners must volunteer for a minimum of 20 hours.
"Our plan is to attend local events and community festivals, where will have a booth to provide resource material and advice," she said. "For example, we were at the Blueberry Festival in Ammon on June 4th."
The reorganized Bladen County Master Gardeners program got off the ground on February 15, when a group of 12 Bladen County gardeners entered training to become Master Gardeners.
The program is designed to enhance public education in consumer horticulture. It provides educational assistance to Bladen residents on lawns, fruits, vegetables, trees, and ornamentals through the use of a trained and supervised volunteer staff.
The trainees completed their initial 40 hours of training on April 5.
The program will begin accepting applicants for next year's class in September. The class is expected to begin in February.
"If groups, such as civic or church groups, want us to come to their meetings to provide training on various aspects of gardening, they should call Cory Crabtree, (Bladen County Cooperative Extension horticulture agent,) at 862-4591.
"We invite everyone to come out to see us at Christmas in July on July 15," Hill said.
-30-
Post a Comment
