The UT Extension Institute of Agriculture held their annual Master Gardener Winter School February 26-27, 2015 at the Lane Agri-Park Community Center in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This years' theme was “The Good Earth" with a variety of educational seminars, lectures and poster events highlighting the importance of good soil, encouraging natural pest control and increasing the habitat of native plants to increase the population of beneficials.
Attendees from the Big Spring Master Gardener Association included Michele Bradley, Sandee Cook, Martha Fluharty, Darlene Moore, Jeanie Jackson, Teresa Uhls and Virginia Williams. Melody Rose, Extension Agent of Greene County and Master Gardener Coordinator was a featured speaker delivering a general session workshop on the topic of “Grow Your Organization with Better Understanding of Personality Profile and Group Dynamics. This educational exercise was well received by the audience and delivered a memorable learning model. The two day conference was filled with breakout roundtable and concurrent sessions highlighting projects statewide master gardener groups had accomplished for 2014. Many of the UT professors including new Tennessee Extension Master Gardener State Coordinator, Dr. Natalie Bumgarner, demonstrated their passion for pest, plants and people. Dr. Frank Hale presented a theme of one must know or understand the pest in order to manage it. Dr. Bumgarner joined with the grafting group for tomatoes and apples. Everyone came out of that class with grafting starts for their own garden. There was great emphasis on new pests invading our state and what trees and plants are and will be affected. Many have no natural control developed as yet which poses a problem. Dr. Allan Windham, discussed hydrangeas and how to treat and care for them. Dr. Hale also lectured on the use of pollinators, predators, parasitoids and microorganisms. The planting of beneficial attractants was stressed and use of native plants to encourage good insect populations was highly recommended. Debbie Joines manager of UT Soil, Plant, and Pest Center presented ideas on plant fertilization which included site, sun, shade, soil depth, drainage, slope, water availability, disease and insect population and plant nutrition. It was encouraged to test the soil prior to application of any amendments to determine what if any fertilization is required. Boxwood blight and Rose rosette were two of the many diseases discussed. A panel discussion on GMO's was well received as an educational platform to make sound decisions in crop selection and future plant engineering. Many of the sessions focused on the role of the Master Gardener and what they could do to make their organization more creative and stronger through continued education and networking with those from other geographic areas. Winning projects for excellence on a statewide basis were received with enthusiasm and encouragement. The conference was a success in generating a common spirit with an incentive to share ideas and implement additional programs. If you are interested in any subject listed in this report or want to know how to become a Master Gardener please contact the UT Greene County Extension office at 423-798-1710 or visit the Master Gardener website at www.bsmga.com. Submitted by Jeanie Jackson Big Spring Master Gardener Reporter Seven Big Spring Master Gardener Association members attended the annual “Master Gardener Winter School” held at the Lane Agri-Park Pavilion in Murfreesboro, Tennessee February 25-27, 2015. Darlene Moore, Virginia Williams, Sandee Cook, Martha Fluharty, Michele Bradley, Jeanie Jackson, and Teresa Uhls attended various leadership and educational sessions aimed at both growing volunteer leaders in their communities and cultivating unique educational opportunities for clientele they represent.
Master Gardeners across the state convened to meet the newest addition to the statewide Extension Team, Dr. Natalie Bumgarner, Residential and Consumer Horticulture Specialist, who was recently hired in October. She brings energy, enthusiasm, and creative ideas to the table as many positive changes are expected for this program in the coming years that will further add value to the counties in which Master Gardeners are providing leadership and educational opportunities. Master Gardeners were introduced to several experts in their respective fields to become more comfortable and competent in their advising and mentoring of the local Master Gardener Program. Some of the sessions attended were: “Plant Fertilization Strategies”; hands-on grafting workshops for both apples and tomatoes; a discussion on GMO’s; “Hydrangeas in the Landscape”; “Balancing Pesticide Use with Biological Controls”; and “Plant Scouting Techniques”. Those in attendance also participated in a personality profile workshop that allowed them to interact with those different from their own personality, illustrating the importance of working together in group settings. The culmination of the Winter School ended with key-note speaker, Janet Carson, Extension Horticulturist Specialist from the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service. Ms. Carson shared the local vision of the Arkansas Master Gardener program, and provided powerful insight, inspiration, and motivation to the audience in attendance. Lastly, Master Gardeners across the state came together to share great ideas, learn from one another, and network with Extension professionals to gain both personal proficiency in their educational endeavors at the local level and determine new and unique ways to cultivate the Master Gardener program at the county level. The BSMGA is involved in several exciting and worthwhile community gardening projects throughout Greene County. Projects include: maintaining the Greeneville/Greene County History Museum landscape; participating in weekly gardening seminars at the Boys & Girls Club; maintaining the New Hope Cemetery landscape; growing and maintaining the Soup Kitchen gardens; facilitating educational seminars for the Food Bank; designing and implementing historic, period-era gardens at the Dickson Williams Mansion; growing the landscape beds at the Greene County Fairgrounds; hosting a Plant Sale on May 9th at the Greene County Fairgrounds; and a Farm2Fork dinner on June 12th at the Andrew Johnson Clubhouse, as well as participating in Greene County Fair events; participating in community events such as Kid’s Day on the Farm; the Greene County Christmas Parade; and being available to answer questions in the Master Gardener lab at the Greene County UT Extension Office every Monday and Thursday from 10 AM – 3PM. For additional information on the BSMGA, please feel free to contact the Greene County UT Extension Office at 423-798-1710 or e-mail Melody Rose, Extension Agent and Master Gardener Coordinator at [email protected]. Also check out the BSMGA website at bsmga.com This and other programs of the University of Tennessee Extension are open to all interested persons. UT Extension provides equal opportunities in programs. ![]() The Big Spring Master Gardener Association held their annual year-end Celebration on December 18, 2014 at the Clyde Austin 4-H Center in Greeneville. Master Gardeners were recognized for their individual and group achievements in 2014, as well as participated in an “ugly attire” contest, in which Darlene Moore was the grand-prize winner. Sandee Cook was recognized for her 10 year commitment to the Master Gardener program, earning her 10-year pin and lifetime member status at the state level. As 2014 was the culmination of 5 years of service for the Big Spring Master Gardener Association in Greene County, the following members were recognized for their dedication to the program for five consecutive years of service: Michele Bradley, Emily Grubbs, Randi Nott and Jeanne Driese. Those receiving recognition as VIP’s, which are those that have been active members for three years included: Danny Crum, Diane Crum, Beth Hembree, Jerry Kische, Pat Moore, Bev Walker, and Darlene Moore. Many members received recognition in service awards for their annual commitment in volunteering. Bronze (50-100 Hours) Aliceson Bales Martha Fluharty Beth Hembree Lamar Neas Teresa Uhls Silver (100-200 Hours) Michele Bradley Phyllis Conner Bob Fleegle Jeff Gilliland Patricia Hayes Penny Humphreys Pat Moore Wolf Spendel Virginia Williams Heather Youngblood Gold (200-300 Hours) Jeanne Driese Mary Goldman Jeanie Jackson Randi Nott Platinum (300+ Hours) Sandee Cook Bev Walker BSMGA members that gave over 100 hours of volunteer service in 2014 were recognized for their dedication and commitment with a certificate and oak leaf pins to commemorate their accomplishments. These recipients were: 2014 Gold Leaf Club Members - Members with over 100 hours of service 17 MG’s contributed 3273.58 hours in 2014 totaling $73,819.22 Michele Bradley Phyllis Conner Sandee Cook(3) Jeanne Driese (2) Bob Fleegle Jeff Gilliland Mary Goldman (2) Patricia Hayes Penny Humphreys Jeanie Jackson Jerry Kische Pat Moore Randi Nott (2) Wolf Spendel Bev Walker (6) Virginia Williams Heather Youngblood The following members were recognized for outstanding service to BSMGA: 2014 Bud Sprout Winner – Jeanie Jackson 2014 Community Service Award Winner – Mary Goldman 2014 Greene Thumb Award Winner – Heather Youngblood 2014 Club Service Award Winner – Jerry Kische 2014 Excellence in Service Award Winner (for most hours) – Bev Walker Honorary Big Spring Master Gardener - Rob Ellis The following individuals were elected to serve on the 2015 Leadership Team: President: Michele Bradley Vice President: Jerry Kische Secretary: Sandee Cook Treasurer: Sandee Cook Parliamentarian: Lamar Neas Bud Sprout: Jeanie Jackson Last but not least, the BSMGA certified several interns into the BSMGA program during 2014. These members participated in 40 hours of classroom training, as well as devoted 40 hours of volunteering to community service projects within Greene County’s BSMGA program. The newest additions to the BSMGA in 2014: Martha Fluharty, Jeff Gilliland, Jeanie Jackson, Wolfe Spendel and Teresa Uhls. Upon completion of volunteer hours, the following four will also become certified BSMGA members in 2015: Neil Burgner, Sharon Barger, Mickey Sizemore and Carol Jernigan. As the value of a volunteer hour was worth $22.55 in 2014, according to the Department of Labor statistics, BSMGA contributed $91,402.59 in economic in Greene County through their annual cumulative total of 4053.33 hours. The BSMGA is looking forward to yet another year of exciting and worthwhile community gardening projects throughout Greene County. Project include: maintaining the Nathanael Greene Museum landscape; participating in weekly gardening seminars at the Boys & Girls Club; maintaining the New Hope Cemetery landscape; contributing to build the Soup Kitchen gardens; facilitating educational seminars for the Food Bank; designing and implementing historic, period-era gardens at the Dickson Williams Mansion; growing the landscape beds at the Greene County Fairgrounds; hosting a Plant Sale on May 9th at the Greene County Fairgrounds; and a Farm2Fork dinner in the early summer, as well as participating in Greene County Fair events; participating in community events such as Kid’s Day on the Farm; the Greene County Christmas Parade; and being available to answer questions in the Master Gardener lab at the Greene County UT Extension Office every Monday and Thursday from 10 AM – 3PM. For additional information on the BSMGA, please feel free to contact the Greene County UT Extension Office at 423-798-1710 or e-mail Melody Rose, Extension Agent and Master Gardener Coordinator at [email protected]. Also check out the BSMGA website at bsmga.com |
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