Master Gardener Activities - May 2012

The first community project I participated in was the Master Gardeners Plant Sale at the McCarty Senior Center in Wheatland, Missouri on May 1, 2012.  What a great way to celebrate May Day!

McCarty Senior Center Parking Lot facing Highway 54 in Wheatland, Missouri

All the plants for sale were grown by Master Gardener members.  Some from their own yards and gardens but most were grown in the Master Gardener's Greenhouse  located behind the McCarty Senior Center.

The plants included Vegetables, Annuals, Perennials, Ground Covers, Herbs, and Container Arrangements.  The prices ranged from $1.00 to $4.00 per pot with some special items priced as marked.  Over $2000 in sales were made on the first day in 4-5 hours!

My job was to be available as needed with the seasoned Master Gardeners in the lead with their previous experience.  Some of the things I did to help was to unload the plants from the flat bed trailers used to transport the plants from the greenhouse, price label using color-coded dots on each pot and any arrangement of plants in groups as instructed by the seasoned Master Gardeners.  As the customers began coming around, I was there as needed to hand out brochures about the pricing and available plants.  I answered questions about the different plants as best I could and found a seasoned Master Gardener to help with answers I didn't know.  Many of the customers also needed help carrying the plants.  The last half of my time there was spent at the check-out table helping track the numbers of customers, types of plants purchased, how the customer heard about our sale and any requests for plants we did not offer for next year.

Most rewarding were the smiles on all the faces on such a beautiful May Day as people plan and anticipate wonderful plants for their home gardens!  I'm not sure yet how the money will be spent but I will be attending monthly meetings to learn about ongoing projects that benefit our community.  A useful website for specific projects can be found at:   http://www.extension.missouri.edu/hickory  Go to the University of Missouri Extension Master Gardener then click on Current Projects.

The following Monday we had our final training and then On Thursday May 3rd, we graduated.  A nice potluck lunch was attended by all members and guests at the pavillion located at the Pomme de Terre Dam Office.  It was a beautiful day with a brief spring storm. 

 

My husband Keith is located on the right

Here I am receiving my Certification

 Our graduationg class

The lady with the pointing finger is to be my Mentor, Nancy Johnson, who is also my close neighbor

Master Gardening Buddies:  Beth Benanti from Bisbee Acres, Elizabeth Pearson from Hermitage, and Beth Nicholas from Bolivar.

I am very happy to receive this certificate and name badge

On Saturday May 5th, we had the final Plant Sale.  This time we kept the plants in the greenhouse and set-up the sale to the rear of the McCarty Senior Center.  As an added bonus, the Senior Center was hosting a Relay for Life Craft and Bake Sale which helped to bring more people to our sale too.  It was a very busy place!

Master Gardener Greenhouse located behind the McCarty Senior Center in Wheatland, Missouri.  I am fortunate to live only 5 miles away which will be close for me to help as needed.  The garden project is my favorite as I will find much reward in helping to produce fresh vegetables to be used in the Senior Center's meal program.  The money saved on their food budget can be used to offset the increase in prices.  Also, it is very satisfying to be a part of growing food about 100' from where it will be consumed!  About a week later, the gardens were all planted.  I helped by planting four of the raised beds with peppers and tomatoes.

 Here I am inside the greenhouse getting ready for the final sale.

The Vegetable Garden

  The Wisteria Arbor where we set-up to check out the plants purchased.  It was a good day!

A couple weeks later, Master Gardener's got together to work on the already established gardens and landscaping at the Settler's Village located in downtown Wheatland in the park one block off Highway 54.  The cabins were built years ago by another group using the old logs from various actual log cabins in the county in the same style and manner of construction.  It attracts a large crowd each September where craft venders and various activities are held for the public. 

Our task as Master Gardeners is to maintain plants that will be at their best in September.  On this morning, I did much of the weeding and others did the flower planting.  I will help with the watering as needed.