The handiwork of Master Gardeners highlights homes, businesses and schools in Chilton County and wouldn’t exist without a group of people who share a penchant for planting and a love for nature.
Master Gardeners Margaret Goolsby and Ann Baker have gardening skills in spades, and they put their skills to good use all year.
Goolsby, who is currently serving as president of the Chilton County Master Gardeners Association, joined in 2006 as a way to channel her love of gardening into community service.
“It’s a great bunch to belong with,” Goolsby said. “I like everything that we do. I was raised up with my mother gardening every year, but there’s always so much more to learn.”
Baker has been an active CCMGA member since 2004, but like Goolsby, she has been a gardener her entire life.
“That was my mother’s hobby,” Baker said. “I guess I just kind of followed in her footsteps.”
Both women said the camaraderie that comes with being a Master Gardener is a prime reason to join, and the friendships extend beyond the group’s monthly meetings.
“Those people are the sweetest people you would ever want to meet,” Baker said. “They’re devoted people that want to help the community. It’s just a wonderful group of people.”
CCMGA operates from the Chilton County Extension Office, but members also go to local communities for projects and events.
Each member must accumulate 50 hours of community service per year.
CCMGA claims members who travel from Birmingham, Tuscaloosa and Rainbow City to participate in Chilton County.
“They say our program is one of the best in the state,” Baker said. “We do a lot of fun things together, but at the same time, we’re trying to promote our group.”
They recently finished landscaping at the Chamber of Commerce, and Baker said they usually have a booth at the Thorsby Swedish Fest and the Peach Festival.
“We’ve gone out and worked with people that aren’t able,” Baker said. “It’s rewarding to be able to do things for other people.”
The Alabama Master Gardener Program is a branch of the Alabama Cooperative Extension Service. CCMGA receives assistance from Auburn University and Limestone County MGA.
CCMGA members pay dues every year and raise funds through plant sales and other fundraisers.
“The money that we make off of those projects goes to Auburn, to the state Master Gardener fund,” Baker said. “We have a grant that they give to a student each year to go to school (at Auburn).”
Local schools benefit from the efforts of Master Gardeners, too. Beautifying the grounds of the SPAN Program (formerly CITY Program) in Clanton is next on the CCMGA agenda.
“I think everybody loves something attractive and pretty,” Baker said. “It makes people have a good feeling. It makes us proud.” t
Class to start Jan. 11
A green thumb is not required to participate in the Master Gardener Volunteer Program beginning Jan. 11 at the Chilton County Extension Office in Clanton. This nationwide extension education program is designed to train anyone interested in gardening to help others solve their home horticulture problems.
The class is open to non-professionals with an interest in increasing their gardening skills and reaching out to others in need of advice or assistance. The class will meet every Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for 12 weeks, and after completing the course, Master Gardener interns will be expected to fulfill 50 hours of volunteer service for their communities.
“They become a certified Master Gardener when they complete all their classes and their 50 hours of community service,” said Gay West, county extension coordinator. “Once they get that, they can get their Master Gardener badge.”
Examples of volunteer efforts that will count toward the 50 hours include giving garden club programs, community garden projects, diagnosing plant programs or assisting the Cooperative Extension Office in some way.
Specialists from the Alabama Cooperative Extension System and the Chilton County Extension Office will be the course instructors. Topics to be covered include soils and plant nutrition, plant physiology, entomology, plant pathology, care of landscape plants, landscape design, plant selection, lawn care, weed identification, houseplants, vegetable gardening, home orchards and plant propagation.
Registration is $100 per person or $150 per couple, and the class is limited to 20 people. Registration will be conducted on a first-come, first-served basis and will remain open until the 20 spots are filled.
For more information about the class, contact the Chilton County Extension Office at (205) 280-6268.