Lunch & Learn
 

Alice Massey, Master Gardener Extraordinaire, read about a Lunch and Learn program being offered by the Charleston Horticultural Society, and brought the idea to the Board.

Sandra Educate thought that the Saturday Farmer’s Market in Port Royal would be a great venue, and the Manager, Kit Bruce, thought it was wonderful, too.

And thus was born the 2011 Lunch and Learn series. We decided against charging an admittance fee, since our cost would be minimal. We simply asked people to come to “the big oak tree behind the Master Gardener table” at the Saturday Port Royal Farmer’s Market, and to bring a lawn chair and questions.

Press Releases were sent to the newspapers, emails to LMGA members and anyone else we could think of! We asked some local specialty nurseries to host and speak at classes, and Master Gardeners to teach.

These free, open air classes were held every other Saturday beginning May 21st through October lst, with a six week recess during the hottest weeks of summer.

Laura Lee’s class “Planting a Fall Garden” was an outstanding success with over 50 people attending. Wendy Wilson donated a dozen cartons of red wiggler worms to give away at our vermiculture class. People learned about drip irrigation, plant propagation, cold frames, camellias, citrus, lasagna gardening and so much more.

Our speakers included Master Gardeners Alice Massey, Sandra Educate and Hugh Jamison, and specialty nursery representatives Ned Rahn and George Cannon. And of course, our own Laura Lee.

Lunch and Learn was successful beyond our expectations. We hope to draw even more people next year. If you have a gardening specialty and would like to host a class, please contact Sandra Educate at silkroad@embarqmail.com.
 

The Hunting Island Nature Center

 

St. Peter's Catholic School

It was Bulb Day on November 15th at St. Peter’s School on Lady’s Island. The Lowcountry Master Gardeners Association donated money to buy bulbs for the St. Peter’s Garden Club. The club meets every other Tuesday after school to cultivate, weed and water their vegetable gardens, but this year, they wanted to add something new.

Teacher Bonnie Goltz approached the LMGA asking for Master Gardener help to plant a cutting garden for the children. The LMGA Board agreed that this was a terrific idea to keep children involved in gardening. Almost 500 daffodil bulbs were ordered from a wholesale source.

Master Gardeners Pat Lauzon, Cathy Roland and Sandra Educate, as well as several parent volunteers, showed up with trowels and gloves, and with about 25 children, went to work. The kids were instructed about how deep and how far apart the bulbs should go. The bulbs were parceled out among the children, and they planted them among the existing flower beds. They didn’t manage to get them all planted, but they’ll finish up next Garden Day.  Their most exciting moments seemed to be the worms they encountered!! They planted those, too.

Next spring, when the daffodils start to peek out of the earth, the children will be so proud!

If you know of a worthwhile project that could use Master Gardener help, contact your local Area
Co-ordinator.

Northern Beaufort Pat Lauzon    dklauzon@gmail.com
Hilton Head Chris Rosenbach     crrlbeach@aol.com
Bluffton Gail Havens                   gailhavens@hargray.com

Use “Master Gardener Project” in the subject line.

Port Royal Farmer's Market
at Heritage Park on Ribaut Road by the Naval Hospital

If you’re not at the Port Royal Farmer’s Market on Saturday mornings, you’re missing out on a lot of fun. The LMGA Information Table buzzes with activity. You never know which Master Gardeners will show up, but show up they do. Sometimes the table is the busiest at the market. A not-to-be forgotten moment was one when four Master Gardeners, sitting in a row, were all hunched over their Ipods, Blackberries, etc., looking like birds on a wire. Actually, they were searching the web for information on a plant for a questioner. The Master Gardeners have established a real presence at the market. People come in with plants to identify, pests and diseases to discuss, and general gardening questions. So many times the volunteers hear how grateful people are to have this resource. These volunteers are really carrying out the stated mission of Master Gardeners: The mission of the Clemson Extension Master Gardener Program is to select, train, and utilize knowledgeable volunteers to facilitate the educational work of the local Consumer Horticulture Agent, by delivering researched-based information to citizens of the state. So arrange your Saturday mornings to be a volunteer at the Port Royal Farmer’s Market. Just show up with your folding chair. To again repeat Alice Massey’s statement; “The Port Royal Farmer’s Market is the most fun you’ll have as a Master Gardener”. And it is.