News

Fruit Workshop and Grape Pruning

Posted on by trisha

Chilton County Master Gardeners  attended a Small Fruit and Grape Production Workshop on March 8 at the Chilton Research and Extension Center.  Dr. Elina Coneva, Auburn University Department of Horticulture spoke on blueberry and grape varieties and gave a demonstration in the field on pruning European hybrid grape vines. Dr. Edgar Vinson, Extension Horticulture Specialist, discussed commercial strawberry production.  Kevin Burkett, Regional Extension Agent for Farm and Agribusiness Management, spoke on Commercial Farm Budgeting. A muscadine pruning demonstration was given by Matthew Price, CREC Research Assisstant. Our Master Gardeners found the workshop to very interesting and informative.

In preparation for the fruit workshop, Chilton County  Master Gardeners volunteered at the CREC pruning  grape vines. On the first day Diane Clapp, Lamar Giles, Bill Hairrell, Sondra Henley, Harriett Jackson, Rick Miller, Alan Reed and Lee Walters helped. The second day the MG volunteers were Alice Broome, Lamar Giles, Harriett Jackson, Rick Miller, Alan Reed, Lee Walters and Sue Webb.  Harriett Jackson and Alan Reed finished up on the third day.

Photos by Harriett Jackson

 

Master Gardener prunning grapes

Master Gardeners pruning vines

Helping ACES With Activities

Posted on by audrey

The interns in the 2017 CCMGA Master Gardener Class are stepping up and volunteering with many activities these days. One of the recent events was an ACES Nutrition Education Program presented by Lisa McCullough at the YMCA for soccer sign-up day. Intern Zuly Lemus served as Spanish interpreter for the event. Pam Ousley held a Chef 4-H program at the ACES office and her helpler was MG intern Joyce Lawson.  Joyce also serves on the 4-H Advisory Council, along with CCMGA members Pat and Jerry Farmer.

Photos by Gay West

2017 AMGA Conference

Posted on by trisha

It is time to make plans to attend the 2017 AMGA Conference, Gardening Heritage, in Huntsville, AL May 1-3. The events will be held at the Huntsville Botanical Gardens on Monday and the Jackson Center on Tuesday and Wednesday.  You will not want to miss the great speakers, workshops, Silent Auction, vendors, seed saver exchange or the door prizes! Find a friend to travel with and make your reservations now. Anyone registered before February 28 will be in a drawing for a refund of your registration! All MGs should have received the conference brochure by mail but the brochure and online registration can be found at Alabama Master Gardener Association .  Those of us that have attended before can assure you that it will be fun and educational as well.

2017 MG Intern Class

Posted on by audrey

Nelson Wynn, ACES Agent III, welcomes everyone to the 2017 Master Gardener Intern Class. We are so excited to have 20 participants signed up this year to take the class! Sometimes for our small county, it’s difficult to have the minimum 15 people sign up. We look forward to working with each and every one of them and them becoming members as soon as they get certified! Of course, they’ll hopefully be coming to our regular monthly meetings, the second Tuesday of each month, held at the Jemison Municipal Complex building in Jemison. Here’s a Smilebox of a few more photos from the 1st day.

 

2017 mg class

January Meeting

Posted on by audrey

Our first meeting of the year was a very interesting and informative one. Tracy Britnell, owner of Creative Elements Landscape & Garden Design, presented the program on “Sustainable Landscaping”.  Tracy has degrees in Design & Merchandising, Interior Design, and Landscape Design.  She completed her certification in Permaculture Design at Spiral Ridge Permaculture with Cliff Davis in 2013.  When time permits, Tracy offers consultations as well as detailed design plans. She specializes in outdoor rooms, foundation plans, cottage garden designs, edible landscape design,  and practicing  permaculture design principles. Her passion is organic and sustainable gardening and living. Oh, and not to forget, she is also a Master Gardener, since 2004! Thank you, Tracy, for a great program!

speaker at January meeting

December Meeting

Posted on by audrey

Our December Christmas meeting was a change from the norm, we had soup, salad, and different kinds of cornbread. The dessert was homemade cookies and rainbow sherbet. We had several guests in attendance and a few of the members played Dirty Santa afterwards.

Christmas Home Tour 2016

Posted on by audrey

Our 4th Annual Christmas Home Tour was held this year on December 11th and was a big success. The homeowners  were Gene and Peggy Martin, Randy and Judy Rockett, and Aaron and Amber Shelnutt. We are looking forward to the 2017 Christmas Home Tour! Here is a Smilebox slideshow of more photos from the tour.

 

December Lunch and Learn

Posted on by audrey

Our Lunch and Learn was presented this month by Master Gardener Ann Baker on December 7th. The program was about decorating with items from nature, how to make a beautiful bow, and also everyone there made a “Make and Take” decoration.  The Lunch  and Learn programs are held at the Extension Office from 12-1 p.m. These are free and all you do is bring a sack Lunch, drinks are provided! Future Lunch and Learn programs will be announced.

Planting Downtown Clanton

Posted on by audrey

Some of the Chilton County Master Gardeners helped plant all the large planters in downtown Clanton on November 15th. This is always a fun event that we look forward to every year. The city buys the plants, the workers place them in the planters where they want them, we plant them and give them our loving touch, then the workers come back and water them in. This year we planted pansies and ornamental kale, so keep an eye on downtown  Clanton, it’s going to be pretty!

November CCMGA Meeting

Posted on by trisha

At the November CCMGA meeting Master Gardeners enjoyed learning about Habitat for Humanity. Lisa Green, Executive Director for Chilton/Autauga Habitat for Humanity, presented information about how families qualify to become homeowners. She also explained how community organizations help through providing volunteers or donations. CCMGA Secretary Kimberly Lyn has coordinated landscaping and Master Gardener volunteers for the current Chilton Habitat for Humanity home.

Kimberly and guest at meeting