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Our speaker for our April 10th meeting was Holly Wadleigh of the Montevallo Community Garden at the University of Montevallo. Many students work the gardens as part of class requirements. Last year about 1800 pounds of vegetables were grown in the garden and donated to the Shelby Assistance Center. The garden is supported in part by the sale of herbs and vegetables started from seed in their greenhouse.
Author: audrey
Craft Day at Sondra’s
Several members of CCMGA met at President Sondra Henley’s garage this week to finish up the hyper tufa planters and tree faces they started last month. These items will be for sale at the upcoming yard and plant sale to be held April 21st at the Chilton County Extension Office. Pictured are Pat Farmer, Alice Broome, Debbie Housner, Jackie Hickman, Treasia Bennett, Wally Walters, Susan Cleckler, and Robin Cagle.
2019 AMGA Conference Steering Committee
The Chilton County Master Gardener Association will host the Alabama Master Gardener Association’s annual Spring Conference May 8,9 and 10 of 2019 at the Clanton Performing Arts Center.
The 2019 AMGA Spring Conference Steering Committee met for lunch at Bertolone’s today as Bertolone’s is being considered for the AMGA 2019 Spring Conference Banquet caterer. Sonia had prepared a special tasting lunch comprised of chicken Alfredo, beef lasagna and red sauce and spaghetti, served with their house salad and dressing and a dessert plate of tasting size Strawberry and Zebra cakes. Those members of the steering committee who live outside of Chilton County were very impressed with this wonderful Italian restaurant in downtown Clanton.
One does not have to be a Master Gardener to attend. Details for vendors and registration will be announced soon. Not pictured, Treasia Bennett.
Sharing our Journey to 501(c) 3
On March 8, CCMGA members Steve McAnally, Sondra Henley, Harriett Jackson, and Susan Cleckler attended the Autauga County MGA’s evening meeting. They were asked to present how the Chilton County MGA went about obtaining their 501 (c) 3 status.
The group met several times to develop a presentation Power Point and manual. Thanks to Steve McAnally the PPT was colorful, animated and easy to understand. He went the extra mile adding links and suggested resources.
The presentation was well received, and the CCMGA group was encouraged to “get the word out”.
New Landscape for Extension Office
Lee Walters, Susan Cleckler, Joyce Lawson, Diane Clapp and Sondra Henley (not pictured) lined the back bed at the extension office with veneer cast stone. The bed will hold hydrangeas and other plant material. (photos by Sondra Henley)
February Awards Meeting
Our February meeting is the time of year we present our awards. But as our usual procedure, we had our program first, which was presented by David Doggett, a Jefferson County MG and a tour guide at Aldridge Gardens in Birmingham. His program and great PowerPoint was on the Aromi Azalea. This was a very in-depth and interesting program. The Aromi Azalea may be seen at Aldridge Gardens. Thank you, Mr. Doggett,
for the presentation.
Our awards were as follows:
Nominees for MASTER GARDENER OF THE YEAR: Alice Broome and Lee and Wally Walters- winner: ALICE BROOME
PROJECT OF THE YEAR: Habitat for Humanity Project and Phase 4 of Chilton County Extension Office landscape- winner: PHASE 4
OF THE C.C. EXTENSION OFFICE LANDSCAPE
TOP TEN HOURS: First Place: Tied Harriett Jackson, 305 hours and Alice Broome 304.25 hours
Second Place: Alan Reed, 237.5 hours Third Place: Audrey Giles 227.5 hours
Others in TOP TEN HOURS: Sondra Henley, Pat Farmer, Trisha Williams, Joyce Lawson, and Lee Walters.
TOP INTERN HOURS: Susan Cleckler, 258.75 hours
STAR AWARDS: BRONZE- Donna Babin, Susan Cleckler, Faye Collins, Skip Coulter, Lattie Hardy, Spencer Hardy, Joyce Lawson, Sherry Ray,
Elaine Webb, and Elizabeth York.
GOLD-Anita McGhee and Ann Moore
EMERALD: Sondra Henley
BADGE AWARDS:
GOLD: Imogene Bresse, Jimmy Knowles, and Mildred Knowles
Also recognized was HELPLINE COORDINATOR Lanell Baker and Debbie Housner and Larry Jones. Lanell received a Gold pin as coordi-
nator and Debbie and Larry received a Bronze pin for working 3 days on the helpline.
We had 30 in attendance, with 3 visitors: Teresa Freeman, our Intern-in-waiting; Nelson Wynn, our County Agent; and our speaker, David
Doggett.
Here is a slideshow of photos from the awards program.
Composting in the New Year
Our January meeting for 2018 got off to a great start, despite the snow and terrible flu season we are having. Our President, Sondra Henley read her Presidents Message 2018. She was also presented with a gift for her leadership as president for 2017.
Our new Vice President, Susan Cleckler, introduced the speakers for today’s program. Rose McCauley and Paula Seamon are from Autauga County and both have an Advanced MG Certificate in Vermicomposting and Composting. They gave a very good program on backyard composting, raising worms for composting, and how to reduce, reuse, and recycle everyday items from around the house.
Rick Miller presented his ideas of building and maintaining a greenhouse. Many of the members seemed very interested in this. There will be more information in the near future.
2018 President’s Message
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE FOR 2018
Thank you for putting your trust in me to administrate and lead another year. Having met with the Board to review the activity opportunities and the 2018 proposed budget, CCMGA’s progress amazes me.
In 2006, twelve years ago, I took the MG Class. I too wondered how and where I would achieve those 50 certification hours. When one reviews the Activities List you can understand why we say we partner with ACES. They need us and we need them. ACES will arrange education in QuickBooks, Word, Excel, Power Point, Publisher and Photos for us this year. CCMGA has members that are MG representatives on various committees associated with ACES and Chilton County.
Not only is our partnership with ACES important but our CCMGA projects are too. This year we plan to put a permanent cover over the Shade Garden at the CREC site and finish Phase 5 at the Demo Garden located at the Extension Office. Phase 5 will be located at the backside of the office building. This bed will house hydrangeas and other plant material.
Our commitment to host the 2019 AMGA Conference will cost us time and energy as we begin to put plans in place. We will be building tabletops and stenciling them with checker boards. Contracts must be signed with food and other vendors. Silent Auction items must be gathered and signage made. Speakers must be scheduled. Decorations must be planned and design executed for each conference activity.
Along with our projects, we have fund raisers to organize. This spring we will host a “Garage Sale Type” event including a plant sale. As you bring in your new, don’t forget to bring us your old. Items that are gently used and in good repair are needed, including clothes and shoes. Small appliances, books, curtains, wall décor, etc.
CCMGA is as busy as the bees we all want in our gardens. I hope you will join me in expectation of this new year.
Sondra Henley, 2018 President CCMGA
Message from V.P. Susan Cleckler
Well it is that time again, time for the annual Master Gardener Class!
My name is Susan M Cleckler and after meeting my husband, JC Cleckler, I moved to Chilton County. I have lived here for 10 years, and have always been interested in taking the Master Gardener class, and last year I decided it was time!
After 12 weeks of great speakers, “hands on” classes, field trips, and more information than you can imagine, I cannot say enough about this program. Everyone that takes this class walks away with more knowledge than they came in with. And, now, after attending the class and volunteering for 50 hours, I am a Certified Master Gardener. If you want to learn about vegetable gardening, flower gardening, fruit trees, composting, soil conditions, garden pests or lawn problems, etc. this program will not disappoint. Also, there is an Advanced Certificate in specified areas that you can work toward. It is hard for me to say what my favorite part of this program was, because all of it was so GREAT! I didn’t want the class to end because of the camaraderie and friendships that were made during this special class time.
Master Gardeners work with the Chilton County Extension Office and the Chilton County Research and Extension Center. With the local office coordinator and agents, we help communities with information on gardening, landscaping, community projects, civic projects as well as educational activities. The Master Gardeners have a Demonstration Garden at the Chilton County Research Center that is for all to enjoy and learn from. As one of our fundraisers, we have a Christmas Home Tour that showcases area homes decorated for the public to see and we also have an annual plant sale.
For more information on the Master Gardener Program, go by the Chilton County Extension office located at 504 1st Ave., Clanton, AL 35045, or call 1-205-280-6268.
To hear great speakers, join us on the second Tuesday of each month for the Chilton County Master Gardener Association meetings, held at the Jemison City Hall, 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Programs begin approximately 10:00 a.m.
Here is a Smilebox slideshow of photos of Susan during her internship.
Certifications and Dirty Santa!
December was a big month! We had the Christmas Home Tour on Dec. 10th, then our Christmas Luncheon on Dec. 12th. Three more of our 2017 class interns received their certification in December 2017. Lola Patterson received hers on December 10th at the Chilton Extension office. James Talley and Daniel Castleberry received theirs at the Christmas Luncheon meeting which was held at Petals from the Past. We had a fun Christmas meeting with a short business meeting, lots of good food, and many stayed and played Dirty Santa. I think everyone enjoyed having it back at the “Barn”! Go to Smilebox for a slideshow of photos of the meeting.
