Announcements

CCMGA Partners with Habitat for Humanity

Posted on by trisha

Chilton County Master Gardeners partnered with Habitat for Humanity to rehabilitate the landscape of a recent Habitat for Humanity home in Clanton. Kimberly Lyn, master gardener and Habitat Board member coordinated the landscape project. The existing landscape was evaluated and a low maintenance update was planned. Over several weeks several CCMGA members raked leaves, prepared beds, and pruned trees and shrubs. They planted tea olives, knockout roses, and daylilies, spread mulch and even laid sod. This project fits perfectly with the mission of Chilton County Master Gardeners.

MGs working at Habitat House

 

Crazy Chocolate Cake

Posted on by trisha

Crazy Chocolate Cake is a quick and easy handed down recipe that Trisha William’s mother used to make for an after school snack.  When cool, frost with Crazy Chocolate Icing  or top with whipped cream and a drizzle of chocolate syrup. Serve from the pan! There are no eggs or milk in the cake. After school snacks have really changed over the years!

Crazy Chocolate Cake

Mix the cake right in an 8×8 pan (It may be easier to use a mixing bowl and then pour into the ungreased or lightly greased pan). Combine the dry ingredients:

1 1/2 c. flour
1 c. sugar
1 t. baking soda
1/4 t. salt
4 T. cocoa

Make 4 dents in the dry ingredient mixture for the following:

4 T. salad oil
1 t. vanilla
1 T. vinegar
1 c. water

Mix until well blended and bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 30 minutes.

Crazy Chocolate Icing

2 T. butter
1/4 c. cocoa
1c. confectioner’s sugar
1 T. milk (more if needed)
1/4 t. vanilla

Melt butter and stir in cocoa, place in mixing bowl. Beat in confectioner’s sugar, milk, and vanilla. Beat on medium for approximately 5 minutes or until smooth. Spread on cool cake.
Recipe provided by Trisha Williams.

Crazy Chocolate Cake

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

 

 

Home for the Holidays Fundraiser

Posted on by audrey
master gardner at Home for the Holidays
Left: Harriett Jackson, M.G. and  jewelry vendor. Right:  Representatives of Butterfly Bridge

Chilton County Master Gardeners hosted a “Home for the Holidays” fundraiser this year for the first time.  Vice President Sondra Henley held the event at her house October 15, 2016.  CCMGA partnered with Butterfly Bridge and a portion of the proceeds will benefit the Children’s Advocacy Center in Clanton. There were many days of preparation which included cleaning, decorating, and displaying vendor’s items in the home. There was also a tasting table with all dishes prepared by some of the members. This included cream cheese cigar rolls with peach salsa, mini cold skewers, turnip green soup, Lee’s cornbread, Arnold Palmer tea, and peach upside down cake. A candy table ( all you could put in the box for $5.00) and raffle basket with all proceeds from these two going solely to Butterfly Bridge was very popular. Door prizes were drawn for every 15 minutes. We think the event was a success and plan to have it again in the future. Also for your enjoyment is a SMILEBOX  to watch for more photos.

Celebrating Octoberfest at Monthly Meeting

Posted on by audrey

October’s meeting was a celebration of all things German; food, decorations, stories, all depicting the life of Germany. CCMGA member Wally Walters presented an excellent description of what it’s like to visit Germany, and she should know, she was born in Germany! The food the many members brought was fabulous, with many of the items labeled with the English name and also the German name.
Our program was presented by CCMGA member Margie Robertson, who is a Master Beekeeper and a member of the Shelby County Beekeeper’s Association. She did an excellent job of describing the bee’s life cycle, and how they go about gathering nectar for the honey. Margie  did this without the aid of a PowerPoint, which wasn’t really missed, as she did such a wonderful job of describing everything in vivid color!