Rain boots and April Flowers

Bright rain boots filled with spring flowers welcomed us to our April Chilton County Master Gardener meeting, thanks to Hospitality leader, Lyn Webb.

Congratulations to Intern Joan Crocker, who was awarded her Master Gardener badge and certificate.

 Mollie Smith, Auburn School of Fisheries manager, presented a program on Aquaponics. She described the system used at AU and also showed how a smaller scale home version could be set up. Fish are grown in tanks and the water is used to water and fertilize plants. The fish, usually Tilapia, are also harvested. AU has had great success growing vine crops with their system. 

 Photos by Diane Clapp.

Charla with program speaker
V.P. Charla Giles and speaker Mollie Smith
Joan Crocker received certificate
Joan Crocker
speaker Mollie Smith
Speaker Mollie Smith, A U Fisheries Manager
Hospitality lead Lyn Webb
Hospitality Lead Lyn Webb
Members enjoy the meeting
Members at meeting 4-21

Best Plant Sale EVER!

We want to thank all the people that came out to our plant sale today at Goose Pond Park. Thanks to all of you, it was a huge success, more than we could ever imagine! We also want to thank all of our Master Gardener volunteers, there were many, so I won’t try to name all of them, but Thank You, you all did a great job! Also the weather cooperated so we won’t need our rain date of April 24. Here are some photos taken today by Diane Clapp and Gay West.

Volunteers at plant sale

The Discovery Center is a “Work in Progress”!

Today was a fun day!!  Some of the Chilton County Master Gardeners spent their morning helping plant a garden in the Discovery Center at Jemison Intermediate School (JIS).

The Discovery Center has been made possible by grants from Cawaco RC&D Inc., Central Alabama Electric Coop, and also from donations from state representative Jimmy Martin (who passed away last year), Jason Powell and Petals from the Past, and several other volunteers. The garden consists of a Sensory Garden, a Pollinator Garden that includes several plants that are native to the state of Alabama, and in the near future, an Analemmatic sundial. They also have several raised bed vegetable gardens and a pavilion. Areas to be added include a wildlife habitat, a walking trail, a greenhouse and a weather station.

Rachel Mims is the gifted specialist teacher responsible for the outdoor classroom. Jason Powell, owner of Petals from the Past, was also instrumental in getting this project off the ground by designing the garden and donating all the plant materials, landscaping materials and being there to help. Also present today were several current and retired teachers and parents.

CCMGA looks forward to continuing to work on this project and we are grateful to be a part of it.  This is what we are all about; teaching and beautifying the community.

Photos by Audrey Giles and Susan Cleckler

Volunteers at Jemison Discovery Center
Volunteers at Jemison Discovery Center
Workers at Jemison Discovery Center
Volunteers at Jemison Discovery Center
Workers at Jemison School
Workers at Jemison I. School
Volunteers at Jemison School

Outside, Socially Distanced, Masked!

Chilton County Master Gardeners met for the last time this year at the old meeting place, outside at the Little House at Chilton Research and Extension Center. There was a great turnout, with 30 members, 8 interns, and 1 guest present.

Alice Broom, nominating committee chair, presented the nominations for the 2021 officers. Nominees were President, Pat Farmer; Vice President, Charla Doucet; Treasurer, Audrey  Giles; and Secretary Treasia Bennett. President Susan Cleckler asked for any nominations from the Floor and none where given. Lanell Baker made a motion to accept the nominating committee’s recommendations for 2021 Officers.  Larry Jones seconded the motion. The Association agreed to the nominations, and the motion passed.

Membership chairman Trisha Williams presented Intern Linda Church, who completed the required hours for membership, her membership badge, certificate of completion, a CCMGA T-shirt and a copy of the bylaws.

Chilton County Master Gardeners are still in the process of locating a meeting place for their meetings for the second Tuesday of every month. Also, we will not be having a Christmas Luncheon this year. Due to the Pandemic, the Board felt that we could not safely serve food and socially distance ourselves. We will not have a December meeting since we do not have a large enough meeting space that would keep us out of any cold weather.

Stay tuned for bigger and better things to come in 2021!!

Linda Church gets certificate
Linda Church gets certificate.

Finally Back Together!!

Masked and socially distanced, Chilton County Master Gardeners met at Goosepond Park Pavilion on October 13 for the first time since the March Covid 19 shutdown. It was a day to celebrate meeting again and a day of congratulations. Four of our Interns have completed volunteer hours for certification and three were present to receive their badges and certificates. Congratulations to Patricia Agee, Gail Brooks, Jim Rabey and Linda Church (not present)!

A highlight of our meeting was the presentation of the 2020 AMGA Garry Murray Award for Outstanding Service and Dedication to our own County Extension Coordinator, Gay West. Gay has been exceptionally supportive of the ACES Master Gardener Training Program and of the Chilton County Master Gardeners Association. Thanks to Sondra Henley and Harriett Jackson for nominating Gay for this award.
Photos/ Diane Clapp
Article/ Trisha Williams

Extension Office Cleanup!

A few years ago, the Chilton County Master Gardeners took over the landscape around the C.C. Extension Office. The appearance around the building (former Health Office) has really improved. Former President Sondra Henley was the one who spearheaded this project and this year she is the Extension Office Committee Chairman. Today was a beautiful day for her and some of our Interns to work on pruning and cleaning up all the landscaping around the building and around the sign. And for the interns to get some hours they’ve been missing since the COVID shutdown.
Photo by Audrey Giles

Interns cleaning at E.O.
L-R Sharon Hosch, Patty Frye, Ruby Moberg, Sondra

More Interns Finish their tests!

Due to the Covid-19 Stay at Home order, the 2020 Chilton County Master Gardener class members have been studying and completing tests on the remaining class topics at home. The ones shown below have all turned in their tests and passed with flying colors! Once we can hold classes again we will reschedule the remaining classes. We look forward to the time when they can join our association members in MG and Extension activities and complete certification requirements.

Congratulations MG Class

Due to the Covid-19 Stay at Home order, the 2020  Chilton County Master Gardener class members have been studying and completing tests on the remaining class topics at home. Once we can hold classes again we will reschedule the remaining classes. We look forward to the time when they can join our association members in MG and Extension activities and complete certification requirements. Congratulations to Patricia Agee, Gail Brooks, Linda Church, Joan Crocker, Julie Garris, Sharon Hosch, Peggy McGraw, Ruby Moberg, Jane Rabey and Jim Rabey for completing and passing all their tests!