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PAGE 10A — THE MADISON COUNTY (GA) JOURNAL, THURSDAY. DECEMBER 17. 2009
Gardening
Master Gardener program
to be offered in January
If you are passionate about gardening, then
mark your calendar: The University of Georgia
Cooperative Extension office in Madison County
will conduct a Master Gardener certification pro
gram in January 2010.
A maximum of 20 participants will be selected
for the program, and will be trained and certified in
horticulture and related areas. Class topics include
basic botany; soil and plant nutrition; plant physiol
ogy; weed identification and control; troubleshoot
ing ornamental plant problems; landscape design;
composting; insects, diseases and weeds of vegetable
gardens; butterfly gardening and similar subjects.
“I have been a Master Gardener for over 10 years
and found it to be one of the most rewarding and
fun experiences ever,” local Master Gardener Sandra
Davis said. “You meet lots of other people who love
gardening and who like to get together to share infor
mation and have a great time.”
Courses will be taught by Northeast Georgia Area
County Extension agents, certified Master Gardeners
and instructors from the University of Georgia. The
program begins Jan. 26 and runs 11 weeks. Classes
will be held at the Madison County Senior Center
on Hwy. 98 in Danielsville from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on
Tuesdays and Thursdays. The cost is $90 per person
or $125 per couple, and includes one copy of the
Georgia Master Gardeners’ Handbook.
An application and the course fee must be submit
ted to the Cooperative Extension office in Danielsville
no later than Jan. 10.
Attendance is required, and Master Gardener train
ees must not miss more than two classes in order to
pass the course. Master gardener trainees who com
plete the 11-week course will need to donate 50
hours of volunteer service to the Extension office
in their home county in order to become a certi
fied Master Gardener; the volunteer hours must be
completed by Dec. 31, 2010. Once certification is
granted. Master Gardeners are required to donate
25 volunteer hours a year in order to maintain their
certification.
"It sounds like such a time commitment that
at first my wife and I were worried it would be
too much and would be hard to balance,” said Ed
Gilmore, who took the course with his wife in
fall 2003. “But the classes were so informative,
and it was all about a subject that we love, so the
time flew by and honestly, we didn’t want to miss
a class.
"The volunteer hours were very easy to get,”
Gilmore added. “The activities are always related
to gardening, and you’re surrounded by people
who love to garden and who love to talk about
plants. So it never feels like you’re actually work
ing to accumulate volunteer hours. In fact, our first
year I think my wife and I got well over 100 vol
unteer hours each - and we loved every minute.”
Master Gardener trainees who complete the
course can opt to join the Madison County Master
Gardener’s Association, which is made up of
Master Gardeners in Madison County and neigh
boring areas. The group holds plant sales and does
volunteer garden projects for non-profit organiza
tions in the Madison County area.
For more information and to get an application
for the fall program, contact the Madison County
Cooperative Extension office at 706-795-2281.
Farm Bureau honored at GFB
convention at Jekyll Island
MCREA COLLECTS TOYS FOR NEEDY CHILDREN
Sally Boleman, Madison County Retired Educators Association President, sits among
the mound of toys collected by MCREAmembers at their December Christmas luncheon.
The toys were donated to benefit needy children in Madison County this Christmas sea
son. The group also collects canned goods monthly for the county’s food bank. Glenda
Bridges, accompanied by Beverly Chandler, led the group in a songfest and concluded
with a beautiful solo presentation of “O Holy Night,” organizers said. Kate Finch, Area
XVII Regional Director, was on hand for the meeting. Congratulations were extended
to the association members for the group’s recognition by the state for having a 10 per
cent growth in membership during the past year. All area retired educators are invited
to attend the next meeting, which will be held Jan. 12, 11 a.m., at the Ila Restaurant.
Lisa Bridges will present a hands-on program on nutrition.
The Madison County Farm
Bureau was recognized as one of
the top county Farm Bureau pro
grams in the state during the 71st
Annual GFB Convention Dec.
6-8, on Jekyll Island.
The county chapter was named
a finalist for the prestigious
McKemie Award — the highest
honor that a county Farm Bureau
in the state can receive — in rec
ognition of the activities it spon
sored during the past year to pro
mote agriculture.
“We appreciate the numerous
activities Madison County Farm
Bureau has conducted during the
past year to increase awareness
of agriculture in your commu
nity and your commitment to our
state organization,” GFB President
Zippy Duvall said.
MCFB was one of nine county
Farm Bureaus to be recognized
as a finalist in the more than
3,000 member category. Terry
Stephenson is president of the
Madison County Farm Bureau.
Founded in 1937, Georgia Farm
Bureau is the state’s largest gen
eral farm organization. The orga
nization has 158 county offices. Its
volunteer members actively par
ticipate in local, district and state
activities that promote agriculture
awareness to their non-farming
neighbors. GFB also has 20 com
modity advisory committees that
give the organization input on
issues pertinent to the major com
modities grown in Georgia.
Pictured from left, Georgia Farm Bureau President Zippy
Duvall presents Madison County Farm Bureau President
Terry Stephenson a Georgia plate in recognition of the
county being named a finalist for the GFB McKemie Award
during the 71st Annual GFB Convention held Dec. 6-8, on
Jekyll Island.
Support
Nadison County
•1: [•]
LOCALLY
Sponsored by
The Madison County
Chamber of Commerce
MASTER GARDENERS DONATE TO TOY DRIVE
Master Gardeners Pam Clough, Joyce Bennett, and Sandra Davis look at the Christmas
toys collected by the Madison County Master Gardeners Association for donation
to Madison County ACTION, Inc. for distribution to needy children in the county.
Assistance with the toy drive has become an annual event for the Master Gardeners
and more toys than ever were collected at their Christmas party last week, members
said.
$3,800 RAISED
Madison County
Emergency Services
raised $3,800 during
their recent toy ride
to help needy chil
dren in the county.
Shown (L-R) are
Emergency Services
representatives
Richard Spurlin,
Food Bank direc
tor Bobbie Rooker,
David Patton and
Dwayne Patton.
Margie Richards/staff.
City of Hull
BUDGET MEETING
The City of Hull will hold a work session on their 2010
Budget beginning at 6:30 p.m. on December 21,2009,
at the Hull City Hall, 1326 Old Elberton Road, Hull,
Georgia. Public input is welcome. The budget will be
presented for a vote at the regular meeting beginning
at 7:00 p.m. on December 21,2009.
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