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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. Social Security Disability Denied? Call us today to set the benefits you deserve! Hynes & Associates LLC Disability Advocates 678-935-3923 or Toll Free 1-866-460-0903 P. O. 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