Anne Arundel Co.

Anne Arundel MG Program Annual Report 2005

1. Basic Information
# of active MGs    97
# of interns    22
# of volunteer hours    6043.55

2. Plant Clinics
# of active plant clinic sites    1
# of plant clinics    29
# of residents served at plant clinics    2450

3. Bay-Wise
# of new yards certified as Bay-Wise (MGs and other residents)     13 in 2005
# of total Bay-Wise certified yards (all years combined)     11 in 2004       253 total

4. Composting

# of composting demonstration sites: 1 site with 15 demonstration units

# of residents who received a compost bin: 206

5. Classes taught

# of classes/workshops taught by MGs 16 (different projects ranged from 3 to 16 classes/workshops per project)

# of residents educated 6043.55

6. Awards/recognition:
• YWCA Certificate for Arden House.

• Invite to Participate in the Friends of the Anne Arundel County Trails Annual Meeting for the B&A Trail Bay-Wise Demonstration Garden.

• Honorable Mention and Exemplary Contributions by Director of Horticulture for London Town Propagation.

• Memorials from Family of Deceased for Monastery Garden.

• 2005 Blue Heron Award for Quiet Waters Composting and Native Plant GardensProject.

7. Grants:
Unity Garden Grant of $1000 was awarded to Apprentice Gardeners for teaching children and their families how to grow plants in an environmentally sound sustainable manner.

Unity Garden Grant of $1000 was carried over from past year for Arden House for teaching children vegetable gardening.

Unity Garden Grant of $1000 was carried over from past year for B&A Trail Bay-Wise Demonstration Garden to construct beds and plant material.

Unity Garden Grant of $1000 and Friends of Quiet Waters Donation of $300 for Quiet Waters Composting and Native Plants Gardens Project.

8. Partners:
Anne Arundel Parks and Recreation
YWCA
Annapolis Farmer’s Market Board of Directors
Clay Street Housing Project
Habitat for Humanity
Historic London Town and Gardens
London Town Public Gardens
St. Mary’s School
Chesapeake Ecology Center and Adams Academy
William Paca Garden Staff and Historic Annapolis Foundation
Quiet Waters Park and AACo Recycling Division

9. Highlights from 2005:
•   Apprentice Gardener’s Project taught young children and families good garden practices such as sustainable and Bay-Wise gardening by giving them the opportunity to plan, plant, and grow crops of their choosing and participate in teaching weekends. There were 254 individuals reached. The Unity Gardens grant of $1000, Parks and Recreation, and County Fair Board supported this project. There were 346 volunteer hours spent on this project.
•   Arden House’s Project involved planting a vegetable garden with children for meditation. There were 4 individuals reached. The Unity Gardens grant of $1000 and YWCA supported this project. There were 30.5 volunteer hours spent on this project.
•   BayWise Master Gardeners took training, had their landscapes certified and pledged to teach local residents environmentally sound practices through one-on-one consultations. Residents planned and developed Bay Wise certified landscapes and gardens with the assistance of Bay Wise Master Gardeners. There were 253 residents certified and 394.95 volunteer hours devoted to this project. A grant of $250 from the Chesapeake Trust supported this project. Partnership organizations included Bay Wise Programs at the Key School, Living Waters Celebration with DNR at the Annapolis Mall, Bay Wise liaison with Arnold Preservation Council, Rivendell Community Association and St. Mary’s Monastery Garden. Water quality was maintained and improved because fewer nutrients, sediments, and toxic contaminates are entering local surface and ground water. Residents improve the health of the overall ecosystem by planning, developing, and maintaining healthier more diverse landscapes.
•   Quiet Waters Park Composting Demonstration promotes to keep compost units in operation. There were 461 individuals reached. A Unity Gardens grant of $1000, Quiet Waters Park, and Anne Arundel County Recycling Division supported this project. An additional gift of $300 from the Friends of Quiet Waters Park funded a Fall planting of the native plant gardens. There were 28 Master Gardeners devoting 624.55 volunteer hours to this project. The project received Second Place Search of Excellence Award.
•   Habitat for Humanity taught homeowners an environmentally sound approach to gardening. There were 11 individuals reached. A Unity Gardens grant of $1000 and Anne Arundel County Habitat for Humanity supported this project. There were 57 volunteer hours devoted to this project.
•   B&B Trail Bay-Wise Demonstration Garden educated the public about good Bay-Wise gardening. There were 267 individuals reached. A Unity Gardens grant of $1000 supported this project. There were 188 volunteer hours devoted to this project. The Golden Spike Award was presented by Friends of Anne Arundel County Trails.
•   London Town Garden Guides presented the native woodland garden to pre-scheduled groups. Historic London Town and Gardens partnered with this project. There were 210.8 volunteer hours dedicated to this project.
•   London Town Plant Propagation Project demonstrated various plant propagation techniques. There were 163 individuals reached and 439 volunteer hours were devoted to this project. Historic London Town and Gardens partnered with this project.
•   Monastery Garden Project educated the public on good gardening practices such as IPM and provided for tours. There were 56 individuals reached and 206.5 volunteer hours were devoted to this project.
•   Plant clinics “Ask a Master Gardener” provided horticulture information to the public. Twenty plus dedicated Master Gardeners conducted over 2400 educational interchanges (average of 80+per session) and 572 volunteer hours were dedicated to this project.                                                                                                           The group has been warmly received by both the clients and the vendors at the Farmers Market each week during the growing season.

• Speakers Bureau created and improved lectures that are given to garden clubs, community, homeowner associations, and civic groups. There were 637 individuals reached and 83.75 volunteer hours dedicated to this project.

• Native Plant Gardens Project educated youth and adults on native plants, BayWise and butterflies. There were 234.75 volunteer hours devoted to this project. Thousands of school children visited the garden annually. Grants and donations totaling $1020 supported this project. The Anne Arundel County Board of Education, Walking Club of Odenton, Beechfield Landscaping, a local Girl Scout Troop, and the Piney Orchard Nature Preserve partnered with this project.

• After School Program taught basic Bay-Wise, horticulture, and IPM concepts to elementary school children. There were 400 individuals reached and 299.75 volunteer hours devoted to this project. There were 22 elementary schools that partnered with this project.

• Anne Arundel County Fair Flower Department educated the public on quality judging. There were 67 individuals who participated and 216.5 volunteer hours devoted to this project.

• Paca House Garden Tours educated the public on native plants in the colonial period and plants that are adaptable for today’s gardens. There were 9 volunteers hours devoted to this project. The Historic Annapolis Foundation partnered with this project.

• Respite House at South Haven encountered a short term care facility for adults who receive home care so their primary “caregivers” can have respite - worked with neighborhood volunteers, maintained current planting bed, and planted new. There were 24 individuals reached and 25 volunteer hours devoted to this project. Two $1000 grants supported this project. The Respite House Outdoor Committee partnered with this project.

• Twenty two Intern Master Gardeners each attended 45 hours of basic training during the Fall of 2005. The intern Master Gardeners continue to further their subject matter knowledge through monthly meetings and have the positive experience of teaching residents about safe, effective, and sustainable horticultural practices that build healthy gardens, landscapes, and communities.

• One hundred thirty current Master Gardeners each attended at least 10 hours of Advanced Training. Each of the 130 current Master Gardeners still volunteer 20 plus hours of service in return each consecutive year.

For more information, contact Robin Hessey

Last updated: 02/21/2007