Charles County

Charles County Master Gardener Annual Report 2006

1. Basic Information
# of active MGs    48
# of interns    25
# of volunteer hours    3351

2. Plant Clinics
# of active plant clinic sites
# of plant clinics
# of residents served at plant clinics: 91 (site visits)

3. Bay-Wise
# of new yards certified as Bay-Wise (MGs and other residents)     2
# of total Bay-Wise certified yards (all years combined)     2

4. Composting
# of composting demonstration sites    21 hours
# of residents who received a compost bin 0

5. Classes taught
# of classes/workshops taught by MGs
# of residents educated    1581

6. Awards/recognition
The Charles County Master Gardeners Educational Exhibit at the County Fair won a Blue Ribbon.

7. Grants:
$865 from Chaney Foundation to build the second phase of the sensory garden at Lions Camp Merrick for blind, hearing impaired children and children with diabetes and other physical disabilities.

8. Partners in 2006:
Benjamin Stoddert Middle School, Christmas in April, Dr. Mudd Elementary School, Dr. Samuel Mudd House, Nanjemoy Creek Environmental Center, The Chaney Foundation, Lions Camp Merrick

9. Highlights from 2006:

RESIDENTIAL LANDSCAPING WORKSHOP
The Charles County Master Gardeners 4th annual Residential Landscaping Workshop was held at the Business and Industry Center at the College of Southern Maryland on March 11, 2006. More than 100 participants enjoyed topics including pruning, lawn care, composting, conifers and flowering trees and shrub for the landscape. Susan Martin of the National Arboretum, Steve Dubik of Montgomery College, Shelly Gaskins, with the Smithson, Pam King, UMD Extension Agent, Charles County,. Lew Shell with HGIC, and Nicole Stewart were the speakers.

CHRISTMAS IN APRIL LANDSCAPING ASSISTANCE
April 29, 2006, Charles County Master Gardeners joined forces with the Christmas in April Organization to repair landscapes and advise the chosen homeowners on how to maintain their yards. This year our volunteers made site visits to 15 homes in preparation of the actual day-long event.

PLANT YOUR OWN SALAD GARDEN
In league with the MCE Nutrition Education program, Pam King, Extension Agent, and several Charles County Master Gardeners taught second graders how to plant their very own salad garden on May 9 and May 10, 2006.

SENSORY GARDEN AT LIONS CAMP MERRICK
Charles County Master Gardeners completed the second phase of the Sensory Garden at Lion’s Camp Merrick on May 22, 2006. This camp provides camping opportunities to disabled children. The Chaney Foundation in Charles County donated funds for this project, which will ultimately have five separate raised planting beds each devoted to one of the five senses.

NATIVE PLANTINGS AT NANJEMOY CREEK ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER
Nanjemoy Creek Environmental Center was the site for 50 seventh grade students from Benjamin Stoddert Middle School to learn about protecting and restoring our environment by replacing grass with native plants. Before the work began, a Master Gardener presented information on the benefits of using native plants to the students. On April 20 and 21, a team of Master Gardeners lead students who, at the end of two days, had dug some 400 holes, incorporated compost, properly installed plants, and watered and mulched.

VERMICOMPOSTING
Miss Betty’s Worm Show makes the rounds to explain to schoolchildren the role worms play in our environment. These worms are red worms (the children love to hold) that live in a bin ingesting fruit and vegetable scraps then passing along castings, an excellent fertilizer. The topic is vermicomposting for older children and adults.

For more information, contact Robin Hessey

Last updated: 07/1/2007