Growing Together: EMGV Association Cultivates Partnerships in Lenoir County
by Barbara Sykes (EMGV) & Paige Petticrew (LC Hort. Agent)
On March 25th Lenoir County Master Gardener Association (EMGV) and members of the Southeastern Native Plant Society gathered for a workday at our Native Plant Garden and Meadow located at the CSS Neuse Replica. EMGV Karen Mulcahy directed the group to remove invasive plants and freshen up the area for the spring.
Our annual plant sale, held in April, was highly supported by our community. A three-day sale including a Friday lunch-break sale, Saturday morning, and a flash sale the following Wednesday gave a variety of times for patrons to shop. It was held at our EMGV Greenhouse located at the Lenoir County Extension Office. Preparations began in January for our plant sale. EMGVs have been in the greenhouse seeding, propagating, planting, fertilizing, etc. most every day since then! EMGVs were on hand each sale day to discuss the various plants and answer any questions including companion planting and growth habits. Several JMGs were also in attendance and aided in labeling and moving plants into place. Family and Consumer Science Agent Kelly Tyndall showcased a vinaigrette featuring many of the herbs we had for sale and encouraged patrons to try the vinaigrette. Velvet Tyndall, our Parents as Teachers educator, had a table set up for the children in attendance to learn more about plant parts and complete several crafts while their parents made their plant selections. The children (and Velvet) were very excited to see there was a section designated for them, and their parents were also positive in their response of the area.
Several EMGVs gathered plants for donations for different entities in Lenoir County throughout the sale. Kennedy Homes (NC Baptist Aging Ministry), Hope Preparatory School, the LaGrange Library, among others were recipients of the plant donations for their raised-bed gardens, pollinator gardens, as well as some experimental classes. These partnerships we have created and continue to develop have been beneficial to our EMGV Association and continue to be fruitful.
Lenoir County’s 4H group, the Homesteaders, gathered for their monthly meeting in the greenhouse in April. Group leader, and also EMGV, April Houston taught the 4Hers about the different types of tomatoes (determinate and indeterminate, type selection, etc.). Many of the 4Hers took several types of tomatoes home to conduct experiments while keeping a weekly journal of how to care for, what they see, and the results of the planting. We look forward to their results and reporting.
We look forward to the spring season, as a field trip is planned to visit a local horticulture research area, time to “play” in our own gardens, and continue to advise others as needed.
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