• Providing horticultural education for all age groups
• Supporting the spirit of volunteerism and community service
• Developing and encouraging participation in local Extension programs.

Master Gardeners are also available to provide on-site gardening consultations or formal presentations to community groups.

Heirloom Apple Trees Ready for Planting

 



Gardeners in the Classroom

Continuing Education Program on Herbs at
Monthly Meeting

Junior Master Gardeners Working on Service Project

Continuing Education Program on Care of
African Violets at Monthly Meeting

Starting Seedlings in Terra Alta

Third grad teachers in all Preston County elementary schools were contacted to determine if they are interested in participating in the Gardener in the Classroom program.  Master Gardeners were assigned to provide a science lesson on some aspect of gardening; usually soils and the soil environment.  Children were given an opportunity to plant a flower and observe it through the rest of the school year.  This program reaches up to 400 third grade students each year.  This ongoing program received a first place West Virginia Master Gardener Award of Excellence in 2001. 

  SUMMER 2004 

The first Junior Master Gardener program in West Virginia was begun in 2002 in Preston County. This Junior Master Gardener program is an officially recognized 4-H Club, The Northern Lights. This club provides an opportunity for 4-H youth to learn specifically about gardening skills as well as participate in other 4-H youth projects.  A total of 25 youth and 5 leaders participate in the program. This program received a third place West Virginia Master Gardener Award of Excellence in 2004.

 Master Gardeners recognized the need for to describe the plant life that grows along the Morgantown to Kingwood rail trail.  Coordination with the rail trail committee was made to provide funding to produce an educational piece for trail walkers. An educational brochure was developed which describes type of native flora which grows along the trail and gives the walker an idea of where certain plants can be found. This project received a first place West Virginia Master Gardener Award of Excellence in 2004.

 Orchard Renovation Project - Members took cuttings from old heirloom apple trees to be propagated.  Thirteen apple tree cuttings from members, and the community, were submitted and taken to Adams County Nursery to be grafted.

FALL/WINTER 2004-2005 

Each year committees are organized within the Preston County Master Gardener organization. One of these committees is the Buckwheat Festival committee.  The charge of this committee is to identify an educational theme, then design and build a public education display to be viewed by those who attend the Buckwheat Festival.  This year's display highlighted the growth of buckwheat and displayed potted buckwheat plants at various stages of growth.

 In 1999 the Preston County Master Gardeners decided that it was time to develop their own calendar. Master Gardeners volunteered to assemble information for certain months. Master Gardeners assembled the information in a computer document for convenient editing and printing. Each year beginning in September and ending in November Master Gardeners solicit local businesses to support the commercial printing costs of the calendar. In 2004, for the 2005 calendar, the Preston County Master Gardeners raised over $1400 which will print nearly 1,000 calendars. The county calendar has grown to be a widely sought after item, as gardeners all over the county use it as a horticultural reference

    


Tomatoes grown by a member in Aurora, West Virginia




Buckwheat Festival Display