Garden Column for Salisbury Post

Darrell Blackwelder

September 27, 2002

     Cooperative Extension is pleased to announce that the Rowan County Master Gardener Volunteers have created a 200-2003 Garden Writers’ Forum for The Salisbury Post. The forum was formed as part of the educational outreach program to provide gardening information to the general public.  Master Gardener Volunteers will be contributing beneficial gardening information to the general public with a monthly garden column. 

    Forum writers are charged with providing the general public with researched based, non biased information-strict standards which apply to all Cooperative Extension recommendations. Master Gardeners participating in this years’ forum are: Beth Boger, Jean Gillooly, Janet Gray, Jean Lamb, Carole Massey, Jim Morris, David Willingham, Preston Askew, Pat Branning, Ruth Brumit, Bill Carangelo, Susan Cloninger, Shirley Fetherolf, Connie Hoffner, Steve Hooper, Hilda Prange, Jo Ann Rogers, Janet Sutton and Rebekah Walls.   As expected, these writers are avid gardeners offer a wealth of information and practical experience to Rowan County .  Of course writers are going to tell about their experiences both good and bad to help others with their gardening endeavors

     The writer’s forum will celebrate its inception with fall gardening tips Sundays’ Fall Home Improvement Section of The Salisbury Post.  Over 15 garden articles ranging from dividing perennials to bird watching are included in this publication.  Forum volunteers have worked very hard to make this publication both educational and fun for all that has an interest in outdoors and gardening.

     The Master Gardener Volunteer Program is a program that was implemented in the early 80's to help the horticulture agent develop more relevant and educational programs to the citizens of Rowan County . The program consists of approximately 45 hours of classes and training that include information on: plant growth and development, soils and fertilizers, basic entomology, plant disease and control, lawn establishment and maintenance, vegetable production, home fruit production, landscape design, and organic gardening.  All participants have completed the course (a few twice) and passed a final exam.  All involved are active Master Gardener Volunteers that have given many hours as payment for this program. Many of these writers have over contributed more than 500 hours of service to the county since 1995. 

     Please take a few moments and peruse Sunday’s Fall Home Improvement Gardening Section.  Tell us what you think and if you have ideas or need information please call at 704-633-0571 or e mail. Contact the writers’ forum at the Rowan County Master Gardener website www.rowanmastergardener.com The group looks forward to any ideas you have that will help us better serve the citizens of Rowan County .

       Darrell Blackwelder is an agricultural agent in charge of horticulture with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service in Rowan County . For archived garden columns or other information, visit the Rowan County Master Gardener web site at www.rowanmastergardener.com or e mail Darrell_blackwelder@ncsu.edu or phone at 704-633-0571.