Garden Column for the Salisbury Post
Darrell Blackwelder
January 31, 2003

    During January, N.C. Cooperative Extension asks Master Gardener volunteers for a compilation of their 2002 project and educational hours to generate an annual report. This is a chore that always takes Master Gardener Coordinator, Carole Massey almost a month to complete. I'm always fascinated with the end results when volunteers submit their total hours and volunteer data.
    Below are some interesting statistics from 2002 that may be of interest to supporters and those interested   in Cooperative Extension's Master Gardener Program.
    **Of 150 Master Gardener volunteers trained since 1993, 62 were active.
    **Total number of volunteer hours -2853 hours
    **Total number of volunteer hours in training & travel-1080
    **Number of hours by a single volunteer--350
    **Total number of miles traveled for projects-22128
    **Newspaper/garden columns-23
    **Radio programs-14
    **Number of personal contacts to public-545
    **Number of school programs-20
    **Youth reached with Master Gardener Programs-2081
    **Demonstration gardens for the public-5
    **People viewing static/manned displays-4015
    **Plants diagnosed-74
    **Scarecrows constructed-18
    **Advisory committee/speakers-16
    **Grants, donations and funds received 13450.00
    **Out of pocket expenses for volunteers--$2178.00
    **Value of mileage at $.35/mile--$7711.80
    **Total value of volunteer hours/$14.00 hour--$55048.00
    **Master Gardener Projects for 2002: West End Demonstration Garden, Rose Demonstration Garden, Turf Demonstration Garden, Enabling Garden, Arbor Day for Rowan County Elementary Students, Trees of Strength, Writer' Forum, Speakers Bureau, Herb demonstration garden at the Hall House, Azalea Sale, Plant Swap and Sale, Plant Propagation, Hanlin Sensory Garden and United Way Day of Caring.
    As you may conclude from these statistics, the Rowan County Master Gardener Volunteer Program is active providing viable programs for the citizens of Rowan County. Volunteers are planning for another fruitful season for 2003 which include three new projects. These new projects are a Pilot Junior Master Gardener Program, Xeriscaping Project for the Public Library and an expanded Enabling Garden at the West End Demonstration Garden.
    A special thanks to not only those that have supported this program, but also a sincere debt of gratitude to these few volunteers that have contributed so much more than a dollar amount to the citizens of Rowan County through hard work and determination.

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.

There will be a Junior Master Gardener Orientation meeting on Tuesday, February 4th, 4:00 p.m. at Horizons Unlimited in Salisbury. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the details of this new pilot program. For further information, contact Darrell Blackwelder at 704-633-0571 or e-mail Darrell_blackwelder@ncsu.edu.