Kansas Master Gardeners Share Love of Gardening, Teaching
Jim Crist, Overland Park Master Gardener, spends many hours perfecting his own garden and teaching others how to improve their gardens.
It may look to some as though Jim Crist spends much of his free time dabbling in the garden.
But listening to the Overland Park resident talk about his favorite pasttime, it sounds an awful lot like teaching.
"I can light a fire in the mind of a child by showing him how a bean seed sprouts," said Crist. Or send a little girl a letter with a pet caterpillar and witness the miracle of its transformation into a butterfly.
"I can transport an elderly neighbor back in time to their own grandmother’s garden with nothing more than the scent of rose or sweet pea. Or, I can build garden memories that today’s young people can carry with them into maturity."
Crist is one of nearly 1,000 Master Gardeners in Kansas who donated 67,824 hours to their local communities in 2004. Currently, Master Gardeners are active in 48 of the state’s 105 counties. In dollars and cents, their volunteer work is equivalent to 34 full-time jobs and an estimated $1,121,800.
In Kansas, horticulture is listed as having the third highest gross crop value, behind the wheat and feed corn industries. The money-making segment of the Kansas horticulture industry is grounds maintenance. The popularity of horticulture in urban settings has been constantly growing, and has spawned such terms as "urban agriculture" and "hobby farming."
In Johnson County alone, there are 307 Master Gardeners who donated more than 28,000 hours of volunteer service in 2004 – equal to 13 full-time positions.
Crist, a Master Gardener since 1998, said he enjoys working with the different groups of people and making new friends.
"The biggest impact on me," he added, "has been that the program gives me an endless opportunity to give."
"I can bring beauty to my community, and share it with others," said Crist, noting that he often teaches people to grow plants without harming water, soil, or themselves.
In addition to working with individuals, Kansas Master Gardeners help with demonstration gardens, hot lines, lawn and garden shows, speaker’s bureaus, youth programs, garden tours, and more.
Master Gardeners is a volunteer program that helps improve gardening practices across the state. K-State Research and Extension supports their work by providing training and information, and offering workshops. Go to www.oznet.k-state.edu/hfrr/MG for more information.
Dennis Patton
913-764-6300, X114
dpatton@k-state.edu
Silver Anniversary
In 1980, Chuck Marr, K-State Research and Extension horticulturist, and Larry Stouse, former Johnson County horticulture agent, started the Kansas Master Gardener program in Johnson County to help horticulture agents in the larger urban counties.
Master Gardeners receive 40 to 50 hours of training designed at K-State. The Master Gardeners then "pay back" 40 to 50 hours of community service, which may include answering a plant "hotline," leading a children’s plant camp, speaking to a civic group, or building a public demonstration garden.
K-State Research and Extension Offers Aid after Ice Storm
After the severe ice storm in Jan. 2005, horticulture agents from Sedgwick, Reno, Butler, and Lyon counties planned 19 tree recovery classes for spring — emphasizing pruning and replanting with tougher trees. K-State's John C. Pair Horticulture Center posted a Web page showing the stronger trees that held up with the ice load, and the Sedgwick County Extension Master Gardeners published a book on "Recommended Trees for South Central Kansas."
Tips to Trim Energy Costs
Natural gas prices are expected to rise 30 percent - or more - this winter. K-State Research and Extension is providing tips through news releases, information at local offices, and Web sites to help homeowners reduce energy consumption and hold down utility bills. For more information, go to the Energy Extension link library.
Horticulture Tips Available Online
K-State horticulturists produce a weekly online horticulture newsletter. It has timely tips for caring for flowers, trees, vegetables, and lawns. All 2005 issues and archived 2004 issues are available on the web.