In 2017, Boone County had 56 Master Gardener volunteers assist in community activities.  They submitted 1672.5 volunteer hours and reached 12,545 community members.  We consider Master Gardener volunteers to be our extra fingers in the community, as they help use educate others with research based information for the University of Kentucky.

Master Gardener volunteer opportunities in Boone County has flourished.  Five years ago, we had three Master Gardener volunteer opportunities, and today, we have a fourteen. Boone County is seeing a rise in the number of Master Gardener volunteers working in our community.

One of our largest Master Gardener volunteer activities in the county is the demonstration gardens.Master Gardener volunteers have named our garden work day, “Dig Party Thursday.”  The volunteers can chose from one of two locations to attend for “Dig Party Thursday”.  The first location is at the Boone County Extension Office where they help in the landscape beds by labeling plants and planting the annuals beds.  The landscape beds are a demonstration for the home consumer.They also have turn part of the landscape into an edible landscape.  The volunteers harvested 500lbs of fresh produce in 2017.

Tom’s response to why he enjoys working in the gardens at the Extension Office, “I enjoy working with my fellow MGs and the individuals who work at the Extension Office.  Many visitors to the Office comment on the beautiful gardens the front the building; positive feedback on our work.”

The second Dig Party location for Master Gardener volunteers is at the Boone County Environmental and Nature Center, which is a large demonstration garden grown on a 1 acre plot.This site helps educate local farm producers about new varieties and easy garden techniques to help them on the farm.   This site also has a high tunnel to show season extension and a small orchard.Master Gardener volunteers help us maintain all parts of the commercial growing system. In 2017, volunteers harvested over 13,000 of produce.  All produce from both locations is used to help with extension programs, donated to a local food bank and the cut flowers are sent to our local hospice.

Volunteers love to participate at the county fair by assisting with crops, vegetable, and fruit entry.  They also set up an “Ask the Master Gardener” Booth, where they see hundreds of people each night.  During this event they bring University of Kentucky Horticulture publications to hand out to the community and help answer any horticulture questions.

Jim’s response to why he enjoys’ the fair, “working at the 4H vegetable registration table is my favorite.The 4H kid’s enthusiasm is contagious.I feel the MG volunteers ensure the 4H kids hard work is recognized fully and fairly by getting the exhibitor and exhibits correctly recorded for the judges.  We take this responsibility seriously.  The community benefits from the 4H kids’ confidence in being treated honestly and fairly at the fair by way of sustaining and growing 4H participation which in turn builds character and encourages the pursuit of knowledge by these future leaders in the community.  The Ask a MG table is satisfying as well although we get just a few inquiries each shift.  Most queries are so vague we usually forward the person to the extension office for follow up.  If we aren’t sure we don’t guess.  The fellowship with the other MG volunteers during our service is also very rewarding and satisfying.”

Our Master Gardener program is a collaborative program between Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties.Each county takes a turn to host the upcoming class.  As part of a three county setup, we have a Northern Kentucky Master Gardener Association.The association board is made up of representatives from each county and they help promote and support the extension Master Gardener Program. There are 120 Recertified and Intern Master Gardeners within the three counties.

Many of the events includes the “Ask a Master Gardener Booth.”  At this event, Master Gardeners help the community by answering their horticulture questions, passing out research based information using the publications, and giving away free donated seeds.  They setup at the local farmers market during spring, summer, and fall.Arbor Day at the Boone County Arboretum, Reforest Northern Kentucky for Urban Forestry Council, Boone County Farm Tour, Water Scavenger Hunt at the Boone County Nature Center and Earth Day in two of our county libraries.

Carol says, “She enjoy most - interacting and helping visitors with their gardening questions.Helps the community - Provides horticultural information they may otherwise not get from a reliable source as well as information on classes, pamphlets and other resources (soil test, activities-walk the trails) that are available free of charge.”

Our local FFA Chapter have local and regional speech competitions.  Master Gardener volunteers participate by judging the speeches and assisting with feedback.  They advise and encourage the children to succeed for future competitions.

Our Master Gardener Peggy said, “I enjoy meeting the students and seeing their enthusiasm for FFA and their optimism for the future. I believe these competitions help the community by nurturing and encouraging students to seek careers here in Kentucky, maintaining family traditions tied to farming and the land. As a judge, I believe it is also important for us to help these students develop communication skills and confidence, particularly in an era dominated by cell phones and hand-helds rather than face-to-face interactions.”

Educational programs are always in demand for both youth and adults.  Youth programing, there are two schools that have strong gardens and garden clubs in our county.  Volunteers lead and educate the children in a series of horticulture topics.  The produce grown in the garden is donated back to the school for back buddies program.  Adult programing volunteers will lead and teach programs at the extension office with assistance from the horticulture staff.  Volunteers work with a special needs adult group.  We work on horticulture crafts that will help build their fine motor skills and activities that involve the five senses. Coming in 2018, our master gardener are starting a 4H garden club.

Marea is a dedicated volunteer to education in the community and thoughts to why she is a volunteer, “Impact on the community by hopefully giving children a better understanding of growing vegetables and fruit. In the future the children may want to grow their own crops in a garden. I am driven to helping in these classes as I am passionate to help educate children in the joys of gardening and see the look on their faces when our crops give returns.”  

Michelle says, “I volunteer with New Perceptions because I enjoy it and really love to see the look of satisfaction on their faces when they accomplish a task.  It really means a lot to them and it shows.  I became a Master Gardener not to just learn but to contribute to my community and I think helping with New Perceptions is a way to do that.”

Master Gardeners are also used on a collaborative project called Farm Frenzy with all agents and staff in the Boone County Extension Office.  During this program, volunteers help keep the children and staff on a timely schedule at students change from station to station.  They also go through and lead the children through the agriculture stations.

The newest of activities is Hike the Trails, the volunteers GIS hiking trails at the Boone County Environmental and Nature Center.  From this information they pick out native trees and shrubs along the path to take photos of in each season, researched all plant information and created a self-guided hike with a map.  This is the first year, we have trialed the program.  Volunteers also take shifts by sitting at the center to sign people in and out of the trails.

Christy our leader for Hike the Trails says, “I liked using the GPS equipment to map the trails before they were open for the public. I think this helps the community since it ensures that the trail map is accurate to the ground conditions.”

Building good relationships with Master Gardener volunteers is the key to our success.  The growth of Master Gardener volunteers and retaining them to our county, allows us to reach many members in our community.