The Madison County Master Gardener Club meets once a month for continuing education and to help retain volunteers. Historically, each month different members or someone from the community speaks to the group about a horticulture topic. Due to COVID 19 the group was unable to continue to meet face to face. The Madison County Horticulture Agent organized ZOOM meetings each month during the pandemic to help keep the members engaged. The Agent chose topics based on ideas from the group, put together the presentations and taught the lessons to the group each month. Topics have included composting, companion planting, moon gardening and cover crops. 

The Agent worked with members who were unfamiliar with the ZOOM program prior to the first meeting.

Isolation during the pandemic is a problem and the members of the group said they enjoyed the engagement the meetings offered.

Below are some comments from participants:

“The ZOOM meetings are very grounding (no pun intended). The meetings are very practical, engaging and kept our group together.”

“It has been especially helpful to have useful topics covered by presentations at meetings during this time when we are all at home with more time for gardening.”

“The program is very helpful, a real treasure.”