Extension Master Gardeners are required to volunteer hours of service back to the community or in efforts that help Cooperative Extension. Over the course of this fiscal year, even with lack of engagement events due to COVID, the Lake Cumberland Master Gardeners have volunteered over 1000 hours of community service. Using hourly wage data from the Independent Sector, this amounts to roughly $23,500.

     Not only do Master Gardeners help maintain three public gardens, but they also teach classes, set up booths at important community events, help with 4H clubs and events, and are looked to as experts and leaders in the community. 

     During 2020-21, many large outreach events were cancelled due to COVID-19, like the Green Living Fair, Earth Day events, and setting up an educational table at Lowe’s. 

     Instead, Master Gardeners put together salsa kits and seed and sunflower kits, both grab n go type of kits. They were distributed in April 2021 reaching approximately 120 families. 

     Master Gardeners are also required to obtain CEUs to keep them up-to-date on horticulture topics. Lake Cumberland Master Gardeners earned about 124 hours of CEUs this year. 

     One Extension Master Gardener has taken the leadership role in redesigning the Children’s Garden (a Master Gardener project from the start in 2008) to feature Kentucky native plants. She has been instrumental in the project and has leveraged resources from the city, county, the Extension office, and the library.

     In addition, the Pulaski Co Horticulture Agent joined with a group of Kentucky Horticulture Agents and took the lead in organizing a Virtual Master Gardener Training during 2020-21. More than 60 participants from across the state took part.

      Overall, Lake Cumberland Master Gardeners have lost some members due to life changes but the group seems to be doing well even with slightly fewer active members. They are sought out to teach or consult so are viewed as important in this community