Adams County Master Gardener Association

Welcome and thank you for visiting the ACMGA information page.  Our Association was formed in May 2000 by a small group of gardeners dedicated to taking their love and knowledge of gardening to help make a difference in their community.  In January of 2001 we became the 28th local association admitted to the WIMGA.  We currently have 22 members, 14 of which are Certified Master Gardeners.

In 2004, our group volunteered 51.5 hours to youth education, 93.9 hours of community education, 798.25 hours of support services and participated in 318.50 hours of continuing education. 

In the short time our group has been together we have made great strides in getting involved with our community with the following projects:

• We have a $550 scholarship available to any high school student interested in pursuing a career related to horticulture.
• Each year since 2001 the ACMGA has held our annual fruit tree and plant sale.  Order forms are sent in the beginning of the year.  We typically offer strawberries, raspberries, apples, flowering crabapples, blueberries, and asparagus.  Some new additions have been rhubarb, currants, grapes, saskatoons, and elderberries.  The orders are picked up at the Adams County Land and Water Conservation Fair, which is held at the Adams County Fair Grounds.  In addition, there are many interesting booths to visit offering helpful information.  The ACMGA booth typically offers flower bulbs, T-shirts and cookbooks for sale.  The dates for this event are April 22 and 23. 
• Participation in the Adams County Fair in which volunteers staffed a booth which supplied visitors with information on our local association as well as becoming a Certified Master Gardener, we also sold bird houses our members built, T-shirts with our logo and cookbooks filled with member recipes.  There were 2 door prizes given away: a 3-piece composter filled with an assortment of garden tools, and a wheelbarrow also filled with tools, thanks to the support of the Adams County Landfill and Ace of Adams.
• We provided a demonstration on composting to 30 eager children at the “Learning on Linden” Day care center using a new composter donated by the Adams County Landfill.
• We participated in the Adams County Kids Day, where 700 children attended and were provided with small pots and sunflower seeds to take home.
• Our annual “Lily Dig” in which members dig, split and transplant hundreds of ‘Stella de Oro’ daylilies at the Community Industrial Park.
• Since 2000, we have participated in the Adopt-A-Highway litter control program.  We have proudly maintained 2 sections of Adams County Highway, picking up a total of 168 bags of trash.  We are glad to volunteer our time to such an important cause.
• Information booths were set up at the Grand Opening of our new Community Center and at St. Joseph’s Community Hall for the “Aging with Grace” program displaying resources for people 50 and over.
• We designed and planted 35 flower barrels along Main Street in the City of Adams.  We requested businesses sponsor the barrel in their storefront by watering them when needed.  These half whiskey barrels are supplied by the City of Adams.  They were planted with purple fountain grass, salmon colored verbena, licorice plant, Margarite sweet potato plants, Osteo-mix daisies and Scaveola in blue and white.  The plants were purchased from the Twin Creeks Nursery, locally owned by Karen Miller, who later joined our association.  It rained the entire evening the barrels were planted but all who participated had great fun.  As the barrels matured they were delightful, receiving many compliments.

Our General Meetings are held the fourth Tuesday of each month (excluding Dec. and Jan. for our annual meeting).  During the months of May, June, July and August, the meetings are held at the homes of local gardeners where we tour their garden, discuss business and share in a pot luck dinner.  Board meetings are held the second Tuesday of each month.

We invite you to learn, teach, and help make a difference in the community.  To offer your support, or for more information about the ACMGA and its activities, projects and meetings contact Don Genrich, Agricultural Agent (information below).

Contacts:

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