Master Gardener Achievements

Greene County Master Gardeners Celebrate

Greene County Master Gardeners celebrated their 2007 accomplishments at the Greene Country Club, November 13th.  Greene County Commissioner Rick Perales was on hand to congratulate all.  Barbara Mills, Program Assistant, read a proclamation from Chris Weidner celebrating Greene County's state award for a project titled, "Emerald Ash Borer...Out of Adversity Comes Opportunity."  The Master Gardener Class of 2007 had 19 members that were certified, having completed all requirements to become Master Gardeners.  New Greene County Master Gardeners are:  Joyce Ahmad, April Artkamp, Marilynn Curtice, Daniel Denham, Alex DiNino, Sue Donahue, Helen Eier, Rita Hoffman, James Langen, Jane Langen, Terri Long, Peggy Markland, Duetta Metz, Patricia Procuniar, Daniel Redman, Michael Schumacher, Carol Self, Jenifer Stonum and Barbara Tinch.

This year, 83 Greene County Master Gardeners recertified.  Greene County  Master Gardeners contributed over 11,000 hours in 2007.  Highlights include maintaining seven gardens, educating the public including many school programs, garden tour, six public landscaping projects, three community gardens, and many special projects including state recognition for the work done on the Emerald Ash Borer.

Congratulations to all.  If you are interested in becoming a Master Gardener, please call 937-372-9971 or e-mail mills.35@cfaes.osu.edu.

                                                2007 Greene County Master Gardeners
First row, left to right:  Patricia Procuniar, James Langen, Jane Langen, Joyce Ahmad, Helen Eier
Second row, left to right:  Teri Long, Michael Schumacher, Barbara Tinch, Alex DiNino, April Artkamp, Jennifer Stonum, Duetta Metz, Sue Donahue, Rita Hoffman, Daniel Denham
Unable to attend:  Marilynn Curtice, Peggy Markland, Daniel Redman, Carol Self

Greene County recognized for Master Gardener Volunteer Project of the Year at State Conference

                                                                                   
                                                                                  Lt to right:  First Lady Frances Strickland, 
                                                                                                       Thais Reiff, Michael Schumacher

Greene County Master Gardeners’ project “Emerald Ash Borer...Out of Adversity Comes Opportunity,” won top honors in the large Master Gardener Program category.  This is the first time Greene County has been recognized at the State level for an outstanding contribution to the community. The award was presented by Ohio’s First Lady, Frances Strickland. 

Motivated by the threat the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) poses to the beautiful ash trees, Greene County Master Gardeners (GCMG) took the lead in preparing for this pest. Thousands of volunteer hours have culminated in three major achievements that reach beyond the forests of Greene County to the entire Miami Valley. 

GCMG Thais Reiff became the county’s EAB specialist and has spent over 600 hours planning and presenting to educators, policy makers, landscape professionals, forest products industry, and homeowners. 

GCMGs sponsored a Tree ID Week in Xenia.  Under the leadership of Stephen and Cecilia Mehaffie, over 1,800 city-maintained trees were inventoried marking the sites of ash trees and completing an important requirement for Tree City USA. 

GCMG intern Michael Schumacher extended the program to Wright-Paterson Air Force Base (WPAFB) assisting with the development of an EAB Management Plan and sponsoring an EAB Awareness Week.  WPAFB is a military base with over 8,000 acres and hundreds of large ash trees. 

Out of this adversity has come opportunity.  Through the efforts of the GCMG’s , homeowners and communities are more informed about the emerald ash borer.  With this information they now have the opportunity and the time to develop positive action plans in anticipation of the devastation caused by the insect.   

If you want more information on the Emerald Ash Borer and their threat to Ohio ash trees, visit www.ashalert.osu.edu or call the Greene County Extension Office, 937-372-9971.