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Master
Gardeners donate thousands of hours of volunteer time to their communities.
The following list highlights both some outstanding local activities and
several projects which involve Master Gardeners from all over the United
States.
 Plant
A Row For the Hungry
Plant
A Row was started in 1994 through the Garden
Writers
Association of America
(GWAA) with the goal of having home gardeners intentionally plant extra
food to send to the local food bank. Today, at least 44 states and several Canadian
provinces have networks in place for Plant A Row. More than 8.2 million
pounds of produce have been donated by 6-13-2005. Here in Illinois, PAR projects
are under way in Kenilworth, Naperville, Peoria, Riverside, South Elgin,
Springfield, Sycamore, Rockford and Urbana- to name just a few. We would like to encourage participation
among our units/counties, officially making PAR a statewide project. Directors
of the nine Illinois Food Bank Association are eager to work with Master
Gardeners in providing produce for the clients they serve. For more
information on PAR see their website at http://www.gwaa.org.
For information on PAR in Chicago, check their website.
 Horticulture
Therapy
Horticulture
therapy is the use of live plants and horticultural activities to improve
a persons mental, physical or spiritual aspects of life. Groups for whom
horticultural therapy has proven to be beneficial include people who are
physically disabled, mentally ill, developmentally disabled, elderly,
substance abusers, public offenders and socially disadvantaged. Horticultural
therapy has been found to increase self-esteem; alleviate depression;
improve motor skills; help with problem solving and work adjustment, social
interaction, and communication. Therapy has also been shown to help recipients
learn marketable horticultural and business skills. For more information
about Hort therapy contact the American
Horticultural Therapy Association.
Habitat
for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity invites people of all backgrounds, races and
religions to build houses together in partnership with families in need.
Habitat has built more than 85,000 houses around the world, providing
more than 425,000 people in more than 2,000 communities with safe, decent,
affordable shelter. HFHI was founded in 1976 by Millard Fuller along with
his wife Linda. Master Gardeners lend their expertise and help to landscaping
and gardening these new homes. For more information on Habitat for Humanity
see their website at www.habitat.org.
Junior Master Gardener
The Junior Master Gardener program was designed by
the Texas Agricultural Extension Service as a new and innovative 4-H gardening
project for youth. The program is modeled after the adult Master Gardener
project and offers horticulture and environmental science education through
fun and creative individual and group activities. Junior Master Gardeners
learn to explore their world and develop leadership, personal pride and
responsibility while making a positive contribution to their community,
school and family.
 American
Community Gardening Association
ACGA and
its member organizations work to promote and support all aspects of community
food and ornamental gardening, urban forestry, preservation and management
of open space, and integrated planning and management of developing urban
and rural lands.
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