Extension Master GardenerSM Volunteers of Buncombe County

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2020 School Garden Grants Available: Applications Due January 31, 2020

Extension Master GardenerSM Volunteers of Buncombe County are happy to announce that for the thirteenth straight year we are offering School Garden Grants to Asheville City and Buncombe County public schools, including state charter schools.

Extension Master Gardener instructs student in vegetable gardening.
Student learns vegetable gardening

We provide a notice of the application period along with instructions to all school principals, elementary through senior high. Additional information is available on our website page, 2020 School Garden Grants, where you can learn more about the guidelines for receiving a grant and get online access to the 2020 School Garden Grants Application.

All applications must be completed online. Completed applications will be accepted beginning January 6, 2020, and must be submitted no later than 9 p.m. on January 31, 2020. If you have any questions, please call the Extension Office at 828-255-5522.

We are proud of our partnership with Asheville City and Buncombe County Schools. Since 2007, we have awarded 44 School Garden Grants totaling over $30,000. Our records show that these grants have involved more than 16,500 students and hundreds of teachers, parents, and community volunteers.

Click on the link below to learn more about the guidelines for school garden grants:
Guidelines for 2020 School Garden Grants

Announcement written by Barbara Hayes, Extension Master GardenerSM Volunteer.

More Holiday Fun: Make a Centerpiece with Garden Greenery, December 10

Gardening in the Mountains presents:
More Holiday Fun!

Tuesday, December 10, 2019
Session 1:  10 a.m. to noon
Session 2:  2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

NC Cooperative Extension
49 Mt. Carmel Road
Asheville, NC

Presenters:  Chris McClung and Betsey Baker, Extension Master GardenerSM Volunteers

Decorate your holiday table with a unique centerpiece using greenery from the garden. In this workshop, Chris and Betsey will show you how. You will make your own unique centerpiece to take home with you. We will supply basic materials and some greenery. We encourage participants to bring additional greenery from their gardens—magnolia leaves, pine cones, spruce and holly cuttings, for example. If you have a favorite bowl or container to hold your centerpiece, bring that as well.

Registration is required and is limited to 12 individuals per session. The fee for this class is $10 to cover basic materials. Once enrolled, please send a check made out to BCEMGV and mail to the N.C. Cooperative Extension, 49 Mt. Carmel Road, Asheville, NC 28806.

Call 828-255-5522 to register.

Snow date:  Thursday, December 12, 10 a.m. to noon and 2 to 4 p.m.

Exploring Gardens and Supporting Children

The Buncombe County Extension Master GardenerSM biennial tour of local gardens contributes more than an educational experience for the tour participants.

As this years’ garden tour participants enjoyed the beauty of the Shady Slope, Sentimental, Lotus, Ever Evolving and Learning Gardens, they were also giving students at local schools the chance to experience the joy of gardening for themselves.

This is because the major recipient of the garden tour revenues, both from ticket sales and sponsorships, is the School Grants Committee. This group comprised of Extension Master Gardeners accept applications from schools in Buncombe County and the City of Asheville who want to either establish or maintain a school garden.

Children display their vegetable harvest from the school garden.
Children show off their harvest

Other educational programs of the Extension Master Gardeners, such as the Information Table, Compost Demonstration, and Helpline, are supported by the funds from the garden tour as well.

In the past 12 years, because of the overwhelming support of the community and sponsors, they have been able to award 123 grants totaling over $ 44,000.00 to 57 different schools in the County and City. More important than the funds provided is the fact that members of the committee volunteer their time and energy to provide the grant recipients with expertise in setting up and taking care of the gardens.

Master Gardener helping in the School Garden
Master Gardener helping in the School Garden

This connection between the educational opportunities provided to those who take the garden tour and those students who benefit from the proceeds is one of the core values of the concept behind the organization of the garden tour. This connection is further enhanced by the knowledge that the Master Gardeners are able to nurture future generations’ love for the environment in a positive and meaningful way

Contact Us

Buncombe County Extension Office
49 Mount Carmel Road
Asheville, NC 28806
Helpline 828-255-5522

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