Master Gardener Association of Piedmont
Volunteer Programs:
description, sponsors and contact information







Volunteer Program

Sponsor

e-mail Address

Plant A Row (PAR)

Harold Page

bud29376@yahoo.com

Launched in 1995, The Plant A Row project is a public service program of the Garden Writers Association and the GWA Foundation. The project was launched in 1995 with the mission of encouraging produce gardens that donate their surplus to local food banks, soup kitchens and service organizations.

The Master Gardeners PAR garden is located in Cowpens. This volunteer opportunity provides gardeners with hands on experience in every phase of vegetable gardening. Tasks include preparation of the garden, planitng, maintenance and harvest activities.

Crops include most of the traditional vegatable crops produeced in this area. In the spring, the garden is worked on Saturday mornings. Through the summer early evening sessions are scheduled to avoid the daytime heat.

click here to visit the PAR web page and see the activities of PAR volunteers.

Hazardous Wastel Disposal

Jim Weeks

jpweeksmd@aol.com

A local citizen's group is working with the County to offer one-day events to collect household hazardous material from residents.

Members of the Master Gardeners have worked with Spartanburg County Public Works Department to create the Hazardous Waste program. 2011 will be the 3rd year that MGAP volunteers have provided significant support for this program. Plan now to volunteers to assist in this important environmental effort and gain volunteer hours:

TPlans are being developed for the 2011 collecdtion program. for a look at the efforts of our volunteeers in the first two years of this program in spartanburg county click here Contact:

Jim Weeks (jpweeksmd@aol.com)


The 2011 Collection and recycling will be in April.

Examples of household hazardous waste are:
  • Batteries
  • Consumer paint products
  • Corrosives (such as oven cleaners and drain cleaners)
  • Liquid fuels
  • Domestic pesticides
  • Pharmaceuticals (unused medications and hypodermic needles)
  • Pressurized-flammable gas containers (such as propane BBQ tanks and single use tanks)
  • Solvent and flammable liquids (such as gasoline, anti-freeze, and paint strippers)
  • Swimming pool chemicals
  • Consumer electrical and electronic equipment
  • Products containing mercury (includes thermometers and fluorescent lighting)

For more details on the Spartanburg County Program click here

Hatcher Garden & Woodland Preserve

Garden Office: 574-7724.

 


Mission Statement: The mission of Hatcher Garden & Woodland Preserve is to be a place for the public to come for inspiration, enjoyment and education through the study of nature.

Master Gardeners who provide volunteer hours for support of the Garden will work side by side with horticulturist Jeff Hall. Learn by doing and ask all the questions you want! Areas of focus include:

  • propagation
  • greenhouse and nursery production
  • plant health care and general gardening skills


In addition to working in the Garden, you can volunteer to be a tour guide. There are training sessions for new and returning Docents (tour guides). Sign up for Docent Training and share Hatcher Garden with our guests.

Lots of hands and lots of volunteer hours are needed for special events like Plant Sales (spring and fall), Earth Day and Twilight in the Garden.

Be a Librarian The Hatcher Garden Library is now open and we need your help. Work with other volunteers maintaining this lending library and help spread gardening knowledge throughout the community. Attend a scheduled Garden Volunteer Day and be a Horticulture Helper.
Every Monday- Friday from 9am to noon and on the first Saturday of every month. Contact Hatcher about any of these volunteer opportunities. Call the Garden Office at 574-7724.
Visit the Hatcher Garden web page: click here

Farmers Market

Jerry Hightower, Jr.

aahightower@msn.com

The Hub City Farmers Market Is a community-based, 501(c)3 non-profit organization that provides a venue for local growers to increase the demand and availability of healthy foods grown in the area.
The program offers volunteer opportunities thoughout the Spring and into early Fall.
The Spartanburg Master Gardeners assist the effort by manning a table for Q & A on gardening. Through the Extension Service the volunteers can provide handouts and written material, answer questions, and provide information for obtaining soil samples.

This is a great opportunity for MG students to acquire "hours" for their Master Gardener certification since an MG veterans also works at the table to assist in helping the students.

The table is manned on alternate Saturday mornings from 8:00 AM to noon.
Visit the Hub City Farmers Market home page


Clemson Extension Office

George M. Dickert
Master Gardener Coordinator

kdllrd@clemson.edu
596-2993 x117

Master Gardeners volunteers provide support in the Clemson Extension Office by answering call-in and walk-in horticulture questions.

This support is one of the most valuable services you can provide to Extension, but more importantly to the citizens of our community. The knowledge you possess is backed by additional resources in the Office.

The Master Gardener office at Clemson Cooperative Extension is being staffed by two Master Gardeners every Monday and Friday (except holidays) from 9:00am to 12:00pm. Responsibilities for volunteers include:
  • Answer call-in questions on horticultural topics
  • Email or mail out Extension brochures and other literature upon request
  • Consult with Extension Agent on difficult questions before giving a reply
  • Use Extension literature and handbooks as information source
  • Help walk-in clientele who have horticultural questions
  • Keep Extension Agent and secretary informed of current problems and requests


For scheduling times to work the Extension office “GreenLine”, please call Kim Dillard at theExtension office. 596-2993 (kdllrd@clemson.edu) We welcome MG volunteers Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings from 9:00 until Noon.
Current events and additional Extension Service resources are posted on
the extension web page: click here


The Extension office is located at
CUCES--Spartanburg County
142 S. Dean St., Rm. 216
Spartanburg, SC 29302

Volunteer projects have been the mainstay of Master Gardeners since inception in 1972.