History:
The
Kalamazoo County Master Gardener Association
held its first meeting in early 1997, under the name Kalamazoo County
Master Gardener Guild. The original steering committee was a small,
insightful group of MSUE-KC-trained Master Gardeners who, along with
the MG coordinator, created a forum for Master Gardeners and MG
Trainees to connect with each other to network, continue their
horticultural education, and offer educational programs and services
to the greater community.
Since the beginning, regular membership meetings have been held five
or more times a year, providing at least five hours of educational
credit toward recertification. Topics have ranged from: planting for
birds and butterflies to glacial affects on area soil composition to
garden pests and their controls, as well as discussions of individual
families of plants, and growing conditions.
Summer Garden Walks have been an annual series for members and guests
to visit public and private gardens to glean insights into gardening
styles, plant combinations, hard scapes, and working within various
environments. The walks also provide an informal opportunity for
networking.
Volunteer opportunities have been generated to provide members with
recertification hours and service to the community. Projects have
included: a vegetable garden to provide produce for a local food
pantry (now a project of MSUE Home Horticulture); a beautification
project at an area camp; and collaborative open-to-the-public
educational projects with Kalamazoo In Bloom and the Calhoun County
Master Gardener Association, bringing state- and nationally-known
speakers to the area.
Between its inception in 1997 and the early 2000s, the group grew very
rapidly . . . from twenty or so members to over 100 by fall 2003. The
growth, along with increased oversight from our sponsors, the MSU/MG
program, made a more formal, mission-driven organization necessary.
Through extensive strategic planning by the Board and membership,
updated Bylaws and a name change to Kalamazoo County Master Gardener
Association were in place by the end of 2002. The mission and focus of
the organization were reaffirmed as networking and ongoing education
of the membership and support of sound horticultural education and
practice in the community at large. Initiatives and projects will be
assessed on an annual basis to evaluate their support of the mission
and interests of the membership.
Starting in 2003, an additional membership meeting was added along
with an Annual Meeting, Potluck, and Plant Exchange.
Today, the membership is over 100 strong. The vast range of interest
areas and levels of expertise among our members leads to a highly
dynamic mix of people—all
ready to learn and share their passion for gardening with each other
and the people they meet in the community.
December,
2004
