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Polk County Master Gardeners
News Articles
" More fun than play "
Home gardening offers countless benefits. It really doesn't matter what type of garden. Your interests might encompass a wide spectrum of plants in a large scale landscape plan or something simpler. Regardless of your choice, the benefits are numerous. Furthermore, I believe gardening, as a hobby, offers great value in bringing family and friends closer together through the sharing of mutual interests.
One of the most memorable experiences of my life came from a statement by my four-year old grandson, Taylor, when he visited his Grandpa and Grandma Wood in the year 2000. Knowing he was coming to visit, I came up with the idea of having three generations of Woods plant several large pine trees to commemorate the new millennium. My oldest son, David, helped me dig several very large holes. This was hard work because the ground was full of rocks and red clay. It was also a very hot day. As we dug, we let Taylor, who wanted very much to help, " crumb out " the bottom of each hole with a small hand shovel I took out of my garden tool box. At some point, we sat down on the ground to take a rest break and enjoy a drink of ice cold water. While we sat there enjoying each other's company, my grandson looked up at me and said, " Hey, Grandpa, this is more fun than play!" We all laughed and ,at that instant, I realized how much he liked being included and how much he was enjoying this group effort. That day created a valuable bond with a grandson who lives out-of-state. Now, he frequently asks me how the pine trees are doing and enjoys seeing how much they have grown when he comes to visit. Experiences like this are invaluable for children. It teaches them a love for gardening that can become a life-long interest. It also bridges the generation gap while it improves our environment by creating a green legacy. Most of us can thank a grandparent or parent for nurturing our love for gardening.
Gardening also ranks high as the best therapy in the world. Recently, I was taking with an acquaintance who spends a lot of time in his garden. He laughingly said, " My garden helps me keep my sanity ." I understood what he meant. His interest in gardening helps him achieve some balance in his life and relieve some of the stress he experiences daily in his profession. Who in the world thinks about his or her job in the garden?
In the final analysis, the benefits of gardening are so great it's easy to forget the hard work it takes to enjoy the outcome! Look for future opportunities to join the Master Gardeners of Polk County to learn more about gardening and to share your know-how. There are now over fifty members of this organization in Mena that have taken on various volunteer projects to create and maintain attractive landscaping at key public buildings. With the support of the University of Arkansas Department of Agriculture and the Cooperative Extension Service, Master Gardeners receive many hours of training in botany, soil science, plant propagation, pest management, pesticide & herbicide usage, vegetable and ornamental plant gardening, plant and weed identification, pruning, and other horticulture related subjects. In exchange, they donate back to local communities.
by Gerald L. Wood
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