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About Us
County Impact Statements - Hot Spring County
Non-Traditional Extension Program Involves New Clientele
Master Gardening
Master Gardening, a program began in 1988 by the University of Arkansas
Extension Service and with individuals from Hot Spring County becoming a part of
the last nine years has proven to have quite an impact on the citizens in our
County.
The program was brought to Arkansas by Janet Carson who at the time was a
Horticulture Agent in Pulaski County. She saw this as a way to build a
leadership base in the area of Horticulture in Pulaski County. This was then
made available to other counties throughout the state. We, in Hot Spring County,
joined with Garland, Saline and Clark Counties to form our own Master Gardening
Program nine years ago.
The Program was advertised in the four counties and we were all surprised at
the number and kind of individuals who signed up to participate. Mostly retired
professionals, working professionals in the greenhouse, landscape, nursery or
wholesale nursery business as well as discount stores who sell vegetables and/or
nursery plants allow their employees to attend and pay their registration fees.
The Program provides the participant forty hours of training on topics from
basic botany to commercial greenhouse production and everything in between.
Participants receive a Master Gardening notebook and the latest leaflet from the
University of Arkansas. There is a small fee to cover the cost of material and
meals in most counties. Those attending agree to give back forty hours in
volunteer service to various projects in the county they are from. The topics
are taught by University Professors, Extension Specialist and experienced Master
Gardeners. Most counties have formed an organized Master Gardening group that
provides various services to their communities. Such is the case in Hot Spring
County. Our Master Gardening Program, headed by Wilburn and Claudette Cox, are
responsible for planning, planting and maintaining the lovely flower beds you
see at our Courthouse Annex, the planters on main street, beds at both our parks
and the bed at Morrison Softball Field as well as the bed located at the Malvern
Street Department. These individuals have donated over nine hundred hours in
volunteer service to our county. If you have an interest in Horticulture give
the Master Gardening Program a try.
Pam Hall, Chairperson of Master Gardener Project at City Street
Department
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Impacts
- Trained 9 new Master Gardeners who donated 400 hours to various
community projects.
- Conducted 1st annual Flower & Garden Show - 54 people attended.
- Presented program on sprayer calibration - 75 people attended.
- Conducted Forestry Tour - 15 people attended.
- Vaccinated 550 heifers for Bang Disease.
- Certified 95 farmers for Pesticide.
- Fertility tested 15 bulls.
- Coordinated Farmers Market Program - involving 35 participants.
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