This past weekend was the Georgia Master Gardener Association’s (GMGA) Conference where our Glynn County Volunteers were awarded the Project Grant Award for their hard work at Hand in Hand of Glynn.
The criteria to be eligible for this award:
- First, nominees must have received a grant from the GMGA in 2025
- The project must have realistic goals and objectives
- Utilize as many Master Gardeners as possible
- Be educational, creative, and useful
- Promote community involvement
- Will make a difference in the community it serves
The University of Georgia Extension service provides educational information to communities in each county of the state. Our volunteers participate in a lengthy and in depth training that sets them apart from other gardeners. They earn the title Master Gardener and can keep it as long as they maintain their volunteer hour requirements. These are dedicated individuals who really want to see improvement in gardening education. They not only want to learn for themselves, but learn for their community.
Our connection with Hand in Hand of Glynn began before they opened for residents. It was an important goal to have a community garden for their chronically unhoused residents. As their grand opening approached, we worked with Ms. Takiela Langley to establish a raised bed garden space. When residents started moving in, we got to work in 2024.
Establishing a garden can be a hefty upfront cost! We quickly identified the need for additional funding to better prepare the garden. The GMGA hosts an annual grant for members of their association to use to benefit their communities. Thankfully, our project was selected and we received $500 for garden plants and trees, seeds, fertilizer, compost, and a few other things as needed.
This group of residents, Master Gardeners, and project leaders call themselves the Garden Society. They work together to form a schedule and allocate responsibilities. Master Gardeners impart wisdom by working alongside the residents and with brief educational sessions. Residents nurture and raise the crops for their community pantry.
One of the most beautiful aspects of sharing in the garden is learning from each other. This partnership nourishes more than just the plants. It supplies food for residents and their neighbors. It provides a sense of purpose and therapeutic qualities. It has beauty in the flowers and the pollinators that follow. As Mary Helan puts it, this is beyond just food for the body, it is food for the soul.
This project’s leadership team includes Suzanne Hurley, Linda Hlozansky, Mary Helan Turner, and Marsha Rauscher. Other Master Gardeners have provided invited educational sessions or extra hands in the garden this includes Jerry Hardiman, Debra Stockton, Jay Warran, Rob McCrae, and Tina Williamson. Lastly, we have Friends of the Master Gardeners who provide additional support. Thank you to Linda Caldwell for always being willing to jump on a new project.
Follow us on Facebook to see live updates Glynn County Master Gardeners and Hand in Hand of Glynn.
If you would like to volunteer alongside the Master Gardeners on projects like this, please reach out to M.C. Halbrook for more information mchalbrook@uga.edu or 912-580-0256 (cell). If you would like to volunteer with Hand in Hand of Glynn, please fill out their volunteer form online or email Carolyn@handinhandofglynn.com
