CAES Newswire

 College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences UGA Cooperative Extension
Menu
Published on 12/12/23

Central Fulton Master Gardeners celebrate 500th Habitat for Humanity landscaping project

By Jordan Powers
A group of people stand on the front porch of a Habitat for Humanity home.
The Central Fulton Master Gardeners completed their 500th Habitat for Humanity landscaping project this fall. Volunteers plant trees and a rain garden, as required by the city of Atlanta, as well as shrubs, flowers and grass. (Submitted photo)

On a stormy day in September 2009, a crew of Central Fulton Master Gardeners (CFMG) were nearly knee-deep in mud, installing landscaping on their first house for a partnership with Atlanta Habitat for Humanity. It was not how anyone envisioned the project kick-off.

More than 14 years later, CFMG has maintained its commitment to the organization, completing its 500th Habitat project — a fitting milestone as the national Extension Master Gardener program celebrates its golden jubilee this year.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to use our skills as Master Gardeners trained by the University of Georgia to in turn train Habitat for Humanity volunteers,” said Rich Sussman, Master Gardener and coordinator of the Habitat partnership program. “Some have gardening experience; others have never put a shovel in the ground. But at the end of the day, we’ve shared knowledge with the volunteers and the new homeowner.”

Preparing new homeowners for successful landscaping

CFMG averages 40 to 45 Habitat for Humanity landscaping projects each year. Three to four months before each project, Atlanta Habitat for Humanity will reach out with upcoming needs. Sussman then puts a call out to CFMG — each project needs at least two or three Master Gardeners to be successful.

“We manage 15 to 35 (Habitat for Humanity) volunteers for each home. It’s not only how to plant, but a lot of people skills,” Sussman said. “The new homeowner is also there during the planting and they receive a book created by CMFG that includes information sheets on each plant, a watering schedule and the UGA turf maintenance calendar so they can continue care once they’ve moved in.”

Volunteers plant trees and a rain garden, as required by the city of Atlanta, as well as shrubs and flowers. They also lay sod or put down grass seed. Oaks and maples are the most frequent trees used, and Sussman ensures that the trees are planted correctly. “It is an educational opportunity to not only tell how we do things, but why we do it,” he said.

Sheri Dorn
State Master Gardener Coordinator Sheri Dorn

Sheri Dorn, UGA Cooperative Extension specialist for consumer ornamental plants and the state coordinator for the Georgia Master Gardener Extension Volunteer Program, adds that Master Gardeners are essential to helping UGA Extension share research-based information about caring for gardens and landscapes.

“Not only do they share information and knowledge but, in projects like this one, Master Gardeners actually come alongside and actively demonstrate planting and care techniques,” Dorn said.

Celebrating the 500th home

Sussman and his team knew the milestone home was quickly approaching. At the pace they were going, the project might have been completed in 2021, if it had not been for operational changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Habitat for Humanity cut back on volunteers and the overall number of homes being built during the pandemic.

“It was overwhelming when we finally did it,” Sussman said. “This is a project that CFMG has devoted themselves to. They are willing to work, and we use so much that we have learned during our training and continuing education that we can then use in this job to help Habitat, the homeowners and volunteers. Everything we have learned is put together in this project.”

Learn more about the Georgia Master Gardener Extension Volunteer program at extension.uga.edu.

Jordan Powers is the public relations manager for UGA's College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

Authors:
Jordan Powers
Experts/Sources:
Sheri Dorn
HurricaneHeleneGreenhouseDamageCropped CAES News
UGA Extension supports resilience in Georgia farm communities after Hurricane Helene 12/19/24 Emily Cabrera
Hurricane Helene wrought sweeping devastation across Georgia’s agricultural sector in late September, leaving an indelible mark on both the land and the people who tend it, bringing focus to vulnerabilities in Georgia’s farming industry and the need for more robust safety nets. In addition to the physical destruction, the hurricane took an emotional toll on Georgia’s farmers. In response, UGA Extension has prioritized mental health support.
University of Georgia startup CytoNest Inc. released its first commercial product this year, a fiber scaffold that optimizes cell manufacturing and tissue engineering. (Photo by Lauren Corcino) CAES News
UGA again ranks No. 1 in new research-based products 11/04/24 Brandon Ward
The University of Georgia once again ranks No. 1 among U.S. universities for the number of commercial products to market based on its research, according to an annual survey conducted by AUTM. For nine straight years, UGA has placed in the top two and has never appeared out of the Top 5 in the 11 years the survey has been reported by AUTM. UGA industry partners and startups released a record 66 new products developed from the university’s research in fiscal year 2023, on which the AUTM report is based.
Combining data collection and analysis with plant pathology, precision agriculture and robotics, the UGA team will build a photographic library of the foliar symptoms caused by onion diseases and other physiological disorders, feed them into the AI software, and use machine learning to identify the diseases based on pattern and color recognition from the images. CAES News
UGA uses AI, robotics to improve Georgia’s Vidalia sweet onion crop 10/23/24 Jordan Powers
A multidisciplinary team of UGA researchers aims to enhance the competitiveness of Vidalia onion growers in Georgia by providing them with the ability to confidently detect onion diseases early, enabling them to make management decisions on their crop at a critical time. These abilities, researchers say, should result in increased yield and quality of marketable onions and an overall increase in efficiency and productivity.
Associate Professor Rhuanito Ferrarezi poses with a Gerber daisy grown by students in his 4050/6050 Greenhouse Management class in fall 2023. CAES News
Upcoming UGA plant sales bring color to fall 10/15/24 Maria M. Lameiras
Fall weather means fall gardening, and several groups at the University of Georgia’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences will be offering the fruits of their labors at ornamental plant sales across campus this semester. On Friday, Oct. 18, the Trial Gardens at University of Georgia will hold its annual Fall Houseplant Sale, and on Wednesday, Nov. 20, greenhouse management students will offer their ornamental plant sale at the South Milledge Greenhouse Complex.
Although it may not fit the traditional image of a well-kept lawn, this landscape is the result of careful planning and a deep commitment to ecological stewardship. CAES News
Done with mowing? How to transform your lawn into a native, perennial landscape 09/12/24 Emily Cabrera
On a tour of her Blairsville, Georgia, home, Becky Griffin navigates a swaying maze of perennial grasses interspersed with pussy willows, switchgrass and boneset. Although it may not fit the traditional image of a well-kept lawn, this landscape is the result of careful planning and a deep commitment to ecological stewardship. As a native plant enthusiast and coordinator of the Great Southeast Pollinator Census, Griffin hand-selected each of these native plants for the countless ecological services they provide year-round.
Master Gardener Carrots CAES News
Celebrating 45 years of Georgia Master Gardeners 09/03/24 Sheri Dorn
The Georgia Master Gardener Extension Volunteer program is celebrating its 45th anniversary with signature events throughout 2024, culminating in the Georgia Master Gardener Association’s annual conference Oct. 4-5. Hosted on the University of Georgia Griffin campus, the event’s theme is “Think Globally, Grow Locally” and will feature research tours, presentations and workshops hosted by Master Gardeners.