CAES Newswire

 College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences UGA Cooperative Extension
Menu
Published on 08/01/22

UGA Extension celebrates pollinator advocate Rosalynn Carter’s 95th birthday

By Jordan Powers
Yellow sign with name and website for Rosalynn Carter Butterfly Trail in a field of flowers
Former first lady Rosalynn Carter inspired the butterfly trail to increase habitat for pollinators, especially her favorite monarch butterflies.

University of Georgia Cooperative Extension is partnering with the Rosalynn Carter Butterfly Trail to honor the former first lady’s work in pollinator conservation with a unique 95th birthday initiative.

“We are asking gardeners and pollinator advocates to post a message for former first lady Carter on social media wishing her a happy birthday or thanking her for her years of work in pollinator conservation,” said Becky Griffin, community and school garden coordinator for the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES). “We are encouraging people to be inventive with their posts, maybe creating a short video or posting a photo of their pollinator garden.”

Griffin, who also coordinates the Great Georgia Pollinator Census, added that celebrating Carter’s 95th birthday is a special way to kick off the 2022 event. Carter will turn 95 on Aug. 18, the day before the pollinator census on Aug. 19 and 20.

As inspiration, Griffin suggests “I appreciate Mrs. Carter’s work with pollinators because…” as a prompt for social media posts. Participants can post their messages on the Georgia Pollinator Census Facebook page or the Rosalynn Carter Butterfly Trail Facebook page. People can also post on their own social media pages using the #RC95 hashtag.

Carter inspired the butterfly trail to increase habitat for pollinators, especially her favorite monarch butterflies.

Gardeners can put their pollinator spaces on the trail by registering on the project website. The requirements to be included as a butterfly trail garden include having butterfly larval plants and a variety of nectar plants. There is no requirement for garden size.

Annette Wise, Carter’s friend and trail co-founder, works tirelessly to bring awareness about the trail to the public and to educate gardeners on creating pollinator habitats. The program is based in Plains, Georgia, and has expanded across the U.S. and internationally.

“I am proud to have my home garden as part of the butterfly trail,” Griffin said. “We are excited to be a small part of Mrs. Carter’s birthday celebration, and we thank her for her longtime work in pollinator conservation.”

To learn more about UGA Extension's work to improve pollinator habitat alongside the Carters, see “UGA experts work to protect biodiversity on Jimmy Carter's solar farm.”

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

Authors:
Jordan Powers
Experts/Sources:
Becky Griffin
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.
Janiver in sunflower field AI web CAES News
A larger-than-life legacy: CAES student’s contagious enthusiasm inspired others 12/17/24 Jordan Powers
When Miriam Edelkind-Vealey applied for a summer role at a University of Georgia pollinator biodiversity lab in 2020, the junior undergrad didn’t quite know what to expect. After being told she got the position, Edelkind-Vealy didn’t hear anything for a few weeks. It was only then that she learned a collaborator on the project, second-year master’s degree student Amy Joy Janvier, had passed away.
A groundbreaking ceremony for a green stormwater demonstration site was held on Nov. 22 at the UGA Research and Education Garden at UGA-Griffin. This site will allow visitors to get a firsthand look at the green infrastructure technology that can be used both in the green industry and in private homes. Pictured are (l-r): Rolando Orellana, urban water management state agent in the UGA Center for Urban Agriculture; Jeffrey Dean, Assistant Provost and Campus Director for UGA Griffin; Bethany Harris, Director of the UGA Center for Urban Agriculture, Joy Hinkle, Grants Unit Manager for Georgia EPD, and Martin Wunderly, UGA Northeast District Extension Area Water Agent. CAES News
UGA-Griffin breaks ground on green stormwater demonstration site 12/11/24 Ashley N Biles
Industry professionals, researchers and the public will soon have access to the latest in sustainable infrastructure technology with the construction of a green stormwater demonstration site at the University of Georgia Research and Education Garden on the UGA Griffin campus. The groundbreaking ceremony was held Nov. 22 with plans to complete several demonstration areas by the end of 2024.
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.
University and state leaders cut the ribbon during the Science and Ag Hill dedication ceremony. (Chamberlain Smith/UGA) CAES News
UGA dedicates first phase of Science and Ag Hill modernization 11/01/24
The University of Georgia held a dedication ceremony on Oct. 30 to celebrate the completion of the first phase of renovations to modernize research and instruction facilities and infrastructure on UGA’s Science and Ag Hill. This area of campus, located just south of Sanford Stadium, includes buildings dedicated to a variety of scientific disciplines such as biology, physics, geology and agricultural sciences.
CAES doctoral students Sofia Varriano and Leniha Lagarde follow farmer Clay Brady to the pasture where many of his chickens are kept. CAES News
UGA researchers study how free-range chickens influence farm sustainability 10/31/24 Maria M. Lameiras
Researchers in the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences are studying how pastured and free-range chickens impact ecosystems on integrated crop-livestock farms. Supported by a $749,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, entomology doctoral student Sofia Varriano and her thesis advisor, agroecologist and systems biology Professor Bill Snyder, are testing the promise of integrated crop-livestock agriculture to increase the sustainability of smaller farms.