Alpine Master Gardener Association

OUR HISTORY:

The Alpine Master Gardener Association origins come from a formation meeting in December 1999, and the group of Master Gardener Volunteer graduates has it's first official meeting, with the election of officers, in February 2000.

The Michigan Master Gardener Volunteer Program is a horticultural education and volunteer leader training program offered by Michigan State University Extension.  It is offered to people who are enthusiastic about gardening, who want to learn more about growing plants and are willing to share their knowledge with others.  This program brings students up-to-date horticultural information and gardening methods, reinforces previous knowledge and helps them learn how to disseminate this information.  A Master Gardener Volunteer is a volunteer trained by M.S.U. Extension to help others learn more about gardening and basic plant science.  Master Gardener Volunteers have attended the required 30 hours of educational classes, and have learned basic horticultural principles and environmentally sound gardening practices.  They then complete a minimum of 40 hours of volunteer service to their community.  Some of the class sessions that are attended include Plant Science, Soils for Plant Growth, Flower Gardening, Integrated Pest Management and Vegetable Gardening.

Our members include women and men of all ages, and some have recently completed their basic courses, and some members have expansive education and experience in horticulture and gardening as "Advanced Master Gardeners".  Advanced Master Gardener Volunteers are required to take an additional 25-hours of class training and an additional 50-hours of community service.  All are ready and willing to share their knowledge and experience with community members.

Our current members have been working throughout the community in a volunteer capacity on a multitude of projects.  The volunteer projects include maintaining and planting four individual gardens at the Otsego County Alternative Landscaping & Demonstration Garden near the J. Richard Yuill Center in Otsego county.  Other projects include planting and maintaining gardens at the South Maple School, the North Ohio School, the Lovell's Museum, and many others.

Alpine Master Gardeners have monthly meetings January through November, which encompass educational programs, as well as tours of gardens, and local nurseries.  We join together for "work bees" at the various community gardens, and do "hands-on" fun-filled garden related crafts, and so much more.  As you take a look around our website you will notice we have used a ladybug on our pages.  Because a ladybug is a gardeners friend, it only seemed fitting that back in early 2001 we adopted the ladybug as our association mascot.

In 2002 the Alpine Master Gardener Association proudly accepted the award of Volunteer of the Year from the Otsego Conservation District.   The award was given for our association work at the Otsego County Alternative Landscaping Demonstration Garden site.

Alpine Master Gardeners are pleased to be a part of the Michigan residents who have completed Master and Advanced Master Gardener Volunteer training in the state; and we are very proud to be of service to our local communities in Otsego and surrounding counties.

Our Sunshine person is Connie Czarkowski.  You can reach Connie at 989-732-4680.

2008 AMGA meeting minutes:  January, February, March, May, June, July, September, October  and November.

2009 AMGA meeting minutes:  January, February, May, June, July, August, September, October and December.

2010 AMGA meeting minutes:  January, February, March, May, June, July, August, September, October and December.

2011 AMGA meeting minutes:  January, February, March, May July, August, September, October and November.

2012 AMGA meeting minutes:  January, February, June September, October and November.

2013 AMGA meeting minutes:  February,  March, September, October , and December.

2014 AMGA meeting minutes:  January, February,  March, May, June, & September.

2015 AMGA meeting minutes:  January, February, March,  May, September, October & December.

Past AMGA Gardener of the Year recipients:  2006 - Lori Hansen, 2007 - Suzanne Stock, 2008 - Carol Buxton, 2009 - Jeanne Freymuth, 2010 - Annette Yasin, 2011 - Jean Brown, 2012 - Betty Steinhoff, 2013 - Karen Blewett, 2014 - Lorraine Blazic, 2015 - Michelle Roberts.

Click here for a printable copy of our association bylaws:  AMGA Bylaws.

Click here for a printable copy of the Master Gardener Volunteer Policy Statement:  MGV Policy Statement

Click here for a printable copy of the Master Gardener Volunteer Commitment:  AMGA Volunteer Commitment

In order to help those putting together the Library Series presentations, the following information has been complied to serve as a guide:  Outline, Topics, Confirmation Letter, Flyer, Public Relations, Welcome, and Survey.