eyesore to beautification awards through partnerships

“Eyesore to Beautification

Rewards through Partnerships”

The Demonstration Garden: A project of the Nacogdoches County

Master Gardeners Association

Rotary Club of Nacogdoches - November 28, 2012

“Eyesore to Beautification

Rewards through Partnerships”

Master Gardeners Association:

• Started in Washington state in the early ’70s

• Texas (Montgomery County) 1979

• Nacogdoches County 1995

• Part of Texas A&M AgriLife Program;

Jamie Sugg, local agent

Nacogdoches County Master

Gardeners Association (NCMGA):

• 2012 Executive Committee:

– Sylvia St. Andry, President

– Bill Teague, Vice President

– Anita Kite, Secretary

– Gwen Jeffers, Treasurer

– JoAnn Carter, Immediate Past President

– Jamie Sugg, Advisor

NCMGA:

• 2013 Executive Committee:

– Martha Breedlove, President

– Teena Perkins, Vice President

– Penny Horne, Secretary

– Debbie Hicks, Treasurer

– Sylvia St. Andry, Immediate Past President

– Jamie Sugg, Advisor

NCMGA in the Community:

• Demonstration Garden

• Monthly Lunch & Learn

• Speaker’s Bureau

• Annual Plant Sale

• Pineywoods Fair

• Blueberry Festival

Demonstration Garden Recent

Location & History:

• 7 acres of land at Main & University

• Former Chicken Processing Plant

• On loan from city to NCMGA for

demonstration garden for the public;

beautification

Demonstration Garden Partnership:

• NCMGA

• City of Nacogdoches

• Nacogdoches County

• Texas A&M AgriLife Extension

• Texas Master Gardeners Association

• Rotary Club of Nacogdoches

Demonstration Garden Highlights:

• Work in progress; 10-15 year program

• One of the largest of its kind in the US

Demonstration Garden Highlights:

• Butterfly Garden

Demonstration Garden Highlights:

• East Texas Hospice Memorial Walk

Demonstration Garden Highlights:

• Raised Beds: “The Good Bug Garden”

(ADA Compliant)

Demonstration Garden Highlights:

• Fig Tree & Rose Research

Demonstration Garden Highlights:

• Rainwater Harvest Project

Demonstration Garden Support:

• Designated 501(c)(3) IRS non-profit

• NISD/County summer program partnership

• Home to several Eagle Scout projects

• MG members contributed ~ 10,000 hours

Around the Demonstration Garden:

Demonstration Garden Accolades:

• Named “Beautification Landscape” project by

Keep Nacogdoches Beautiful

• Showplace for touring garden associations

• Featured destination promoted by

Nacogdoches Convention & Visitors Bureau

& Nacogdoches County Chamber of

Commerce

Demonstration Garden Need:

• Interpretive signage:

– Parking Entrance/Exit

– Location (Signal)

– Promoting self-guided tours

– Enhancing education

– Showcasing East Texas horticulture

– Expanding sponsor recognition

Demonstration Garden Need:

• Scope of project: Phases 1-4

– Phase 1: Enter/Exit (Parking) & Signal (Location)

signs $2,947.50 FUNDED

Demonstration Garden Need:

• Scope of project, cont.

– Phase 2: Welcome/History/Map sign

$1,680.00 ($627.50)

Demonstration Garden Need:

• Scope of project, cont.

– Phase 3: Rainwater Harvest signs, graphics TBD

($672.50)

– Phase 4: Internal directional signs, graphics TBD

($3,606.00)

Opportunity to Help:

• Project Total Phases 1-4: $8,906.00

• Needed to complete Phases 2-4: ($4,906.00)

RCN Benefits to Helping:

Service above self

Serves the public interest

Consistent with educational theme

Landmark/gateway project

Raise RCN awareness in the community

Questions & Comments

Thank you for your continued

guidance and support!

Contact:

County Extension Office

936.560.7711

or

Bill Teague

713.252.3918

ta9@hughes.net