GAZETTE COLUMN: NEXT BOS VOTE - SAVE THE MASTER GARDENER PROGRAM by John P. Flannery

It is not too late for the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors to save one of the most productive programs in Loudoun County – the Master Gardener program - even though the Board just cut out the heart of the program last week, by a vote of 5-4 against extending funding to pay the one person, Debbie D. Dillion, the urban horticulturist, who drives this program’s continued success.

Having said that, this column is not a hand-wringing post-mortem - as we can still save the Master Gardener program and restore Ms. Dillion to her post – but we must convince one disapproving member of the Board of Supervisors to change his or her vote at an upcoming meeting of the Board of Supervisors.

We should be grateful and thank those who supported this significant program -- Chairman Scott York (At-large), Supervisor Ken Reid (Leesburg), Geary Higgins (Catoctin) and Janet Clarke (Blue Ridge). 

But Supervisors Eugene A Delgaudio (Sterling), Matthew F. Letorneau (Dulles), Ralph Buona (Ashburn) and Suzanne M. Volpe (Algonkian) disapproved.  Of the dissenters, Mr. Delgaudio has made it clear he won’t change his mind – if you’re trying to figure whom you should call or write.

Mr. Higgins argued that this Master Gardener program was a great example of a “public-private partnership” given that it brings in for our community three times the productivity that it costs.  Similarly, Ms. Clarke encouraged Ms. Dillion to tell the Board why this program was so important.  But this wasn’t enough to carry the board the first go-round.

Mr. Letorneau said “these volunteers can continue to do that without the help of county government.”  Unfortunately, that’s just not so – not without Ms. Dillion’s participation.

Chairman York encouraged the public to try “to educate some of these Board Members who haven’t dealt with the rural area of the county.”  So let’s do just that although this program has a broader reach than “the rural area of the county”– as there are lawns, trees, veggie gardens and house plants across the county.

This phalanx of award-winning master gardeners in Loudoun County volunteer their time to conserve and perpetuate what Messrs. Jefferson, Adams and Washington held dear – a legacy of green growth both necessary to life but also beautiful to behold. 

These Master Gardeners are a resource of information and service for working farms, gardens, sustaining food gardens ("victory gardens"), trees, lawns and in house plants. 

My wife Holly, herself a Master Gardener, said that, “For those who do not have a veggie garden or who do not have an interest or time to grow one, the Master Gardeners’ have a ‘grass roots’ program and a ‘tree steward’ program that helps homeowners grow a healthier lawn, trees, and veggies -- for your family.”  Indeed, more than a ton of food grown by the Master Gardeners was distributed to Interfaith Relief to help feed those who have fallen on hard times in this recession.

This constructive force, that is the Master Gardener program, arises out of the training, certification, coordination, and direction by this county’s special treasure, now at risk, our (outgoing) urban horticulturist, Debbie Dillion, with the Loudoun County Extension Office, who has been an integral part of a joint program of Virginia Tech, Virginia State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and state and local governments. 

The President of the United States has presented gold awards, for more than 500 hours of service, to Loudoun County Master Gardeners Cathy Anderson, Barbara Arnold, Margie Bassford, Elaine Hawn, Sally Hewitt, Carol Ivory, Jim Kelly, Normalee Martin, Dawn Meyerriecks, and Linda Award.   The President also awarded silver medals, for more than 250 hours service, and bronze, for more than 100 hours, for another 81 Master Gardeners.

Last week, Debbie was invited to speak to the Board to explain what she did.  The Supervisors eliminated her job as she sat at the front table.  We have it in our power, by the force of reason, to restore her job.

Write and call the Supervisors who voted against this program – not to rant or threaten their jobs but to persuade one member to make a course correction.

GAZETTE COLUMN: MASTER GARDENERS TENDING OUR GARDENS by John P. Flannery

There was a time when this was an agrarian economy, and farming brought us close to the soil and to the cycles of the growing seasons.

Citizen Thomas Jefferson used cisterns to capture rain water to nourish gardens on the mountain top he called Monticello, and he grew 18 different forms of lettuce (meat was a garnish for his salads).  Jefferson had every crop you could imagine including grapes for wine.  You can visit his gardens today and obtain cuttings for your own property.

There are those who would cover the earth with asphalt from sea to shining sea.  But we still have farmers and gardeners who celebrate all that’s green and vital to life.

There is a phalanx of award-winning master gardeners right here in Loudoun County who volunteer their time to conserve and perpetuate what Messrs. Jefferson, Adams and Washington held dear – a legacy of green growth both necessary to life and beautiful to behold.

These volunteer master gardeners are coordinated by one of this county’s special treasures, urban horticulturist, Debbie D. Dillion, with the Loudoun County Extension Office, a joint program of Virginia Tech, Virginia State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and state and local governments. 

As for getting your county tax dollar’s worth, we pay a relatively few content-brilliant public employees including Debbie who serve as the managers, guides and catalysts for 100 or more active volunteer master gardeners who each contribute hundreds of hours of their time.

First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt planted a “victory garden” that prompted 20 million home gardens during World War II that produced 40% of America’s vegetables.

First Lady Michelle Obama planted a garden bed on the South Lawn of the White House last year with a group of fifth graders from Bancroft Elementary School, hoping in the bargain that our children would learn to eat healthier.

Closer to home, Master Gardeners Lisa Doseff and Holly Flannery taught pre-schoolers in Lovettsville to plant a vegetable and flower garden at the Community Center.

Holly said, “increasingly, we see contaminated food from these corporate mega-farms, our major food source; we have to do better; and there’s no question that these local home grown ‘victory gardens’ produce safer, fresher, tastier and better food.”

President Barack Obama grants bronze, silver and gold “volunteer service awards,” and certificates for those who contribute time to their community.

The President presented gold awards, for more than 500 hours of service, to Loudoun County Master Gardeners Cathy Anderson, Barbara Arnold, Margie Bassford, Elaine Hawn, Sally Hewitt, Carol Ivory, Jim Kelly, Normalee Martin, Dawn Meyerriecks, and Linda Award.   He also awarded silver, for more than 250 hours service, and bronze, for more than 100 hours, for another 81 Master Gardeners.

Ms. Dillion was excited that so many received these awards, what she described as a special “thank you to our Master Gardener volunteers for the services they provide to the Loudoun Community.”

There are some who think any government action limits freedom but I believe our master gardener program is just one more example of how federal, state and local government can enable individuals to realize their potential on behalf of their communities.