CHESTERTOWN — On Tuesday, Kent County Commissioners President Ron Fithian and members Albert Nickerson and John Price awarded approximately $20,000 to keep the Master Gardeners Program going in Kent County.
The money will go for a part-time Master Gardener Coordinator and Horticulture Educator.
The Program has been in operation since 2007 with 23 certified Master Gardeners.
They volunteered 877 hours in 2023 and have provided $29,369 in services.
The Master Gardeners provide free educational programming, developing instructional and educational materials, conducting public seminars on topics like Pollinators, Native plants, Growing food, Organic gardening, Insect and pest control, Climate resiliency and ecology.
The applause on Tuesday afternoon came from the Master Gardeners after the commissioner’s decision due to the fact they thought the program would be disbanded.
As explained by Nancy Robson of Kent County Master Gardeners, who also gave the presentation to the commissioners, the organization is important.
“We are the bridge from the University of Maryland to the public,” she said, on things like horticulture, botany, soil, water and plant health.
She pointed out they aren’t a garden club, who’s primary focus is to beautify the area.
Robson said they are are university-trained and certified, working within the University of Maryland Extension.
They see this work as having a great impact on the health of the community through a range of free community projects and education.
On the slides, she showed how the work affects everybody, pointing to key projects.
She showed pictures of them at the Kent County Library garden, which is a demo garden worked on by many knowledgeable volunteers. It’s maintained for free by the Master Gardeners.
She showed educational seminars, like one at the Chestertown Christian Academy they conducted, showing students how to grow kale and lettuce.
They also set up at the farmer’s market every Saturday, even in the hot temperatures to field questions from the public, Robson said.
She named various work shops, seminars, and community events they participate in.
“It’s such an integral and organic part an entire demographic within this community,” Robson said. “It’s all connected, what we do, as a community and as an educational force and looking after the stewardship of our land and property,” Robson told commissioners.
It’s a lifestyle, she pointed out, for many, especially on the Eastern Shore where agriculture is a way of life for many.
“It’s about planting and growth and the food, and how it all chains together and how we all each have a hand in dealing with it.”
But the progress they made was being threatened hence the reason for their visit to the commissioners.
“All of what they’re doing is in jeopardy,” Area Extension Director, Paul Rickert said.
He said that after Sabine Harvey retired two years ago, and after certain budget restraints, he was told Kent County would not have a Master Gardener’s program.
“Over the last several years our office had been short on funding,” he acknowledged.
Some of that had to do with an 8.75 budget reduction in FY-21, Rickert said. And also they got a Cost-Of-Living Adjustment (COLA) from the state, which started the fiscal drop off. It was about $15,000 they were underfunded for Fiscal Year (FY) 21.
The next fiscal year, FY-22, they got that $15,000 back but only in a specific job position. They had requested some additional funding to take their agricultural agent and raise that to a 10-year track position, which the commissioners agreed to.
At the end of FY-22, Harvey resigned, so in the FY-23 budget they asked the commissioners to increase funding to help them.
He provided the reason why. “We had an open position and I can’t not pay the people that were there a COLA or merit increase so that funding had to come from somewhere and that ate away at that position.”
This past year, FY-24, Rickert asked to restore the COLA’s and merits to get back to .5 % where they’ve been since they’ve been in operation. They weren’t given that.
Then in the FY-25 budget he requested the bare minimum which was funded.
That left them the question, what do we do about the horticulture program assistant position?
“In talking with our State Program Leader and Statewide Master Gardener Coordinator, they made the determination that without further funding we can’t continue hosting the program (in Kent County) due to the fiscal and personal cost.”
That’s why they came to the commissioners, requesting the county to grant $20,353, which would allow them to get a part-time Master Gardener Coordinator and Horticulture Educator.
“I know you have difficult decisions to make, but I do appreciate the hard work you do every year,” Rickert said, sympathizing with the commissioners.
Nickerson commented that what they are doing is an important program, particularly educating the younger people on a knowledge of growing.
Price saw that as well.
“The presentation was very informative. I personally witnessed a lot of the good work the Master Gardeners do. I thinks it’s a very worthy program and I think it’s something we need here in Kent County.”
Price made a motion to contribute that amount of money to the program and in the future asked them to provide the commissioners a formal request so they can consider it during the budget process.
This money will come out of the fund balance.
Nickerson seconded the motion and Fithian also voted in favor of it. With the unanimous vote came unanimous applause from those in the audience associated with the Master Gardener Program.
Master Gardener, Secethia Boardley-Davis was all prepared to give a passionate speech, but didn’t have to when the commissioners approved.
She shared a part of this speech with Kent County News.
“Master Gardeners engage in every aspect of Farmers Market, Bay-Wise but the greatest pride and satisfaction for me as a Kent County Master Gardener are our children’s programs in Kent County as they are not only our best hope for tomorrow, they are our only hope for tomorrow. A price can not be attached to it for it is priceless.”
Most Popular
Comments / 0