Bell County Master Gardener Bell County Master Gardeners are volunteers who work with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service to improve gardening skills throughout the community. Program objectives are implemented through the training of local volunteers known as Master Gardeners. We collaborate with Extension to conduct youth and community education; establish and maintain demonstration gardens; and provide a speakers bureau. We work with special audiences in the community (4-H horticultural clubs, Junior Master Gardener groups, schools, and others) for youth and community outreach of a horticultural nature. We recruit and educate new Master Gardener candidates for effective volunteering. Master Gardeners are local volunteers in your community who work with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service to increase the availability of horticultural information and improve your communities quality of life through various horticultural projects.
BELL COUNTY RECEIVES TEXAS MASTER GARDENER ASSOCIATION AWARDS
The Bell County Master Gardener Association received a 2016 First Place Award as the Outstanding Master Gardener Association from the Texas Master Gardener Association during the State Conference awards luncheon at Galveston on May 1st. The award was given in the large county category which is made up of associations with 100-199 dues paying certified Master Gardeners
The Outstanding Association award recognized Bell County Master Gardeners’ many contributions to the community, reflected in large part by the 11,813 service hours performed by its 142 active members in 2016. These hours, at the Department of Labor rate of $25.11 per volunteer hour in Texas, returned to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service $296,624.43 in manpower hours. The association was also recognized for it 5,513 contacts with Bell County citizens through its outreach programs and projects.
Additionally, Bell County received First Place recognition in the State Association’s Projects category for its involvement with the Fort Hood Community Gardens. These two gardens, both on-base, were originally designed by Master Gardeners in conjunction with the Fort Hood Community Services Manager and are in the Comanche III and Montague housing communities.
The project was recognized for its contacts with over 935 Fort Hood families who were taught by Master Gardeners to plan, grow and harvest edible vegetables. These vegetables were shared with over 600 families from the Comanche III garden, and over 325 families in Montague Village.
Bell County’s Master Gardeners received a 2nd place award in the Junior Master Gardener/ Youth division from the State Association for a Learn, Grow, Eat, Go program taught in the fall of 2016 as an elective course to St. Mary’s Catholic School 5th graders. The award recognized Bell County for the 30 minute, 3 times weekly classes which were attended by 14 students. The students were taught garden planning, sowing seeds and transplants, irrigation and journaling, as well as how to read, evaluate and prepare new recipes.
GARDENING IN BELL COUNTY CLASSES
BCMGA is pleased to offer monthly seminars for Central Texas Gardeners presented by Certified Bell County Master Gardeners on a variety of gardening topics, from landscaping to irrigation to controlling pests and much more. The following is a list of our upcoming class offerings for 2017 which are open to the public. All classes are held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Texas A&M Bell County AgriLife Building located at 1605 North Main Street, Belton, TX 76513
- August 17……………….Fall Gardening
- September 21…………Cooking with Herbs
- October 19……………..Fruit and Citrus Trees
- November 16………….Composting
Class size is limited to 25 participants so register early! We hope you find a topic that interests you and will join us for these fun and instructional classes. If you have questions, please contact us via: j-upchurch@sbcglobal.net or carol.morisset@gmail.com
Click on the following to download a class registration form:
Gardening in Bell County Classes 2017
Monthly Meetings
Date: Second Wednesday of each month at 9:00 a.m. (June-September)
Location: Bell County Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Master Gardener Laboratory & Learning Center 1605 N. Main St., Belton
Social gathering time begins at 8:30 a.m. (June-September)
There is an educational session followed by a business meeting.
Educational sessions qualify for one hour of continuing education for Master Gardeners; the business session qualifies for one hour of service plus drive time.
All Master Gardeners and the public are invited to attend.
Visit our Facebook page for pictures and more information on our activities: https://www.facebook.co
m/BCMGA
Future Bell County Master Gardeners
Thank you for your interest in the 2018 Bell County Master Gardeners New Class.
Mandatory Orientation is Wednesday, January 3, 2018 from 1 to 4 pm. Weekly classes begin Wednesday, January 10, 2018 through the middle of May. All classes are from 1 to 5 pm. Orientation and classes are held in the Bell County AgriLife Extension Office classroom located at 1605 N. Main, Belton, Texas.
Your $250 check for the class fee must accompany your application and background check form to reserve a spot in the 2018 class. (No credit cards, please) Class limit is 25 and the deadline for applications is December 15, 2017. When the class is filled, others will be put on a waiting list for 2018.
Hand carry or mail your application to the Bell County AgriLife Extension Office at 1605 N. Main, Room 102, Belton, Texas. If you have any questions, please call 254-933-5305.
BCMGA members can enter their service and education hours in the Texas we Volunteer System at the following web site: https://texas.volunteersystem.org/UniversalLogin.cfm
Click on the following file to print the form for membership background checks:
Background Check Form 01-20-2016 (Background check)
Click on the following PDF file to print
Brick Sale Form: BCMGAbrickform for website
Project Approval Request Form: Bell County Project Approval Form
Read our newsletter “The Blooming Bell” for news and monthly activity calendar