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Master Gardeners Asked to Assist in Texas/Oklahoma Pollinator Project

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Photo of bumble Bee on cowpeasBMGA members interested in bees and pollinators can assist in a project with the ultimate goal of creating a field-tested list of the best Texas and Oklahoma landscape plants for pollinators.  This is an opportunity for Master Gardeners to use their knowledge and skills in the garden to participate in a real citizen-data collection project to provide important data to scientists and researchers hoping to reduce the decline of pollinators in Texas and Oklahoma.

Michael Merchant, Ph.D, BCE, Professor and Extension Urban Entomologist with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, asks Texas and Oklahoma Master Gardeners and Master Naturalists for feedback about the top plants for pollinators in their gardens. In addition, he wants to assess who is interested in participating in a pollinator count this summer.  Exact details about the planned count will be provided later.  But now, to get started, Master Gardeners may complete a survey indicating their interest in participating in a pollinator count and identifying top plants in their garden that attract pollinators.

Some of you may be familiar with Dr. Merchant and his AgriLife Extension Insects in the City blog or as a trainer in the Master Gardener program on the topic of entomology.  Dr. Merchant says he knows there is a lot of collective wisdom of out there among gardeners and naturalist on what plants serve as highly attractive nectar sources for pollinators. If the project team can get a good response from Master Gardeners and others to this survey, it should give the project a good starting list of potential pollinator plants to study this summer.

Below is a link to a Qualtrix survey for Master Gardeners with an interest in bees and pollinators.  If you are interested in assisting with this project, please complete the survey.

Take the Survey

The Bluebonnet Master Gardener Association has a long standing interest in educating the public about and creating pollinator-friendly landscapes.  The Sheridan 4H Youth Butterfly Garden in Colorado County, Texas is an example of a pollinator friendly garden.   In addition, through our Kids’ Kamp summer program, Lunch-N-Learn series and other programs, we include education about the importance of pollinators to our nation’s food production and agriculture.  BMGA can continue its dedication to increase awarness of the importance of pollinators and in helping to increase pollinator-friendly landscapes in our area with a strong participate in this project from its members.

 

 

Donate Extra Garden Produce to Help Those in Need

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Did you know that one out of six Americans does not know from where their next meal will come?  There are people in our communities and surrounding areas that are experiencing hunger. Food pantries help fill in the gaps but often lack healthy, fresh produce.

AmpleHarvest.org  is a non-profit organization that uses the power of the internet to connect 8,387 registered local food pantries spread across all 50 states with gardeners willing to donate their excess produce.  AmpleHarvest.org reminds Master Gardeners and all home gardeners that they can help by planting just a little extra to donate and improve the health of their neighbors and community. When you donate your excess garden bounty, you are helping to relieve hunger, reduce food waste and making an impact on obesity and other food-related diseases.  If your good gardening skills provide you with extra bounty, more than your family can eat,  don’t let it go to waste! Even a small donation of freash vegetables and fruit will help increase food security in your area.

Unfortuantly, not all food pantries can accept fresh produce.  AmpleHarvest.org connects gardeners to food pantries near them that can accept fresh produce.  To find a food pantry near you to donate your fresh harvest visit  www.AmpleHarvest.org/find-pantry

Today, AmpleHarvest.org is reaching out to gardeners in Southern states, like Texas, fortunate enough to have an active gardening season this time of year to remind them of the need for donations.  Winter months are usually a lean time of year for donations and this year other circumstances have placed added pressures on the food pantries.   Regardless of anyone’s politics,  federal employees who are impacted by the government shutdown as well as those working for businesses in the community that are also affected still need to eat fresh healthy food.

The AmpleHarvest.org issued  a press release at www.AmpleHarvest.org/shutdown  encouraging Southern gardeners to help.

Some of the food pantries in BMGA’s area that accept fresh produce now, or anytime, are:

Christian Community Services Center
Pantry #3864
814 N. LaSalle St.
Navasota, TX 77868Contact: Patricia Gaston
Phone: 936-825-7454
Fax: 936-825-7454
Email: [email protected]

Lighthouse
Pantry #4057
929 Silliman St.
Sealy, TX 77474
Phone: 979-398-9591
Email: [email protected]

Schulenburg Area Food Pantry
Pantry #4531
1835 Oakland Rd
Schulenburg, TX 78956
Contact: betty ohnheiser
Phone: 979 561 6439

Smithville Food Pantry
Pantry #5317
107 SW 2nd Street
Smithville, TX 78957
Contact: S.A. Martin
Phone: 512-237-2322
Email: [email protected]

 

 

Master Gardeners Hosting Two Open House Events

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The Bluebonnet Master Gardener Assocation, serving Washington, Fayette, Colorado and Austin Counties, is hosting two open houses the first week in January 2019. Cerfified Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer questions about the Master Gardener Program and how they serve the community by assisting the area’s AgriLife Extension Agents in educating the public about gardening.  The Master Gardeners will accept applciations for the 2019 intensive training class which is required to acheive Master Gardener cerfitification.   The series of classes start January 17, 2019 and run through April 25, 2019 in La Grange.

The series of classes taught by experts in various area of horticulture consist of  both class room instruction and field trips.  Instruction consists of fact-based non-biased information about horticulture.  Texas A&M AgriLife Extension is the sponsor of  the Master Gardener Program in Texas and provides many of the expert instructors and resources for the training class.

Come find out more about whether the Master Gardener Training is for you by joining us at either the open house in Brenham on January 8, 2019 or in La Grange on January 1o, 2019

2019 Master Gardener Training Class Announced

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The Bluebonnet Master Gardener Assocation 2019 training classes begin January 17th in La Grange, Texas. The series consists of 50 hours of training held every Thursday until April 25th, 2019.  Master Gardener Carol Daniels of La Grange is the coordinator of the 2019 training program.  Ms. Daneils also coordinated the 2017 training class for BMGA. The class is designed for trainees from any of the four Bluebonnet Master Gardener counties of Austin, Colorado, Fayette and Washington.  Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service provides the training material used by Master Gardener programs statewide.

This is a unique opportunity for individuals who are interested in horticulture and serving their community. Master Gardeners are trained in all facets of horticulture such as plant & soil science, entomology, plant pathology, fruit and vegetable gardening, and much more. Upon completion of their training, Master Gardeners will be required to give at least 50 hours of volunteer service time in their local community in order to receive the title of “Master Gardener”.

Two Open House dates have been set for January 2019 for anyone interested in learning more about the program.  These two events will provide a great opportunity to visit with current Master Gardeners, learn about projects in each of the counties, and enjoy a few Master Gardener goodies.

January 8, 2019 – 11:30am-1:00pm – Washington County Fairgrounds Sales Facility
January 10, 2019 – 10:00am -12:00noon – Fayette County Extension Office

2019 Training Class Application Form_

Training classes begin January 17th and will be held every Thursday through April 18th at the Fayette County Extension Office at 255 Svoboda Lane in La Grange from 8:30am-12:30pm.  Final assesment and graduation will be held April 23. Applications are available at the Fayette County Extension Office.  Class size will be limited, so to ensure your spot in the 2019 BMGA Training Class the application and payment of $175 must be turned into the Extension Office as soon as possible.

Come out and enjoy lots of wonderful refreshments and a chance to learn more about what all the Master Gardeners have to offer! For more information on the Master Gardener program, contact the Extension office at (979) 968-5831.

The members of Texas A&M AgriLife will provide equal opportunities in programs and employment to all persons regardless of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity and will strive to achieve full and equal employment opportunity throughout Texas A&M AgriLife.

The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating.

Individuals with disabilities who require an auxiliary aid, service or accommodation in order to participate in this meeting are encouraged to contact the Fayette County Extension Office at (979)968-5831 seven work days prior to the meeting to determine how reasonable accommodations can be made.

 

 

 

BMGA & Boy Scouts Work Together on Garden Restoration

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Bluebonnet Master Gardeners Renee’ Kofman, Mikie Ehret, Jeri  Berckenhoff, Pete Berckenhoff and Diva Garza Houlette, in a joint effort with Boy Scout Troup 548 headed by Clayton Ribardo,  restored the Prayer Garden at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church (ICC) in Sealy.  BMGA contributed funds for the new annual plants and shrubs and BMGA directed the project, including planting all the plants. An irrigation system was installed by Logiscapes, LLC.  Seventeen-year-old Scout Clayton Ribardo jumped at the opportunity to lead the Scouts in this project and thus worked to earn his Eagle Scout Badge. Clayton, along with the eight other Scouts, raised funds for the materials, worked on replacing the old walkway of the garden with crushed granite, added new borders, new soil, mulch and sod in the garden.  BMGA Project Leader Renee Kofman said “The BMGA Master Gardener’s thoroughly enjoyed working with the Scouts on this project.  It was a lot of hard work for everyone and a labor of love, all for the glory of God.”  The Prayer Garden is located at 500 4th Street in Sealy and is open to the public for prayer and meditation

Profile: Scott Willey, Fayette County Agricultural Extension Agent

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Photo of Scott Willey in a corn field

As a four-county Texas Master Gardener Chapter, BMGA is lucky to benefit from not one, but four Texas A&M AgriLife Agricultural Extension Agent advisers, one from each BMGA county. That means BMGA can tap into the knowledge, training, experience, passion of all four professionals.

Scott Willey is the County Agricultural Extension Agent for Fayette County, Texas and one of BMGA’s County Agent Advisors.  Scott was born and raised in La Vernia, Texas (Wilson County) on a small family farm. La Vernia is just east of San Antonio, Texas.  The Willey farm consisted of three enterprises: a small herd of registered cattle, a 1500-tree commercial pecan grove, and 500 peach trees for a “pick your own” operation. During the summers when in elementary school, Scott and his brother would help their grandma pick and sell peaches.

Since 1992, the Willey family has been very active showing cattle, heifers and steers, all over the state. During the same time, they have been active members of the Texas Junior Simmental/Simbrah Association (TJSSA) where Scott currently serves as a youth advisor. TJSSA is a youth organization designed to teach young cattle breeders about the beef cattle industry through educational contests. Because of this organization the Willey family had an opportunity to show cattle all over the nation.

Upon graduating from high school in 2002, he attended Palo Alto Community College in San Antonio for two years. Scott than transferred to Texas A&M University-Kingsville, where he was a member of the livestock judging team and Alpha Tau Alpha.  He graduated Cum Laude with a B.S. degree in Agribusiness and minors in Animal Science and Business Administration in 2007. After graduation he accepted a position with Circle M Farms in Milford, Utah; a 60,000 head farrow to finish sow farm.

In April 2008 Scott started with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service where he Frist Stepped for a month with Philip Shackelford at the Austin County Extension Office. On May 12, 2008 Scott officially became the Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent in Fayette County. In 2012 he finished his M.S. degree in Agriculture Science from Texas A&M University-Kingsville. Scott appreciates working with both adults and youth of Fayette County and helping them solve problems and improve management practices that impact their lives. In 4-H, Scott enjoys the opportunity to work with the youth livestock component, because of his background in 4-H/FFA. His primary focus is the heifer and steer, broilers, commercial heifers, swine. Scott is also the livestock judging coach in Fayette County, and helps several judging teams with oral reasons.

From an adult programing effort, the diversity is what makes his job both interesting and challenging. A few of the primary issues are new landowner education, beef cattle production, and home horticulture. Because of Scott’s early years and some opportunities, he has enjoyed his work establishing (with the help of several people) the fruit tree demonstration at Winedale.

Scott also serves on the board for the Fayette County Fair and enjoys hunting and fishing when time allows.

Within BMGA, Scott is known as a valuable resource for questions about fruit trees and pecans as well as for his organization management experience. Scott recently commented that due to his experience growing and especially eating fresh peaches, he can tell if a dish was made with canned verses fresh peaches just by taste.  I for one, believe him!

Faye Beery & Carolyn Woodruff Complete First Detector Training Class

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Photo of First Detector Class 2018BMGA members Faye Beery and Carolyn Woodruff completed the two-day First Detector Training June 11-12, 2018 in Angleton.  The Master Gardener Specialist First Detector-Plant Disease training course introduces participants to the National Plant Diagnostic Network’s effort to protect US agriculture and plants through awareness information of invasive, non-native pests and pathogens.  Trainees learn basic plant disease diagnostic skills and symptom documentation skills.   The ultimate goal of the training is to provide these trainees, all of whom are already certified Texas Master Gardeners, with expertise to assist Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service with early detection of invasive and exotic pathogens & pests.  This year’s class was sponsored by the Texas Plant Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, the Brazoria County Master Gardener Association and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service of Brazoria County.

While the classroom part of their training is complete, to obtain the First Detector Specialist designation recognized by the Texas Master Gardener Association, Ms. Beery and Ms. Woodruff must complete 20 hours of field work assessing citrus and palm plants for pathogens. If you have citrus or palm in your gardens, be sure to contact Ms. Berry or Ms. Woodruff to conduct an assessment of your plants for invasive, non-native pests and pathogens.   Their completed assessments and information forms will be submitted to the Plant Disease Clinic for Dr. Kevin Ong’s approval.  Additionally, Ms. Beery and Ms. Woodruff are equipment with photos and other information to use educating the public through presentations to interested groups, clubs and societies.

Bellville Town & Country Garden Club’s Annual Arbor Day Award

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Award to Garry Kroeger

Harold Pieratt (BMGA President), Cathi Pendergrast, Garry Kroeger

 

Annually, the Bellville Town and Country Garden Club awards a person or place in Bellville in honor of Arbor Day.  The first Friday in November in Texas is the state’s Arbor Day.  National Arbor Day is the last Friday in April.  This April the garden club purchased a Meyer lemon tree from the BMGA Plant Sale held in Sealy and chose BMGA member Garry Kroeger as their Arbor Day Award recipient.  Garden club and BMGA member Cathi Pendergraft presented Garry with the tree at BMGA’s May 29, 2018 monthly meeting in Sealy.

Mr. Kroeger is the project leader for BMGA’s thriving Sens Center Vegetable Demonstration Garden, with the help of BMGA member Pete Smith and a team of other BMGA volunteers.  The garden is located behind the Sens Community Center in Bellville and is used for educational purposes including at the 2017 BMGA Kids Kamp last summer.  The garden provides produce to local non-profits, Austin County residents in need and Mr. Kroeger and his dedicated team of Master Gardener volunteers sell excess produce at the Farmer’s Market in Bellville.  As Ms. Pendergraft says, “He has done this for years so who better to award it to?”

BMGA is very proud of Garry Kroeger, an Austin County resident who supports the efforts of BMGA’s four-county community (Austin, Colorado, Fayette and Washington) to increase the knowledge of gardening to the general public.

BMGA Volunteers Teach Gardening to Sealy High School Culinary Arts Class

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Charelen Koehler teaching class

This Spring, BMGA volunteers assisted Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service teaching high school students about vegetable gardening through the Growing and Nourishing Healthy Communities Garden Course, which is funded, in part, by the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).  The program helps increase the availability of fresh produce through teaching participants how to grow fruits and vegetables in community and backyard gardens. The program is featured through the Better Living for Texans program by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and is currently offered across the State of Texas.

The culinary garden at Sealy High School was funded by the generosity of BMGA Member Renee Kofman and the Better Living for Texans program.  Ms. Kofman coordinated the Master Gardener volunteer instructors for various gardening topics:

•Pete Berkenhoff and Renee Kofman – site selection and building the beds;
•Christy Schweikhardt and Renee Kofman- soil and mulch.
•Charlene Koehler and Renee Kofman – garden maintenance, drip irrigation installation, plant diseases and insects

Photo of raised beds with tomatoes

 

 

 

 

 

 
The program goals are to teach the participants to:

  • Identify the characteristics of a suitable garden site;
  • Evaluate soils and identify the main components as sand, silt, clay, or loam;
  • Make compost and know what materials are best for home composting;
  • Create “pots” from newspaper and use them to plant seeds or seedlings to begin a garden;
  • Identify good maintenance practices common to vegetable gardens;
  • Keep a garden journal to help observe plant health and growth, investigate problems, and record measures taken to resolve problems;
  • Identify causes, symptoms, prevention, and treatment of common vegetable disorders and diseases;Detect common insect pests and beneficial insects;
  • Follow best practices for harvesting, handling, and storing produce.

After teaching the soils and mulch portion of the class, where she encouraged the students to use their hands to study the soil material, Master Gardener Christy Schweikhardt said, “in this age of keeping hand-gel-at-the-ready, kids seem reluctant to get their hands in the dirt. Besides a necessity for growing vegetables,  getting a little dirty helps connect the students in a positive way to where their food comes from – the soil.”

Michelle Allen, Austin County Extension Agent-Family and Community Health, was asked last year by Angela Gutowsky, the Culinary Arts teacher at Sealy High School, about implementing a program with Sealy High School’s culinary students.  “We didn’t want to miss out on the opportunity to work with the students in order to increase their level of knowledge and skills in the area of gardening” said Ms. Allen.  She recruited Bluebonnet Master Gardener Association members to provide gardening instructors “because of their expertise and knowledge in the area of gardening. It was a no brainer for me,” said Ms. Allen.

Ms. ADrip irrigation in veggie bedllen summed-up the Sealy project saying, “This program was a wonderful way to get the youth of our community engaged with the idea of gardening. It was also enlightening to see them actually take ownership of the project. It was a win/win moment for Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and the Bluebonnet Master Gardener Association. This is education at its best!!”

2018 BMGA Master Gardener Training Class Graduation

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2018 BMGA Class Graduates

2018 BMGA Intern Class April 24, 2018

The Bluebonnet Master Gardener Association is pleased to announce that its 2018 Master Gardener Training Class graduated 23 new trained interns on April 24, 2018. Interns have one year from their training graduation date to complete 50 hours of volunteer service on BMGA approved projects to earn their Texas Master Gardener certification. One graduate, Marcella Asumus, not only successfully completed the course material, she also achieved the 50 hours of volunteer service by April 24 to simultaneously earn her Texas Master Gardener certification at graduation.

Photo of Faye Beery & Marcella Asumus

Faye Beery & Marcella Ausmus

Congratulations to the 2018 BMGA Master Gardener Training Class Graduates:

Marcella Ausmus                            Lorna Mangus
Tom Ayres                                        Catherine McGraw
Lee Ann Bleyl                                  Keith McGraw
Shannon Conroy                            Karen Parinello
Carol Corlis                                     Kay Przyborski
Cathy Dannemiller                        Calvin Rashall
Patrick Dunne                                Brandon Silbernagl
Cathleen Dunne                             Debbie Skinner
Gerald DuPont                               Michael Tiller
Nicole Griffin                                 John Williamson
Fred Helinski                                 Lenore Williamson
Dolores Jozwiak

Congratulations CakeThe Class Coordinator was Master Gardener Faye Beery who said,  “My 2018 Master Gardener Intern class was a pleasure to be involved with. Everyone was excited and enthusiastic and eager to absorb all the information they could possibly remember. They warmly welcomed all the speakers and had many questions of them all. They are going to be great members of the Master Gardener Association, and great friends.”

Ms. Beery became a Master Gardener in 2012.  Besides coordination for this year’s class, Ms Beery’s past service with BMGA includes chapter President in 2014 and she served as a garden project leader at the Sens Center Flower Beds and the Austin County Fairgrounds garden.  She also published the chapter newsletter and took BMGA into the digital age with its initial website.   Most importantly, Ms. Beery is a lifelong gardener with a passion for learning, sharing her knowledge about gardening and inspiring others to get their hands in the dirt out in the garden.

BMGA Master Gardeners who assisted Ms. Beery in class coordination were Paul McClendon, Sandy Rhodes and Cathi Pendergraft.

 

BMGA Re-Purposes Plastic Food Production Barrels in the Garden

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Photo of rainwater barrels and planters waiting for sale

Planters & rainwater harvesting barrels made from re-purposed food production barrels

Under Master Gardener Pete Berckenhoff’s leadership, the Bluebonnet Master Gardener Association, built rainwater harvesting barrels and planters by re-purposing plastic food production barrels. Pete’s group of Master Gardener volunteers gathered at BMGA member Renee Kofman’s warehouse in Sealy and turned it into a busy production workshop for building the barrels and planters. These rainwater harvesting barrels are designed to collect roof  rainwater run-off through a homeowner’s  gutter downspout.  Although the collected water is not suitable for drinking water, it is great for watering plants, gardens and adding water to your compost pile.  Planters are available with a lightweight PVC frame or the wooden frame and are counter-top height.

BMGA will sell the rainwater harvesting barrels and planters until supplies last at its annual Spring Plant Sale in Sealy on April 14, 2018.  The Plant Sale is one of BMGA’s two Texas Sales Tax Free events this year so during that event, the barrels and planters are sale tax free.

Photo of cutting PVC for Planters

Cutting PVC for the planters

Photo of planter building

Inserting the planter barrel into the sturdy wooden frame

 

Farmer’s Market at Washington on the Brazos State Park

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Photo of historical housesWashington on the Brazos State Park is hosting a Farmer’s Market on the 3rd Saturday of April-July, 2018.   Master Gardeners interested in selling their bumper crop of produce may set up in a 10’ x 10’  space under the live oaks in front of the park Visitor’s Center for $10.00 per Saturday.  Or, come out and shop an supported our local farmers and gardeners.

All vendors must sell products made, grown or produced by the vendor within surrounding counties of Washington or no further than 50 miles.
Farmer's Market Vendor App

Farmer's Market Vendor App 2

 

Howdy & Welcome to Haylee Wolfford as BMGA’s AgriLife Sponsor

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The BluePhoto of haylee Wolffordbonnet Master Gardener Association welcomes on-board its new AgriLife Extension Agent Sponsor, Haylee Wolfford.  Arriving in January 2018 as the Agriculture Extension Agent in Austin County, Haylee inherited sponsorship of our four-county BMGA program.  Haylee grew up in a small southeast Texas town showing livestock, raising show cattle and rodeo’n.  She earned her Bachelor of Animal Science degree with the emphasis on animal nutrition from Texas State University-San Marcos.  She went on to earn a Master’s of Science with an emphasis on animal nutrition from McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

Haylee first joined AgriLife as the sole Extension Agent in Hardin County, Texas in 2015. As the sole Agent, Haylee’s responsibilities included a wide spectrum of duties including the Agriculture, 4-H, Family Consumer Science and Horticulture programs. What that means is, she did it all! With this varied back ground, Haylee comes to Austin County and BMGA with knowledge across many different aspects of Texas A&M AgriLife, although her focus is still on beef cattle production and horses. She also gained considerable knowledge in forage production and brush control.  In her free time, Haylee enjoys roping and raising exotic and American cross show cattle.

As BMGA’s AgriLife Extension Sponsor, Haylee has attended several BMGA meetings this year.  Although preferring to work quietly in the background and let others take the stage, Haylee’s presence has already proved to be an asset for BMGA. We look forward to assisting her with our members’ knowledge and experience in horticulture. BMGA members, if you spot Haylee at a meeting hanging in the back of the room, don’t be shy; introduce yourself and say ”Howdy!”

Bellville Farmers’ Markets

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The Bellville Chamber of Commerce sponsors its Bellville Farmers Markets’ on the 1st Saturday of every month, rain or shine. BMGA Master Gardeners Garry Kroeger and Pete Smith  sell produce on occasion from the Bluebonnet Master Gardeners’ Sens Center Demonstration Garden (a.k.a Garry’s Garden in honor of Garry’s hard work and dedication in making this garden a huge success).  Any Master Gardener with excess produce from their home or BMGA sponsored gardens are invited to either donate their produce to Garry & Pete to sell  along with the Sens Center Garden produce or, you may bring and set up your own table for $10 under the Bishop Pavilion in Bellville and sell your produce.  You may also bring your canned and prepared products; however beautiful fresh  locally grown produce is preferred.  For more information contact Garry Kroeger or Tammy Bond with the Bellville Chamber of Commerce.

Flyer Bellvile Farmers Markets