GOALS
Victoria County Master Gardeners president outlines goals for 2024
By Brenson Abbott | Victoria County Master Gardener 2024 President Dec 16, 2023

Victoria County Master Gardeners working together at Victoria Educational Gardens Greenhouse and Pavilion. VCMGA President, Brenson Abbott is pictured on the right.

VCMGA Members working together in the greenhouse at VEG. One goal Brenson Abbott supports is to add another updated greenhouse.
I am a retired professional engineer who has worked in the oil and gas industry designing, constructing and starting up petrochemical refinery and power plant computer control systems.
I was elected as president-elect for the Victoria County Master Gardeners Association in 2023 to serve as president in 2024.
The following is a brief synopsis of my goals for the Victoria County Master Gardeners Association in 2024.
My wife and I moved to the Victoria area after losing our home and property in Houston as a result of Hurricane Harvey and the associated flooding in our neighborhood.
We only knew a few people in Victoria, so I decided to apply for the VCMGA training class to build a new group of friends and learn more about gardening.
My goals were met. I have learned a considerable amount about gardening and now have many friends in the organization. I have applied many of my skills to the VCMGA organization and have identified two areas of the organization that will benefit from my leadership, knowledge and experience.
The first area is to expand the audio and visual equipment capabilities at the Victoria Educational Gardens’ Pavilion.
In 2023, with my advice and recommendations, the old system was replaced. The sound system is significantly improved with the new multi-channel sound board. It has two new ribbon style speakers that give a total of four speakers and significantly improve the audio quality.
The two new large screen video displays with approximately 75-inch TV style monitors and the high intensity overhead laser projector with its ambient light projector screen, greatly improve video projection for large audiences.
In the near future, this system will be expanded to include additional microphones and internet capabilities.
The second area of need for master gardeners is adding a new greenhouse adjacent to the pavilion to augment the existing one. I support this project and recommend that the new greenhouse have updated features that protect plants, support propagation and provide more working and storing space.
For example, the new structure must have a sun screen to protect tender plants from intense summer sun. Also, new forced air fans and appropriate ventilation will provide adequate circulation all year.
A gas heater is necessary to protect plants from freezing during the winter. A temperature monitoring alert system will notify designated master gardeners of any abnormalities. This feature will allow immediate attention to dealing with problems.
An automated, multi-zone sprinkler system is essential and depends on a water source inside the greenhouse.
The greenhouse needs to have large sliding doors to allow wagons and carts to enter and exit the greenhouse. Also, overhead lighting, areas for propagating plants and storing supplies are absolute must-haves in the new structure.
Since Victoria Educational Gardens are open from dawn to dusk EVERY DAY, the new greenhouse must have a video monitoring system that can be added to the existing one or designed specifically for it.
As the 2024 president of Victoria County Master Gardeners, my priorities are to support the expansion of the audio-visual system in the pavilion to have improved quality for all the events. During the year, the audio-visual equipment is used for the Master Gardener Training Class, VCMGA Monthly Meeting, Lunch & Learn with the Masters, Kids Camp, Fall Symposium and other programs for both members and the public.
The new greenhouse will facilitate propagation and production of lots of healthy plants year-round. This new space will provide more room for master gardeners to work together and expand the inventory of unique plants. Hopefully, multiple plant sales will increase funds for the organization’s annual budget.
I expect 2024 to be a great year for the Victoria County Master Gardeners!
The Gardeners’ Dirt is written by members of the Victoria County Master Gardener Association, an educational outreach of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension – Victoria County. Mail your questions in care of the Advocate, P.O. Box 1518, Victoria, TX 77901; or vcmga@vicad.com, or comment on this column at VictoriaAdvocate.com.