Junior Master

Gardener Club
December 2014/January
2015

Meet Master Gardener

Carmen Carpenter
I have always enjoyed nature and digging in the soil.
Learning about the natural world and gardening are
interests I enjoy sharing.
In 2007 our family moved to Maryland from the
Midwest. Since I was not working at the time I took the
opportunity to become a Master Gardener. Part of
being a Master Gardener involves volunteering and
sharing our knowledge and experience with others. I
have done this in a variety of ways. I have answered
questions at Miller Library as an Ask a Master
Gardener resource. I have led school groups at
Howard County Conservancy. The past few years I
have also helped to prepare Master Gardener interns as
a presenter during their training.
My background is in education. In the past I have
worked as a preschool director at a church, developed a
church child safety policy and implemented training for
volunteers working with children, worked as a high
school science teacher in Illinois and 7th grade science
in Howard County as a long term substitute teacher. I
currently teach technology skills at another private
school part time.
I enjoy sharing my gardening experience with SJES
students in the club. They are an enthusiastic group!
Working on the JMG garden is a great experience for
these students. It is also part of a diverse and
beautifully landscaped property.

December Harvesting the Winter

Garden and
What is there to harvest in December? Some of the students
reported they had herbs still growing such as parsley. I
brought in kale and cabbage that was harvested the day
before. Also decorative plant
material is harvested this time of
year
for holiday decorations.

Students after they

finished their projects.
They identified the
harvested materials I
brought in and assembled
them into a floral spray
then fastened with wire.

The Junior Master

Gardener Program is a
national program of
the cooperative
Extension service. It
is modeled after the
Master Gardener
program for adults.
The Junior Master
Gardener Program is
committed to helping
young people become
good gardeners and
good citizens so they
can make a positive
contribution to their

December A Worm
Compost Bin
Ms. Abel brought in a worm composting bin
for club members to see. Holes are drilled
in the top bin to allow air in. The bottom
bin catches nutrient rich water. The worms
are fed kitchen scraps of vegetables or
fruits. They produce organic matter that
can be used to enrich the soil for house
plants or outdoor gardening.

January Garden Soils

We dove right in to one of the basics in
gardening soil. Club members reviewed with
me the needs of all plants. Soil is important
not only in anchoring plants but also providing
it with nutrients and water. Members learned
that the parts of soil include:
Sand
Water

Animal
s

Silt
Air

Clay
Organic
Matter

Next came the fun part feeling the difference between clay, sand,
organic matter (worm manure) and a mix of potting soil!

Moss gardens were then made.

Moss gardens like moist soil and medium to low

light.
The website I used for soil information is:
http://www.soil-net-com
The Junior Master Gardener Website is:

www.jmgkids.us
Parents are vital to
making Junior
Master Gardener
work!

Special note
Students must be picked up by 5
PM at the Feb meeting. I must
leave by 5 to catch a plane!