The Inspire Connect Empower Grant, according to its website, has provided $10,000 in funding to 22 Master Gardener programs across North Carolina. One of the recipients of this year’s grant is the Community Seed Library of the Orange County Master Gardeners!
The Community Seed Library provides no-cost seeds to help new gardeners learn about the science and art of tending a thriving garden, as well as providing opportunity for gardeners of all experience levels to try new varieties and techniques. The Master Gardeners and volunteers offer training on seed starting, seed saving, seasonal gardening topics and more.
“By sharing seeds and ideas, the Master Gardeners hope to improve sources of healthy and affordable food, and to the provide habitat for pollinators and other wildlife,” announced the Orange County Master Gardeners in a press release. “… The seed library has distributed over 3,000 packets of seeds to community gardens, churches, schools, local organizations and individuals in the last two years.”
A distribution site at the Orange County Extension Office, located at 1070 US 70 West in Hillsborough, offers free seed and educational materials, with a weekly updated display highlighting new seed varieties and seasonal information about growing plants. The grant funding, the seed library, and all OCMG resources serve to support the volunteers’ mission to “connect the diverse communities of Orange County to learning opportunities about plants and home gardening, using evidence-based scientific information. Orange County Extension Service offers youth, family, agricultural, and community programs.”
The Orange County Master Gardeners publish a variety of resources to assist budding gardeners, such as the video below focused on adding native plants to existing yards, and the recurring column “Playing in the Dirt” on Chapelboro!
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