Dirt Friends Garden Group to offer education, activities

Several members of the Union County Master Gardeners have splintered off to form a new, independent garden-service organization.

The Dirt Friends Garden Group offers local gardeners the opportunity to volunteer for garden-related beautification and educational activities in the community, according to a press release.

“As an independent group, volunteers will be able to focus on the fun of spending time with others who share their passion for growing things and making spaces beautiful,” per the press release.

Vicki Templeton, president of DFGG, said the group will pursue nonprofit status and will function independently of the University of Arkansas — Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service, with which Master Gardeners programs in the state are affiliated.

Templeton explained that funds raised by Master Gardeners must be administered by the extension service, per state guidelines, and money that is raised in Union County may be disbursed to other communities with Master Gardeners programs.

“The new group will not have a statewide entity controlling the funds raised to support its activities and garden projects and the funds will be in a local bank,” the DFGG wrote in the press release.

Added Templeton, “We had to follow state guidelines on how the money is spent, how much is spent and there was a time lag for us to get reimbursed whenever we wanted to do something. We decided we didn’t want to be a part of that anymore.”

With the DFGG seeking nonprofit status and overseeing its own finances, any funds the group raises will remain in Union County, Templeton continued.

“And the decisions will be made locally, everything will be local and it will give our group a vote and a say in how our group runs,” she said.

Members of DFGG are members or former members of UCMG, which remains intact.

Other DFGG officers include John Segraves, vice-president; Carol Snay, secretary; and Debbie Watson, treasurer.

Members Gina Mitchell, MaryBeth Simpson and Barbie Luther were elected to an ad hoc committee to help put a structure in place by working with officers to draft bylaws and organizing other details.

The committee will present its recommendations to the full group for consideration.

The DFGG will then begin scheduling training sessions for volunteers who would like to join the group.

Starting in May, the group will begin convening monthly meetings that will be open to the public.

Additional details about the meetings are forthcoming.

While speaking with a News-Times reporter Monday, Templeton was preparing for a spring break activity with children at the MAD Playscape.

“We’re doing a project for kids’ community education to show them how bees help us. We’ve also got some crafts that we’re going to be doing with them,” she said.

Other upcoming projects for DFGG include work on the garden on the north side of City Hall and similar spaces at the William R. & Cacilia Howard Heritage Plaza at SouthArk and South Arkansas Regional Hospital.

The group will hold its first plant sale at 9 a.m. April 27 during the MAD Farmers’ Market.

Attendees will be able to purchase plants that are grown locally.

“There will be some old favorites available as well as things not usually seen in local nurseries,” according to the press release. “You will also have the opportunity to visit and talk gardening with a bunch of dedicated dirt friends! “

For more information, call Templeton at 870-310-2583.