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2006 Awards
Master Gardener of the Year and Project of the Year
MASTER GARDENER OF THE YEAR - 2006
The Delaware County Master Gardeners Association (DCMGA) is proud to nominate Donna Meyer for Ohio Master Gardener of the Year 2006. Donna has been a Master Gardener since 2001, quickly becoming one of our most active members. Donna is a multi-talented individual whose primary goal is to insure the successful growth of the association and its members.
A lifelong resident of Delaware County, she proudly says “my family has been digging in Delaware dirt for over 150 years.” Her forefather, Benjamin Heath, in 1847, brought the grape from New Jersey that became the “Delaware Grape”. Donna was instrumental in having it named the official county plant.
A – POSITIVE ATTRIBUTES:
Donna has an abundance of positive attributes: she is open, friendly, energetic, enthusiastic, organized, and fun. As a creator and developer, she is very detail oriented and always follows through on tasks. She encourages, consults, and challenges Master Gardeners to make improvements to our organization, become more active, serve on committees, and become ambassadors for Ohio State University Extension.
B – TEACHING/LEADERSHIP SKILLS:
OTHER CONTRIBUTIONS THAT BENEFITED AND STRENGTHENED THE ASSOC.
Donna acquired her leadership skills over many years as a volunteer and as a skilled professional in Communications and Marketing. Donna was the recipient of the 2005 State of Ohio, Main Street Board Member of the Year Award.
As President of DCMGA she continually promoted unity and service among members. Through her strong and capable leadership, DCMGA was able to identify needed improvements and promote change. Everyone has united under Donna’s leadership as she forged the way with positive reinforcement and dedication to all members, encouraging them to feel equal to the challenge. An example of Donna’s forward-thinking approach to projects is her suggestion to use a Memo of Understanding (MOU) for all proposed projects prior to membership approval. The MOU details the specific responsibilities of each partner in a project, eliminating any later disagreements or misunderstanding.
Always willing to take on a challenge, Donna, working with a Delaware Juvenile Court Judge, was instrumental in forming a committee to partner with the Court to assist with expanding a garden, tended by non-violent juvenile offenders in the alternative suspension program. This project, under Donna’s guidance has created an expanded flower and vegetable garden with the harvest currently being sold at the Delaware Farmer’s Market. She has a rare ability to educate and help these kids believe in themselves, take pride in their accomplishments and relate to adults in a positive way.
Donna serves on the DCMGA’S Outreach Committee, acting as a liaison between Delaware’s communities, leaders, businesses and organizations, and planning the Association’s strategic growth.
Listed below is Donna’s extensive community volunteer work.
Delaware Transportation Task Force - designed a system of roads with the goal of alleviating traffic congestion. |
City of Delaware Comprehensive Task Force - designed specific zoning guidelines. Adopted by the city in 2003. |
Delaware Noon Kiwanis Club - Executive Board |
County Zoning Commission |
Ohio Chautauqua (in Delaware) |
Delaware County Bi-Centennial Committee |
Leadership, Delaware class of 2003 |
Delaware Area Career Center Advisory Committee |
Delaware Arthritis Advisory Board |
Community Service Day – Crew Leader |
Central Ohio Symphony Orchestra – Volunteer |
Alzheimer’s Memory Walk – Volunteer |
People in Need Christmas Clearing House - Volunteer |
Current Main Street Delaware activities: Executive Board Treasurer Ways and Means Membership Promotions Committees Chairman of the Delaware Grape Festival Co-chair of the Main Street Garden Tour |
Served as organizer and Chair of: Delaware Grape Festival Main Street Garden Tour Delaware Flower Basket Project Delaware Ghost Walk Main Street Downtown Delaware Farmers Market |
C – LIST OF RECERTIFICATION/CONTINUING EDUCATION ACTIVITIES:
Donna has contributed over 550 volunteer, and 50 education hours
to the Master Gardener Program.
Green Thumbs - Public Relations, Co-chair and Chair |
Spice Garden - created MG participation |
Habitat for Humanity - initiated and developed landscape project |
Delaware Children’s Garden – created and developed the concept |
Outreach Committee |
OSU Extension Bi-Centennial Committee |
Fund Raising Committee |
“Delaware Grape” project - Researched and assisted with creating display |
D – GREATEST CONTRIBUTION TO THE MASTER GARDENER PROGRAM:
Donna’s greatest contribution to the Master Gardener Program is her uncanny ability for matching Master Gardener interests and talent with community needs and developing projects that benefit all involved. She is calm and objective which makes her successful at gaining consensus with all entities involved in projects, and has greatly strengthened the DCMGA.
A member of many County boards, Donna is able to network for the betterment of our organization with City and County officials as well as business leaders. Her powerful influence in our county has helped our Association create partnerships, aided in the development of current and future projects such as our much-anticipated Children’s Garden. The Spice Garden, Habitat for Humanity, and Delaware Grape projects are all a result of Donna’s skill at establishing meaningful partner
PROJECT OF THE YEAR -2006 - HORSESHOE PRAIRIE GARDEN
OSU Extension Delaware County Master Gardeners (DCMGs) established the Horseshoe Prairie Garden at Orange Township Hall. The garden was named Horseshoe for the old horseshoe unearthed during the garden’s installation. DCMGs have provided over 2000 volunteer hours so far, $100 in materials, secured several sponsors to help with the cost of the project, created a brochure for public use, and trained Orange Township personnel on maintenance and plant identification. The committee is currently developing an Extension service fact sheet for the public. The garden became a “Test” Garden to validate the varying, often differing, theories found in their research. The project, a 5-year commitment, began in 2002 and is ongoing. The Prairie Garden maintenance was successfully handed off to Orange Township this year (2006).
A. Project Origination
In 2001 and 2002 County residents were calling the Delaware OSU Extension office asking for information on prairie gardening. The office had very little information, no published fact sheets, and no experience to pass along to the public. Nancy Bendle, former OSU Extension Delaware County Master Gardener Coordinator, asked the DCMGs if any members would be interested in solving the problem. Two gardeners volunteered to co-chair the committee, recruit interested members and formulate a plan. Co-chairs, Vickie Van Der Kar and Beth Veldey, are with the project today along with a revolving group of participating DCMGs whose membership peeked at 24. Personal interest by DCMGs in prairie plants led to deep research and planning. The project evolved into a test garden which resulted in recommendations about plant materials, species and cultivation techniques for the average homeowner/gardener.
B. Target Audience
The audience consists of interested urban and suburban homeowners and gardeners in Central Ohio and the State of Ohio seeking information about Prairie Gardening.
C. Educational Goals/Objectives
- Educate the public and DCMGs about planting and caring for a prairie garden.
- Increase awareness about prairie plants and gardening.
- Sort out the contradictory recommendations in the research literature and make recommendations on the best methods and plants based on our experiences.
- Teach ourselves how to start and maintain a prairie garden and learn about prairie plants.
- Provide prairie information to the public onsite.
- Generate public interest in growing prairie gardens and using prairie plants in their landscapes.
- Teach other master gardeners.
- Provide information on the Master Gardener Website.
- Provide test results in a fact sheet format to be posted on the OSU Extension Service Website.
- Provide training and instruction on maintenance and transfer the care of the garden to Orange Township in 2006.
D. Meeting Goals/Objectives
The objectives were met. Research was accomplished via data collection, interviews and visits to other gardens. Recommendations were drafted based on monthly data gathering and work sessions. The garden was prepared and grown as a test plot. The project methodology was documented and shared with master gardeners annually. Information was shared with master gardeners through newsletters, formal presentations, and web pages. Information is shared with the public via open garden visits, a brochure created by the DCMGs, newsletters, newspaper articles, and a list of recommendations to be provided through the OSU Delaware County Extension Office is currently in the final development stage.
Recommendations based upon DCMGs observations and test methods including proper bed preparation, whether or not to till, periodic mowing as weed control, use of plugs versus large container plants, plant characteristics, what to plant based on size, time of blooming, support needs, and irrigation.
Late 2005 began the transition of care for the Horseshoe Prairie Garden from DCMGs to Orange Township. DCMGs held training sessions for Orange Township personnel on maintenance and plant identification. This wonderful garden, and the accompanying maintenance, was successfully transferred to Orange Township in 2006.
E. Resource Materials Used and Developed
Materials Used:
Various nursery catalogs, the most useful being:
- The Prairie Nursery Native Plants and Seeds
Various books, the most useful being:
- Weeds of the Northeast by Richard H. Uva, Joseph C. Neal, and Joseph M. DiTomaso
- Tallgrass Prairie Wildflowers by Dough Ladd
- Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources brochure, “Making a Prairie Garden”
- Internet for research on species and prairies
Interviews and visits to gardens and prairies:
- Kensel Clutter, Claridon Prairie, Marion
- Bob Harter, Delaware
- Roger Barber, ODNR
- OSU Marion Prairie
- Vickie Emmons, OSU Marion
Materials Developed by DCMGs Prairie Garden Committee
- Horseshoe Prairie Garden Informational Brochure
- Extension Service fact sheet with recommendations for homeowners (under development)
F. Funding Sources/Collaborators
- Kensel Clutter, Marion County, OH (field-dug plants)
- Bob Harter, Delaware, OH (seed, plugs, mature plants)
- OSU Marion Prairie (plugs)
- Orange Township Parks & Recreation (provided the site, funding for plant material, mulch for pathways)
- Orange Township Trustees
- OSU Extension Delaware County Master Gardeners Association
