OSU Extension’s extensive impact
By Sheri Trusty, Seneca County Media Relations Coordinator
The Seneca County Master Gardener volunteers don’t let the dust settle around them. In fact, they were stuffing that dust into bags at the OSU Extension in Seneca County office on Oct. 22. Technically, it wasn’t dust; it was potting soil. But the volunteers enjoyed helping attendees make Soil Buddies, a fun craft made of soil and grass seed that was taught by Susan Nighswander and Donna Good.
The activity was part of the Extension Advisory Committee meeting led by OSU Extension Area Leader, Mary Beth Albright, and Seneca County Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator, Pressley Buurma. Buurma provided updates on the Master Gardener program and her own work in the county. Katie Cole provided updates on Seneca County 4-H, and Cindy Taylor gave updates on the SNAP-ED program.
The Seneca County Master Gardener Volunteer Program had a successful year, with more work to come in the next couple of months. The group has 38 active volunteers and 9 interns. To date, the group donated 717 pounds of food to Seneca County foodbanks, engaged in 700 education hours and completed 2,000 volunteer hours in the county.
The volunteers’ impact in the community includes library talks, scholarships for students studying horticulture, and educational opportunities. The program impacts the volunteers by increasing their knowledge, exposing them to horticultural experiences across Northwest Ohio, and connecting them with new friends.
“Everyone has their specialty, so we learn from each other,” Nighswander said.
Seneca County Master Gardener Publicity Chairperson, Steve Detillion, said he first joined the group because he wanted to enhance his garden, but he found a better reason to stay: the people.
“Interaction is a big part of it,” he said. “It’s a continuous education thing. The sky’s the limit on what you get out of it.”
The next Seneca County Master Gardener internship program will begin in January.
On Saturday, Oct. 26, Buurma will host a Bat Week Celebration at the Tiffin Seneca Farmers Market from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event will include a bat wing photo op, bat-themed giveaways and lots of information about bats.
For more information about OSU Extension in Seneca County, visit https://seneca.osu.edu.