Dedicated to serving Hanover County, the Hanover Master Gardener Association (HMGA) functions as a volunteer-led group. Our primary mission is to assist the Virginia Cooperative Extension’s Hanover office (HVCE) by offering horticultural and environmental expertise. Through various local projects and educational initiatives, we strive to inform both our members and the general public on essential gardening and conservation practices.
Our goal is to develop community educational programs that focus on the following:
- Preserving and promoting farm and forest lands: Provide workshops on conservation programs.
- Protecting Natural resources: Create educational information and workshops that support conservation and provide general gardening, turf, and landscaping education.
- Strengthening the local food system: Incorporate the Buy Local campaign into community programs and highlight the importance and impact of local foods.
- Helping Youth develop leadership, citizenship, and other life skills to address community-identified issues: We will support this goal through participation in 4-H events, Ag Day, MWEE, Bug Bizarre, and by encouraging community service, recycling, carpooling, and no-littering campaigns.
Volunteers do not get paid; not because they are worthless but because they are PRICELESS.
Our passion is sharing our knowledge of gardening with the community. Below is an overview of our many educational programs and accomplishments:
EMG Help Desk – Our volunteers are available to address a wide range of gardening inquiries, covering topics from turf and vegetables to weeds, ornamentals, shrubs, and trees. They also provide expertise on plant diseases and insect damage. By utilizing our specialized lab equipment, we assist hundreds of county residents annually in diagnosing and identifying various plant issues. Learn more about this service.
Plant Clinics –Our Help Desk also operates as a mobile unit, appearing seasonally at numerous local community events and select garden centers. We invite you to visit our booth; you can find our upcoming schedule and locations by visiting the Plant Clinic section on our homepage.
Home Gardening Series – Our Home Gardening Series provides free monthly educational opportunities from November through March, hosted at local county libraries and the Horticultural Learning Center. These sessions feature a mix of presentations and practical demonstrations covering various subjects, including lawn and tree maintenance, wildlife, and vegetable or horticultural gardening. The program also addresses environmental and conservation topics, all designed to support Hanover residents in becoming more effective gardeners and responsible land stewards.
Speakers Bureau – Our Speakers Bureau provides complimentary educational sessions led by Extension Master Gardeners (EMGs) who possess specialized horticultural expertise. These programs cover a variety of garden-related topics tailored to community interests. Learn what topics we cover and how you can book a speaker for your organization.
Site Visits – Our Site Visit program provides personalized evaluations for homeowners, schools, and businesses. Led by Land Care Stewards with advanced environmental expertise, we offer tailored recommendations on landscaping and ecological stewardship. Find out more about this service and how you can schedule a Land Care Steward site visit.
Demonstration Gardens – Five demonstration gardens are maintained to educate the public on specific topics. They are:
- Horticultural Learning Center located at Taylor Park in Ashland, VA
- Butterfly Garden located in Pole Green Park, Mechanicsville, VA
- Scotchtown Garden located at Patrick Henry’s homeplace in Beavertown, VA
- Native Plant Garden located at Taylor Park in Ashland, VA
- Taylor Park Native Tree Walk and Arboretum located at Taylor Park in Ashland, VA
These are listed on the Home page with links to further information on these gardens.
Gleaning Initiative – We work with regional growers to harvest surplus berries and vegetables from local farms. This fresh bounty is then provided to area food pantries. Throughout a typical season, these donations can reach an impressive total of 35,000 to 40,000 pounds.
Fundraising – Our diverse educational initiatives rely on dedicated fundraising. Our most successful endeavor is the Annual Spring Plant Sale, which features nearly a thousand plants grown by our talented EMGs, followed by our Fall Bulb Sale. Both events are hosted at the Horticultural Learning Center (HLC) within Taylor Park in Ashland. To further our mission, we actively pursue grants. In fact, grant funding has served as the primary financial resource for the construction of the HLC.
Annual Extension Master Gardener Training Course – Our collaboration with the HVEC involves coordinating and delivering a comprehensive three-month training program. This initiative successfully prepares 15 to 20 new Extension Master Gardeners each year to serve the community. We would love to have you join us! Find out how to become a master gardener.
