More than a dozen Master Gardeners were recognized for their outstanding service to Cooperative Extension and Delaware Master Gardeners, including Jane Adams, Steve Bush, Paul Clark, Sally Cornell, Mary Ellen Hillegas, Cindy Huffman, Rick Judd, Melody Kasprzak, Katharine Olinchak, Rebecca Rendeiro, Barb Rosen, Kathy Shearer, J.W. Wistermayer, and Cathy Wodjewodski. These Master Gardeners volunteer alongside a much larger group of more than 120 Delaware Master Gardeners in New Castle County who volunteered nearly 5000 hours of service in 2022.

The Master Gardener of the Year Award went to Judy Hough-Goldstein. In 2017, shortly after she retired from the University of Delaware’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dr. Judy Hough-Goldstein trained to become a Master Gardener. Judy has provided leadership to the Native Plant Demonstration Garden at the New Castle County Extension Office, and she has offered numerous workshops and presentations, many focused on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and delivered both in person and via Zoom. Several presentations have been recorded, and they are available on Extension’s website and YouTube channel. Judy also served as the New Castle County Master Gardeners’ Vice President and President from 2021-22.

The Career Service Award, awarded to a Master Gardener with eight or more years of service to Delaware Master Gardeners, went to Miriam Reed. Miriam, a member of the Class of 2013, also celebrated ten years of service to Master Gardeners and Extension during this year’s ceremony. In addition to serving as the organization’s timekeeper, Miriam is very involved in the Vegetable and Fruit Demonstration Garden at the New Castle County Extension Office, she coordinates the gardening book sale during the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Ag Day event, and she has offered several home gardener workshops, educating community members in everything from pruning to growing specialty plants like amaryllis.

Delaware Master Gardeners play a key role in distributing information about environmentally friendly practices for the home gardener. Services offered include:

• The Garden Advice Program: A team of Master Gardeners will visit your New Castle County residence and give personalized feedback on specific needs for your garden and landscape. 
  
  
• Gardener Helplines: A hotline to call to get answers to plant, lawn, pest and garden questions. For those who prefer to seek answers on the web, Ask Extension is also available. 
  
  
• Home Gardener Workshops: Offered year-round, workshops aim to educate in best management practices for your home or community garden. Workshops focus on stormwater management, soil health, integrated pest management, specialty plants, sustainable landscapes, and more.
  
  
• Demonstration Gardens: Master Gardeners design and maintain gardens and a compost demonstration site for the purpose of teaching good gardening practices.
  
  

Interested in becoming a Master Gardener Volunteer Educator? The next Delaware Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Statewide Training Program for residents living in New Castle, Kent or Sussex counties is planned for Fall 2023. Classes are held twice a week on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Most training will be held in person. Some training sessions will require travel to other locations within the three counties. Learn more online and/or contact your County Coordinator.

Meeting the educational needs of thousands of citizens requires the dedication, creativity, and hard work of many volunteers. To learn more about the University of Delaware Cooperative Extension and the Delaware Master Gardener program, contact Carrie Murphy, Extension Educator, Horticulture, at 302-831-COOP or cjmurphy@udel.edu.