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Habitat
House Landscaping Project |
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HABITAT FOR HUMANITY LANDSCAPE
PROJECT
On Tuesday, October 10th a group of community volunteers gathered to landscape the current
Habitat for Humanity house being built on Brookcliff
Rd., just off of Swan Bridge Rd. in the northern part of the county.
This was a project of the Pickens County Master Gardeners but included
volunteers from the Pickens County 4-H Club as well as members of the Habitat
partner family and their neighbors. In all 24 people were on hand to
help with the project.
4-H’ers in attendance were Bob Jasperse, Rachel Wigington, Lauren Qualls,
Katy Archer, Brandon Archer and Page Sears. Master Gardeners on hand
for the event were project coordinator Al Rothe, Pam Franklin, Mary Ann
Adams, Joanna Phillips, Randy Tudor, Craig McKenzie and Francis
Stewart. Rick Jasperse and Kelly Eubanks of the University of Georgia
Extension Service were also there to help. As County Agent, Rick Jasperse
oversees both the Master Gardener and 4-H organizations. Kelly Eubanks
supports Rick by coordinating 4-H activities.
This was a very special project for the Master Gardeners because one of their
own, Amanda Powell is a member of the Habitat partner family. Amanda is
the daughter of Mitchell and Marie Powell. While Mitchell was not
available for Tuesday’s activities, Marie, her children Amanda, Shauna, Cody
and Daniel Powell and Marie’s niece Ashley were on hand to dig holes, plant
plants and spread mulch for their new home. Neighbors Dottie Moser,
Doris McNelley and Mary Banks were on hand to help out as well.
Amanda’s Grandmother Charlene cooked and served lunch for all the
volunteers. It was a great meal of BBQ Chicken sandwiches, potato
salad, baked beans and more; the brownies for dessert were heavenly.
The entire meal was delicious.
Well over 100 plants went into the ground at the Powell house including
Nellie Stevens Hollies, Knockout Roses, Loropetalum, Hydrangeas, Lirope, Day
Lilies, Dwarf Crepe Myrtles, Redbud Tree, Crocosimia, Phlox, Joe Pye Weed,
Keria Japonica, Miss Kim Lilac, Butterfly Bush and others. A special
thanks to Caryn Presswood (a Master Gardener) who graciously dug and
donated many of the plants listed. Matt Kinzer of Kinzer Nursery and
Anne Shearhouse of Waleska Nursery (both of whom are Master Gardeners)
supplied plants at deep discounts as well as some donations for the
project. Jamie Gravely of Triple J Landscaping picked up and delivered
mulch donated by Amicalola EMC.
This happening spotlights three volunteer groups that do a lot to help
improve the lives and environment of citizens of Pickens County; Habitat for
Humanity, Master Gardeners and the 4-H Club. Habitat for Humanity is
still a young organization in our community but in its short period of
existence it has helped numerous families become homeowners. They do
this by partnering with deserving families in need of basic housing who are
willing to provide “sweat equity” and a minimal down payment. The price
of the housing is kept very affordable for these families by utilizing
community support in the way of donations and volunteers, like the Master
Gardeners and the 4-H Club.
This is the first Habitat house that the Master Gardeners have landscaped,
but not the last. The Master Gardeners plan to landscape all future
Habitat houses built in the county. If you are interested in
becoming a Master Gardener, a new class will be starting in January of
2007. Contact Rick Jasperse at the County Extension office on Depot
Street or phone him on 706-253-8840 for details. You can also keep
watch for announcements right here in the Progress or look us up on the Web
at:
http://www.pickensmg.com If you want to know more about our local 4-H Club contact
Kelly Eubanks on 706-253-8840 or stop by the Depot in Jasper. To learn
more about our local Habitat for Humanity affiliate and its mission go to
their site on the Web:
http://pickenshfh.org/ Al Rothe Pickens
County Master Gardeners |
