Gardening program provides
opportunities to learn and give back
By Josie Sellers
josie@coshoctoncountybeacon.com
COSHOCTON – Seventeen dedicated gar-
deners are part of Th e Ohio State Univer-
sity Extension Master Gardener Volun-
teer Program here in Coshocton County.
“I joined to learn a little more about
gardening and for the community in-
volvement,” said Gail Piper.
Marsha Duling enjoys being part of the
group because it provides opportunities
for lifelong learning.
“We are always having workshops,
conferences or bringing in someone to
speak,” she said. “I love the relationships
we’ve built too. We always have room for
more people though.”
In their fi rst year of training, master
gardeners must complete 50 educational
hours and 50 hours of volunteer work. Af-
ter that, the commitment goes down to at
least 10 education hours and 20 volunteer
hours a year.
“We’ve had some people do as many
as 200 and some just do the minimum,”
Piper said.
“I love the relationships
we’ve built too. We
always have room for
more people though.”
- Marsha Duling
Jandi Adams, who is fairly new to the
group, said it may sound like a lot of work
to get started, but it’s really not.
“It’s just one night a week and you are
always learning something interesting,”
she said.
Th e master gardeners work on many
projects throughout the community
including the fall foliage tour, Earth Day,
the fair, and First Farm Fridays. Th ey also
assist at Lake Park, Clary Gardens and
with a parking lot garden at the county
services building. As a fundraiser, they
host a plant sale.
“With what I’ve learned
I was able to diagnose
a problem with one of
my trees. I love learning
new things”
- Cari Weaver
Th e members also put out a newsletter
and are regularly on the radio. Th is has
helped them share news with the com-
munity and learn from others.
“I had been on the radio with Mike
Bechtol and he told me that someone had
called and wanted to talk, but didn’t want
to be on the radio,” said Margaret Lowe.
“He got their name and number and I
called them back.”
From that conversation, Lowe learned
something new about trees.
“Th ere are still American Chestnut
trees growing in the county,” she said.
“Th at is pretty rare.”
Cari Weaver got involved with the
master gardener program to gather
information to help her with her 16 acres
of property.
“I like learning how everything con-
nects,” she said. “With what I’ve learned I
was able to diagnose a problem with one
of my trees. I love learning new things.”
For more information on the master
gardener program or to get on the list for
the 2020 training, contact David Marri-
son, extension educator, agriculture and
natural resources, at 740-622-2265 or
marrison.2@osu.edu.
Contributed
Endsley shares importance of 4-H
By Jen Jones
COSHOCTON - Debra Endsley graduated
in March of 1972 from Th e Ohio State
University with a dual major in animal
science and agricultural communica-
tions. She started working for the OSU
Extension Offi ce in Coshocton County
as the 4-H agent soon after.
“A number of 4-H agents has come
and quickly gone in previous years.
Caring and dedicated club advisors had
kept clubs active and the youth learning
valuable life skills through project work,
leadership activities and community
service,” said Endsley.
She said her youth experience with
4-H had been only around horses so she
had to learn about the 175 projects 4-H
off ered in the early 1970s. “Fortunately,
club advisors were friendly, patient and
quick to share,” said Endsley. “Although
most weeks expanded to 60-75 work
hours, it was a well-loved labor.”
Endsley believes that youth devel-
opment is the biggest value of 4-H –
teaching life skills that make daily lives
better and careers more attainable. It
also teaches that good decision making
and hard work will bring satisfaction
and sometimes external rewards. “4-H
builds a work ethic that leads to strong
families, good businesses and caring
communities.”
“4-H also off ers learning opportuni-
ties to adults as volunteers and parents,”
she said. It provides families with a way
to have fun together, make the commu-
nity better and to pass down traditions.
“Families can make new memories
together – these are the valuable ele-
ments that make 4-H a treasure in our
community.”
Endsley is still heavily involved
with 4-H. She has been the advisor of
two clubs, Keene Junior Farmers and
Coshocton County Sharpshooters. She
has been on committees to start a local
4-H endowment and to build the 4-H
and FFA building at the Coshocton
County Fairgrounds. She is currently
involved with the state-wide training of
4-H shooting sports instructors and two
state-wide shooting education summer
camps.
CELEBRATING 100 YEARS!
740-545-6002
www .PEARLVALLEYCHEESE. com
54760 T.R. 90, FRESNO, OH 43824 • HOURS: MON-SAT, 8-5
APRIL 17, 2019
www.coshoctonbeacontoday.com
THE BEACON 9-B