Manatee County Gardener Program Receives Grant

From Manatee County Agriculture and Extension Service: The Manatee County Extension Master Gardener program is pleased to announce it has been selected to receive a grant as part of the 2017 Martin Luther King Day of Service program sponsored by the State College of Florida. “This is the second year we have received this grant and we are very excited to be able to continue our participation in this wonderful remembrance of the life of Martin Luther King,” states Lisa Hickey, Coordinator of the Manatee Master Gardener Program. The Plant-a-Pail™ project conducted by the University of Florida Extension Master Gardener volunteers provides containers and instruction in container gardening for communities located in “food deserts” as defined by the Manatee County Department of Health. The ultimate goal is for everyone to have access to healthy food through container gardening. This program was very well received by the communities where it was presented during 2016 which included Rubonia, the 13th Street Dream Center, Bradenton Village, and Samoset. The program touches people of all ages and abilities.

December 13th marked the last event of 2016 for the Plant-a-Pail™ project. According to Hickey, the program will expand to more communities in the upcoming year. Additionally, the project includes follow-up programs in the 2016 communities to make sure they are successful. Hickey estimates that through this project, over 353 gardening pails with soil and plants were distributed to residents of Manatee County during 2016. Hickey would like to express her appreciation to all the dedicated Master Gardener volunteers who made this a success, especially Becky Moreland who was the chair of the program in 2016. If you have interest in the project details, Lisa Hickey can be contacted at (941) 722-4524.

Photo courtesy of Manatee County Agriculture and Extension Service