By Wayne McLaurin
University of
Georgia
I was the typical parent at Christmas time. I searched for just
the right toys for my girls, the ones they wanted most.
(One year on the Santa list, “Baby Heart-Beat” appeared in big,
bold letters. On Christmas morning, the box had more appeal than
the doll!)
There were other toys over the years. (I didn’t buy an Elmo,
though. Elmo is my brother, and we could talk to real Elmo any
time we wanted to.) But it wasn’t the toys but the giving that
was important.
Christmas is a time for giving. And you know, gardeners are among
the most giving of people.
‘I just harvested and thought of you’
Think about getting a basket of produce from someone who said, “I
just harvested and thought of you.” Now, you know that person had
real feelings for you and wanted to share. Well, OK, maybe his
spouse said, “One more squash in this house and I’ll leave you.”
Either way, the gardener still was offering you something grown
with his or her own hands.
Other gardeners share as a group. Countless Master Gardeners in
Georgia have given their time in countless ways.
Master Gardeners give thousands of hours of volunteer time not
only to beautification but to working with gardening, in nursing
homes with the patients, in herb and butterfly gardens at schools
all over the state and with projects and continuous educational
activities such as plant identification and insect and disease
analysis.
Helping others while gardening
All of this is done by people who are helping others while
tending some of the most fantastic gardens in Georgia.
There are national charitable programs, too, such as “Plant a Row
for the Hungry,” in which member gardeners plant an extra row for
people who need food. Over the past few years several tons of
produce have been delivered to soup kitchens, shelters and other
organizations that have need but little funding for fresh
produce.
Sure, canned food is available. But why shouldn’t people in need
have fresh tomatoes, squash and potatoes. Georgia gardeners can
be very proud of their contributions in this movement.
Another group of gardeners out there gives and gives again. Over
the years, county agents have educated you in Extension programs
and your children through 4-H.
‘A million questions’
They’ve worked with farmers, suburbanites and city people and
have spoken with individuals and groups and answered “a million
questions on a million topics.”
How did they do this? Yes, every one of them has at least one
college degree, but many do their own research for their area.
They try to grow “new” plants and and save “heritage” plants.
Then there was the agent who worked with lawns and golf courses.
He even put a golf green in his back yard. Now that’s real
dedication to your work, tearing up the flower beds to put in
“research.”
Just look around your neighborhood and town — so many beautiful
gardens and parks. How important are they to your well-being? Try
to visualize your neighborhood or town without them.
Take a minute
As you hurry about buying presents this Christmas season, take a
minute to thank the gardeners you know for all they do.
Don’t try to surprise them with a present. Most of us gardeners
buy what we need and want. Nongardeners can seldom buy the right
trowel or wheelbarrow with any more certainty than they could
guess correctly our age, weight and mother’s maiden name. Most of
us have a shed full of tools.
The most important gift these Georgia gardeners want goes
something like this:
“That’s a beautiful garden you have!”
“Thanks for the produce
you gave me last season!”
“I always look forward to your
daffodils blooming each year!”
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to write about gardening
for you. Merry Christmas!
