Southern Delaware Master Gardeners celebrate productive year

In 2022, Master Gardeners in Sussex and Kent counties volunteered services valued at $608,923 in outreach programs on behalf of the Delaware Cooperative Extension service. The figure was announced at the 36th annual awards luncheon for Southern Delaware Master Gardeners held at Plantation Lakes in Millsboro.

In Sussex and Kent counties combined, 122 active volunteers contributed 20,328 hours computed at a professional hourly rate of $29.95, a figure provided by Independentsector.org with a national average rate for professional volunteers.

Since 1986, Master Gardeners have presented a regular slate of educational programs for Delaware residents. They serve as valuable partners with other organizations such as the Food Bank of Delaware. As community and school gardens sprout up across Delaware, Master Gardeners offer support in planting the seeds of success.

After a two-year hiatus that restricted many of these efforts during the COVID pandemic, 2022 marked a successful year and a full return to the gardeners’ mission and vocation. The annual awards luncheon served as an opportunity to celebrate and showcase volunteer excellence.

In Sussex County, the program is coordinated and administered by Tracy Wootten from the University of Delaware. Kent’s counterpart is Megan Pleasanton of Delaware State University. Extension directors of both institutions, Rose Ozbay, DSU, and Michelle Rodgers, UD, extolled the value of volunteers who deliver regular extension resources and programs to the public. Master Gardeners comprise a significant bloc of extension outreach volunteers, second only to 4-H leaders.

The Chairperson/President’s Award is bestowed upon a deserving volunteer at the discretion of that county’s Master Gardener volunteer leadership. In Sussex County, the award went to Judy Pfister of Millsboro and in Kent, Charlotte Clive of Camden-Wyoming.

The Master Gardener of the Year Awards went to Mary Noel of Bridgeville and Karla Boulter of Dover.

The Lifetime Volunteer Award recognizes 10 years of membership and/or 1,000 hours of volunteer career service. Honorees were Marjorie Bushong of Ocean View, Sandi Dew of Seaford, Linda Newsome of Dover, Richard Petrecca of Georgetown, Anita Smith of Smyrna, Linda Sperry of Felton, Ellen Trier of Dover and Gainor Urian of Seaford.

Honored for 1,000 hours or more of volunteer service and receiving a gold badge were: Karen Abate of Camden-Wyoming, Tina Donofrio of Rehoboth Beach, Karen Kollias of Lewes, Linda Newsome of Dover and Robb Reyes of Lewes.

Honored for 500 hours and receiving silver badges were Marian Reedy of Selbyville, Anita Smith of Smyrna and Verna Thompson of Felton.

For more information, go to udel.edu/0010264.