By Extension Master Gardener Donna Walthall
As a new intern and soon-to-be Master Gardener, I was working our spring plant sale in April 2025 when a friendly young man approached me. Coach Boone Carter, a teacher at Wilson School, asked if I would come speak to his class. Without hesitation, I said “yes.” I was imagining a small group of children and felt excited about the opportunity.
A few months later, I reached out to Coach Carter to get started and suggested a hands-on terrarium activity. I was thrilled to do this project until I asked how many students would be participating. He said there would be 70 students. It was a moment of panic for me, but also the beginning of something special.
I began collecting one-gallon jugs, and my house quickly filled up. As the date approached, a kind Master Gardener suggested pre-bagging the pebbles, sand, soiland charcoal. It turned out to be excellent advice and made things much easier for the students. Soon an entire group of Master Gardeners & interns gathered at the Extension Service barn. Tables & chairs were set up quickly, and the project was streamlined efficiently. To my disbelief, everything was prepared & cleaned up in under an hour.
The next day felt like D-Day. We loaded my car, and several Master Gardeners and interns joined me at the school to assist with teaching. All three classes were a success. Volunteers rotated in and out as their schedules allowed, and I was incredibly grateful for every bit of help. There was plenty of laughter but no spills or no messes. The students had fun, and so did I. We joked, learned together and shared moments that reminded me why this work matters.
Three weeks later we dissected lilies. I quickly realized I could have been better prepared with clearer diagrams & more detailed explanations. It was a learning experience, and next year will be better. Growth applies to educators, too.
Around this time the school received a grant to build a garden, and I offered my assistance. Once again Master Gardeners stepped up in a big way. Volunteers arrived ready for work. Together we assembled eight raised beds (each requiring more than 90 bolts & nuts), three horseshoe-shaped beds, four trellises and 10 large planters.
Gin trash was needed to amend the soil, and Mark & Allen generously hauled the first load. A volunteer dad helped us obtain two additional loads. Even though Master Gardeners were busy preparing for our annual sale, students were eager to begin digging & planting. The work took three days but not one student complained. They worked hard & truly enjoyed the process.
We planted eggplants, tomatoes, beans, strawberries, peppers and more. Flowers of all kinds were added — sunflowers, wildflowers and seeds for a butterfly garden. Additional flower seeds will be donated from Waterloo School. The garden will also include a Pumpkin Graveyard and a Zombie Bed in an enclosed area where plants traditionally struggle to grow. This space will become a composting ground for spent plants & garden byproducts — what gardeners know as black gold — eventually replenishing the soil for reuse.
There truly is something for all ages to do in the Wilson Garden. It is watered daily, with each class taking responsibility during their scheduled garden time. Younger students use 8-ounce cups to prevent overwatering, while older students learn identifying weeds, hand-weeding beds and caring for plants responsibly. Students will also identify flowers & collect seeds in the fall and then properly dry and store vegetable seeds for future use.
Plans are already in place for early spring greens, a summer garden and fall crops including gourds and pumpkins. Students will learn crop rotation, composting, soil care and sustainable gardening practices.
The Wilson Garden is an ongoing project and a powerful learning tool. It will have a lasting impact on these students. Every student who graduates from Wilson will leave with knowledge of how to grow food, care for soil, understand pollinators and appreciate the role bees and butterflies play in our ecosystem.
Master Gardeners are stepping up by educating children, nurturing curiosity and showing the next generation how to truly change the world.
