The Franklin County Master Gardener Advisory Committee toured the new Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center, on June 10th.  The 4-H Center is a "green building" focused on site sustainability, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, and the quality of the indoor environment. The Center is the first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified building on the OSU campus.

Trumbull County Master Gardener Volunteers are sowing seeds of change by teaching local food bank participants how to grow their own food.

MGV Glen Smith, Interns Diana Isenberg and Donna Hall recently helped County Coordinator Steve Hudkins teach 20 people how to grow vegetables in containers.

With Burpee-donated seeds, soil from Warren City's Nature Blend plant, containers donated by Trumbull MGVs and starter plants provided by St. Mark's Lutheran Church (home of the food bank), Hudkins and his MGVs demonstrated the proper way to plant and care for seeds and transplants.

Hardin County Master Gardeners added to their knowledge and expertise at their summer training event in June.  The volunteers visited Monte Siekerman's beautiful 5.5 acre garden and retreat center near Ada.  Allen County Extension Educator, Curtis Young walked with the volunteers through the gardens and discussed garden insect problems along the way.  The group enjoyed a large wildflower display, along with ornamental grasses, a pond, tree house, and many other features of the Siekerman garden.  A brief noon business meeting was held in the rustic but comfortable cabin at the site.