Article by Stacey Stearns Contact Sarah Bailey sarah.bailey@uconn.edu mastergardener.uconn.edu we’ve also become very good friends. Sarah is a big part of creating that community around the program. She talks with us about problems and helps us find creative solutions. She has wonderful leadership skills. We also developed the Junior Master Gardener Program and conducted a teacher training for some school gardens, and developed curriculum for them to use.” Projects are implemented in phases. The greenhouse was built with funds from a grant by an anonymous donor to the UConn Foundation who greatly appreci- ated what the Master Gardeners are doing through their community outreach. The first-year, volunteers had to haul water up the hill in buckets from the kitchen. This year, irrigation was installed for the green- house, solving the water problem. “You keep learning as you go – mechan- ics, botany, pest management and what- ever else is needed. We all work together as a team,” Marlene says. “It’s not a one- person thing. We’re all passionate about gardening, creativity, and work together to make it happen.” “It never stops at the 4-H Education Center at Auerfarm; something is going on all of the time. Everything is research- based, the greenhouse is always a research project. We also have to factor in daylight hours, watering schedules, and how many growing seasons we can fit in each year. There is enthusiasm for whatever problem we have to solve.” The next challenge for this intrepid group of volunteers is figuring out how to run the greenhouse in the colder winter months. The cost of propane has been a challenge; however, the group wants to donate consistently to Foodshare through- out the year. They are discussing raising house plants or some sort of tropical that can be sold as a fundraiser, and used as a teaching tool for the students that visit the farm each year. Tomatoes and peppers will be transplanted from the garden into the greenhouse this fall, and microgreens will also be raised for Foodshare. “Our volunteer work at the 4-H Education Center at Auerfarm is never boring, and I’m not tired of it yet,” Marlene concludes. “The Master Gardener program creates a sense of community and camaraderie. There is no judgement, everyone works together and has a sense of responsibility – it’s very binding in a nice way.” Above: Marlene Mayes works with you in programs at Auerfarm. HE 2018 HIGHLIGHTS OF EXTENSION 23