Bragging First - But Need Your Advice Too

Thursday was graduation day for me from my Master Gardener Classes. I enjoyed my classes, learned alot, and met some great fellow gardeners. I have to admit that sometimes it was tough working 72 hours a week on nightshift and attending class during the day twice a week, but this was one of the best decisions I've ever made. If you've ever considered becoming a Master Gardener please do so - I have a feeling you won't regret it!
The local newspaper carries a column submitted from MG's, but unfortunately there isn't too many submitted articles and I am considering writing some. What are some of the topics you think would be of interest?

How about growing from seeds. It is intimidating and I've found out is very rewarding.

Congratulations, Carol! A great accomplishment! Writing a newspaper column - what a great opportunity! I think the most helpful thing would be to address what should be happening in your area at the time: starting seeds indoors in March or whenever you do it, starting seeds outside at the time you do it (May?), making compost, taking cuttings from lilac bushes or forsythia, etc. and multiplying what you have, improving your soil, how to fertilize different kinds of plants (what to use), how to divide hostas and peonies. I think it would be nice to include information about birds, too, to add something different, such as: "I noticed the other day that two mourning dove babies have hatched in the nest in the pine tree by the garden ... will try to remember to keep extra food out there for them." [Just some ideas that come to mind.]

Again, congratulations!

Congratulations Carol!

I got to put my two cents worth in....Heirlooms!

Do an article about Seed Saver's Exchange and how there is a movement to collect these seeds that people have been saving for years. There are people looking for fruits and veggies and people looking for herbs and flowers.

There's quite a bit of information right here at DG on what we are looking for and stories on how we found things. I collect veggies and poppysue can help with flowers.

Most people do not realize that these old seeds are precious and are throwing them out when there is no one left in the family to pass them on to. That would make a great article for the newspaper.

Again...proud of you!

OH Carol...I'm so proud of you!! What a lot of hard work, and I know you enjoyed it. Congratulations~!! Jo

You clever girl - I knew you could do it!! So much get up and go - makes me breathless!! Now that the hard work is over, when are you and DH coming over?? Almost time to throw those steaks on the barbie!! OK - interesting subject, for me anyway, planting native trees and preserving our forests!! Very close to my heart!!

Congratulations Carol! Way to GO !!!!!!

I'm a writer and the first thing I learned is that you have to grab the reader's interest right off. A picture is always helpful with that, but so is the first sentence or two.
I would try to write about things that are blooming right now, that are particularly appealing. Haven't you ever ridden by a house and seen a beautiful flower or shrub and wondered about it? Feature some of the best things blooming now.
Also, feature new plants. In the last few years there are so many amazing new plants, including Persian Shield and gartenmeister fuschia. I love getting Wayside Gardens catalogs to see the latest new things.
Remember the basics, who, what, why, where, and when but add how and accomplishments.
I always include remarks about soil tests as least once a year and I constantly warn about paying attention to the mature size of shrubs and trees.
Another primer for journalists is: Short sentences, short paragraphs and lots of quotes. Don't just write that you need a soil ph test, quote the farm agent about how often and how to take one.
If there are community or school gardening projects, learn about them and report them. Likewise, visit nurseries and garden centers and write about them.
It's always good to seek out gardeners and do a profile on them. One of the best gardeners I ever knew was a poor old lady who used local soil, chicken poop, and Maxwell House coffee cans for pots.
Lastly, at the end of the column, you might add a To Do list: I get mine from several magazines and from the things I am doing in the garden now. For example, I am cleaning up old debris, fertilizing azaleas and replacing mulch around them. I am also starting seedlings indoors now and scouring catalogs for plants I want to order that I can't find locally.
And of course, you can always recommend joining Dave's Garden.

I thouhgt of 2 other helpful places to get stories. Try the soil & conservation department; they have some good stories and some great brochures that you can borrow from to incorporate into your articles. The Cooperative Extension service also has a lot of gardening brochures. I got one on Teletip, a brochure that lists audio gardening tapes you can listen to in North Carolina by calling a toll free number and selecting the corresponding number in the brochure. Good Luck

Congratulations, It is something that I have considered, maybe I will just do it. The things that I have called the MG program for: plants that do not attract bees, organic ways of fighting powdery mildew and black spot, any ways of "cheating Mother Nature" with growing a plant in a colder than advised zone......Our Master Gardeners are available on the Capitol Square every Sat. during Farmer's Market--a wonderful way to meet people. I hope that you have a great time, you have earned it.

Thank you all for the compliments! Just reading them made it even all the more worthwhile. :o)
As soon as I'm finished working, (hopefully soon), I am going to go down to the newspaper office and see what topics have previously been covered. You have given me alot of great suggestions that I feel my community would be interested in.

I must admit I'm a bit shy about this project since it has been several years since I went to college to be a technical writer only to pursue a different career. Not only am I concerned about content, audience, and information - I'm worried about grammar and punctuation too! Would anyone mind proofreading an article for me before I submit it and give me their input?

Louisa, let's plan on the beginning of next month. I hope you make that great dessert again! ;o)