How Quickly Can Someone Get Involved in a Master Gardener Chapter?

Darryl Ames, who completed his Master Gardener training in 2024 at the age of 64, and was voted in as Vice President six months later, might hold the record!

Darryl has always enjoyed gardening, but as he neared retirement, he wanted to focus on “doing it right.” A visit to the Morgan County Master Gardener booth at the Berkeley Springs Farmer’s Market sealed the deal. After chatting with several members about the details of the program and their shared enthusiasm for “all things gardening” and community service, he enrolled in the upcoming class. He knew that his little farm would benefit from the knowledge gained during the course and he usually went home and put the most current lesson to use.

Discovering a Passion for Fruit Trees

One of the highlights of the Master Gardener training for Darryl was the introduction to working with fruit trees. He had no prior knowledge of pruning, root stocks, diseases, etc., but now he is the proud owner of seventeen fruit trees! He’ll soon be harvesting his own apples, peaches, plums, figs, cherries, and paw paws. In fact, he was surprised by the extensive course content and he enjoyed learning about topics that he had never explored in the past.

A New Perspective on Gardening

When we asked Darryl if his ideas about being a Master Gardener had changed as a result of completing the course, his answer was a resounding YES! “I had no idea just how active the Morgan County Master Gardeners were with their projects and community outreach. I was consumed by it in a good way. The volunteer hours seemed daunting at first, but once you get started you see how many opportunities you have to earn them to become a full-fledged Master Gardener.”

Taking on Leadership

When the time came to nominate members for positions on the Executive Board, Darryl was an obvious choice. As Vice President, he is immersed in all of the chapter meetings, programs, and events, but he also has volunteered to be the chairperson for our Plant Fair, which is held annually over Mother’s Day weekend. This event is our only fundraiser, so our whole chapter pitches in to help in one way or another, and it’s loads of fun.

A Thriving Community

As we volunteer in our Morgan County community, we sometimes reap more than we sow... the members of our chapter are so enjoyable to work with. Everyone has their own gardening passions and niches, so if you have a question about a particular horticulture or gardening topic, someone will inevitably be able and willing to help you. As Darryl stated in his interview for the MG Spotlight, “I never realized how close I’d become to a core group of Master Gardeners. Their support since day one has been fantastic. I hold multiple professional certifications, but being a Master Gardener is the best certification I’ve achieved”

Creative Contributions

Check out the picture of Darryl’s design for our 2024 'Deck the Meters' display in Berkeley Springs! That man can build anything!