History of Master Gardening in the New River Valley
For the period of the beginning of the NRV MG in 1987
Written by Delbert Jones in 1998
The very first class of the Master Gardeners taught at Virginia Tech was in 1987 (Harry Groot and Jim May were in this class). There was a small class in 1988; it was primarily taught using videotapes from the 1987 class. I (Delbert) was in the class of 1989 and David McKissack was our coordinator. We were under the umbrella of the Office of Consumer Horticulture at that time. Dutch van der Pyle (’87), along with Emily Collins (’87), Arlene Hoffman (’87) and Christine Meunch (’88) asked members of the 1989 class to meet and form an association with bylaws and officers. We wanted to be like all the other associations in the state. We met a couple of times and on April 26, 1989 we passed our bylaws and elected our officers of the newly formed Montgomery County Master Gardener Association.
Dutch van der Pyle was our first president (year 1989) and our bylaws stated that we were to meet at least twice a year. So that first year, we had a potluck dinner at Smithfield Plantation in the fall. These first three classes primarily worked (volunteered) at the Horticulture Garden, Smithfield Plantation, the “Grove” (which was going through a complete renovation at that time – this is the VT President’s home on campus above the Duck Pond); picked strawberries on a research plot where the Market Place is today in Christiansburg; and worked for the Consumer Horticulture Office.
Linda Powers (’89) became our second president (year 1990) and I (Delbert) was the third president (year 1991). We worked to meet quarterly and after Joe Hunnings was hired, we were placed under the auspices of the Montgomery County Extension Office. At this time we took over all the training and volunteer programs. I (Delbert) was thrilled (and relieved) that the faculty were still willing to teach the classes. We made it convenient for them by having the classes on campus!
Gwen Ewing became our fourth president (year 1992) and, at that time, we realized that we had many members who did not live in Montgomery County. Thus, in 1993, we voted to change the name to New River Valley Master Gardener Association. Gwen, along with Sara Thorne-Thomsen (our fifth president; year 1993) started holding monthly meetings, fund raising at the Advanced Training (plant auction) and developing new programs. Under Gwen and Sara, we started the plant clinics, composting demonstrations and the school grants program. Katy Hatfield, our sixth president (year 1994), continues to lead our group forward into new directions with garden tours and road trips. The NRVMGA will continue to grow and change, but we may need to stop and reflect now and again. There are gaps in our history and scrapbook. Perhaps, other members may have memories that would be useful and insightful to record before they are forgotten.