Propagation for Education

This group was put together in early 2013 to continue our work with the Jail Industries Nursery and to create a centralized place to grow plants for the Bloomin' Backyards Plant Sale. It has become an opportunity to teach and experience propagation, nursery management, and plant identification, and to provide a location for hands-on learning.

Most Thursdays a small group of Master Gardeners are growing cuttings, transplanting, pruning, weeding and labeling in our outdoor work area and two shade houses. The Jail Industries Nursery is staffed by low risk inmates who are part of a work education program backed by the Department of Education.

The Propagation for Education group invites the Master Gardener (MG) library speakers to present horticultural talks to the Jail Industries Nursery crew each month. The response from the crew has been positive towards the speakers and in return Jail Industries Nursery is helping us with watering our plants and providing a location for us to grow. In the Propagation for Education group, we are enjoying putting our experience and knowledge into a project where we can get our hands dirty, enjoy learning from each other and provide a benefit to the MG organization and the public.