Nelson County Master Gardeners

Habitat for Humanity

Purpose of Project: Nelson County Habitat for Humanity has as its goal to build three houses every two years. Master Gardeners offer their assistance to new homeowners by helping them develop a landscape plan,

showing them proper planting methods and teaching them about the care and maintenance of plants.

Number of Volunteers Needed: We need six or more volunteers.

Skills Needed: Teaching, landscape design and gardening skills. Habitat for Humanity provides homes for deserving citizens of Nelson County. Master Gardeners play an important role when it comes to giving the house a nice setting in a compatible landscape and, at the same time, teaching the new homeowners something about gardening.

We start a little before the house is completed, sit down with the prospective owners and discuss what they would like. We try to ascertain how experienced are they, do they plan to work in the garden or are they looking for low maintenance. We help develop a plan and explain why some plants are best suited to certain places, with respect to shade, wind, and other elements. Normally a local nursery will provide about a dozen plants for starters, and we normally do that liaison since we have the plan. Then in two work sessions we prepare the ground to accept the plants and then we do the planting. Normally, we include the owners in the digging and planting, at which time we discuss the care and feeding of the plants.