Projects

C O M P L E T E D   2021  P R O J E C T S

2021 Project Committee Director: Dwight James

If you would like to submit a project for consideration please click,  print and following the instructions on  the SMG PROJECT PROPOSAL FORM.

If you want to be reimbursed for expenses,  print and following the instructions on  the SMG REIMBURSEMENT REQUEST FORM.

SMG 2021 Projects List:

ACES Office Landscape Beds Restoration - Phase #2
Nov. 29, Dec. 1, Dec. 2, & Dec. 7, Wray Dillard - Project Leader


DAY 1:  Michael Wilson and his front-end loader will be onsite for this day.  #1 - Remove existing rocks boundary to side. #2 - Remove old soil, crape myrtles and all other plants and weeds. Old soil to be use as filler in the low areas surrounding the Extensions Office grounds.  #3 - Remove old sign posts to be used with new sign. Dig footer 4" below grade around entire bed, fill foot with concrete and lay 1st course of rock. 

DAY 2:  #4 - Lay rock filling in with mortar to build a STABLE low wall that will inhibit Bermuda grass accessing the bed. Wall will be 2 to 4 courses high or not more than 10-15" above footer.

DAY 3:  #5 - Add "fresh blended" soil appropriate for raised bed with proper amendments to fill bed  #6 - Plant native dwarf variety tree (a Vitex—lilac chaste tree has been suggested), along with various dwarf shrubs to fill area without blocking view of sign, Add layer of cardboard, then add proper mulch and pre-emergent herbicide.

DAY 4:  # 7 - Install new sign: 3' x 6' horiz. format that includes ACES logo and title, SMG logo and title and street number  


ACES Office Landscape Beds Restoration - Phase #1
Friday, October 22 at 9-10 a.m., Wray Dillard - Project Leader


Today's workday was a great success. Thank you to the excellent crew of volunteers. I under estimated the time required so everyone got 2 solid hours logged. Removed a wagon load of mulberry weed, trimmed all the shrubbery, removed, split and replanted all the stella de Ora daylily, removed and replanted the rock border, spread 4 bags of soil conditioner, 6 bags of shredded pine bark mulch and applied pre-emergent herbicide. One more thing: hauled off all the trash.


Workday at ARC of the Shoals

Thursday, November 18, 2021, Time: 9:00 a.m.

Location:  501 Lamar St, Tuscumbia, AL  35674


Six beds were constructed. The lumber was already cut so the work progressed along in a speedy fashion. Thanks to the great crew that braved driving rains to complete a very worthy project. The clients at ARC of the Shoals will have a ready supply of home ground vegetables next year!


Work Day: Calvary Learning Center

Located in beautiful Tuscumbia, Alabama the Shoals Master Gardeners had a perfect morning (Thursday, May 13) to build eight raised beds then with compost.
Below are photos of the event. 

The Healing Place- Cynthia Kershaw, Project Leader
Thursday, May 6, 2021 at 8:30am.

Please bring labeled tools for weeding, pruning, and mulching. The address is 2409 Wildwood Street in Muscle Shoals.
Please come join in this on-going project to benefit the community. 


Ivy Green! - Betty Balch, Project Leader

Friday, April 9, 2021, starting at 9:30 doing spring clean-up.


You will need your pruners, rakes, and buckets for debris.  We will prune hollies, hydrangeas, and nandinas; remove winter weeds and leaves from the beds; and trim back the overgrown ivy. Please bring a mask.  Visitors are required to wear them, and you will need one if you go inside or work near a sidewalk where visitors are walking by or stopping to see the attractions.


Work Day: Beautify the Florence-Lauderdale Public Library

Friday, October 8  9:00-10:00 a.m.

Projector Coordinator: Wray Dillard


Thank you to the Shoals Master Gardeners that volunteered to help on the Beautify The Florence Lauderdale Public Library project. It was a beautiful job and a ton of fun. The Shoals area is a more beautiful place thank to your efforts on this perfect fall day.

Master Gardener Gleaning Program Info - Project Leader Tim O'Donnell

The Gleaning project has officially begun. Many of you may have this information already, but here is updated instructions to make everyone’s life a little easier. There is one change from 2020 and that is the pick-up time for the receiving organizations. Tim O’Donnell asked them to come closer to 12:30 pm because the farmers wanted more time to sell last year due to Covid19. Tim O’Donnell is in need of volunteers for the last two weeks in July if anyone is available. Could use help on the July 10th 15th, 17th, 20th, 24th, and the 29th? Again, thank you all very much for your assistance with the Master Gardener Gleaning program. Call Tim O’Donnell if you have any questions (phone # is in the SMG Directory).

Updated Instructions:

On the day you are scheduled to receive the donations at the Farmers Market, please call the church/organization contact to remind them it is their day to receive the produce. It is best if you call the contact person BEFORE 10 AM of gleaning day. Remind them the pick-up time this year will be around 12:30. We are giving the farmers more time to sell their goods. Here is the list of the organizations that we will be getting the donations for:

Tuesday’s: Woodmont Baptist Church, Becky Daugherty – Cell # 256-810-8218

Thursday’s: First Presbyterian Church – Salvation Army, Hester Cope – Cell # 256-766-1531

Saturday’s: A New Beginnings Recovery, Olivia Ikera – Cell # 256-762-9093


You should plan on being at the Farmers Market around 11:45 am to 12 pm. It is located at 451 Fairground Road, Florence, AL 35630. The Society of St. Andrew box with the scale, folder and first aid kit is a clear plastic container located in the office at the Lauderdale County Farmers Market. The office is in the brick building at the south end of the Vendor stalls. See Fellow Master Gardener, Tony Langley. He will assist you in getting the box if necessary. Tony has asked us to set up the scales for weighing and recording in one of the first three vendor stalls on the left as you come down the steps from the office. Same as last year, visit with the farmers letting them know you are receiving donated produce, weigh the produce and record the type of produce and it’s weight on the form located in the three ring binder under the purple tab. Return the box to the Farmer’s Market office where you picked it up from. I will stop by and get the completed forms to send reports to the Master Gardeners, County Extension office and the Society of St. Andrews.


Record your volunteer time in the Master Gardener Service Report on the Auburn website!