SEQUIM — These green thumbs are now golden.
Representatives of the Clallam County Master Gardener Foundation presented Golden Trowel Awards to Beanie Gersbach, Gretchen Glenny, Doug Ridgeway and Chrilo von Gontard at the Foundation’s Woodcock Demonstration Garden in Sequim on Aug. 28.
Presented annually, the Golden Trowel Award is bestowed to Master Gardeners who have been active in the organization for more than five years, dedicated more than 750 hours of volunteer time and demonstrated outstanding service in promoting education and environmental stewardship, according to Clallam County Extension Agent Clea Rome.
Each honoree received an engraved rock paver that has been installed in a pathway at the Woodcock Demonstration Garden in Sequim along with nearly 80 previous award recipients.
Gersbach became a Master Gardener in 2005. She is a longstanding member of the editing team for articles submitted to the Master Gardeners’ “Get It Growing” column in the Sequim Gazette.
She provides volunteer support to the Master Gardener Foundation’s annual plant sale and garden tour and assists with plant clinics and the Woodcock Demonstration Garden. Her gardening interests include flowering perennials and shrubs, natives and general landscaping.
A 15-year veteran Master Gardener, Glenny has provided organizational support and resources to the Master Gardener Youth Enrichment Program, an educational program designed to teach local second graders about plants and interest them in growing their own food.
She has also provided ongoing assistance to the foundation’s plant sales and garden tours. Her gardening experience dates back to her childhood and over the years she has engaged in vegetable, flower and greenhouse gardening at her homes. She has a particular passion for growing roses.
Ridgeway brought his construction and engineering skills to the Clallam County Master Gardener Program in 2007. He has designed and directed installation of a retaining wall for the garden at the Sequim unit of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Olympic Peninsula, and assisted with the construction of a new compost structure and installed signage at the Woodcock Demonstration Garden.
He frequently volunteers at Master Gardener plant clinics, served on the Master Gardener Foundation of Clallam County board and actively assists with foundation fund raising events. Ridgeway has a special interest and training in rain gardens.
A Master Gardener since 2007, von Gontard has given numerous volunteer hours staffing plant clinics and working at the Woodcock Demonstration Garden, often mentoring new Master Gardeners.
She has longstanding tenure at plant sales and garden tours. Von Gontard continues to be active in the Clallam County Master Gardeners even after moving her residence to Bainbridge Island, where she also volunteers at the Bloedel Reserve. Her home garden has been certified as a natural wildlife habitat.
The Master Gardener Program provides public education in gardening and environmental stewardship generated from research at WSU and other university systems.
For more information, call 360-565-2679.
