By Frank Wertheim, York County Extension Educator

It is hard to put into a short piece what the York County Master Gardener program has meant to me since I came to York County Extension in the fall of 1991. To put it succinctly, it's been about the people! I can truly say that I love my job, and the biggest reason for that is the York County Master Gardener program. Over the years I have met and worked with such wonderful people from so many walks of life through the Master Gardener program. We all seem to have something in common; a love of working with the soil and making things grow, learning, and sharing that with others.

I think that in today's day and age, with people in society being 3-4 generations removed from the farm, there is something missing from our lives. The Master Gardener program has been so great in re-establishing that missing connection by creating a community of committed gardeners dedicated to getting their hands into the earth, learning from the course and from each other, and enthusiastically sharing that knowledge with others. So really I think the Master Gardener program has been about "community". Not only have we developed a community of wonderful volunteers, but they have extended that community and touched the lives of literally hundreds of others throughout York County.

Working together is just plain fun and satisfying. Seeing demonstration projects come to fruition, strong friendships developing amongst Master Gardeners. People teaching others, often for the first time. Getting children excited about working with the earth, seeing happy, laughing, smiling faces ­that is what it is all about. Old, young, liberal, conservative, whatever race or ethnicity or beliefs, we all come together with a common goal to work together, help each other, learn, teach others, and have a really good time doing it.

There is something very special about the Master Gardener program that only those who have been through it can appreciate. For me, having the privilege of coordinating this wonderful program for 15 years now has been a life enriching joy. Our accomplishments have been tremendous and I expect that in the future it will only continue to grow, expand, and touch the lives of many others.

For More Information regarding the UMCE Master Gardener Program, call  1-800-287-1535  or visit  http://extension.umaine.edu/gardening/programs/master-gardeners/