Athens Area Master Gardener Association

The Athens Area Master Gardener Association (AAMGA) is an organization devoted to providing information to the gardening public, assisting with community horticultural practices, helping Master Gardeners fulfill their commitment of volunteer hours as well as advancing members' horticultural education through meetings and educational activities. Monthly meetings are held at 6:00 pm on the third Tuesday of each month. Meeting location varies, please check the AAMGA newsletter, The Garden Dirt December 2024, for updates.

AAMGA Membership Information

If you are interested in joining the Athens Area Master Gardener Association please contact Kay Petroff for an application or more information. You may also contact Dr. Laura Ney, Athens-Clarke County Extension Agent, at (706) 613-3640. Yearly dues are $10 for active Master Gardeners and $20 for friends of the association. Dues must be received by January 1st each year to remain in the association. Membership in an association is not required to be a Georgia Master Gardener Extension Volunteer.

Ongoing AAMGA/Master Gardener Projects

Our Master Gardeners volunteer at a large number of community gardens, school gardens, and events in Athens. To view a full list with pictures and descriptions, please view Athens Master Gardener Project Highlights.

ACC Extension Office Master Gardener Help Desk: If you have questions about soil testing, starting a garden, or pests/disease, you can contact our office at 706-613-3640 to speak with a Master Gardener or our county agriculture agent.

State Botanical Garden of Georgia: Master Gardeners answer questions, lead public and school group tours, and work in the gardens at the SBGG. Contact: Andrea Fischer, afischer@uga.edu.

Local Farmers Markets and Community Events: Master Gardeners answer questions at the Athens Farmer's Market, Marigold Market, and community events such as Vulture Festival, ACC Water Festival, ACC Wellness Fair, Trunk or Treat, Harvest Festival, Insectival, school fairs, etc.

Speaker's Bureau: Master Gardeners conduct classes and workshops for public groups, community garden clubs, civic organizations, school classrooms, private businesses and organizations, etc.

Piedmont Athens Regional Pollinator Garden: A garden located at Piedmont hospital in Athens where patients and members of the public can enjoy plants and wildlife. Contact: Frank and Cheryl Johnson, frankandcherylj@gmail.com.

Dudley Park Bat Garden: A pollinator garden focused on species that attract insects for bats, located at Dudley Park. Educational events are conducted at this garden.

ACC Extension Demonstration Garden: A public garden featuring both vegetables and ornamentals at the ACC Extension Office, 275 Cleveland RD, Bogart GA. Bee hives, bat houses, and purple martin houses are also featured. Master Gardeners help maintain county extension bee hives and native landscape surrounding the office. Contact: Kristi Sego, kristisego@yahoo.com or John Aitkens, aitkensj@gmail.com

UGA Trial Gardens: The Trial Garden is an ornamental breeding space for the UGA Horticulture Department and ornamental plant companies from around the world to test new varieties. Our volunteers assist the director, Dr. John Ruter, Garden Manager Sandy Begani, and horticulture students with planting, weeding, pruning, and maintaining the 1-acre growing space. Contact: Sandy Begani, sbegani@uga.edu

Oconee Plant-A-Row for the Hungry: A 1/2 acre vegetable garden where Master Gardeners grow hundres of pounds of produce each year. This produce is donated to local organizations to feed those in need. Contact: Gary Wade, gwade@uga.edu

School Gardens: Master Gardeners help at various school gardens, including the JJ Harris After School Garden Club (Debora Ondracek, ondracekdebora@gmail.com), Rocky Branch Elementary, and Clarke Middle School Plant-A-Row for the Hungry.

Plant Sales: Master Gardeners help with the State Botanical Garden Plant Sale, Trial Garden Plant Sale, and Athens Area Master Gardener Association Spring Plant Sale (held April each year), and annual Daffodil and Bulb Sale.

Master Gardeners also volunteer with local Clarke County organizations such as Keep Athens-Clarke County Beautiful (Stacy Smith stacy.smith@acc.gov), and Sandy Creek Nature Center (Kate Mowbray, kate.mowbray@acc.gov).