Harvesting Happiness

Amid the bustling, concrete-infused urban landscape of Houston lies a serene oasis, where tranquil gardens offer respite and escape. A decade has passed since the Hermann Park Conservancy planted the seeds for what has blossomed into the McGovern Centennial Gardens – eight acres of botanical splendor where visitors explore themed “rooms” of cultivation, ranging from exquisite roses to desert foliage. Also nestled within the complex, lies an often-overlooked plot just aside the grand entry where friendships sprout and learning flows within a “family garden” that is also generating copious crops.

Marisol Arteaga leads a dozen or so volunteers assigned exclusively to the family garden and its 22 raised beds growing vegetables, fruits, and herbs, 14 of which are tall and 8 shorter.

“I think a vegetable speaks to your soul differently than a rose. Vegetables are about both beauty and health,” said Marisol, who has been a master gardener for 15 years. “We have tried some different strategies in the family garden, which have led to some bountiful crops this past year. We experimented with companion planting, which means you put tomatoes alongside bell peppers but not cucumbers.”

Top right: E. Jane Hughson-Myers and Sharon McWhorter are part of a larger volunteer crew who garden year-round. (Photo: hartphoto.com)

That strategy has been wildly successful for the team. Last year, the garden produced a record harvest of 1500 pounds of produce. That includes 50 pounds of Swiss chard, 100 pounds of watermelons, 68 pounds of cucumbers, 60 pounds of beets, and 58 pounds of tomatoes. That is not only an increase from last year, but 600 pounds more food than two years ago. It’s all donated to Houston-area women’s shelters.

The secret to their success? Knowledge. Only master gardeners are selected to volunteer in the family garden where the gift of “green thumbs” is amplified by the deployment of defensive cultivation, aimed at fending off the “enemies” of their crops.

Becoming a master gardener requires more than a passion for making things grow. It demands commitment and a deep curiosity to learn exactly how and why plant life thrives. More specifically, these garden volunteers have all been through the Harris County Master Gardener certification process offered by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. Participants receive specialized training in horticulture and then share their knowledge with their community by providing support through their county’s Extension office. The program covers all topics such as lawn care, trees, insects, disease management, and vegetable gardening, just to name a few. To join, individuals must attend 72 hours in specialized training courses and lectures and then complete 60 hours of volunteer service in Extension-approved activities. The title “Texas Master Gardener” can only be used by volunteers when engaged in Extension-sponsored activities. It cannot be used for financial gain. 

The term “Master Gardener” was introduced in the early 1970s to describe a new program in Washington State. The first Master Gardener class in Texas took place in 1979 in Montgomery County, with around 25 participants. Today, there are more than 250 master gardeners volunteering in Harris County.

FROM SEED TO SPROUT Jill Atmar helps the garden along, whether it is weeding or seeding. (Photo: hartphoto.com)

Southampton resident Sally McMillan has recently added the vocational accolade of master gardener to her resume. The former television news anchor and journalist decided she wanted to tackle something new and challenging when her youngest son left for college a couple of years ago. 

“Joining the crew at Centennial Gardens was my first commitment as a new master gardener and it has been such a great experience,” said Sally. “I’ve learned so many things about vegetables and soils. There are many days when the work is hard and not pretty. Still, it is wonderful to make this little corner of the world a better place while growing new friendships too.” 

Meyerland resident Jill Atmar, a retired nurse practitioner, completed the same course of study, which involves a full day of instruction once a week for 10 weeks. For Jill, that effort was in addition to her full plate of philanthropic activities as chair of the landscape committee for the Meyerland Homeowners Association and the “unofficial” groundskeeper of the community garden at the end of her street at Herod Elementary. She’s also in a book club and transports her two grandchildren to swim team practice every day. She first learned about the “master gardener” program from her daughter, an Austin-based farmer. She knew she would learn a lot about growing a garden; she didn’t expect that experience to also feed her soul. 

Sally McMillan tends to cabbage in the family garden. (Photo: hartphoto.com)

“We were the first class that came back full time to the classroom after Covid, so we had the opportunity to meet and we became friends because we were with each other for eight hours a day once a week,” said Jill. “I like the sense of community and fellowship, because you're always welcome and it's always nice to go and just see how everybody's week was and what's new, and share what you've learned.”

West University resident Sharon McWhorter is also part of the expert crew at the family garden. When she retired from being a CPA for Texas Children’s Health plan two years ago, she knew she wanted a hobby outdoors. It was a bonus that she cultivated so many new friendships, but the real reward comes from doing the little things in the garden. 

“We arrive before the park opens, so no one is there and it’s just really pretty and soothing. We grab our buckets and our tools and kind of walk through the garden and see what needs to be done. A lot of times we need to harvest some of the fruits or vegetables. Sometimes we have things that we plant or prepare to plant,” said Sharon. “And then sometimes we just kind of maintain everything. We want it not only to be a productive garden, but we also want everything to look real pretty and manicured. So sometimes we're just out there weeding and trying to trim things up to make them look better.” 

Anu Wadivkar, a dentist, spends about 50 hours per year volunteering in the family garden. She is a relatively new master gardener and admits she still has a lot to learn. 

“I love learning new things and appreciate the mentoring from experienced master gardeners,” said Anu. “I did not know much at all about vegetable gardening. I always thought it was so complex and involved. Master gardeners have simplified it, and they are very encouraging. I also enjoy meeting with the visitors at the family garden and answering questions, if I can.”

THE ROOTS OF LEARNING The team of master gardeners have a new goal to beat last year’s record harvest of 1,500 pounds of produce. (Photo: hartphoto.com)

Linkwood resident E. Jane Hughson-Myers still has a day job as a consultant with the Medical Clinic of Houston. But she will be the first to tell you that the family garden is her happy place.

“It energizes me!” exclaimed E. Jane. “I love getting outside. I'm a Canadian-born Wisconsinite, and so the idea of heat is joyful for me. But that is one of the reasons you go at seven in the morning, so we're down there early. And with all the many hands that are there, we get the weeding and the planting, and the harvesting done pretty expeditiously.”

This agricultural program won’t restore what used to be a nation of farmers. Still, this group group of mighty Houston gardeners are working hard to make sure fundamental knowledge is not lost, but shared with anyone who wants to make plants grow.

WARRIORS IN THE GARDEN It takes a whole lot of volunteers to make this project bountiful. Sharon McWhorter, Jill Atmar, and Sally McMillan (pictured, from left) spend several hours a week volunteering at the Family Gardens in Hermann Park. (Photo: hartphoto.com)

Planting seeds

Interested in the Master Gardener Program?

To find out more about the Harris County Master Gardeners program, visit their website: txmg.org/hcmga.

Interested in volunteering?

Not everyone needs to undergo a certification process to volunteer at the McGovern Centennial Gardens or Hermann Park. While the Centennial Gardens covers about 8 acres and requires 9,000 volunteer hours, Hermann Park is 445 acres and requires 30,000 hours of volunteer work to properly preserve the park’s maintenance needs. Although Hermann Park also has paid staff that includes horticulturists, the need for volunteers is great. Hermann Park Conservancy has developed a family-friendly volunteer program where no experience is necessary. See www.hermannpark.org/volunteering-opportunities to learn more about volunteering. 

Want to plant some veggies in May?

Here are a few tips from the master gardeners on the best veggies to plant in May. These all thrive in full sun (6-8 hours of sunlight per day), which is easy to get in Houston. Try making your own pizza garden, planting tomatoes alongside basil and garlic, which make good companion plants. You can also try okra and eggplant, both easy-to-grow summer veggies that have similar watering needs and can tolerate Houston’s heat. Water thoroughly 1-2 times per week; increase watering if there are signs of wilting.

Want to learn from knowledgeable gardeners?

The Texas AgriLife Extension Service and the Harris County Master Gardeners are collaborating with Harris County Public Library and Houston Community College to offer a free Green Thumb Gardening Lecture Series.