Newsletter Articles & Archive

Repost from Garden Design Magazine

by Linda Hagen

As the growing season winds down, it’s tempting to clear every bed and bag up all the leaves. While a fall cleanup can reduce disease and keep things tidy, there are

also big benefits to leaving parts of your garden “as is” through the colder months. The right balance depends on your plants, climate, and the amount of wildlife support you want to provide.

Make fall cleanup easier by clicking here to download our printable FALL GARDEN CLEANUP CHECKLIST. It covers all these essential cleanup tips, plus a few bonus fall chores.

Pros of Fall Cleanup:

• Reduces pests and disease: Removing diseased foliage (like mildew-covered peony leaves or rust-spotted hollyhocks) prevents problems from carrying into spring.
• Keeps things neat: Clearing beds now makes way for early bulbs and lightens spring chores.
• Controls spreaders: Removing seed-heavy plants prevents them from overtaking pathways or gravel.

Cons of Over-Cleaning:

• Loss of habitat: Many pollinators, salamanders, turtles, and small mammals shelter in leaf litter and hollow stems. As the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) explains, “Critters ranging from turtles and toads to songbirds, mammals and invertebrates rely on leaf litter for food, shelter and nesting material.”
• Less winter beauty: Ornamental grasses and seed heads bring movement and structure when the garden is bare.
• Nutrient loss: “Leaves form a natural mulch that helps suppress weeds and fertilizes the soil as it breaks down,” says NWF naturalist David Mizejewski. Bagging them up sends free fertilizer to the landfill.

Photo by: Claire Norman / Shutterstock

Why Leave the Leaves?

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that yard debris makes up more than 12 percent of the nation’s solid waste, at about 35 million tons a year.

When trapped in landfills, this organic matter generates methane, a potent greenhouse gas.

Beyond the environmental impact, leaves are one of the gardener’s best resources. As the National Gardening Association notes, “Fall leaves are like a big load of free organic fertilizer strewn about your yard. If those nutrients were bagged and sold, you’d pay money for them.”

• The solution is to keep leaves on your property whenever possible.
• Mulch them into the lawn with a mower or leaf shredder; shredded leaves won’t smother the grass.
• Rake into garden beds as a natural mulch.
• Pile between vegetable rows for dry walkways, then rake decomposed leaves into the soil next spring.
• Compost them or add to worm bins to feed microbes and improve soil structure.
• Build refugia by filling chicken wire bundles with leaves and sticks to create shelter for lacewings, ground beetles, and other beneficial insects; practical and decorative at the same time.

“The less time you spend raking leaves, the more time you’ll have to enjoy the gorgeous fall weather and the wildlife that visits your garden.”

— National Wildlife Federation Naturalist, David Mizejewski

What to Leave Standing

• Ornamental grasses for structure and bird habitat.
• Perennials with sturdy seed heads (coneflowers, rudbeckias, alliums) to feed birds.
• Shrubs with berries (holly, viburnum, winterberry) for winter color and wildlife food.
• Hollow stems (bee balm, hydrangea, elderberry) for overwintering native bees.

What Not to Leave

• Diseased or pest-ridden plants; dispose of these, do not compost.
• Slimy foliage (hostas, daylilies) that becomes a slug haven.
• Weedy annuals or invasive self-seeders about to spread.
• Thick, unshredded layers of leaves on lawn areas, which can smother grass.

A Balanced Approach

Try a two-phase cleanup by removing diseased and weedy material now, but leave healthy perennials, grasses, and a layer of leaves in place until spring. This way,

your garden stays healthier while still supporting birds, pollinators, and soil life through winter.

Quick Tips for Smart Fall Cleanup

• Chop leaves with a mulching mower instead of bagging them.
• Spread shredded leaves over garden beds as free mulch.
• Create refugia with chicken wire and leaves to shelter beneficial insects.
• Use leaves as mulch between vegetable beds—rake in the decomposed matter next spring.
• Add leaves to worm bins to boost microbial activity.
• Remove diseased plants promptly to prevent spring problems.

RELATED:

How to Prepare Your Garden for Winter

What to Plant in Your Fall Garden

Fall Gardening Ideas & Tips

By James Hearn

Our October 3rd celebration was a milestone four decades in the making, and the energy in the room reflected every bit of that history. Thank you to everyone who spent their Saturday morning with us from 9 to 11 a.m. to celebrate our 40th anniversary. It was a fantastic start to the weekend, filled with laughter, connection, and a healthy dose of friendly competition.

The legendary Loveless Cafe food truck rolled in to start the day off right. Sharing their iconic Southern breakfast staples, complete with their famous biscuits, gave everyone a perfect chance to mingle, catch up with longtime members over coffee, and fuel up for the morning's activities.

Between bites, attendees jumped into our photo booth to strike a pose, donning fun props and snapping keepsake photos to commemorate the big milestone.

A particularly meaningful moment of the morning was the presentation of certificates to our Lifetime Members. Honoring these dedicated individuals gave us all a chance to recognize the deep commitment and leadership that helped shape our organization into what it is today.

Adding to the legacy of the morning, we marked the milestone with a lasting living tribute: the dedication of a new Bladdernut tree for the Arboretum. This beautiful addition symbolizes our deep roots in the community and our commitment to continued growth for decades to come.

Following the dedication and awards, the energy shifted to the undisputed highlight of the event: the "funny money" auction. The bidding wars were fierce, fast-paced, and absolutely hilarious, proving that our group knows exactly how to bring the fun, even before noon. Watching attendees scheme, pool their funny money, and cheer for the winning bids created some of the best memories of the day.

We also featured signups for our special 40th Anniversary Cookbook, a curated look back at the people, challenges, triumphs, and recipes that built this organization over the last four decades. If you didn't get a chance to put your name on the list during the event, you can still sign up to receive your copy here: Order your copy now!

Thank you for 40 incredible years. Here is to the next chapter!

By Blake Davis

Buckfast Gardens: The Millennium Garden

Sitting in the cozy community room for monastic guests of Buckfast Abbey in Buckfastleigh, United Kingdom, surrounded by books on history, gardening and faith, my new friend and fellow monastic guest, Tom, asked, “Could you live like this? Does this life appeal to you?”

Having spent the week living among and participating in the routine of the Benedictine Monks. My immediate thought was that the life I observed as a passing guest, lived out over decades by the monks sounds -on the surface at least- wonderful, considering the current busyness of my overall life.

This is why for nearly 20 years, I have had on my bucket list the desire to stay in a monastery to experience this routine, quiet contemplation and prayer. And upon confirmation that I would be traveling in England for work, my wife suggested that in celebration of my 40th birthday I should extend my time in the UK to fulfill that bucket list item. With the research of options, she presented me, Buckfast Abbey, known for its gardens, was the obvious choice.

A Garden That Feels Like Home

Having grown up in a log house in the woods of middle Tennessee, wandering through forests filled with mountain laurel, Christmas ferns and frequent sightings of hummingbird moths, I have always felt most at home in naturally wild areas, instead of (though I appreciate) garden areas where human intervention was evident in the push against nature’s organic fullness.

Therefore, it is no surprise that of the four main gardens publicly accessible at Buckfast Abbey, the Millennium Garden drew me with its natural wood border fence and forest aesthetic. After all, what better influences how I cultivate my garden than the experiences that cultivated me?

The Millenium Garden

The first thing that stands out is how this young garden feels old. Tightly layered plantings create the feeling of a lush woodland as the white bark of silver birch trees rise above an understory of hostas, ferns, Brunnera and Pulmonaria surrounding a dimensional representation of the Buckfast logo: A deer drinking from a pool of water.

Inscribed around the pool is Psalm 42:1: "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God."

A Garden a Thousand Years in the Making

Founded in 1018, the Abbey was dissolved in 1539 under King Henry VIII leading to much of the monastery falling into ruin. Until 1882 when a small community of French Benedictine monks returned to the site, and the original foundations of the medieval Abbey were discovered when a monk was digging vegetables.

In 1907 a group of mostly four monks envisioning what could be, started rebuilding the Abbey. They cut and dressed stones by hand as funds allowed. It took over 30 years.

In 2016, Buckfast Abbey gardener Maia Hall envisioned celebrating the history with the Millenium Garden, inspired by the Abbey’s emblem depicting a stag drinking at the water’s edge and using materials largely sourced from the Abbey grounds and surrounding countryside. While it didn’t take 30 years, it did win the Silver medal in the 2017 Royal Horticultural Society Malvern Spring Festival, as well as the People's Choice Awards.

The only public-facing garden at Buckfast not designed with crisp geometric patterns, the aggregate path follows much more organic and meandering curves with plantings tightly placed in like a lush forest.

After weeks of traveling in an English summer heatwave where buildings and trains do not typically have air conditioning, the shade and -somehow- breeze between the trees while walking the path felt like a gift.

The curve leads to a seat made of tree stumps on one side -where I spent much time sitting and thinking, journaling and feeling like I was being hugged by nature- and on the other a statue of the Virgin Mary.

With enough time visiting, sitting and observing, I realize what confuses me is this is a relatively very young garden, but it has been specifically designed in a way that makes it FEEL old and historic. The carefully planned colors and intentional curation as the white bark at the entrance is pulled together with white patterned Brunnera and Pulmonaria surrounded by patches of green ferns, and splashes of color as the blue hostas and their light purple blooms accent the feeling of a deep forest, even though right around the corner is an open field with full sun and a gorgeous tall abbey. These are all layered together to feel like time has filled out every space. But I remind myself this garden is less than 10 years old. Making me excited about the possibilities of what can be done in my yard to curate a feeling of age and growth even in a metropolitan area.

Though as I sat there longer and visited over a few days, something about HOW intentionally connected the colors were started to show the human influence on nature. This was the most quiet and still of all the gardens. And coming from my background, the tightly spaced underplantings giving a deep forest feeling when compared to all the other gardens at Buckfast where spacing is ample, helped me understand that my issue of continually planting too tightly in my garden must come from that innate desire to emulate the forests of my childhood, something the Millenium Garden captures well to make a small space feel like a deep, shaded forest.

What I take home are the realizations that muted forest colors like white bark can pop as much as a bright flower when accentuated by similar accents added as understory plants. That Hostas, Ferns, and Alchemilla can be planted in layers so densely that it forces the way you walk, and if combined with rounded paths, organic structures like seats and fences made of wood and still water feature, even a small garden space can make me feel like I’m standing in a deep forest.

Could You Live Like This?

So, my answer to the question Tom asked in the gathering room has continued to become clearer to me.

I think of the history of Buckfast that I learned about during my stay, and the routine days of firmly scheduled meals, calls to prayer, repeating pre-written worship and meditation are healing for my soul for a time, but like that initial small group of monks who dug up and rebuilt the abbey stone by stone, I, too, am a builder.

My garden, to me, is not so much a place I get to steward, as it is a place where I can live out the structure that I see in my head and build into my Pinterest boards. A space where --even if I don’t have the 300 acres that Buckfast has to work with-- just like the Abbey became for me a space for rejuvenation and sustenance and rest because a small group of monks carved and stacked stones. I can take my invasive ridden plot and, one foundational piece at a time– build a space for rejuvenation and sustenance for those species finding it ever more difficult with land clearings and new construction. My prayer and goal is to bring back hummingbird moths and emulate the feeling of a deep forest with whatever space is available, just like Maia Hall did with the Millenium Garden. And I see clearly now that when beauty looks effortless, it’s simply a sign of a foundation built on clear vision, deliberate planning, patience and years of stewardship.

We as Davidson County Master Gardeners, get the privilege (and struggle) of living in an urban setting where we get to build foundations for our native pilgrims to visit and find sustenance. We are blessed to have the knowledge and skill to be builders and stewards of the areas of our city we can influence. So that those who come after us, be they human or pollinator, can feed on the fruits of our foundations.

By Amy Dunlap

The 2026 Nashville Fair marked the fifth year of the Butterfly Exhibit, a collaborative effort between UT-TSU Extension and the Master Gardeners of Davidson County. Since its introduction in 2022, the exhibit has grown into an established educational attraction, providing fairgoers with an opportunity to observe live butterflies up close while learning about pollinator conservation and the importance of creating suitable habitats.

This year's exhibit was made possible through the contributions of 51 Master Gardener volunteers, who assisted with setup, daily operations, butterfly care, educational activities, and teardown. Over the course of the fair, volunteers welcomed visitors into the enclosure, answered questions about butterflies and their host plants, and shared practical ways homeowners can support pollinators in their own landscapes.

The exhibit has undergone considerable improvements since its inaugural year. Originally housed in a dark mesh enclosure with limited lighting and temperature control, it now features a large white tent equipped with supplemental lighting and heating to better accommodate the butterflies' environmental needs. These improvements have contributed to healthier butterflies and increased activity throughout the exhibit. Our continued partnership with Idlewild Butterfly Farm in Lexington, Kentucky, has also helped improve butterfly sourcing, care, and habitat planning. The exhibit featured three butterfly species: monarchs, painted ladies, and red admirals. Seasonal availability of butterflies is more limited in September. At the end of the fair the butterflies are released at the demo gardens, where they have habitat readily available.

One of the highlights of the 2026 exhibit was the expansion of our children's educational activities. This year featured five different butterfly-themed crafts, our largest selection to date. These hands-on activities provided opportunities for younger visitors to learn about butterfly biology, life cycles, and conservation while engaging with Master Gardener volunteers. The craft station continues to be an important component of the exhibit, particularly for families with young children.

Educational signage throughout the exhibit also introduced visitors to pollinator biology, native host plants, and the challenges facing butterfly populations. In recent years, we have expanded our educational materials to include some Spanish translations, helping make information accessible to a wider audience.

We are also grateful for the continued support of Gardens of Babylon, which generously donates pollinator-friendly plants each year. Following the fair, these plants are sold to benefit the Master Gardener program, typically generating $300–$500 in fundraising revenue.

Beyond the butterflies themselves, the exhibit serves as an important opportunity to introduce residents to Extension and the Master Gardener program. With approximately 20,000 visitors passing through the expo hall during the fair, the exhibit allows our volunteers to connect with audiences who may be unfamiliar with Extension's educational resources. Several current Master Gardeners first learned about the program through their experiences at the exhibit.

A sincere thank-you to all 51 Master Gardeners who contributed to the 2026 Butterfly Exhibit. Coordinating an exhibit of this size requires considerable time, flexibility, and teamwork. Its continued success reflects the commitment of our volunteers to horticultural education and community outreach.

By Brenda Peterson

There are seasons in life when the world feels louder than usual. The headlines come faster. The worries linger longer. The sense of control we once held so tightly begins to slip through our fingers. In times like these, it’s easy to feel untethered—like everything is moving, shifting, unraveling all at once.

And yet, just outside our doors, something entirely different is happening. The garden is still growing.

A Quiet Kind of Stability

Gardening doesn’t ask us to solve the world’s problems. It doesn’t demand answers or explanations. Instead, it offers something much simpler—and perhaps more powerful: presence.

When your hands are in the soil, your mind follows. You notice the texture of the dirt, the softness of new leaves, the quiet determination of a seed pushing its way toward the light. In a world that feels unpredictable, the garden reminds us that some things still follow a rhythm.

Seeds sprout. Roots deepen. Flowers bloom. Not overnight. Not all at once. But faithfully.

Small Acts That Ground Us

Planting a garden—whether it’s a backyard oasis or a few pots on a porch—is an act of hope.

You water something you cannot yet see.

You tend something that may take weeks to reveal itself.

You trust in a process that unfolds slowly.

And in doing so, you begin to soften.

The act of caring for something living pulls you out of the constant noise and into a quieter, steadier space. Even a few minutes spent weeding or watering can feel like a reset—a return to something real and tangible.

A Reminder That Growth Takes Time

In chaotic times, we often want immediate change. Immediate clarity. Immediate relief.

Gardening gently teaches us otherwise.

It shows us that growth is rarely rushed. That setbacks—like a late frost or an unexpected storm—are part of the process, not the end of it. That patience isn’t passive; it’s active, intentional, and deeply necessary.

And maybe most importantly, it reminds us that just because we can’t see progress right away doesn’t mean it isn’t happening.

Beauty Still Exists—And You Help Create It

There’s something quietly empowering about watching something bloom because you planted it.

In a world that can feel overwhelming, gardening gives you a small, beautiful corner where your actions matter. Where your care makes a visible difference. Where life responds to your attention.

A single flower. A thriving tomato plant. A row of herbs swaying in the breeze.

These are not small things. They are proof that beauty still exists—and that you are capable of nurturing it.

Coming Back to What Matters

Maybe that’s why gardening feels so comforting when everything else feels uncertain.

It brings us back to the basics:

Sunlight.

Water.

Time.

Care.

No noise. No urgency. No chaos. Just growth.

Final Thought

When the world feels like too much, you don’t have to fix everything.

Sometimes, it’s enough to step outside…

dig your hands into the soil…

and remember that even in uncertain times—something is still growing.

By Blake Davis

Image of the rose petals in my monastic guest room

This summer I spent several weeks traveling through the United Kingdom overseeing a documentary for work. When the trip was confirmed, my wife being a saint- insisted that as a birthday gift I should extend my stay in the country and book myself into a Benedicting monastery, a long time bucket list desire.

I chose Buckfast Abbey partly because of its renowned gardens and Buckfast bees. But I’ll save those garden observations for next month's article.

For now, I wanted to share a tip of roses and hospitality from a monk named Brother Daniel.

When I arrived, sweaty and travel-worn after numerous train delays and malfunctions, Brother (Br) Daniel met me at the Abbey gate.

A gentle, soft-spoken man with a twinkle in his eye when talking with people, who limps with a stern focus when approaching a task that needs doing.

He was utterly unsurprised by the train delays, just glad I made it in time for him to welcome me before dinner.

From the pictures online, I was prepared for the kind of tight, minimalistic quarters that contribute to one's piety and spiritual growth.

But as Br Daniel led me to my door, he told me that because my wife said this visit was a birthday present, they gave me what is affectionately known as the ‘Cardinal’s room’. He opened the door to what could best be described as a plush executive suite with an incredible view directly over the monk's private garden.

After my surprise at my sumptuous quarters at a monastery, I noticed the strong scent of fresh roses. I was confused as I saw no roses in the room but the smell was stronger than any rose bush I’ve smelled at a distance.

Br Daniel’s led me to a writing desk at the opposite end of the room, where he lifted a small bowl of rose petals and offered it to me with an eager pride I can only relate to when my children present me their favorite artwork.

For the rest of my stay that scent remained the first thing I noticed each time I entered my room, and I’m confident for the rest of my life the smell will remind me of great hospitality.

Each evening after Compline -the final service of the day- Br Daniel would visit the small community room in the monastic guest area for anyone who wanted to spend time together.

On my final evening at the Abbey, I found myself alone with Br Daniel. I thanked him for his hospitality and asked about the rose petals.

He said he’s done this with his roses for years, and his trick is to gather the petals when they are just about to fall -usually gathering them during his normal deadheading- and lay them all out on a flat surface to dry in the sun.

He then pours the dried petals, which should now have shrunk to half their original size, and sprinkles some rose water on them, and “for a final trick” he lightly squeezes them to release the scent. He said the scent has only worked for him with his red and pink roses, not white or yellow.

I listened to him reminiscing that a long time ago (he’s been at the monastery for over 50 years) he got his rose water from a special trading network among monasteries that shared goods made by monks around the world. He spent some time fondly remembering an excellent sparkling wine they used to receive through barter from a monastery in France.

“But now,” he said, “I just get my rose water from Amazon.”

He charged me to take the knowledge home and try it- “Which would be really neat,” he finished, smiling as his eyes twinkled, “because you can tell them you learned that from a Benedictine monk.”

Image of Br Daniel from the Buckfast Abbey website

When you talk with our President, Donna Jo, her deep reverence for nature and her infectious sense of humor are immediately obvious. From her childhood summer roots to leading our organization with purpose, Donna Jo brings both heart and proven leadership to the Master Gardeners of Davidson County.

Roots & Reflection

Donna Jo’s gardening journey started at just eight years old during summer stays with her Aunt Frances and Uncle George. She spent those long, sun-soaked weeks planting potatoes, beans, and watermelons, feeding chickens, calling cows in from the pasture, and hunting for eggs high atop hay bales.

That early immersion sparked a lifelong belief that humanity has an inherent, inescapable need to be connected to nature: to be in the soil, in the sun, and among the flowers with the bees.

While she adores flowers of every variety, lilies hold a special place in her heart for the breathtaking, natural symmetry found deep inside their blooms. If you look for her favorite spot in Nashville, you won't find it on a map, it's tucked away in her own backyard.

"I have an old folding metal chair behind Aunt Frances' climbing roses, beside the 'Lizard Hotel' - a woodpile they use for sunning - and in front of the Rose of Sharon bushes," Donna Jo shares.

Beyond the garden, Donna Jo holds a worldly past: she studied abroad in Aix-en-Provence, France, during college. She returned so immersed in the culture that her mother noted she was completely changed - and she even struggled to speak English for the first few days back home!

Resilience & Vision for MGofDC

Donna Jo’s path to becoming a Master Gardener is a testament to her persistence. After completing chemotherapy for breast cancer, she sought something meaningful to help rebuild her mind and body. She stumbled upon the MG website, read every document posted, and knew immediately she had found her tribe.

Though she wasn't accepted the first time she applied for the training class, she persevered, applied again for the Class of 2024, and was hooked by the third lesson.

Now as President, she brings top-tier leadership experience to the table. Having simultaneously served as a Master Trainer and Human Resources Director for Starwood Hotels and Resorts, she leads with a core philosophy borrowed from Stephen Covey: "Seek first to understand, then to be understood." She combines these sharp communication skills with a belief that laughter is good for the soul, bringing joy and humor into every aspect of her work.

Her ambition for our organization is clear and bold:

• A First-Choice Resource: Position MGofDC as the primary authority on gardening and nature in our city, the first place people think to look, and the definitive final answer they need.

• Community Impact: Ensure the title "Master Gardener" carries deep meaning and prestige across our local communities.

• Member Empowerment: Create dynamic opportunities for members to share their unique talents, skills, and flowers with others.

Can you believe it? The Master Gardeners of Davidson County are turning 40! For four decades, our members have been digging deep, sharing knowledge, cultivating beautiful spaces, and growing a vibrant community. To celebrate this incredible milestone, we are hosting a very special celebration, and you are officially invited to come home.

Mark your calendars, dust off your favorite gardening shoes, and get ready for a morning of fellowship, food, and fun!

Mark Your Calendars!

• Date: Saturday, October 3rd, 2026
• Time: 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
• Location: Edward Jones Auditorium, Ellington Agricultural Center
• Theme: Rooted in Community: A 40th Anniversary Homecoming

What’s in Store for the Celebration?

Our planning teams have been busy working behind the scenes to put together an unforgettable morning. Here is a sneak peek at what we have planned:

The Loveless Cafe Food Truck & Anniversary Cake!

We are thrilled to announce that the legendary Loveless Cafe Food Truck will be rolling in right at 8:30 AM! Attendees will be able to purchase delicious breakfast and brunch favorites directly from the truck to enjoy during our reception. Following food truck refreshments, join us as we gather around for a special cake-cutting ceremony featuring a beautiful anniversary cake to satisfy your sweet tooth.

A Living Legacy: The Arboretum Christening

In honor of 40 years of service, we will be holding a special tree dedication ceremony at the Arboretum. Led by Paul Prill, we will be planting and christening a Bladdernut Tree. We want every single member to leave their mark on this living legacy: when you arrive, stop by our messaging station to write your dreams and hopes for MGofDC’s next 40 years on a card made of special bird-seed-infused paper. We will tie these notes of hope to the tree, allowing nature to carry our collective wishes forward into the future.

Cash in Your Hard Work at the Live Auction!

It’s time to cash in on those volunteer hours and CEUs! We will be hosting a thrilling Live Auction powered entirely by "Funny Money."

• Every Volunteer Hour you've logged earns you $5 in Funny Money!
• Every CEU earned gets you $3 in Funny Money!

Your custom "Funny Money" stash will be waiting for you right at the registration desk when you check in. Lead volunteer Gianna Bielenda and her team have already begun securing fantastic, brand-new gardening tools, beautiful plants, trees, pots, and floral arrangements. Get ready to raise your bidding cards and take home some amazing garden loot!

(Note: If you have a favorite local vendor, restaurant, or doctor you’d like to solicit a donation from, please text Fay Binning at 828-963-0056 first to make sure we don't double up!)

Walk the Red Carpet & Reconnect

Take a walk down memory lane with a rolling digital slideshow highlighting 40 years of Davidson County Master Gardener history. We will also have a formal Award Recognition Ceremony to pass out certificates honoring our lifetime members and "lifers" who have given decades of service. Roaming photographer Tobias Brown will be capturing memories throughout the morning, and we’ll have a professional RovoBooth Photo Booth on site so you can take home fun mementos with your fellow MGs!

The MGofDC 40th Anniversary Cookbook!

What is a community homecoming without a shared table? Led by Susanna and Brenda, our Cookbook Team is busy putting the finishing touches on a commemorative MGofDC Cookbook using the Heritage Cookbook platform. More than just a collection of delicious recipes and stories, it will feature an opening introduction on our organization’s rich 40-year history compiled by Donna Jo.

While we are planning to print a limited physical run (around 30–40 copies), we will also be offering a digital copy version for those who prefer it! Keep your eyes peeled for an order form on our website and a Sign-Up Genius pre-order link coming soon. You'll be able to view visuals of the cookbook at the October 3rd celebration and even pick up your pre-ordered copies right at the event!

How You Can Help This Month (July Checklist):

1. Send Us Your Photos! Jen Zimmerer and the Program Team are assembling our 40th Anniversary slideshow. Please look through your old hard drives and photo albums for vintage MGofDC photos and email them in!
2. Watch for the Invite: Keep an eye on your inbox later this month. An official E-blast invitation and Sign-Up Genius RSVP link will be hitting your email soon so we can secure an accurate attendance count for the cake and seating layout.
3. Log Your Hours: Make sure all of your recent volunteer hours and CEUs are completely up to date in the system so your "Funny Money" envelope is packed to the brim!

We can't wait to see faces past and present come together to celebrate being Rooted in Community. See you on October 3rd!

If you’ve ever found solace in the rustle of winter leaves or discovered the pure joy of gardening through a loved one, you will find a kindred spirit in our new Education Chairperson, Paula Joyner.

We sat down with Paula to chat about her roots, her vision for MGofDC's educational future, and the unique blend of skills she brings to our Executive Board.

Rooted in Tradition

For Paula, gardening is woven into her history. She traced her love of digging in the dirt back to her grandmother, who shared with her the wonder of flowers and the art of caring for them. As a child, the garden provided a rare, quiet sanctuary during school summer breaks.

That early connection blossomed into a lifelong passion for native species. When asked to choose a go-to plant, Paula admitted she simply can't pick just one. While the majestic American Beech tree holds a massive piece of her heart, she is equally fond of smaller-scale powerhouses like native trumpet vine and native grasses.

Unsurprisingly, her favorite spot in Nashville isn't a public park—it's right in her own backyard.

"My favorite spot is my swing, given to me by a carpenter friend," Paula shares. "A moonlight garden with white dogwood blooms in the spring is amazing while swinging in the dark. And in the winter, the American Beech leaves blowing in the wind are music to listen to from that swing."

Beyond the garden, Paula is a keeper of traditional crafts, possessing a treasure trove of "hobbies upon hobbies" passed down from her grandmothers and aunts, including sewing, embroidery, and knitting.

Bringing Banking Brilliance to the Board

Paula joined MGofDC to learn, share her passion with like-minded growers, and serve a community that increasingly needs a connection to nature in our high-tech world.

While her passion is green, her professional background is pure gold. Paula spent fifteen years as an investment banker—a hidden talent she plans to leverage for the organization. She aims to use her background to emphasize organizational strengths, ensure the efficient use of resources, and amplify the culture and achievements our members care about most.

As Education Chairperson, her goal is entirely member-focused:

Listen & Adapt: Cultivate fresh educational ideas annually by listening directly to member preferences.

Build Engagement: Create strategies and events that members are genuinely excited to be a part of.

A Little Wit & Wisdom

To wrap things up, we asked Paula a few rapid-fire icebreakers:

If you were a plant, which one would you be?

"My spirit is stronger than my health in this decade of my life… so I would be a fragile, native plant like a Dwarf Crested Iris (Iris cristata), needing a very particular habitat to survive! "

The best gardening advice you’ve ever received?

"Be okay with not getting everything done. Work toward a design that lets the plants 'decide.' Right plant, right place."

We are thrilled to have Paula leading our educational initiatives! Be sure to say hello and share your ideas for future programming the next time you see her at a meeting.

By Sydney Danielle Lee, Juris Doctor Candidate 2028

Belmont University College of Law

When the economy takes a downturn, it is easy to assume that processed, packaged foods are the only affordable way to get by. We look at ultra-processed snacks, sugary cereals, and think they are the budget-friendly choice just because they are superficially cheap. However, economic pressure can actually flip this misconception right on its head. When ultra-processed foods start feeling the pressure of inflation, a strategic plan during a recession can actually favor a switch towards whole, healthy foods. Whole-food cooking can become both a nutritional win and a financial benefit.

Ultra-processed snacks can come with two costs: processing and marketing costs. When buying sugary bright cereals, a large cost is manufacturing, packaging, and branding. These expenses flow directly to the consumer.

In contrast, basic, whole foods like beets, mushrooms, sweet potatoes, apples, bananas, and cabbage have long periods where they are locally in season. In-season produce is highly effective because it lacks factory processing fees and cuts out long-distance transport. Because these foods grow regionally, they only require a short truck journey to get to our stores, completely dodging the cost of shipping, expensive refrigeration, and heavy fuel consumption. Also, in-season produce is not only less expensive, but also more nutritious because it gets harvested right at peak ripeness.

Tighter times always spark a shift in how we shop, often opening a door for a return to bulk buying and scratch cooking. Cooking from scratch is commonly skipped in a strong economy for the love of convenience. But when a recession causes a tight wallet, the convenience of packaged goods becomes unsustainable.

Navigating an economic downturn is daunting, but it is still possible to find a way to create a sustainable, budget friendly diet and lifestyle. While packaged foods offer a delusion of cheap convenience, they are highly vulnerable to changing packaging costs, loss of satiety, and higher long term healthcare cost. Eating healthier may not only be possible when the economy is struggling, but also may be the smartest financial choice you can make for your table.

You May Be Asking, “What’s in Season in Tennessee”?:

*Note: Even if a fruit or vegetable is technically in season, imported varieties may be slightly more expensive than those grown locally.

Season	Fruits	Vegetables
Spring	Apples, Apricots, Avocados, Bananas, Blackberries, Kiwifruit, Lemons, Limes, Pineapples, Plantains, Rhubarb, Strawberries	Asparagus, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrots, Celery, Collard Greens, Garlic, Herbs, Kale, Lettuce, Mushrooms, Onions, Peas, Radishes, Spinach, Swiss Chard, Turnips
Summer	Apples, Apricots, Avocados, Bananas, Blackberries, Blueberries, Cantaloupe, Cherries, Grapes, Honeydew Melon, Lemons, Limes, Mangos, Peaches, Pears, Pineapples, Plantains, Plums, Raspberries, Strawberries, Watermelon	Beets, Bell Peppers, Carrots, Celery, Corn, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Garlic, Green Beans, Herbs, Lima Beans, Okra, Onions, Peas, Summer Squash, Tomatillos, Tomatoes, Zucchini
Fall	Apples, Bananas, Cranberries, Grapes, Kiwifruit, Lemons, Limes, Mangos, Pears, Pomegranates, Plantains, Raspberries	Beets, Bell Peppers, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Collard Greens, Garlic, Ginger, Green Beans, Herbs, Kale, Lettuce, Mushrooms, Okra, Onions, Parsnips, Peas, Potatoes, Pumpkin, Radishes, Rutabagas, Spinach, Sweet Potatoes & Yams, Swiss Chard, Turnips, Winter Squash
Winter	Apples, Avocados, Bananas, Grapefruit, Grapes, Kiwifruit, Lemons, Limes, Oranges, Pears, Pomegranates, Plantains	Beets, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Celery, Collard Greens, Herbs, Kale, Leeks, Onions, Parsnips, Potatoes, Pumpkin, Rutabagas, Sweet Potatoes & Yams, Swiss Chard, Turnips, Winter Squash

Sources:

https://bedford.tennessee.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/162/2020/08/Tennessee-Seasonal-Pro duce-Chart.pdf

https://bcbstnews.com/bluehealthsolutions/11-fruits-and-veggies-to-eat-year-round-in-tenne ssee/

https://snaped.fns.usda.gov/resources/nutrition-education-materials/seasonal-produce-guide

https://lifetips.alibaba.com/plant-care/best-fruits-and-vegetables-to-grow-in-tennessee