Portsmouth Master Gardeners Impact at the Olde Towne Farmers Market
July 2024

In July, we continued to have a positive outreach to customers at the Olde Towne Farmers
Market. Although we missed one week due to storms and were blocked off for one afternoon
by people in line to buy tickets to the Commodore Theater, we still reached 327 people. July
20 was an especially good day when we talked to 189 people and were visited by 2 goats.

We introduced a new spinning wheel game that has proven quite popular. People spin the wheel and are asked a question based on the color they land on. The questions reflect the theme of the month’s library talk. Our first game was based on the July talk on butterflies and bees.

Barbara Byers, PMG Coordinator, Olde Towne Farmers Market

PMGA FIELD TRIP TO RYAN RESILIENCE LAB

Portsmouth Master Gardeners on a tour of the Elizabeth River Project’s Ryan Resilience Lab in July. Pictured with the group are VCE Agent Cyndi Wyskiewicz and our tour guide, Pam Northam.

We’re on the second-floor deck of the Lab facing Knitting Mill Creek in Norfolk. The Lab is the entire building and surrounding grounds. It’s a global model for coastal residents and businesses on how to respond to sea level rise. It’s a Living Lab with dozens of practical, eco-friendly ideas and solutions for our area on how to cope with climate change and its consequences.
-Glenda Richard, PMGA President

The veggie garden at our Extension Office is producing beautiful things! We donate these items to the food pantry every week! Check out the numbers and variety of items we are donating this week.

PMG’s booth at the OTFM was relocated in 2024 to High Street, near the Commodore Theater. This move has been quite advantageous for us. We are in a more visible spot and are able to reach more members of the public to answer gardening questions and provide horticulture education.

In June, PMG’s made contact and shared information with 358 people at OTFM.

In June we reinstated the matching games that were successful in the past. June’s theme was pollinators and the game was to match pollinators with their preferred plants. We had prizes for participation including herbs, iris bulbs, tomatoes, and tote bags. Thanks to all our members who provided items to use a prizes.

We are working on a butterfly educational game for July as well as a spinning wheel game to institute in the future. We have purchased a fan for the tent. The A-frame chalk board is very helpful in advertising our presence at the market as well as future events we want to highlight.

We have handouts on the Library Talks, the Help Line and a sign-up sheet for people who are interested in Master Gardener training classes.

June was a great month at the market and we are looking forward to reaching more members of the public in July!

Barbara Byers, Farmers Market Chair