Volunteering in the Community
Master Gardener volunteer opportunities.
What we do in support of Muskogee County.
Starting each year at the end of January, the Muskogee County Master Gardeners have an opportunity to begin gardening planning for that year's Themed Demonstration Beds at the Butterfly Papilion. This is a wonderful chance to match new Master Gardeners with more experienced Mentors to work at designing a raised bed. The beds are not only beautiful displays for public viewing but are also used for educational purposes. The garden is a shining examples of our creativity. It's definitely a group effort to get everything planted quickly after we pull tulips in April!
In March/April: Cleanup Day in the Papilion gardens is generally at the end of March, weather pending. Assistance is needed to start pulling in April. This generally occurs around the 2nd weekend in April depending on how the tulips are looking.
May: The Butterfly House opens the Saturday before Mother's Day. If those who planted a raised bed are interested in being a garden tour guide that busy weekend, your presence would be most welcome.
In the past, there's been field trips of school aged children. If anyone is interested in being a tour guide for these type of events, an extra person on site would be helpful.
In December: Assistance is needed in removing the plants from the raised beds and preparing those same beds for tulip planting. Tulips are usually planted around December 6th -10th depending on the shipment of the tulips and progress in the garden. The plants used for the demonstration garden are often planted around other parts of the garden.
Throughout the year.
There's been need for helping spreading 2 pallets of mulch on the border beds and inside the Butterfly Papilion. Weeding is ALWAYS needed.
Elementary School Gardens
The Cherokee Elementary School SOAR Program is an afterschool Gardening Activity & Muskogee Master Gardeners are being asked to help with these programs. The afterschool garden activities are for the 4th & 5th Grade students (about 30 to 35 individuals) and are based upon the Junior Master Gardener & OK State "Ag in the Classroom" Programs.
Cherokee Elementary School, located at 2400 Estelle Avenue, Muskogee, 74401, has entry flower gardens, student vegetable plots & enclosed atrium gardens. Master Gardener, Anthony Wright, has been the lead contact with Gina Beatty at the school regarding this program.
Overview:
The students will have both classroom & gardening projects to accomplish in these areas. The activities are designed for 4th & 5th grade students to help them develop good gardening skills through fun & creative projects. They will start by learning about plants & conclude with having a Salad Dinner with the crops they grow. All supplies and materials will be provided by the school.
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Muskogee County Master Gardeners were asked to help with the classroom & garden projects - which is where volunteers are needed!​​
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There are plenty of opportunities to become involved with this wonderful program.
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Volunteers are needed one (1) day per week - between 3:00PM & 5:00PM.
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This program is scheduled to start in early January & last through late May 2023 - for about twenty (20) weeks.
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Two (2) or Three (3) volunteers are needed each week - so you can pick a specific date or project.
* MGs, please refer to the "Members Only/File Share" page or your email for the attached list of date & student activities.
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Please provide the date or project you are available.
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Your name will be added to the volunteer list & you will be notified when you are needed.
If you are interested in participating in this wonderful volunteer opportunity, or have any questions about the Cherokee Elementary School SOAR Program, please call or email: Anthony Wright (contact info in the MG directory).​
Muskogee Farmers' Market
Apr thru Oct each year the Master Gardeners set up a table at the Farmers' Market to answer any garden related questions asked by the public. Our service is to provide research-based educational gardening material to them in keeping with the spirit of the program.
Azalea Spring Clean-up
The City of Muskogee holds a city-wide cleanup event the last week of March to make our city look its best for Azalea Festival visitors. As a group, we help in cleaning up around Honor Heights. Often we meet at the Clay Harrell Arboretum parking lot, the parking area just North of the butterfly house.
Spaulding Park Tree Trimming
In either Feb or March (weather pending) are when the fruit trees need pruning. The small orchard of trees are located near the community gardens at the West end of the park. Bring loppers, hand pruners, pruning saws, and disinfectant as many of the trees are diseased. David Redding is an excellent teacher and has offered lessons in proper tree maintenance over the years. Don't forget, when the fruit ripens or drops on the ground, this is an excellent volunteer opportunity to help clean up around the trees. No need to let it go to waste. A local farm animal, such as a pig, will happily accept rotten treats.
Habitat For Humanity
When an opportunity presents itself, Muskogee County Master Gardeners will partner with the Muskogee Habitat For Humanity to help fulfill their vision of improving an individual or family's place to live. We do this by planting and beautifying the garden space.
*Pictured are Muskogee County Master Gardeners, partnered with the Muskogee Garden Club, working in the rain to install a new raised garden bed for flood victim, Stella Cullum. It takes a lot of grit to garden here in Oklahoma!
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To volunteer on an H4H project, they require their form to be completed first. You can find it on their website: How to help – Habitat for Humanity (muskogeehabitat.org)
Best Practices class at MLK Center
David Redhage with Kerr Center for Sustainable Ag lecture
Pam showing the tubs she grows in which have water bottle placed in the bottle to allow for self-watering.
Best Practices class at MLK Center
Community Educational Workshops:
Best Practices For Gardening
During the Spring of 2022 we began to offer our "Best Practices For Gardening" Workshops FREE to the public. Each workshop is an hour in duration, including questions and answers, and gave attendees the opportunity to learn hands-on from a Master Gardener about a variety of topics. Workshops included learning about raised garden beds, drip irrigation, seed starting, greenhouses, container gardening, pruning, hardwood plant propagation, and growing tomatoes.
Pecan Creek Winery:
Grape Harvesting
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FALL harvest season offers opportunities to volunteer at Pecan Creek Winery. Each season at least 25-30 helpers are asked to harvest a variety of grapes. The winery will post announcements on their Facebook page with the dates, times, and the location of the vineyard. Usually harvesting occurs early in the morning to avoid the heat of the day and on a Saturday. If interested, please message Pecan Creek Winery or simply show up on the morning when they announce a harvesting opportunity. Be sure to sign up for their newsletter too.
Corn in the raised beds. Orange tubs are also planted with sunflowers.
Tomatoes growing in the raised beds planted by the veterans.
Corn in the raised beds. Orange tubs are also planted with sunflowers.
VA Whole Health Garden Group
The VA Whole Health Garden Group is a program designed to improve Veterans mental health and food security through gardening. Master Gardener volunteers mentor Veterans at the Martin Luther King Jr center Gardens on the corner of 3rd and Girard St, on the south side of the center. The group currently has 6 active Veterans, 4 Master Gardeners, and Buster the support K9 to maintain 8 raised beds. The VA Garden Group meets every Friday morning 8:30AM-10:30AM, excluding severe weather and temperatures.
This year is shaping up to be big. The Veterans are excited to plant in our new location and encourage other Master Gardeners to come out and answer questions, pull weeds, plant seeds, maybe learn something new or make a new garden buddy by sharing the love of gardening and what it can do for mental/physical health. Let's help them turn an unloved garden into a thriving place of mental peace and food abundance. For questions contact Chelsea Cromwell, information listed in our directory.
Muskogee County Community Gardens
Volunteering is encouraged at any of the following Muskogee Community Gardens. Please be aware that permission to access the locked gate at some locations may need to be arranged in advance. Our main roll is to volunteer to help clean out debris in the Spring & Fall. In the past we have called Parks & Rec after we finish cleaning out the beds & they will come pick up our debris.
The gardens are:
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Chandler Road
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MLK Community Center
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Spaulding Park
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Civitan Park
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Youth Services, on Callahan
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Grace Episcopal Church
