What is a Master Gardener Project?
A Master Gardener project is an ongoing service opportunity that fulfills the TN Extension Master Gardener Mission. In other words, a Master Gardener project is planned work that serves and educates our community.
Current Involvement
History
The New Hope Cemetery in Greeneville, Tennessee was established around 1908 and served the New Hope Presbyterian Church, which was founded in 1869 by formerly enslaved individuals. The church was one of the earliest African American congregations in Greene County and served as the center of a small community that also included a segregated one-room schoolhouse.
When the church disbanded in the 1960s, the cemetery was gradually abandoned and became overgrown for decades. Today, it remains the only physical remnant of the New Hope community.
Recognizing its historical significance, the Big Spring Master Gardener Association (BSMGA) of Greene County began efforts in 2010 to conserve the cemetery and honor the 54 individuals buried there. A rededication ceremony held on September 18, 2010 marked the beginning of the community’s work to preserve this important piece of Greene County’s African American history.
Garden & Conservation
The New Hope Cemetery Project focuses on conserving the site rather than attempting to restore it to an unknown original appearance. Master Gardener volunteers carefully documented existing features before beginning any work to ensure the cemetery’s historic character was preserved.
Major conservation efforts included:
- Clearing decades of overgrowth and invasive vegetation
- Removing hazards such as fallen trees, stumps, and sunken areas
- Stabilizing grave sites and documenting existing artifacts
- Designing a landscape that blends naturally with the surrounding neighborhood
The landscape plan also emphasizes environmental stewardship through:
- Native and shade-tolerant plants
- Habitat for pollinators and beneficial insects
- Sustainable landscaping requiring minimal annual maintenance
Today, the cemetery serves as both a sacred memorial landscape and a demonstration site for environmentally responsible gardening practices.
Education & Recognition
The New Hope Cemetery Project has also become an important educational resource for the community, helping share the history of African Americans in Greene County while demonstrating sustainable landscape practices.
Educational and community outreach efforts include:
- Service-learning projects with students from Tusculum University
- Educational programs highlighting African American history in Greene County
- Collaboration with local museums and historians
- Community presentations and school programs, including Black History Month activities
The project has received several recognitions for its historical preservation and community impact:
- Award of Merit from the Greene County Heritage Trust
- Search for Excellence Award through the Tennessee Extension Master Gardener Program (2011)
- Certification of the landscape as a Tennessee Smart Yard
- Officially added to the Tennessee Historic Cemetery Register by the Tennessee Historical Commission (2026)
Since 2011, the Big Spring Master Gardener Association (BSMGA) of Greene County has partnered with the Boys & Girls Club of Greeneville and Greene County to create and maintain an educational garden that teaches youth about gardening, nutrition, and healthy lifestyles.
The project began on July 25, 2011, when BSMGA volunteers helped establish a demonstration garden at the Boys & Girls Club through a partnership supported by a H.E.A.L. (Healthy Eating, Active Living) Appalachia grant. HEAL Appalachia, launched in 2008 by Mountain States Health Alliance and East Tennessee State University, was created to help combat childhood obesity in Southern Appalachia by supporting programs that encourage healthy eating and active living.
From this initiative, the GROW Program was developed as a community garden and greenhouse project designed to promote nutrition education and reduce sedentary lifestyles among youth in Greene County.
Hands-On Learning in the Garden
Since 2012, BSMGA volunteers have visited throughout the year to provide hands-on instruction to children at the Boys & Girls Club. Youth participate in all aspects of the garden, from planting and maintenance to harvesting and cooking.
Children are involved in activities such as:
- Planting and maintaining vegetable and herb gardens
- Learning soil health and fertilizer practices
- Staking and caring for crops such as tomatoes and peppers
- Exploring gardening techniques like mulching, composting, and solarization for weed control
- Understanding companion planting and how beneficial insects support the garden ecosystem
Participants also get to taste the fruits of their labor, preparing simple recipes such as pizzas, salsas, smoothies, fruit puddings, and stir-fries using produce they helped grow. Through these activities, youth learn the importance of fresh food and how to make healthier food choices.
Recognition and Impact
Since its beginning, the project has received numerous accolades, including:
- Adult Volunteer of the Year for Boys & Girls Club of Greeneville & Greene County (Beth Hembree-2016) (Virginia William-2016)
- Tennessee Extension Master Gardener Youth Award for Excellence (2014)
- Tennessee Extension Master Gardener Search for Excellence Award (2020)
- Volunteer Group of the Year for Boys & Girls Club of Greeneville & Greene County (2013, 2016, 2022, 2025)
These recognitions highlight the dedication of BSMGA volunteers and the positive impact the program continues to have on local youth.
Supporting Healthy Communities
The garden program also received additional support through the Maytag Feel Good Fridge initiative, which helps the Boys & Girls Club store fresh produce longer and provide greater access to healthy foods for youth and their families.
BSMGA is incredibly proud of this partnership and the volunteers who dedicate their time to making the garden a place where children can learn, grow, and connect with healthy food and nature.
We are grateful for the continued collaboration with the Boys & Girls Club of Greeneville and Greene County and look forward to inspiring future generations through gardening education.
Watch the Program in Action
The Big Springs Master Gardeners Association (BSMGA) of Greene County partners with the Depot Street Farmers Market in Greeneville to provide accessible, research-based horticulture education to local residents. Through an educational booth at the market, Master Gardener volunteers connect with shoppers, families, and local vendors to share gardening knowledge and promote UT Extension resources.
During the market season, volunteers offer seasonal gardening handouts, UT Extension publications, information about the Master Gardener program, and free seeds and plants. These giveaways encourage visitors to stop by the booth, ask questions, and learn more about growing plants successfully at home.
Gardening Education and Special Events
The farmers market provides a welcoming setting for informal conversations about gardening and home food production. Educational outreach includes:
- Seasonal vegetable and fruit gardening information
- UT Extension resources and practical gardening guidance
- Free seeds, plants, and occasional tree giveaways
- Opportunities for children and families to learn about plants and seed growth
- Information about BSMGA and opportunities to become a Master Gardener volunteer
BSMGA also hosts special educational activities, including the annual Tomato Taste-Off, where participants can sample tomato varieties and celebrate local growers, and an apple-tasting event honoring former Master Gardener Ron Davis. Seed swaps and other seasonal activities provide additional opportunities for hands-on learning and community engagement.
Growing Through Community Engagement
The Depot Street Farmers Market allows Master Gardener volunteers to meet residents where they shop, gather, and support local agriculture. These interactions create opportunities to answer gardening questions, distribute reliable educational resources, encourage sustainable gardening practices, and introduce community members to the Master Gardener program.
Through this partnership, BSMGA helps connect Greene County residents with practical horticulture education while supporting local food production, community relationships, and a greater appreciation for gardening.
Since June 2024, the Big Springs Master Gardeners Association (BSMGA) has partnered with Mosheim Public Library to participate in Mosheim Community Day in Mosheim. Through this partnership, Master Gardener volunteers provide consistent horticulture outreach by meeting residents where they already gather for community activities.
Once each month, BSMGA volunteers set up an educational table during Community Day to offer research-based horticulture information and practical gardening advice. Visitors can ask questions about their own landscapes, lawns, and gardens while also receiving Extension publications, informational materials, seeds to take home, and occasionally plants.
Community-Based Gardening Education
The Mosheim Community Day outreach provides an accessible and informal opportunity for residents to learn about gardening throughout the year. Volunteers regularly share information on topics such as:
- Seasonal vegetable and flower gardening
- Soil health and proper fertilization practices
- Pollinator-friendly plants and habitat support
- Home food production and kitchen gardening
- Integrated pest management and sustainable gardening techniques
- Lawn care and landscape maintenance
Impact Through Community Connection
Because the event takes place each month, many residents return to follow up on previous questions, share gardening successes, and seek additional guidance. This recurring interaction helps strengthen relationships between volunteers and the community while reinforcing research-based gardening practices.
Key outcomes of this outreach include:
- Providing free, research-based horticulture information to community members
- Making Extension resources accessible in a convenient community setting
- Encouraging sustainable gardening and environmental stewardship
- Building trust and ongoing relationships between residents and Extension volunteers
Through this continued involvement, the Big Springs Master Gardeners Association helps ensure that practical gardening knowledge and Extension resources reach individuals and families throughout Greene County.
2025 BSMGA Impact
Local Horticulture Resources
Horticulture Resources from UTIA
