NMGA Holiday Poem

By the shores of the Chesapeake Bay

are some people, so they say,

All advocates of horticulture with knowledge from Extension,

Helping the community with gardening apprehension.

Willing to educate their community peers,

Many have volunteered for numerous years.

Led by a steering committee, so wise

They negotiated a year of Covid surprise.

With Anna and Chris at the gardening helm,

They managed us well in the garden realm.

A new class in session, the plant sale was looming,

Projects in motion, with flowers just blooming.

Adjustments were needed to continue our vocation,

Without causing alarm or too much stagnation.

Chris gave the guidance that we should all follow,

Social distancing and Zoom were tough pills to swallow.

Will was flustered by speakers to schedule,

It all seemed to work and be quite effectual.

Barb was on task with her secretarial powers,

But how were we going to earn all our hours?

Treasurer Susan was ready with her finance tale,

And a bank balance sufficient for a missed Spring plant sale.

Program leaders were challenged, with how to prepare,

For contactless-contacts with whom they could share.

Some were creative, and videos they made,

While others in dormancy, there they have stayed.

Zoom meetings used throughout the year

Most overcame their technology fear.

With computers and cameras, online we all met,

For technical assistance, we all are in debt.

We learned about messages, muting and peeping,

Through video we saw and caught some sleeping.

Even online was the Master Gardener College,

Available for all, to increase their knowledge.

To our class of 2020, we would like to say,

We don’t normally do things quite this same way.

How to graduate a class with a covid convolution,

A graduation parade was our solution.

This year for you has been quite chaotic,

Please stick around and don’t go psychotic.

A look to the future, we all should take,

Covid precautions, we’ll continue to make.

With masks in our wardrobe and social distancing

The impacts on our programs, will be persisting.

With conditions continuing, as quite obstructive,

We’ll need your creativity, to be productive.

Anticipate shortages with restaurants closing,

People will look to their gardens for growing.

Fruits and vegetables, they can raise at their home,

Soils still need testing and good garden loam.

Collections of seeds, that we can contribute,

the challenge remains, of how to distribute.

Questions will arise, and requests for advice,

Our Master Gardener help line, to be a device.

The importance of Foodbanks is not hard to gleen,

The role of Community Gardens is easily seen.

Winter is upon us, our gardens going to sleep,

Into a new year we all will soon leap.

But now is the time to try to make jolly,

And talk of this year’s gardening folly.

So here is wishing you beautiful spring flowers,

And make sure you post your gardening hours.