Beginning in the fall of 2002, the Sun City Texas Horticulture Club was formed by residents wanting a "critter free" place to grow vegetables, fruits and herbs. The community builder and developer, Del Webb, generously gifted 5.6 acres of land on which to build the community garden. The developer also offered funds which were matched by the membership to help get the project started. By the end of 2003, with 145 members, the Charter Club chose the name of Sun City Horticulture Club.
A vintage dwelling located on real estate belonging to the building contractor was previously scheduled to be taken down and club regular members recommended that material coming from the demolition should be used again. The lumber are visible in the exceptional arbors built by club individuals throughout the herb garden area. The authentic wind generator near the old home has been recycled also. Club participants are most satisfied with the windmill that stands as a tall sentry at the front gate. The Chicago engineered Aermotor A/702 was thoroughly disassembled and the windmill tower, fan and drive mechanism were then rebuilt and renovated including re-lettering the dealer's business name upon the fantail.
The property was augmented by almost 2 acres when the developer realigned the boulevard in front of the gardens. Club members installed the eight foot high deer-proof fence around the perimeter. The fenced enclosure includes over 260 raised garden beds, a vineyard, an orchard, a rainwater collection system and barn which houses equipment such as wheelbarrows, garden tools, and other garden essentials. The garden area was cleared and leveled by club members in addition to laying over 8,000 feet of water pipe from the deep well pump house to supply the garden beds and communal areas with individual water outlets.
A questionnaire of club participants shows that the mean age is 68 for both women and men, most people were brought up on a farm or had access to an outdoor garden plot of land as girls and boys, almost all learned how to do some gardening from their own families, grandfather and grandmother or perhaps good friends, liked playing in the garden soil as young kids and never ever outgrew it, and provide a lot of other skills to the garden along with their passion for raising things.
The Horticulture Club has grown to include Special Interest Groups such as Beekeeping, Community Outreach, Herb Garden, Nursery, Orchard, Tool Maintenance and Vineyard. There are now two hives of honeybees that not only pollinate the garden's vegetables and flowers, but also provide many pounds of honey sold by members to support the club. Community Outreach has grown over one ton of fresh organic produce per year that has been donated to the Caring Place Food Bank and Annunciation Maternity Home. Many hundreds of pounds of vegetables have also been shared with Sun City neighbors, friends and relatives.
Many of the Club men and women are Master Gardeners that have attained specialist instruction from the Williamson County Master Gardeners Association. Actually, 4 of the club participants worked to develop the initial Master Gardener training program in Williamson County in 2007. This group trains motivated people according to the oversight of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service (part of the Texas A & M System) in order to become Certified Master Gardeners. The training program is exclusive to 35 seats and there is continually a waiting list.
The Sun City residents who are Master Gardeners regularly share their knowledge with the Club and the community. They are continually learning new methods to increase production yields of fruits and vegetables, xeriscaping techniques, appropriate native plants for landscaping, control of pests without the use of pesticides, and using natural fertilizers and mulch materials.
The Nursery Group saves plants from all around Sun City and nurtures these struggling plants for resale or use in landscape design around the garden. Two times yearly the Sun City Texas Horticulture Club Nursery Group puts together a plant sale as a method of generating revenue for the membership. The Club has always had all varieties of annuals, perennials, bearded iris, Texas native plant life, herbs and vegetables and additionally compost, compost tea and mulching materials to buy.
Over 400 members strong, Sun City Texas Horticulture Club invites visitors to come play in the dirt!
A vintage dwelling located on real estate belonging to the building contractor was previously scheduled to be taken down and club regular members recommended that material coming from the demolition should be used again. The lumber are visible in the exceptional arbors built by club individuals throughout the herb garden area. The authentic wind generator near the old home has been recycled also. Club participants are most satisfied with the windmill that stands as a tall sentry at the front gate. The Chicago engineered Aermotor A/702 was thoroughly disassembled and the windmill tower, fan and drive mechanism were then rebuilt and renovated including re-lettering the dealer's business name upon the fantail.
The property was augmented by almost 2 acres when the developer realigned the boulevard in front of the gardens. Club members installed the eight foot high deer-proof fence around the perimeter. The fenced enclosure includes over 260 raised garden beds, a vineyard, an orchard, a rainwater collection system and barn which houses equipment such as wheelbarrows, garden tools, and other garden essentials. The garden area was cleared and leveled by club members in addition to laying over 8,000 feet of water pipe from the deep well pump house to supply the garden beds and communal areas with individual water outlets.
A questionnaire of club participants shows that the mean age is 68 for both women and men, most people were brought up on a farm or had access to an outdoor garden plot of land as girls and boys, almost all learned how to do some gardening from their own families, grandfather and grandmother or perhaps good friends, liked playing in the garden soil as young kids and never ever outgrew it, and provide a lot of other skills to the garden along with their passion for raising things.
The Horticulture Club has grown to include Special Interest Groups such as Beekeeping, Community Outreach, Herb Garden, Nursery, Orchard, Tool Maintenance and Vineyard. There are now two hives of honeybees that not only pollinate the garden's vegetables and flowers, but also provide many pounds of honey sold by members to support the club. Community Outreach has grown over one ton of fresh organic produce per year that has been donated to the Caring Place Food Bank and Annunciation Maternity Home. Many hundreds of pounds of vegetables have also been shared with Sun City neighbors, friends and relatives.
Many of the Club men and women are Master Gardeners that have attained specialist instruction from the Williamson County Master Gardeners Association. Actually, 4 of the club participants worked to develop the initial Master Gardener training program in Williamson County in 2007. This group trains motivated people according to the oversight of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service (part of the Texas A & M System) in order to become Certified Master Gardeners. The training program is exclusive to 35 seats and there is continually a waiting list.
The Sun City residents who are Master Gardeners regularly share their knowledge with the Club and the community. They are continually learning new methods to increase production yields of fruits and vegetables, xeriscaping techniques, appropriate native plants for landscaping, control of pests without the use of pesticides, and using natural fertilizers and mulch materials.
The Nursery Group saves plants from all around Sun City and nurtures these struggling plants for resale or use in landscape design around the garden. Two times yearly the Sun City Texas Horticulture Club Nursery Group puts together a plant sale as a method of generating revenue for the membership. The Club has always had all varieties of annuals, perennials, bearded iris, Texas native plant life, herbs and vegetables and additionally compost, compost tea and mulching materials to buy.
Over 400 members strong, Sun City Texas Horticulture Club invites visitors to come play in the dirt!
About the Author:
Before you retire, be certain to examine the Sun City Texas community and look into closely the multitude of ways to continue to live an exciting life after retirement.
No comments:
Post a Comment