Marshalltown Times Republican, IA
08-31-06
Master Gardeners rack up hours adding colorful touch to House of Compassion
By RYAN BRINKS
Much of the Marshalltown community has noticed the attractive flower bed in front of the House of Compassion and a range of community organizations have helped make it happen.
But the bulk of the credit — 150 hours worth — goes to Master Gardeners Club coordinators Lou Bertramsen and Marilyn Beard and their interns Michelle Anderson and Tenie Reyerson, who have made the undertaking their community service project.
The end result has included praise from Cleaniac, Main Street and city representatives, Anderson noted, along with the many compliments from House of Compassion clients.
“It makes people we’re serving feel proud of the facility that they use,” said Jean Bergen, director of the House of Compassion.
Some of those clients had a part in putting it together by laying edge stones, putting in mulch or watering the plants. Others from the community donated flowers and Thiesen’s gave starter vegetables and herbs that will produce spices for the soup kitchen.
The process started in about April as the Master Gardeners planned out designs for the three-season perennial garden. The House of Compassion has had a flower bed for the past three years, but this year it was tripled in size.
Bertramsen, herself a member of the soup kitchen committee, was asked to take on the project and she recruited Beard and the two recently trained interns.
“They were very gracious and said yes to help,” Bertramsen said.
The project fit well with the Master Gardeners Club requirement of 40 volunteer hours after their 40 hours of training.
The ongoing process of planting and maintaining the garden has amounted to about 150 hours by the four, with the installation of some spring flowering plants yet to come this fall.
Approximately 1,300 volunteer hours were put in last year by the Master Gardeners’ 25 club members. They are trained by Iowa State University Extension and will be asking for the public’s financial support this November with a referendum requesting more funding for a budget that has not increased since 1985, Bertramsen said.
The House of Compassion’s flower bed is sure to be kept up, too, as the club requires each of its members to maintain their skills through six hours of both training and volunteer work annually.
Contact Ryan Brinks at 641-753-6611 or rbrinks@timesrepub lican.com