For those skipping chocolates this Mother’s Day, consider something greener, fresher and more long-lasting.
The Licking County Master Gardener Volunteers Plant Sale will take place Saturday, May 9, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at 771 East Main Street in Newark — just one day before Mother’s Day.
The plant sale is organized by Master Gardener volunteers — gardening enthusiasts enrolled in a rigorous training program — through the Master Gardener Volunteer Program, affiliated with The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences. The college provides training in botany, soil, plant diseases, vegetable growing, lawn care and more, said Jean Backs, Master Gardener coordinator.
Images of previous Master Gardener plant sales courtesy of Jean Backs
The first Master Gardener plant sale happened in 1999, and this will be the group’s 25th anniversary fundraiser.
It attracts gardening enthusiasts and community residents, with about 243 people attending last year. It has been held at various locations over the years, including a member’s front yard in Newark. In 2023, the plant sale was held at the Learning Garden at the Ohio State University Extension office for the first time. The addition of an on-site polyhouse — a greenhouse structure covered in plastic that creates a controlled environment to protect crops — at the learning garden has allowed Master Gardeners to grow more plants and provides an additional venue for educational activities, Backs said.
“Our Master Gardeners are out in full force answering all kinds of questions,” Master Gardener Julie Strohmeyer wrote in an email. “This year, we’ll also be doing live demos on things like healthy soil, transplanting and watering. … We have tons of veggie plants, herbs, house plants, native plants and native plant gurus present to answer questions about what pollinators like to eat — and how to keep them around.”
At the event, Master Gardeners offer hundreds of homegrown plants, including a variety of annuals, perennials, houseplants, native plants, herbs and garden vegetables such as tomatoes and peppers for sale, along with gently used gardening items, décor and crafts.
Additionally, a free coffee bar will be offered in the morning, and lunch items such as hot dogs featuring Italian sausage and mac and cheese will be sold on-site from the “Ninnie Dogs” food cart. Admission and parking are free. The event is also held in conjunction with the Licking County Soil and Water Backyard Conservation Day nearby, making it easy for visitors to stop by both.
Donna Chang writes for TheReportingProject.org, the nonprofit news organization of Denison University’s Journalism program, which is supported by generous donations from readers. Sign up for The Reporting Project newsletter here.
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