Georgia Made Georgia Grown Products Website Available

Free Marketing Website for Georgia's Arts-centric Businesses

It's here -- Georgia's Creative Economies website for marketing and promoting Georgia Made Georgia Grown Products. The website will connect buyers and sellers, corporations and corporate suppliers, locals and visitors to Georgia's creative small businesses. The listing is free to Georgia-based artisans, theaters, crafters, agritourism venues, festival planners and others looking to enhance their marketing and advertising.

In order to prepare the website for its launch and an expected 35,000 plus monthly visitors; local creators, museum & gallery owners, farmers, entertainers and destination managers must self populate the database with their business information and imagery. Simply go to www.gamadegagrown.org and follow the instructions. Approved entries will be posted FREE for one year.

All businesses who register between November 21 and December 21, 2008 will be included in the first round of search results for this much-anticipated, first-of-its-kind and FREE website. Companies and individuals can register everyday; however, registering between Nov. 21 - Dec. 21 will ensure inclusion when the site debuts. Registering early also enters you into a drawing for a Georgia Made Georgia Grown Products gift basket.

Georgia's Creative Economies Initiative is galvanizing arts-centric businesses and promoting Georgia Made Georgia Grown Products. Please assist us in getting the word out to the arts, theater, agriculture, entertainment and creative business community.

Visit www.georgia.org/foundation to learn more about this economic development effort led by the Georgia Tourism Foundation. Please feel free to contact the Georgia Tourism Foundation via email at tourismfoundation@georgia.org for more information.

Master Gardener Class Offered - Deadline Extended!

New Deadline - December 9th, 2008
Info below and Registration form here.

Thomas County Extension will offer a Master Gardener Class beginning Tuesday, January 20, 2009. The course is open to residents of Thomas, Brooks, Colquitt, Mitchell, and Grady Counties. All classes will be held at the Thomas County Extension Office, 227 West Jefferson Street. The classes will be held on January 20th , 22nd, 23rd, and starting January 26th, every Monday and Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. for 10 weeks, ending on Wednesday April 1st.

The Georgia Master Gardener Program is a volunteer recruitment and training program of the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension. The main purpose is to train volunteers to provide unbiased, research-based, environmentally sound, horticulture information to the public. Those completing the course will have a much greater knowledge of horticultural practices and will be expected to share their knowledge by volunteering 50 hours back into the community.

Most potential Master Gardeners want to know what community service entails. Community service is any activity in which your newly acquired horticultural knowledge is shared with others. These activities may include advising other citizens with caring for their landscapes, writing horticultural newsletters, working with youth, assisting with beautification projects, judging school projects dealing with agriculture, or civic and garden club presentations.

Most classes will be taught by extension agents and specialists from the University of Georgia. The following classes will be taught:

Introduction to the Master Gardener Program

Soil and Plant Nutrition

Botany/Plant Physiology

Basic Entomology/Pathology

Weed ID and Control

Using the Pest Control Handbook

Vegetable and Herb Gardening

Insects and Diseases of Vegetables

Herbaceous Ornamentals

Selecting Woody Ornamentals

Trees

Maintenance of Woody Ornamentals

Turf Selection and Maintenance

Diseases of Turf and Ornamentals

Developing a Waterwise Landscape

Insects of Turf and Ornamentals

Composting and Mulching

Fruit Gardening

Structural and Household Pests

Nuisance Wildlife

Registration fee for this class is $125.00 which includes a copy of the Georgia Master Gardener Handbook. A minimum enrollment of 10 participants is required to conduct this training. Maximum enrollment is 25 participants.

The deadline to apply is Tuesday, December 2, 2009. Applications may be obtained at Thomas County Extension Office at 227 West Jefferson Street or by visiting our website www.thomascountyextension.com. If you have any questions, please contact R.J. Byrne, Thomas County Extension Agent at 229.225.4130 or rjbyrne@uga.edu.