Projects

We offer an annual scholarship program for college students from our community and surrounding areas. We provide this support for studies within horticulture or a related field. This includes Agronomy, Agriculture Education, Floriculture, Landscape Design, Botany, Biology, Forestry, Plant Pathology/Science, City (Rural & Urban) Planning, Habitat or Forest/Systems Ecology, Environmental Conservation (including Engineering), Land Management and/or other related or allied subjects. Additional details, and the application form, can be found on the Scholarships page >>

How members can participate?

First and foremost, all club members should talk to people about this scholarship. Take a few moments to inform friends, family or any new people you meet about this great opportunity. Word of mouth is a powerful tool.

Additionally you could join this project group to help find qualified scholarship candidates. We need new ideas on how to make this program more successful. This is a great volunteer opportunity to really make a difference.

What does it take to volunteer?

Most work can be by telephone or email, but there may be a need to visit area schools and agriculture employers. Contact area news organizations or any other group which may facilitate finding qualified candidates. Volunteers may need to help a candidate through the application process and/or provide encouragement. And finally, assist the Garden Club Board in selection of scholarship winners and track the success of the current and previous years’ scholarship winners.

How many volunteers are needed to do what?:

2-4 Needed for research, site visits, write article, facilitator / past recipient tracking.

The South Haven Garden Club provides up to two $1000 scholarships per year to qualifying students. We don’t receive any in kind donations.
Chairperson: Open
Contact Person: Dianne Fox
dmfox@rocketmail.com

The South Haven Garden Club members make 20-35 floral arrangements a week for Hospice patients and their families. These “green gifts” are made with donated flowers from local stores, nurseries and from our own gardens. These arrangements of fresh flowers are intended to be uplifting for each recipient and include a tag from “Hospice at Home” and Garden Club. The hospice patients so enjoy and appreciate receiving the bouquets from our volunteers!

How can club members participate?

Come join us to work with the flowers. An alternative from doing the actual floral arrangements, members could donate (the always needed) flowers from their personal gardens or if you know of any additional sources of green materials please let us know. We also need volunteers to pick up flowers at the donation locations.

We meet at Hospice at Home, 05055 Blue Star Hwy, South Haven every Tuesday from 1-2:30pm to do the floral arrangements.

How many volunteers are needed?

A minimum of 4-volunteers are needed each Tuesday:
No special skills required.
Time: 1-2 hours per week

The South Haven Garden Club provides the labor, materials and flowers. Some flowers and plants are donated by local businesses.

Chairperson: Sharon Stringham
travel@i2k.com,
Becky Berry
kwberry@myfrontiermail.com

In preparation for Club Fundraisers in November and July of each year, club members create items to sell. All these items are sold at the Garden Walk or during the Holiday Craft Sale. This is an important part of fundraising activities.

Club members meet weekly for a couple of months before these events to create garden, home or holiday related items. These “craft parties” are held at Nancy Daugherty’s home. Work days are flexible to try to meet everyone’s schedule.

How members can participate:

Join other club members at Nancy Daugherty’s “craft parties” or if you are an artist or crafter who works from home, we would love for you to make some of your creations for the sale.

What does it take to volunteer?

No skills are necessary to join the “craft parties”, just a desire to have fun and build friendships in a small group setting. There is always something for everyone and we welcome new ideas. Or if you have a special artistic talent we welcome any help or any of your crafted items for the Boutique Sales.

How many volunteers are needed?

All members are encouraged to participate.

Chairperson: Nancy Daugherty
dndaugherty@gmail.com

In 2005, the club had a “Reading Garden” landscaped at the South Haven Memorial Library for the enjoyment of library patrons and the community at large. In 2007, the club landscaped the south side of the library by adding a flagstone path and plantings. We continue to maintain this garden. So if you would like to share your great garden skills please volunteer or just stop by and tidy up the gardens!

How members are expected to participate?

Spring to fall participation is needed for cleaning planting watering and fall clean up. It is a small garden but located next to the farm market which gives us a chance to show off our gardening skills.

How many volunteers are needed?

Needed: 8-10 members participate in pure gardening!

Chairperson: MaryLynn Bugge
dbugge@shvn.net

Since 2001, our newsletter has been published several times a year. The newsletter was appropriately named The Petunia Patch because the Petunia is the South Haven City flower.

The SH Garden Club members use the Newsletter as an interesting source for information about the club activities, regular meetings, special events, gardening reminders, helpful horticulture tips and information about members’ happenings.

How members are expected to participate?

Members are asked to contribute information about member happenings, photos, events, and write articles on topics of interest. Most interaction occurs via email so no travel is necessary to volunteer to contribute for the newsletter. Newsletters are posted on the Garden Club website.

Chairperson: Meme Williamson, writer/production
melodysw@aol.com