December 2025 Master Gardener Volunteer Newsletter

In this issue…

From the President

“Of all the months of the year there is not a month one half so welcome to the young, or so full of happy associations as the last month of the year.” – Charles Dickens

My tenacious and hardy leaves that were clinging to the trees in my yard last month are now nestling into special places for the winter. My brussel sprouts and parsley, the last stands of my vegetable garden for this year, were eaten by the ever-present deer in my neighborhood.  Everything else in my yard is done for this growing season, ignoring the Fall planted garlic which is quietly doing its thing under a thick blanket of straw!

My goal each year is to have all my outdoor gardening and yard tasks completed by Thanksgiving and I am about a week ahead of schedule. While our Fall gardening tasks seem to be never ending, the season’s weather (cold/wind/early darkness) certainly ushers in a desire to get everything done. I do find satisfaction in putting my gardens “to bed”, while at the same time planning for next year – no matter how big or small.

The MGV Advisory Committee met in November so I have some highlights to share:

  • The Advisory approved the 2026 Operating Budget of $28,200. This coming year’s budget was formulated by the requests of the five main committees of the program.
  • The Advisory Committee’s goal of restructuring our “Business Calendar” was completed and approved. Thanks go to all the Advisory members and Committees for their input. Special thanks goes to Amy Starnes for formatting and collecting all the information for the “Business Calendar”.
  • Our Advisory will meet virtually in January, 2026.
  • The Advisory also discussed our meeting schedule for the coming year as well as dates for special events. 
  • The Engagement Committee has been busy planning some exciting events for 2026.
  • Our Annual Plant Sale (major fund-raising event of the Association) is scheduled for May 23rd, 2026 at Tidewater.
  • The Education Committee has some exciting offerings, including holiday wreath making. This is scheduled for December 4th at 4:30 at the Cooperative Extension Office in Falmouth. 

As we approach the holidays and the New Year, the next growing season is beckoning as seed catalogs are flowing into my mailbox along with emails (surprisingly before holiday cards and holiday gift flyers). I remember as a child, growing up in a rural farm setting (without the internet and Amazon), the excitement when the “Sears and Roebuck Holiday Toy Catalog” came to our mailbox.  My childhood excitement of going through the new toys circling the ones I liked has been transferred to next year’s seed catalogs. While continuing to tell myself now to “cut back next year”, I have decided to circle fewer new items!  The “cutting back” may be my annual New Year’s resolution.

I always enjoy December. The smell of evergreen trees, the vibrant colored poinsettias, custom decorated evergreen wreaths, holiday foods and the brilliant lights adorning homes and businesses are enticing.

Wishing each of you a happy and joyous Holiday Season.

“The JOY of brightening our lives, bearing each other’s burdens, easing each other’s loads and supplanting empty hearts and lives with generous gifts becomes for us the Magic of the Holidays”. W.C. Jones

Gary Hoyt
CCMGA President

Roots – Get to Know Joel Leak

What started with a free packet of cactus seeds in a bag of Fritos turned into a lifelong passion for Joel Leak. At just 10 years old, Joel planted those seeds—and 55 years later, some of those original cacti are still thriving!

Joel grew up in Arlington, Massachusetts, and spent two decades in Boston before moving to Falmouth, Maine in 1999. His love for gardening deepened over the years, from sprouting potatoes under the kitchen sink to cultivating herbs and vegetables. “After eating something I grew myself, I was hooked,” Joel says.

Today, Joel is a dedicated Master Gardener Volunteer, a role he’s held since 2001. His impact on the community is inspiring:

  • Tedford Shelter Cleanup – For 18 years, Joel has led a spring cleanup in Brunswick, organizing volunteers to rake, prune, mulch, and plant.
  • Harvest for Hunger – Joel grows and donates fresh produce to the Preble Street Soup Kitchen, encouraging others to share their garden bounty.
  • Education & Outreach – Joel teaches adult education classes and gives presentations to garden clubs, helping others discover the joy of growing.

Outside of gardening, Joel works as a Reporting Specialist at The Opportunity Alliance, a nonprofit offering programs like Head Start, the 988 Crisis Helpline, and WIC. He’s also a talented musician, playing guitar, saxophone, and mandolin in several bands.

When asked about his favorite crop, Joel can’t choose just one: “Vegetables are my first love, but fruit is a close second. Anything you can grow yourself and eat is so satisfying, and sharing that bounty with others is pure joy.”

Want to get involved?
Joel welcomes volunteers for the Tedford Shelter cleanup and Harvest for Hunger program. If you’d like to help, reach out to joel_leak@yahoo.com.

Is there an MGV you’d like to know more about?  Please send their name to Heather Wiggins Berger for a future article.

Project Spotlight: Beth Condon Memorial Pollinator Garden

 A lush green pollinator garden in bloomGardens inspire, educate, connect—and yes, they challenge us, too. For the Master Gardener Volunteers stewarding the Beth Condon Memorial Pollinator Garden in Yarmouth, this project has brought all of these experiences over the past three years. As the garden continues to evolve, we’re proud of what has been accomplished and excited for what lies ahead.

Located behind Yarmouth Town Hall, the garden sits on either side of the Beth Condon Memorial Pathway, a well-traveled pedestrian route that stretches along Route 1 and serves as a gateway to Yarmouth Village. This site is more than just a garden; it’s a living tribute to Beth Condon, a young woman whose life was tragically cut short by a drunk driver in 1993 while walking along this very route.

Many hands have helped care for this garden over the years, but its quiet heart has always been Wahneta, Beth’s 94-year-old grandmother. Wahneta still walks the mile from her home along the pathway to visit and tend the garden. It was her gentle dedication and thoughtful stewardship that first caught the attention of MGVs and sparked our involvement. Since then, Wahneta has found a supportive gardening community, and we’ve found inspiration in her enduring presence.

This project has also cultivated strong leadership and new collaboration. With weekly volunteer workdays, the garden has been revitalized under the guidance of Maryellen Thoma, who stepped forward to lead its renewal, maintenance, and certification as a pollinator garden. 

This year marked a particularly meaningful transformation. With support from the Town of Yarmouth, Yarmouth Community Services, and UMaine Cooperative Extension, we added several native plant species and met all the standards for pollinator garden certification. The garden now features:

  • A succession of native plant blooms from early spring through late fall
  • Removal of invasive species
  • Water sources for pollinators
  • Fall vegetation left in place to support nesting and soil health

A monarch butterfly resting on a plant with blooming yellow flowers.We hope this certification not only honors Beth’s memory but also serves as an educational model for pollinator-friendly gardening practices. Butterflies—which hold special meaning for Beth’s family—will be a focus moving forward, with additional native plantings planned to attract local butterfly species.

The MGVs have brought new energy and direction to this special space. Julie Doane, one of the regular volunteers, will begin Master Gardener training this fall. Vivian Horoshak has shared her extensive knowledge of native plants and helped connect the project to Extension resources. Plans are underway to divide and donate plants for the 2026 MGV Plant Sale, further extending the garden’s reach and impact. 

The Beth Condon Memorial Pollinator Garden is truly a gem. It invites quiet reflection from its benches and offers beauty and solace to the many walkers and cyclists who pass by each day. As one visitor recently shared, “This garden brings joy to the community.” We couldn’t agree more.

If you are interested in volunteering, please reach out to Maryellen Thoma.

We’re looking for volunteer projects to feature in our Master Gardener Volunteer Newsletter. If you are interested in having your project featured – or if there is a project you would like to learn more about – please reach out to Kerri Frazier.

Ask an MGV: Tips & Tricks for your Best Garden Yet

Q: Now that there’s snow on the ground, I’d love to start sharpening my gardening know-how for the spring. I’d also love some ideas for gardening gift ideas so that I can share the gift of gardening with my friends and family this holiday season. 

A: You’re in luck! UMaine Extension has the answer to both of your needs with 14 On Demand Webinar bundles. Each bundle includes 3 to 4 pre-recorded webinars (60 to 75 minutes each) on a gardening-related topic plus a list of related resources. You can browse all bundles here, or peruse the list below organized by gardner-type: 

For the perennial gardener:

For the culinary gardener:

For any gardener looking to level up their skills:

For the creative and adventurous gardener:

To purchase a bundle for yourself, follow the registration link under each bundle description. To gift a bundle, use our “Gift a Bundle” registration page to select a bundle and your recipient.

We’ll email the bundle to your recipient and let them know it is a gift from you. As a bonus you will also receive a copy of the bundle so you can see what they received. If you have any questions, reach out to extension.gardening@maine.edu.

We want to help you with your gardening questions and issues. To get help from your fellow MGVs, submit your questions to Heather Wiggins Berger.

Upcoming Events

Community Events

MGV Updates

Don’t forget to report your hours on the MGV Dashboard before the end of the year so that we can accurately report on our 2025 impact. 

Past Editions: Missed a previous newsletter? View them all HERE  (password: ladybug)

About this Newsletter: The Cumberland County Master Gardener Volunteer Newsletter is edited by Clarissa Brown, Kerri Frazier, and Heather Wiggins Berger. If you would like to submit an event, article,or help with any aspect of the Newsletter, please contact Heather Wiggins Berger, the newsletter coordinator.