SOUTH KINGSTOWN – Awards were given to local gardening enthusiasts at the University of Rhode Island’s celebration of the 40th anniversary of its Master Gardener program in late September.
Vanessa Venturini, the state leader of the program, explained in a statement that program membership has reached approximately 600 individuals, who “serve as community educators for cooperative extension.”
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Narragansett resident Rudi Hempe was named Master Gardener of the Year for accruing more than 15,000 hours of volunteer service over the past two decades. His works include installation of a vegetable garden, pollinator meadow, planting disease-resistant American chestnut trees, constructing greenhouses at URI’s East Farm and establishing the East Farm Spring Festival.
The Master Gardener Rookie of the Year award was given to David Vissoe of South Kingstown, who graduated from the program earlier this year. Vissoe volunteered during the summer at the East Farm demonstration garden educating visitors and leading tours and was later named project leader at the new Kettle Pond Native Demonstration Garden. He contributed 300 service hours in his first year after graduation.
According to the release, group projects that “educate Rhode Island communities on how to enhance and care for the environment” are honored with the Master Gardener Project of the Year award. This year it was presented to Newport Harbor Walk, which has been visited by 100,000 people since its completion in 2015.
In addition, lifetime achievement awards were presented to Cumberland’s Theresa Melvin and Warwick’s Dick and Carol Salzillo, who received a special award for their dedicated service working on the URI gardening and environmental hotline.
Emily Gowdey-Backus is a staff writer for PBN. You can follow her on Twitter @FlashGowdey or contact her via email, gowdey-backus@pbn.com.
