Sun City Texas Horticulture Club
Beginning in the fall of 2002, the Sun City Texas Horticulture Club was established by those residents looking for a "critter free" site to grow vegetables, fresh fruits and natural herbs. The community home builder and developer, Del Webb, generously gifted 5.6 acres of property on which to start the neighborhood organic garden. The builder additionally provided monies which were matched by the club members in helping get the venture moving. By the end of 2003, with the help of one hundred forty five men and women, the Charter Club selected the title of Sun City Horticulture Club.
An old home located on property owned by the builder was slated to be demolished and club members suggested that lumber from the demolition be reused. The lumber can be seen in the lovely arbors built by club members in the herb garden area. The original windmill near the old home has been recycled too. Club members are most proud of the windmill that stands as a tall sentry at the front gate. The Chicago built Aermotor A/702 was completely disassembled and the windmill tower, fan and motor were then rebuilt and refurbished including re-lettering the dealer's name on the fantail.
The property was increased by approximately two acres at the time that the developer moved the location of the boulevard in front of the garden areas. Club participants mounted the eight foot high deer-proof fencing surrounding the perimeter. The fenced enclosure incorporates more than 260 elevated gardening plots, a vineyard, an orchard, a rainwater recovery system and barn which contains machines such as wheelbarrows, garden tools, along with other garden accessories. The garden section was initially cleared and flattened by club members as well as installing in excess of 8,000 feet of water pipe from the deep well pump house to deliver to the garden beds and public places with personal water plugs.
A feedback survey of club membership discloses that the typical age is 68 both for males and females, most people were raised on a farm or had access to a garden plot as small children, most learned how to to do some gardening from their own parents, grandfather and grandmother or perhaps good friends, loved playing in the dirt as children and never ever outgrew it, and bring a lot of talents to the garden together with their passion for cultivating things.
The Horticulture Club has expanded to add new Special Interest Groups such as Beekeeping, Community Outreach, Herb Garden, Nursery, Orchard, Tool Maintenance and Vineyard. There are now 2 hives of honeybees which not merely pollinate the garden's flowers and vegetables, but will also supply many pounds of honey distributed by regular members to support the membership. Community Outreach has produced more than one ton of fresh organic and natural produce every year which has been generously donated to the Caring Place Food Bank and Annunciation Maternity Home. Many 100's of pounds of veggies have been given to Sun City neighbors, friends and relatives.
Some of the Club members are Master Gardeners who have acquired specialized training from the Williamson County Master Gardeners Association. In fact, four of the club members helped to establish the first Master Gardener program in Williamson County in 2007. This organization trains interested persons under the direction of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service (part of the Texas A & M System) to become Certified Master Gardeners. The program is limited to 35 seats and there is always a waiting list.
The Sun City residents who are Master Gardeners regularly share their knowledge with the Club and the community. They are continually learning new methods to increase production yields of fruits and vegetables, xeriscaping techniques, appropriate native plants for landscaping, control of pests without the use of pesticides, and using natural fertilizers and mulch materials.
The Nursery Group preserves plants from throughout Sun City and nurtures them for resale or utilization in landscape design throughout the garden. Twice yearly the Sun City Texas Horticulture Club Nursery Group organizes a plant sale as a method of generating revenue for the club. The Club most always has all varieties of annuals, perennials, bearded iris, Texas indigenous plants, vegetables and herbs and additionally compost, compost tea and mulch for purchase.
With over four hundred regular members strong, Sun City Texas Horticulture Club encourages newcomers to get out and play in the soil!
An old home located on property owned by the builder was slated to be demolished and club members suggested that lumber from the demolition be reused. The lumber can be seen in the lovely arbors built by club members in the herb garden area. The original windmill near the old home has been recycled too. Club members are most proud of the windmill that stands as a tall sentry at the front gate. The Chicago built Aermotor A/702 was completely disassembled and the windmill tower, fan and motor were then rebuilt and refurbished including re-lettering the dealer's name on the fantail.
The property was increased by approximately two acres at the time that the developer moved the location of the boulevard in front of the garden areas. Club participants mounted the eight foot high deer-proof fencing surrounding the perimeter. The fenced enclosure incorporates more than 260 elevated gardening plots, a vineyard, an orchard, a rainwater recovery system and barn which contains machines such as wheelbarrows, garden tools, along with other garden accessories. The garden section was initially cleared and flattened by club members as well as installing in excess of 8,000 feet of water pipe from the deep well pump house to deliver to the garden beds and public places with personal water plugs.
A feedback survey of club membership discloses that the typical age is 68 both for males and females, most people were raised on a farm or had access to a garden plot as small children, most learned how to to do some gardening from their own parents, grandfather and grandmother or perhaps good friends, loved playing in the dirt as children and never ever outgrew it, and bring a lot of talents to the garden together with their passion for cultivating things.
The Horticulture Club has expanded to add new Special Interest Groups such as Beekeeping, Community Outreach, Herb Garden, Nursery, Orchard, Tool Maintenance and Vineyard. There are now 2 hives of honeybees which not merely pollinate the garden's flowers and vegetables, but will also supply many pounds of honey distributed by regular members to support the membership. Community Outreach has produced more than one ton of fresh organic and natural produce every year which has been generously donated to the Caring Place Food Bank and Annunciation Maternity Home. Many 100's of pounds of veggies have been given to Sun City neighbors, friends and relatives.
Some of the Club members are Master Gardeners who have acquired specialized training from the Williamson County Master Gardeners Association. In fact, four of the club members helped to establish the first Master Gardener program in Williamson County in 2007. This organization trains interested persons under the direction of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service (part of the Texas A & M System) to become Certified Master Gardeners. The program is limited to 35 seats and there is always a waiting list.
The Sun City residents who are Master Gardeners regularly share their knowledge with the Club and the community. They are continually learning new methods to increase production yields of fruits and vegetables, xeriscaping techniques, appropriate native plants for landscaping, control of pests without the use of pesticides, and using natural fertilizers and mulch materials.
The Nursery Group preserves plants from throughout Sun City and nurtures them for resale or utilization in landscape design throughout the garden. Twice yearly the Sun City Texas Horticulture Club Nursery Group organizes a plant sale as a method of generating revenue for the club. The Club most always has all varieties of annuals, perennials, bearded iris, Texas indigenous plants, vegetables and herbs and additionally compost, compost tea and mulch for purchase.
With over four hundred regular members strong, Sun City Texas Horticulture Club encourages newcomers to get out and play in the soil!
About the Author:
Before retirement, be sure to check out the Sun City Texas community and explore the multitude of ways to continue to live an exhilarating life after retirement.