Wednesday, November 7, 2001

Learning to cultivate that green thumb

Master gardener has large following in metro Atlanta

Judi Kubitz had no idea four years ago that she would soon be starting something revolutionary among Fayette County gardeners.

She came to the Home Depot at Fayette Pavilion to conduct a gardening clinic, not long after becoming a master gardener herself. The manager at the store asked her if she would be interested in teaching classes each Saturday.

From there, Kubitz has built a year-round program of free gardening classes as well as a club known as Homer's Green Team, formed two years ago as another way for people to share their interest and information about gardening.

The club takes what its members learn in the classes and apply themselves with various community projects, such as recent beautification tasks at Fayette Community Hospital and the local Youth Protection Home.

Kubitz, who works as an associate at Home Depot in the outdoor garden department, puts together the store' gardening brochure every few months and has compiled a mailing list of about 500. The surprising thing to her is that people have been coming from all over metro Atlanta, and her program is apparently the only one at any Home Depot store, as far as she knows.

No new classes are scheduled until the first of the year, because Home Depot is heading into its busy Christmas tree season. But an open house is scheduled for Dec. 1, where customers will be able to see a variety of holiday demonstrations and products and find out more about the classes and other programs.

Kubitz said that she's always looking for new ideas for classes and experts who can come in and teach them. About 40-50 people show up for a typical Saturday class, free of charge.

A new challenge for Kubitz comes in the next few months, when she is scheduled to teach classes at the Home and Garden Show at the Cobb Galleria. She was shocked when, after accepting the invitation, she learned of the many big names from television and other media in the lineup for various classes.

"I was flabbergasted," she said. "I'm flattered to have the opportunity."

Kubitz is now certified as a professional nurseryman in addition to her master gardener status.

For information on gardening classes at Home Depot, call the store at 770-461-9819.

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