GVEC Awards Grant to Master Gardeners

for "Exploratorium" Project

Student will learn about gardening, conservation from the ground up

The Gonzales Chapter of the Master Gardeners was recently awarded a $10,000 community development grant through the Guadalupe Valley Electric Cooperative (GVEC) and one of its wholesale power suppliers, the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA). The grant will help renovate a 1930’s building located on the Gonzales Elementary School campus.

The building, which is owned by the GISD and was once used as a school cafeteria, is being brought back to life as the “Fair Street Exploratorium” so that it can be used as a classroom where science teachers, along with Master Gardener volunteers, will teach students the Junior Master Gardener® curriculum developed by Texas A&M University. The building will also be used by the AgriLife Extension Service of Gonzales County for meetings and seminars, and as a venue for continuing education.

“We’re thrilled GVEC and the LCRA wanted to be a part of this project because it involves education as well as conservation,” says Bob Burchard, certified master gardener and project volunteer. “The Exploratorium has the potential to change the lives of our students and their families as they learn about the benefits of conservation of our natural resources while they learn how to garden. Students will have the opportunity to literally recognize where food comes from by planting and harvesting crops and seeing the results of their labor. Conservation of natural resources and energy will also be demonstrated by harvesting rain water, utilizing proper soil preparation with compost and mulch, and cultivating crops.”

Through the Community Development Partnership Program (CDPP), GVEC and LCRA team up to provide economic development and community assistance to nonprofit organizations throughout the service area. Darren Schauer, GVEC General Manager and CEO, commented, “This project is a wonderful way to make learning come alive as the students apply what they learn in the classroom to their daily lives. GVEC is pleased to have the opportunity to be a part of the development of the Exploratorium project which has the potential to be a very exciting educational model for our area.”

GVEC donated $10,000 in grant funds through their Community Development Partnership Program, in conjunction with LCRA, to the Gonzales Chapter of the Master Gardeners to renovate an old school building that will be used as a classroom. The Master Gardeners will work with science teachers to teach the Junior Master Gardener® curriculum developed by Texas A&M University. From left to right: Certified Master Gardener Bob Burchard, GVEC General Manager and CEO Darren Schauer, and Master Gardener Chapter President David DeMent.