Making a home for our fine-feathered friends was a new experience for many of us. Under the direction of Jane Burke and Aaron Tulin, our workshop hosts, and thanks to Mary Ann Hindes, Education Chair and workshop coordinator, we had the opportunity to learn many new skills. At first glance this seemed a simple process — it is a birdhouse, isn’t it? However, carefully measuring and following instructions turned out to be a challenge for the students and the instructors’ patience! Plus, most of us had never used a drill press or a miter saw. After a serious safety talk, we don our safety glasses and ear protectors and put the power equipment to work to construct our cedar birdhouses. After we completed the cutting and scored foot holds for our feathered friends to easily access their home, there was more measuring, drilling, re-measuring, and checking the fit before we could…
Category: Events
Introduction to Digital Photography Workshop – May 29, 2013
Many of us have entered pictures in the annual GCMGA photography contest, but knew we could have gotten the photo shot just a little better. Many of us have wanted to enter pictures, but didn’t feel confident that our pictures were contest quality. Thanks to Don Stewart and Mary Bachner, Gwinnett Master Gardeners and talented photographers, we had the opportunity to improve our photography skills. Don and Mary conducted a very thorough photography workshop that provided a high level overview of digital photography. We learned many tips for taking great photographs—including rule of thirds, using leading lines, trying different perspectives, and making the most of light and dealing with shadows. Don and Mary highlighted the features and benefits of various cameras, so we will be more informed in selecting the right camera for our personal photography goals. Of course, one of of biggest obstacles in photography is understanding our…
“Trash to Treasures Yard Art” Workshop – April 29, 2013
Gwinnett Master Gardener Terri Erwin and her husband Allen graciously offered their home, garden, and expertise to show us some ways to create yard art while helping the environment by recycling. To start the workshop we enjoyed a tour of Terri and Allen’s amazing garden to see examples of recycling and get ideas. We were wowed by arbors and hand rails made with tree roots from downed trees, concrete from a broken driveway stained to look like natural stones (fooled us), refurbished furniture that had been discarded by someone who could not see it’s potential, and the list goes on and on! After getting our creative jump start, we put our hands to work to design our own unique stepping stone. Using cake pans, flower pots, water trays and concrete mix we set the forms for our project. After a brief setting period for the concrete, we became artists in…