The Great Tree Giveaway

As part of the Master Gardener Trainee program, I am required to serve in the community 50 hours. In the past 10 days, I've blown off two events. So, I made a point to wake up extra-early Saturday morning, scrape the ice off my car in the 28 degree weather and drive the 18 miles out to New Boston, Texas for the Bowie County Great Tree Giveaway. Apparently this is a thing around here. It had been advertised far and wide. 

When I arrived at 8:30, there were fifteen volunteers and cars lined up a half-mile, impatiently waiting for the 9 a.m. start time. Plus--I'm not making this up--this many bags of trees to give away. 

We gave out 4 different kinds of trees: oak, cypress, chinkapin and something else. 

In addition to the 15 volunteers, there were three folks who were paid from the County to help out. And they pretty much took over, not letting the volunteers do much. Not that there was much to do anyway with so few bags of trees. But whatever. I'm so jaded at the moment with volunteering. However, the education has been fantastic. 

All the bags of trees had been handed out by 9:20 and I now have only 48 more hours to go before I can get my Master Gardener Designation. 

Incidentally, one of the volunteers remembered me from the "bless your heart" incident the week before. Though I wish she wouldn't have, the woman told the group how I stood up to that (her words) "bully." Apparently the bully is well-known in the Master Gardener group. 

The best part came at the end. One of the Church of Christ ladies, Cindy, lives out in New Boston. She arrived at the Great Tree Giveaway at 9:21 to say hello. Because our event was over, Cindy and I ran over to Sonic for a diet cherry limeade and a bit of fun conversation.