Janice Montgomery's Retirement Gift

After many productive years, Janice Montgomery, has decided to retire as President of the Verde Thumbs Garden Club. Janice moved to Cottonwood in 2003, and soon after enrolled in the Yavapai Master Gardener class. She also started teaching garden classes in her backyard. In April 2009, she and nine friends began the Verde Thumbs Garden Club. At the meetings, members discuss Mother Nature's lessons and share the joys and disappointments of growing food in the high desert. Verde Thumbs also has a thriving private Facebook group with over 1,000 members sharing gardening information and helping each other.

Saving seeds that do well in our area is the natural extension of growing delicious, nutritious food, so in 2015, her dear friend and Verde Thumbs member, the late Kathie Knapp, and Janice established the Verde Valley Seed Library to help gardeners learn about seed saving and the benefit of locally adapted veggies. Janice always taught that, "Seed saving is a big step in sustainability and food security! Between 'climate change,' high pesticide use on our store-bought food, and supply chain challenges, knowing how to grow and preserve some of your own food is crucial."

As a board member of Gardens for Humanity, she furthers her love of teaching the art of gardening. Working with the School Learning Garden teacher, she helps to establish school gardens so children can learn where their food comes from and how to produce nutritious veggies for their families.

To her students, she always asserts, "Gardening is a great way to keep yourself 'grounded - pun intended! The many wonderful friendships established through gardening are incalculable. Look forward, as I do, to helping others learn gardening skills, and how to live a more sustainable life."