Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens : Volunteer Newsletter
Winter 2016

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American Robin (Turdus migratorius) perches on a statue on the edge of the Perennial Garden.

THE VOLUNTEER HERALD

2016~A Year in Review

Dear MCBG Volunteers,

No matter how you look at it, 2016 has been a transformative year for our community and the world. Even here at MCBG we went through some major changes: we embraced Molly Barker as our new Executive Director, Sophia Pisciotta as our new Nursery Manager and Jaime Jensen as our new Lead Gardener; embarked on the next stage of the Entry Garden Project; persevered through our first summer without Art in the Gardens (stay tuned for Art in the Gardens 2017!); successfully held our 7th Festival of Lights & Gala; welcomed Gardener Siena MacFarland back to the team; and received funding from the Stanley Smith Horticultural Trust for a new gardening utility vehicle.

Nonetheless, one aspect of MCBG that has remained constant is your undying dedication to building the Gardens into a better place. From every weed you pull, squash you harvest, letter you fold, or visitor you engage, you make our jobs possible. Because of you, the Gardens is a paradise treasured by over 70,000 visitors each year. Below is a 2016 photo retrospective for you to reflect upon some of the highlights of the last 365 days. From the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU to every one of you that has lent your support -- your gestures never go unnoticed. Happy New Year to you and your family! See you in 2017!

Molly Rosenthal
Administrative Assistant/Volunteer Coordinator

Forward

NO REST for the virtuous

Working around the clock to keep our Gardens healthy

Volunteers completed 7,613.5 hours of work this year!

5,620 pounds of fresh produce were harvested
for donation to the Fort Bragg Food Bank.

Volunteers and staff distributed over 100 yards
of compost throughout the Gardens.

This year, 25 school groups visited the Gardens
equaling a total of 962 students.

LOCAL recognition

Spotlight on Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens

The Gardens was featured in Mendocino Coast Chamber of Commerce's "member of the month" video. Click play to view the video.

FRIENDS of the Gardens

Fundraisers and fun is the name of the game

FOG raised $31,175 through fundraisers in 2016.

They donated a total of $40,385 to MCBG including funds
for a new truck, electric cart, and UTV.

A GARDEN quenched

Seasonal rain nourished our 47-acre garden by the sea

Approximately 43.42 inches of precipitation
fell on the Gardens in 2016.

New irrigation systems were installed in the Entry Garden, the
hope is that they will reduce water usage by 30%.

The amount of rain we received on the coast officially pulled
Coastal Mendocino out of drought... for now.

HONORING our timber past

Paul Bunyan Days... Back to the wild, wild west with Paul & Babe

Babe the “Green” Ox, aka the gorgeous '64 VW Beetle, was followed by a ’56 Ford hauling the wild wild west… Mendo Coast-style… with waves, wildlife, and of course, beautiful blooms.

Our floats won 1st and 3rd place
in the Restored Classic Vehicle category.

The Gardens’ debut in the parade was made possible by our WONDERFUL VOLUNTEERS, we'd be over a barrel without ‘em.

SPREADING the love

Mendocino Coast Humane Society offers adoptables at the Gardens

MCBG hosted the Humane Society's mobile adoption van 9 times throughout the year giving the pups a chance to stroll the Gardens and possibly find a new home.

6 adorable animals were adopted at the Gardens this year!

GARDEN party

The 2016 Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon

Local Venezuelan Food Truck, Pilón Kitchen, provided a yummy 3-course meal for over 50 volunteers that completed 40+hours of service this year.

114 volunteers recorded hours for MCBG this year, 24 of which were new additions to our volunteer family.

FESTIVAL of LIGHTS & Gala 2016

Lights, laughter, and live music

The Gala benefit dinner was attended by 81 guests and raised the funds necessary to allow 1,775 children to attend this year's Festival of Lights for free. In a theme of black and white, it was an evening of true glitz and class.

The 7th Annual Festival of Lights brought in 7,123 visitors from all over the region.

Members of Friends of the Gardens baked more than
5,000 cookies for the Holiday Sweets Café!

"Santa Bob" greeted 542 children during four evenings of the Festival of Lights.