Final Project
Local distiller can’t sell his own whiskey
by Sawyer Riley, Courtney Janney, Jessica Busick, Lindsay Harper, and RaShad Banks
KENNESAW, Ga. — Acworth resident Mark Allen opened the doors of Lazy Guy Distillery in downtown Kennesaw this year, but though he offers tours and tastings to the public, he isn’t allowed to sell any of his own products.
Lazy Guy distillery is a first-generation craft whiskey distillery located in the heart of downtown Kennesaw. Allen owns and operates the distillery and it is illegal for him to sell his whiskey over the counter.
“Georgia’s laws are particularly archaic in that they don’t support direct sales either from [the distillery], or from me to any type of retail establishment,” Allen said. The law requires his products to be sold using a three-tiered system. Manufacturers like Allen can only sell to distributors who then sell to retailors, and Allen can only hold a license in one tier at a time.
Allen explained that of the southern states that do allow sales, Georgia is the only one that doesn’t allow distillers to sell their product directly over the counter. He said opinions vary as to why, but it all has to do with tax dollars. “The various government agencies believe that if we sell over the counter that they’re not going to get their cut of taxes,” Allen said. “They believe that it will erode the integrity of the three-tier system when in reality, the states around us that do the same thing not only benefit from it, but it strengthens the three-tier system because when I sell to you over the counter I get you a sample of a product that you share with other people.”
“The three-tier system needs to be reinvestigated and made sure it’s relevant because as long as that limitation is in place, there’s going to be several negative consequences,” Allen said. He believes the system stifles the growth of the industry within the state and that Georgia loses tourism value since distilleries and breweries have become popular attractions. “I get people in here from Florida who’ve heard about it and want to come in and look at it,” he said.
Allen said the biggest differences between Georgia and states that don’t require a three-tier system like Tennessee and South Carolina include the political environment, tax incentives which can be significant, and overall public perception. “Those states that have realized that it’s not of negative consequence leverage that law,” Allen said.
House and Senate bills that would enable distillers to sell limited quantities of their products on-premise were brought up during the state’s most recent legislative session but were ultimately tabled. Allen said he hopes the law will be reconsidered in the next two to three years but suspects it will be closer to five before any significant changes are passed. “I try to be as optimistic as I can about that, but the fact of the matter is I’m very realistic about those chances,” Allen said.
Allen explained that more community leaders and politicians are taking his side as time passes. “We raised a lot of eyebrows this year,” Allen said. He stressed, however, that laws are not determined by one or two politicians; there must be a group consensus for any changes to be made and there are currently only six distillers in Georgia fighting for change.
Allen said he thinks one reason Georgia’s law has remained is because politicians are resistant to change, particularly when it’s related to controversial issues. “I think they get into the areas where politicians don’t understand what it’s about and they pull back, and rather than understanding and spending some time with us trying to see the benefit of it, it’s easier to say no than it is to want to understand something,” Allen said. “The state is getting their taxes either way. If the state wasn’t getting their taxes from us, then I’m sure they would be willing to investigate how to do it.”
Because of Georgia’s current laws, Allen said he briefly considered opening his distillery in South Carolina, but he didn’t want to leave his other local companies. “I could not maintain my other businesses being out of Cobb County,” Allen said. “It just wasn’t really possible, so that’s why I settled here. South Carolina would have made it worth my while. The problem is I couldn’t have paid attention to my other companies and I don’t want to abandon my clients.”
Allen said at one point he wasn’t sure whether it would be best to locate his distillery in Marietta or in Kennesaw. “Kennesaw is a more progressive city and they’re revamping their image,” Allen said. “They’re really wanting to change the way they look and we fit very well into that plan.” He said he hasn’t had any problems with the city of Kennesaw or the city’s residents. “Kennesaw needed something to get them going,” Allen said. “Not that we’re the answer to that, but we’re part of the solution that they’re putting in place.”
Allen explained that to open a distillery, a business owner needs to be prepared to not see any income for at least 18 to 24 months. “The licensing, the permitting, the requirements to get a distillery up and going are bad enough, but you can’t get into it thinking that you will be able to sell over the counter,” Allen said. “That can’t be part of your business model, which contradicts the whole theory of free enterprise.” He described his company as a financial black hole since the business is not currently generating any income.
It’s evident, however, that Allen loves what he does and that despite the struggles of owning and operating a distillery, the process of manufacturing craft whiskey is rewarding enough to make the downside worth it. “It is an incredibly fun thing to do and I have a passion for it,” Allen said. “It’s not something mass produced so it’s a very personal endeavor.”
Lazy Guy Distillery’s products are not yet available in retail stores but Allen said he hopes that will change by mid to late summer this year. His company is currently registering with the state in order to get their products into bars and restaurants. “We have federal approval with our labels but we still have to go through the process of registering with the state and I don’t anticipate that to be a problem, it’s just time consuming,” Allen said.
Sidebar 1- Corn whiskey, moonshine, and craft whiskey- what is the difference?!
There is no federal standard identity for moonshine. Technically it does not exist. All moonshine is basically made from corn whiskey, unless it’s made from vodka, but wait, what? Are you confused yet?
Mark Allen, the founder and first generation distiller of Lazy Guy Distillery explained the details behind the craft whiskey label that is overlooked a lot. “You have to have certain procedures to either call it [your product] moonshine or corn whiskey,” Allen said.
He said that he considers his product to be corn whiskey because it is 80 percent whiskey and 20 percent barley. He explained that a lot of labels that claim to be moonshine are products actually made with vodka when in fact they should be made with corn whiskey because of federal regulations.
Allen explained that craft whiskey is not actually a type of whiskey it is a term to describe a company that produces a certain amount of liquor per year.
“In order to be considered a craft whiskey manufacturer, you produce less than 65,000 proof gallons of spirit a year,” Allen said. “Craft whiskey is only a measure of volume.” “It does not mean the type of product you’re creating.”
So as a craft distiller, Lazy Guy Distillery produces less than 65,000 proof gallons of alcohol a year. Remove all of your confusion from this one. There is only moonshine and corn whiskey.
Allen said that another way to differentiate between corn whiskey and moonshine is that in order for a product to be labeled as corn whiskey it must touch wood at some point in the distillation process. Moonshine (made from vodka only) does not have to touch wood. He said that a lot of manufacturers are forgoing making corn whiskey-based moonshine because of the costly and extra task of having the product touch wood.
Sidebar 2- The General, the fourth whiskey soon-to-be available
Lazy Guy Distillery is launching its fourth whiskey liquor. It is fittingly named “The General” after a great locomotive chase that started in Kennesaw, GA during the Civil War.
It is the highest proof corn whiskey distilled and bottled by the company at 151 proof. The release date is set for mid-fall.
Mark Allen, a first generation distiller and the company founder wanted something strong, but a flavor that would not overwhelm the consumer.
Taylor Hartshorn, David Murphy, Carleesha Freeman, Carly Gill, Kylee Hanley
Final Paper
Carleesha Freeman, Carly Gill, Kylee Hanley, Taylor Hartshorn, David Murphy
Dr. Farooq Kperogi
Multi-Media Visions of Community
May 7, 2014
Final Paper
Kennesaw State University is one of the fastest growing schools in the country, as the school is implementing enormous change over the course of the next year with marking it’s 50-year anniversary, a consolidation with Southern Polytechnic State University, the creation of a football team, the construction of a state-of-the-art gymnasium, and the expansion of it’s bookstore.
KSU is currently in celebration of its 50th anniversary. The official anniversary was on October 9, 2013 and the community and school came together to host a Founders Week of celebratory events. Commemorative events included a founders breakfast, tributes, a book launch, performances and groundbreakings on the Dr. Betty L. Siegel Student Recreation and Activities Center, the Horace W. Sturgis Library renovations and the Skip Spann Connector.
Also in celebration of the anniversary, the Department of Museums, Archives and Rare Books produced an exhibition called The Kennesaw State Spirit: KSU AT 50 which is on display in the Sturgis Library. To highlight the school’s rich history, the exhibit features a different thematic section every month.
Student Government Association President Eric Johnson said that the SGA was planning on putting together a time capsule filled with some of KSU’s history to be buried on campus, but when the news of the consolidation with SPSU came out, they decided that they would also include some of SPSU’s history in the time capsule since it will now be part of KSU.
In early November, KSU announced that it would be merging with neighboring university, SPSU. Since then, there has been much progress as well as controversy with the news of the consolidation.
The consolidation will aid the growth of the school and revolutionize the school as a whole by providing a technical aspect. According to www.ksuspsuconsolidation.com, “The Board of Regents has identified over 700 specific responsibilities that must be handled in the consolidation process.” 81 different Operational Working Groups address all 700 of these tasks. There is a lot of work going along with the consolidation but KSU and SPSU have a strict timeline. Complete consolidation is expected to occur in August 2015.
“I think for the long run with merging the two schools,” said current SPSU student, Santiago Gallo, “it’s going to be a better option for both schools.” KSU will gain a new engineering department and SPSU will grow and merge with the diversity of KSU.
However, not everyone is happy with the merger. Many students feel that SPSU is it’s own school and the consolidation is causing SPSU to lose its identity as a technical university. Not only do students feel they are losing their identity, many Greek organization members and student athletes are losing their positions as well. “As a student athlete, it was a little more difficult to digest what was happening,” said freshman SPSU baseball player, Browning Bargeron, “We will be given the opportunity to try to walk on at KSU if we want, but most of my baseball team isn’t doing that. I feel bad for our soccer team, they are left without a team altogether.” Bargeron plans to attend KSU in the fall and walk on as a KSU Owl baseball player.
Despite the mixed emotions, the consolidation will ultimately be positive for both schools. Both SPSU and KSU will see large growth from the merge and a new image is being created in the process.
Along with the consolidation, the addition of a football team is another factor that will make the coming year so influential to KSU’s history. The stadium, located on Busbee Parkway, just a few miles from campus will seat approximately 8,000 spectators. A student section, taking up about 3,000 of those seats is in the works, with the intention to boost school spirit and overall morale of KSU. The team will increase the livelihood of the entire Kennesaw area, getting the community involved in so many different ways.
Head coach Brian Bohannon commented in a recent press conference, “I knew what was here at Kennesaw State, but when I went out in the community what surprised me the most was how excited the community was for Kennesaw State and its football program.” A tentative schedule has been released with dates and opponents set and with a stacked roster the team will be ready by fall 2015 to conquer their first season. About 36,000 season tickets will be available, and to date, about 80% of those have already sold, so the interest in Kennesaw State football is avidly present in the community.
In addition to bettering the community, the football program will help Kennesaw State market the successful programs they already have in tact. It also enhances the other athletic programs, bringing more money in to make Kennesaw athletics better overall. Associate athletic director Padraic McMeel says, “We really look at football as being a catalyst or just one more element that is going to enhance everything about Kennesaw State and really it’s desired to be a destination school.”
Appropriately coinciding with KSU’s arrival of a football team is the construction of the brand-new state-of-the-art Dr. Betty L. Siegel Student Recreation and Activities Center. Students will be offered an opportunity like no other to achieve higher levels of fitness through the multi-faceted exercise opportunities provided by the new recreation center. The old recreation center was somewhat limited in size, featuring a small weight lifting area, a basketball court, a few classrooms and an upstairs cardio area. The new center will feature an indoor Olympic-sized lap pool and an outdoor leisure pool, a three-story rock-climbing wall, an upstairs indoor track that loops around the multiple basketball courts and passes over the extensive weight lifting area. Other amenities include racquetball courts, tennis courts, an indoor-multisport arena and even volleyball courts. The center is being named for Dr. Betty L. Siegel, KSU’s President Emeritus, who was the school’s first female president and holds the record as the longest-standing woman president of a public university in the United States of America.
Along with the many other changes taking place at KSU, changes at the Kennesaw State Bookstore are also included. The Market, which opened in January of 2014, includes grab and go foods, drinks, and toiletries. The Bookstore also includes Owl Tech, containing the latest technologies and gadgets including Apple software that is available to students at reasonable and bundle prices. It also includes the latest records, computer software, electronic accessories, and a lounging area for students to play the new Xbox One. Sweet Reads has also been a new addition to the KSU Bookstore, containing different types of assorted candies, chocolates and Jelly Beans. Books range from non-fiction to fiction, cartoon books, cookbooks, and children’s books and board games as well. Along with the bookstore and its new additions to draw in more faculty, staff and students, The SPSU merge will also affect the bookstore. More employment opportunities will become available; there will be another off site bookstore opening at the Marietta campus and wider range and variety of new textbooks available to new or already enrolled students. “We’re looking to see an increase in sales in both textbooks and merchandise due to the SPSU merger,” said Percy Ivey, Operations Manager at the KSU Bookstore.
For years, KSU has been living in the shadow of other Southeast destination schools, like the University of Georgia, the Georgia Institute of Technology and Georgia State. In light of the imminent changes KSU will undergo, such as the consolidation with SPSU, the addition of a football team and the construction of the new recreation center, many hope to finally make KSU the number one destination school in the state of Georgia by providing students with everything that can make a university such as KSU stand out.
Sidebar One
Students speak out about KSU, SPSU Consolidation
Several students from both schools have voiced their opinions on the consolidation between SPSU and KSU and have expressed both approval and contempt based on several factors that will be affected by the consolidation.
Sidebar Two
Is the cost of KSU’s new recreation center too high?
The Dr. Betty L. Siegel Student Recreation and Activities Center will cost a total of $38.7 million according to KSU’s website, creating a 176,000 square foot building that more than triples the size of the current student recreation center.
By: Taylor Hartshorn, David Murphy, Carleesha Freeman, Carly Gill, Kylee Hanley
Final Project, Capstone Course
Kennesaw’s transformation begins with commercial development
Kennesaw Zoning and Planning Administrator Darryl Simmons goes over plans for the city with building official Mark Rice. Photo by Alicia Newton
By Alicia Newton, Ellen Eldridge, Destyni Thomas and Roderic Graham
KENNESAW—Kennesaw is experiencing a transformation within its city limits that extends to its residents and the residents the city will attract for years to come. Kennesaw City Economic Development Director Robert Fox said creating a more vibrant active downtown and developments along the Cobb parkway corridor are all part of a comprehensive plan for the city.
“I want more rooftops, more residents living in the downtown core and more commercial places,” Fox said.
“Kennesaw was just a railroad stop, Kennesaw Mayor Mark Mathews said, adding that the city didn’t have a main street or a square like its neighbor Marietta does. The answer, Mathews said, was simple: Kennesaw didn’t have the infrastructure it needed. Now, thanks to careful planning and a rebounding real estate market the transformation is happening, Mathews said. Dirt has begun to move on the Main Street project.
“The Main Street project will feature 11,000 square feet of retail space, 250 high-end apartments and a public parking deck with a 300-car capacity,” Mathews said.
The Castle Lake Mobile Home Park has been annexed into the City of Kennesaw and residents will have to move before the year is over, yet manager Yolanda was renting lots as late as April our field reporter Alicia Newton found out. Photo by Alicia Newton
The city of Kennesaw annexed 53 acres of county property at the Cobb Parkway and Barrett Parkway intersection, which is currently the home of Castle Lake Mobile Home Park. (CLICK the link or the picture on the left for our sidebar story).
Darryl Simmons, the planning and zoning administrator for Kennesaw, said that Fuqua Development has the property under contract and the Kennesaw city council voted to rezone the property from a residential mobile home park to a city planned village community. Whole Foods will anchor the Fuqua development.
While potentially adding economic impact through jobs and taxes, this new commercial development is not without controversy. Mathews said he believes what the Castle Lake landowner is doing is borderline unethical. Even though the Mathews said residents may have to be gone this year, management was still renting lots in April on a month-to-month basis, without informing tenants of the development plans, reporter Alicia Newton said.
A lot to place a single-wide trailer cost $455 per month and $465 for a double-wide, manager Yolanda said in a taped interview secretly conducted by Newton. Yolanda makes no mention to potential renters about the impending sale, Newton said.
“The lots are being rented month to month; it’s up to you if you wanted to move next month. If you have some money it’s your choice,” Yolanda said.
A city needs money to run, and Kennesaw needs a shift in the tax digest, Mathews said. “Our forefathers lost sight of that during the early years of Kennesaw’s development,” Mathews said. “The city grew with residential growth while commerce was needed to balance the tax digest.”
Industrial and commercial businesses offset the cost to run the government, Mathews said, adding that an ideal scenario for a tax digest includes 60 percent from commercial business and 40 percent from residential taxes, Mathews said. “Kennesaw’s tax digest is 40/60 with the majority of taxes coming from residential, which is the most expensive to service,” Mathews said.
“The Main Street project is worth $28 million, and that does not include the price of the land,” building official for the city of Kennesaw Mark Rice said.
Photo Essay:
Downtown has already attracted new restaurant, BurgerFi, and the adjoining restaurant, Trackside has added a rooftop outdoor area and an inside dining room expansion and remodel, Rice said.
“I think in the next five years or so you will see the entire downtown core just totally redone and it will be like nothing anyone has seen,” Rice said. “A person who hasn’t come to downtown Kennesaw in say 10 years—when they come back in five, they won’t recognize it.”
Another major commercial growth piece for the city is a $57 million, 250-bed critical care nursing facility at Kings Crossing.
“This is another $15 million to $20 million project for the city,” Rice said. “It is all steel and concrete; a huge project for the city.”
Space is at a premium in Kennesaw because more businesses are looking for space than what Kennesaw has available, Economic Development Director Robert Fox said.
The types of commercial real estate that get built, remodeled, zoned and licensed must be in alignment with Kennesaw’s Comprehensive Land Use Plan, Planning and Zoning Administrator Darryl Simmons said. The Main Street project and the transformation of downtown is just one prong in the big picture, he said.
“As the plan comes to fruition we will see a live, work, play community and vertical building close together,” Simmons said. “Our goal is to put as much retail, and commercial as possible on Cobb parkway.”
Retail is not the only commercial driver. A $1.8 million skate park opened this year in Swift-Cantrell Park, a 41-acre park located off Old U.S. Hwy. 41. The 40,000 sq. foot concrete skate park was well populated Saturday with skating enthusiasts flipping and dipping in the two bowls built for their skating pleasure.
The Lazy Guy Distillery located in downtown Kennesaw is one example of the youthful yet family-friendly commercial business the city wishes to attract. Photo from lazyguydistillery.com
Kennesaw is also home to local Burnt Hickory Brewery and Lazy Guy Distillery, which hosted a soft opening during the Big Shanty Festival, providing tours and tastings.
(CLICK here or photo on right for sidebar story)
As one of the largest fabric distributors in the country, Fabric.com brought 250 jobs to Kennesaw when it moved last year from Marietta to a 200,000 sq. foot facility off Jiles Road. Fabric.com said it promises to have 400 jobs in the next few years.
Beaumont Products, manufacturers of Citrus Magic, Veggie Wash and other eco-friendly consumer products found its home in Kennesaw. A large area of the planning and zoning map is zoned for industry, Simmons said.
Although the city of Kennesaw hosts only two zip codes, the reach of commercial development in unincorporated Kennesaw and adjoining Acworth positively impact the planning efforts of the city of Kennesaw, Rice said.
Kennesaw doesn’t have everything yet, and more businesses are planned, Rice said.
“We want a major franchise hotel, more restaurants, laboratories and other high tech businesses,” Simmons said. “The focus is to have a diverse level of job opportunities for our post grads. We want a healthy combination of industrial, retail services, tourism, hospitality and manufacturing to make for a diverse and well-rounded economy.”
There are still some relics pulling Kennesaw into the past. The dilapidated structure on Main Street that is Wildman’s Civil War Surplus looks out of place amidst the newer establishments and the plan for the city.
“He is an oddity,” Simmons said, referring to Wildman’s. “The only way he is going to move on is if they carry him out of there feet first or there is so much development and new culture that it will drive him out.”
To be competitive Kennesaw must be known for something other than its gun law, Simmons said, adding that Kennesaw is focused on where it is going, not where it used to be.
“We want downtown Kennesaw to be a hub of entertainment,” Simmons said. Kennesaw is family-friendly and Simmons said he gravitates toward family-friendly planning, however, this does not mean Kennesaw is opposed to nightclubs.
“We want to cater to our college demographic, having pubs, taverns and restaurants,” Simmons said. “We want independent Shakespeare theatre, museums anything cultural.”
Mathews said he feels rewarded for his work making development a cornerstone of his career because he has seen projects go from concept to completion during his two terms in office.
“It is a very rewarding position to be able to see projects go from concept to completion,” Mathews said. “The average life span to get a project completed takes 7 years.”
Watch Capstone Quarterly News Update:
Hard-working entrepreneur seeks to open Lazy Guy Distillery
The Lazy Guy Distillery located in downtown Kennesaw is one example of the youthful yet family-friendly commercial business the city wishes to attract. Photo from lazyguydistillery.com
By Roderic Graham
KENNESAW—Founded by first generation distillers, The Lazy Guy Distillery uses Georgia-grown grain and fruits to craft its proprietary whiskey, moonshine and bourbon as one of the newer commercial businesses developing in downtown Kennesaw.
The building, located on Moon Station Rd, dates back to the early 1800’s. During the Big Shanty Festival, held earlier in April, the distiller held a soft opening to promote its products. People toured the distillery and sampled distilled spirits.
Several business incentives were issued to the blossoming distillery as Kennesaw government has encouraged business within its limits, owner Mark Allen said. Mayor Mark Mathews said that he is proud to have attractions for a younger demographic as opposed to some of the retirement facilities developing in neighboring Acworth. Mathews mentioned his pride in connection with Swift-Cantrell Park’s skate deck and Lazy Guy Distillery, which will save $800 annually because the city discounted its business fees, Kennesaw City Economic Development Director Robert Fox said. A $15,000 commitment by the Kennesaw Development Authority will help fund improvements to the historic cabin and barn on the property, Fox said.
“The incentives helped me choose Kennesaw as the city where my distillery would be located,” Allen said. “I was considering Marietta at first. Kennesaw has historic qualities that makes this a great place for my distillery.”
Tours of the distillery are offered on special days during the week or for certain events, Allen said. Some customers can even participate in the production process of making the distillery’s Threesome Whiskey. Souvenirs, such as shirts and shot glasses, can be purchased from the store as well.
Allen said he is dedicated to preserving the historical aspects of his new distillery, and he said he believes his distillery has “witnessed many changes over the decades,” just like the whiskey he and his partner distill.
“We talk to whiskey drinkers to know what the market is like and to see what people are drinking now,” Allen said. “The customers really help us develop new products.”
Lazy Guy Distillery is not yet open for business. Allen is working on obtaining permits that will enable him to sell whiskey in the state of Georgia.
Castle Lake Mobile Home Park leaves residents in limbo
The Castle Lake Mobile Home Park has been annexed into the City of Kennesaw and residents will have to move before the year is over, yet manager Yolanda was renting lots as late as April our field reporter Alicia Newton found out. Photo by Alicia Newton
By Destyni Thomas
KENNESAW—Castle Lake Mobile Home Park is left with 34 acres owned after Fuqua development’s plan to rezone the property into a city planned village community worth $150 million. Located at the corners of Barrett and Cobb parkways, the mobile home park will be used for mix-use projects, creating 450,000 square feet in retail space and 30 town homes. Residents expressed their disapproval in both English and Spanish during a city council meeting, Mayor Mark Mathews said.
Mathews said in the Monday meeting that he assured Castle Lake’s 1,500 residents that the buyer of the property will work closely with them, and that they will be placed in a better living situation than they are currently living.
Kennesaw City Council voted 5-0 to annex the property into city limits under the condition that a relocation plan for residents would be put in place prior to the construction that begins. Fuqua will form a committee to this spring to start relocation assistance for each family involved in the annexation.
Outreach efforts for the mobile home park have always been a part of the community, Mathews said. Riverstone Church in Kennesaw has provided English classes for families, tutoring for children, free haircuts, hosting cookouts and home improvements for single parents and widows, Mathews said, adding that Castle Lake management has opened land and buildings to help residents also. Several members of the mobile home park and other residents surrounding the community have assembled together to ensure the relocation process for families is both fair and successful as well.
Watch our broadcast on the commercial development in Kennesaw:
Keeping Cobb Green-
By: Derek Hardge, David Skaggs, Gabriel Rudd, Stephan Henry , Daniel Lumpkin
By: Derek Hardge
KENNESAW, Ga- The Gardner Fair and Plant Sale that is hosted by the Master Gardener Volunteers of Cobb County (MGVOCC), recently took place April 25-26th at Jim R. Miller Park. This event was free to the public and all proceeds from vendors are donated to events, community projects, and school programs that specialize in gardening. This particular event is annual and has dozens of vendors and farm markets from all over Georgia. This festival is just the first installment of the Gardening tour, which is May 10th in East Cobb.
The MGVOCC are responsible for placing Master Gardeners/teachers in 23 Cobb County schools that have junior master gardener programs. Aside from the educational aspects of MGVOCC offer, are also apart of four community gardens, a program called become friends of master gardeners, and is very instrumental in plant a row for the hungry, “We donate between 2,000-3,000 pounds of food a year to Cobb county resources,” said Renae Lemon of the MGVOCC.
“In the Cobb County schools that we are partnered with, we have master gardener teachers, that bring the curriculum, that relates math and science to the garden culture,” said Lemon.
The Cobb Master Gardeners are also partnered with organizations that oversee dozens of projects like; Plant-A-Row for the Hungry, Community Gardens, Root House Museum Garden, McFarlane Nature Park, Rose Garden at the Smith Gilbert Gardens, Chattahoochee Nature Center, Junior Master Gardener Programs, Horticultural therapy at Cobb Hospital, Water Rain & Wildlife Garden, Period Garden and Cherokee Garden at Green Meadows, Annual Garden Tour, North Georgia Fair, Speakers Program, Friday Lunch and Learn Educational Programs, Gardeners’ Night out Educational programs.
The mission of the Master Gardener Volunteers of Cobb County is to promote sound horticultural practices in cooperation with the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service. The MGVOCC is an education organization whose primary purposes are;
- Extending the Master Gardeners knowledge of and interest in gardening and related activities.
- Disseminating to Cobb County residents and other Georgians information about horticultural practices and techniques in accordance with the research and recommendations of the University of Georgia Extension service.
- Enhancing and supplementing the horticultural efforts of the UGA extension service. Providing opportunities for association members to meet and associate with others who have similar interest.
“Our programs are Non-profit, charitable work, and the proceeds go towards our projects and events,” said Lee Culver, Plant sales committee chair, “Folks come from Fulton and Dekalb counties to witness and support our fair.”
To find out more and to get involved contact the
Master Gardener Coordinator
Cobb County Extension Service
678 South Cobb Drive, Suite 200
Marietta, Ga 30060
Or Email: renae.lemon@cobbcounty.org
PHOTO ESSAY.
KENNESAW FESTIVITIES
By: Stephan Henry
Over the last past 12 years, Cobb County has become the “green thumb” inspiration thanks to its annual Through the Garden Gate Tour. This tour event was designed to demonstrate to the public how the Master Gardener Volunteers of Cobb County (MGVOCC) maintain their own landscapes along with several private gardens and various projects selected to be on tour each year.
The mission of the tour, which is held within East Cobb, is to advance the horticultural education of its community and promote the knowledge, interest, appreciation and enjoyment of gardening.
Since the inauguration of this event, the Garden Tour and the Garden Fair & Plant Sale have always been held together, but for the first time, the plant sale will be held separately from the garden tour and encompass over a two day period and will also occur 2 weeks prior to the Garden Tour.
Since the annual Big Shanty Festival, many of the booths that were showcasing the different homemade arts and crafts have expressed that the festival is not used to just promote their business, but to allow the community a chance to one of a kind things that cannot be found in any major store or supermarket.
Quilts and Jewelry by Mildred have been vendoring the Big Shanty Festival and other festivals for years, and they say each festival has brought something.
“At this year’s Big Shanty Festival, we were able to sell about one-third of our merchandise, which was better than most, because this time made it our effort to create memories to the community that could be passed down from generation to generation like olden days.”
By: David Skaggs
ATLANTA, Ga–Fulton County, which holds Atlanta as well as many other smaller cities, is known for its’ major sports teams, great local cuisine and their many varying festivals.
Fulton County seemingly has at least two or three different festivals occurring every week. This past weekend, April 26 and 27, held two extremely popular festivals in two densely popular locations: Inman Park and the city of Smyrna. Inman Park is known as Atlanta’s fist suburb and held its’ 43rd annual Inman Park Festival while Smyrna held its’ annual Spring Jonquil Festival.
The Inman Park Festival consisted of all sorts of activities, starting with their Tour of Homes, where patrons can tour some of the original homes of the suburb. The festival also includes a parade, musical performances and other forms of entertainment such as a dance festival and an arts and crafts show. Because the festival has become so popular, all roads into and out of Inman Park were blocked off, leaving patrons to find parking elsewhere, although Inman Park did also provide a shuttle bus.
The Smyrna Spring Jonquil Festival, which has been happening for over 25 years, also included a plethora of activities for the family, starting with the most popular event: Peter Hart’s Atlanta Puppet Show. This festival is also well known for featuring over 175 hand-made arts and crafts booths. The Festival also consisted of plenty of foods and music from Scott Thompson, of the original members of the Atlanta-based country group Peachtree Station.
Fulton County has a lot to offer in terms of sports, food and warm weather; but their family-friendly festivals are an experience that all of their residents enjoy doing he most.
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