🔎Calm Expertise, Lifelong Curiosity: Honoring Ron Austin

For the month of April we are recognizing Ron Austin as our Master Gardener of the Month.

Ron dedicates at least 2 days a week staffing the MG office. He works the MG helpline/hotline, which not only benefits our local citizens of Brunswick County but many businesses also call him for questions and refer specifically to Ron by name. If you have volunteered in the MG office, you know that Ron has a wealth of knowledge; he is a seeker, researcher and educator; and he is always willing to help you navigate the office and the Gardens. In the office, beyond answering the phone and keeping handouts at the ready, he attends to community walk-ins with questions about their gardens, gets soil sample kits ready, hands them out and then picks up soil samples in the southwestern part of the county. He can often be seen our in Botanical Gardens, shares his own garden, and helps out at the local “Ask an EMG” at the local libraries.

After retiring as CEO of the YMCA’s of High Point, NC with a 42 year career, Ron decided to dust off his Forestry Degree from NC State and become a Master Gardener in April 2013 in Forsyth County.  In Forsyth County he worked in the Tanglewood Park greenhouse, where they went from seed to plant sale for many plants. In May 2016, Tom Wood granted his transfer to Brunswick County, and after working in several program areas (House Calls, plant sale and the Library), he found a spot in 2020 that seemed to suit him the best after a triple bypass.  Being in the office on the Hotline put him in a position of problem solving and constantly learning through researching plant issues that come through the office.

Ron says “Combined with incredible other knowledgeable Master Gardeners and very talented staff, I continued to learn about our soils and plants that are unique to our corner of North Carolina. I have enjoyed sharing what I have learned with the public and look forward to the phone ringing or a zip lock bag with a sick plant in it or a bush limb, covered in bugs, coming through the door.”

 Ron is also the recipient of the Governor’s Volunteer Award for the county. Your dedication and hard work are deeply appreciated. Thank you!