{"id":425,"date":"2023-10-04T09:45:12","date_gmt":"2023-10-04T14:45:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aces.edu\/discover\/?page_id=425"},"modified":"2025-10-09T07:31:20","modified_gmt":"2025-10-09T12:31:20","slug":"larry-kronk","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.aces.edu\/discover\/larry-kronk\/","title":{"rendered":"Larry Kronk"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.21.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.21.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.21.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_video src=”https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=ThP3eZecvfY&list=PLkNoAmOtt__-S2lio0N635NSu_SvMoudq&index=5″ _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_video][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.21.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.21.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” header_text_color=”#063f79″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Extension\u2019s Grow More, Give More Project Improving Lives<\/span><\/h1>\n

by Katie Nichols<\/span><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.21.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.21.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_text_color=”#063f79″ hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]AUBURN UNIVERSITY, Ala. \u2014 The Grow More, Give More (GMGM) project is changing the lives of Alabama senior citizens one container garden at a time. Since 2020, the GMGM project \u2014 led by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System home grounds, gardens and home pests team \u2014 has provided both nourishment and opportunity for Alabamians.<\/p>\n

Pop-Up Gardens<\/h2>\n

Bethany O\u2019Rear<\/a>, GMGM project coordinator, said the original intent of the project was to share produce with neighbors in need. In 2023, there was a concerted effort to focus on serving senior citizens in Alabama\u2019s food deserts.<\/p>\n

\u201cContainer gardens are great for senior citizens, because they are smaller in size and easier to care for, especially for those who may have some physical challenges,\u201d O\u2019Rear said. \u201cThat was the motivation for installing these pop-up gardens at senior centers.\u201d<\/p>\n

A recent retiree and transplant to Alabama, Larry Kronk discovered the Alabaster Senior Center when he moved to town in 2022. Through this community center, he found Alabama Extension and the Extension Master Gardener (EMG) program.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy wife and I moved to Alabama about 14 months ago,\u201d Kronk said. \u201cWe discovered the senior center first. They found out I had a garden and had a hydroponic system they wanted to set up and chose me to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kronk said his involvement with the senior center led him to the EMG program. This, in turn, put him on the path to volunteerism through the GMGM project.<\/p>\n

Making a Difference<\/h2>\n

\"GrowThe senior center pop-up garden requires one to two hours of time each day \u2014 including weekends.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve enjoyed gardening with the folks here, especially, because they are inquisitive,\u201d he said. \u201cThey give me ideas on what to do next, as far as what to grow. They really enjoy the vegetables.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kronk is proud of what the Alabaster Senior Center’s garden has been able to do this year. The GMGM pop-up garden produced approximately 75 pounds of produce in its first year.<\/p>\n

The pop-up gardens include planting buckets, grow bags, irrigation drip kits and the necessary seed or soil. Regional Extension agents deliver these kits to their destinations. O\u2019Rear said the gardens were portable by design and made on a scale to encourage similar efforts by senior citizens at home.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe thought is that participating seniors may not plant eight buckets like the pop-up garden, but they may be willing to try two buckets at home,\u201d O\u2019Rear said. \u201cThese gardens are an opportunity for them to learn and hopefully encourage them to try gardening at home as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

Changing Lives<\/h2>\n

Kronk said the EMG program has affected him in a number of ways.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt has given me a meaningful way to provide volunteer time,\u201d Kronk said. \u201cIt has also allowed me to correct a lot of mistakes I\u2019ve made in my own garden. I\u2019m gaining a wealth of knowledge, and I am able to put it into action here more than ever.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kronk also said many of the senior center\u2019s frequent visitors have expressed interest in taking home cuttings of roses, bushes and other plants on the property. He is working with the senior center and other volunteers to make those cuttings available, alongside the seasonal produce grown on-site.<\/p>\n

O\u2019Rear said the volunteers like Kronk in communities across the state have made pop-up gardens successful.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe real heroes of this project are the community partners and Extension Master Gardener volunteers who have worked tirelessly on these gardens from the very beginning, ensuring success, harvest after harvest,\u201d she said. \u201cWe are so grateful for all they have done.\u201d<\/p>\n

Discover Alabama Extension<\/h2>\n

Providing nutritious food for Alabama\u2019s senior citizens through the Grow More, Give More<\/a> project is just one of the many ways Alabama Extension delivers solutions for life\u2019s everyday challenges. Extension educators are strong community partners, bringing practical ways to support homes, farms, people and communities.[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Extension\u2019s Grow More, Give More Project Improving Lives by Katie NicholsAUBURN UNIVERSITY, Ala. \u2014 The Grow More, Give More (GMGM) project is changing the lives of Alabama senior citizens one container garden at a time. Since 2020, the GMGM project \u2014 led by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System home grounds, gardens and home pests team […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":33,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"yoast_head":"\nLarry Kronk - Discover ACES<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aces.edu\/discover\/larry-kronk\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Larry Kronk - Discover ACES\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Extension\u2019s Grow More, Give More Project Improving Lives by Katie NicholsAUBURN UNIVERSITY, Ala. \u2014 The Grow More, Give More (GMGM) project is changing the lives of Alabama senior citizens one container garden at a time. 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