my mentor

Sometimes I read the newspapers from the places I used to live. I read about a terrible storm out east and decided to look in the Asbury Park Press to see what's what. Right there on the front page was an article about the lady who was my mentor when I took the Master Gardener training in New Joy Sea just before we left for Washington. Van was very kind to me and helped calm my nervousness about "going back to school" at my age. How nice to see her hard work and dedication publicized!

From the Asbury Park Press:

Vandella M. is happiest when her hands are dirty. Strong and tall, this earth mother spent much of her summer as a volunteer in Rutgers University's Master Gardener program, tending to vegetables grown in a plot of land at the Ocean County Park in Lakewood.

"Along with her helpers, she has donated over 1,800 pounds of produce to community programs that provide food for the hungry," said Kerren V., a fellow Master Gardener from Jackson, who wrote a letter to the Asbury Park Press nominating Vandella as a Hometown Hero.

"Vandella is not a young woman. . . . Many of the younger Master Gardeners are awed by her physical energy and determination," Kerren wrote. "As she works, her conversation is about her latest efforts to protect her crops from groundhogs, voles, etc., as well as her favorite way to cook okra."

Vandella, 70, of Jackson, is quick to point out that she is only one of many volunteer gardeners.

She said she graduated from Rutgers' "Master Gardener" program in 2002. "I was interested in the vegetable gardening because there were too many groundhogs where I live to grow veggies," she said. "I have day lilies and daffodils in my garden at home, but only because the groundhogs don't like them."

Among the seasonal crops planted in the park's garden are collards, kale, okra, tomatoes, peppers, hot peppers, rutabagas, chard, cucumbers, squash, spinach, radishes, turnips, lettuce, potatoes and sweet potatoes, according to Susan D., a Point Pleasant resident and master gardener who is co-chairperson of the community garden at the park.

"We grew 1,931 1/2 pounds of assorted vegetables, which were donated to Catholic Charities Emergency Services, St. Anthony Claret Church, and Congregation Ahavat Shalom, all in Lakewood," Vandella said.

"But the okra got eaten up, and we didn't get any sweet potatoes. The Colorado potato beetle attacked our eggplant," she added.

Vandella spent so much time at the garden that her volunteer hours totaled 2,000 hours over a four-year period, said Debra S., a Dover Township resident who is president of the Ocean County Master Gardeners.

"It's not easy getting that many hours in such a short period of time," Debra said. "She's here five days a week during the growing season and three mornings a week in the off-season."

"She's so dedicated. When it's cold out, she's outside working while I'm watching her from inside the warm greenhouse," Debra said. "She's out here in the heat of day during the summer, too.

"I know this garden has helped a lot of people, and it's because of Van," she said.

Vandella, who has been married to Adam M. for the past 44 years, moved to Jackson 36 years ago. The couple has one daughter, Pamela M., who is a registered nurse at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in Newark.

Vandella graduated from New York University with a bachelor of science degree in food management and then went on to work as manager of patient services and sanitation at New York University for 29 1/2 years.

While living in Jackson, she became a certified home health aide and taught food management classes at the Monmouth County Vocational Technical School in Long Branch for five years. She is also a member of the advisory council of the Retired Senior Volunteer Program in Ocean County and is a surrogate parent for the state Department of Human Services, advocating for children whose parents are not able to represent them during their individual educational-planning process.

She is a master composter and sings with the Lyme Tyx, a group of master gardeners who perform at the graduation of students who complete the 60-hour Master Gardener program.

She also sings in her church choir at St. Anthony Claret Church and at the Ocean Grove Choir Festival held each year in July.

And when someone is needed to visit a nursing home or lecture about horticulture, Vandella is often called upon.

"Vandella's an inspiration," said Delores H. of Brick, a past president of the Master Gardeners.

In 2002, Vandella was one of two master gardeners to receive the Master Composter Award for Excellence from the Rutgers Cooperative Research and Extension. In 2003, she was recognized for volunteering 1,000 hours to the Home Horticulture Program of the master gardeners, and this year she was acknowledged for her 2,000 hours of service to the Master Gardener program.

You go Van! And holy hell, I am such a slacker, but she sure does inspire me to stop that crap.