Happy 4th Birthday!

We thought you might like to know that The Underground Yahoo Group was established exactly 4 years ago today - December 16, 2004. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

The group began a few short months before it's migration to Yahoo, and was formed by a small number of folks from the Clark University/Tower Hill program. The group has evolved over time to include many professionals, students and instructors from various organizations and institutions.

Thanks to all our members who have stuck by us from the beginning. And to all our newer members, we welcome your support. We will continue to offer some great educational programs and look forward to your continued participation!

We have a great line-up being planned for the coming year. Stay tuned for more information.

Please Welcome Kathy Tunsley and Kath Holland to our Steering Committee

We are very pleased to announce that both Kathy Tunsley of Viburnum Landscape Design in Sharon, MA and Kath Holland of Blue Newt Designs in North Easton, MA have joined The Underground Steering Committee as a new Members-at-Large. We welcome Kathy and Kath to our team and look forward to their contributions to our organization.

Thank You to Denise Pegrum

Please join us in in thanking Denise Pegrum for all her hard work. As of January, she will be stepping down from our Steering Committee to focus on her career in landscape design and maintenance as owner of Cheshire Cat Organic Gardens. So we would like to take this moment to recognize her for her many contributions to The Underground.

Denise joined The Underground in its early beginnings and has over more than three years helped in the formation of our organizations policies and procedures. She has been a valued member of our steering committee as The Underground's first Secretary and recently as a Member-At-Large and has provided much needed operational and program support.

Having worn many hats as a steering member - she has written meeting minutes and press releases, coordinated programs, offered advice, and been an active contributor of ideas. She has been a dedicated volunteer who has always generously helped with program logistics and setup, registration, photography, and a whole host of other operational tasks. Whenever assistance was needed, Denise has been without fail, one of the first to volunteer to help. She has graciously hosted many steering meetings at her home in Stow, MA and has consistently been a very supportive, dependable and cheerful member of our committee. She will be missed very much.

Denise, words cannot express all our gratitude for the wonderful work you have done for us. Thank you! We wish you the very best in all your future endeavors. We look forward to seeing you at future educational programs and keeping in touch with you on The Underground. Have a wonderful holiday season!

The Underground Steering Committee

Please Welcome Our New Advisors

We are very pleased to announce that we have recently formed a panel of advisors to help guide the future direction of The Underground. The following Underground members have generously volunteered to be our advisors. We would like to welcome them to our team and look forward to their contributions to our organization.

Advisory Board

Pamela Burton
A Room With A View
Newton, MA

Steve Hancock
NorthStar Farm Perennials & Groundcovers
Westport, MA

Chuck Sherzi, Jr.
Plant Health Care Supervisor
Tree Specialists, Inc.
Holliston, MA

Russell Stafford
Discovered Gardens
Lancaster, MA

Tom Strangfeld
Thomas Strangfeld Associates
Newton, MA

Priscilla Hutt Williams
Pumpkin Book Organic Gardening, Inc.
Townsend, MA

Please Welcome Seija Halva to our Steering Committee

We are pleased to announce that Seija Hälvä, PhD of Garden Coach^SM in Lexington, MA has joined our Steering Committee as a new Member-at-Large. We welcome Seija to our team and look forward to her contributions to our organization.

Insurance for the Landscape Professional Program

The Underground educational program "Insurance for the Landscape Professional" was held on Saturday, November 1st. at the Middlesex Canal Museum. Thank you to Charles Nikopoulos and Steve Joyce for being our panelists at this informative program. The questions that were posed and answered were extremely helpful and we received very positive feedback from our participants. Thank you also goes to our volunteers Ed Council, Laurie Fitzgerald and Jeff Barone. A very special thank you goes to our program coordinators Ed Coykendall and Jay Bearfield - the program was terrific.

Site Surveying Workshop

The Underground "Site Surveying Workshop" was held as scheduled on September 27th. Rain held off while 32 participants tried their hand at determining site elevations at Tower Hill Botanic Garden. Thank you to Susan Sullivan and her staff for organizing this informative workshop. Thank you also goes to our volunteers Ed Council, Denise Pegrum and Laurie Fitzgerald.