The lobby of the OCtech Math and Science Center was decorated with bright balloons and blooms in spring colors Wednesday for the Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College Foundation’s annual Spring Brunch. More than 250 attended the brunch buffet while mingling with old friends and making new ones.
Faith McCurry, public relations coordinator for OCtech, was glad to see such a large turnout for the occasion. She emphasized that the purpose of the brunch was multifaceted, going well beyond the goal of fund-raising.
“This event is not just a fund-raiser,” McCurry said. “It gets people from the community out to see the college. It gives us the opportunity to make new friends.”
The perimeter of the lobby was filled with tables of donated garden-related items for the Silent Auction, and selections of books on gardening were offered for sale as were colorful gerbera daisies to benefit the Foundation. Area garden clubs -- Petal Pushers, Verdant, Magnolia and Dogwood from Orangeburg and Camellia from Cameron -- designed and donated container gardens, bringing in almost $600 for a newly established Garden Club Scholarship for OCtech students.
Other proceeds from the brunch will assist with additional scholarships, professional development for faculty and staff and mini grants for student projects.
Members of the Orangeburg Master Gardeners handed out free “goody bags” containing soil testing instructions, gardening tips and other information.
Wednesday’s event was also an opportunity to be entertained by Amanda McNulty, a frequent guest on ETV’s “Making It Grow” and co-host of “Down Home with Tony and Amanda.” McNulty, who works with Clemson Extension Service in Sumter County, gave a riveting talk on soil, building organic matter and moving toward a more sustainable yard and garden. She encouraged gardeners to look at their yard as an overall living entity – to treat it holistically.
“Soil is the spiritual grounding of life,” McNulty said.
McNulty’s presentation evoked frequent bursts of laughter as she explained how to tell one end of an earthworm from the other and drafted volunteers from the audience to demonstrate how a water molecule moves in soil.
Penny Summers of the OCtech Foundation described McNulty’s affinity for nature and unique approach to gardening.
“Amanda sees everything in nature as if she’s looking at it for the first time,” Summers said. “To me this is the most remarkable thing about her.”
Sponsors for the event were J. T. Bozard Inc., Hay Hill, Hayden’s Nursery, Hi Cotton Greenhouses, Shady Grove Plantation and Nursery and South Carolina Bank & Trust.
Guests were invited to attend the Foundation’s fall event, “An Evening of Fine Wines and Foods” on Oct. 14.
The Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College Foundation was established in 1977. It is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization totally separate from Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College. The purpose of the Foundation is to further the educational aims of the college and its students and employees.
For more information, call Penny Summers at 803-535-1230 or Patricia Pardue at 803-535-1246.
T&D Garden Columnist Minnie Miller can be reached by writing to her at 138 Nature’s Trail, Bamberg, SC 29003. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.