Meet Kenyon Vandervelde

Kenyon was born at a naval hospital in Washington State and has lived in various places during her life including Rota, Spain. She served her country in the United States Air Force. She moved to Norfolk because the Mid-Atlantic area is the only area of the U.S. she has not lived.

Kenyon has a Bachelor’s Degree from Texas A&M University in Criminal Justice and is semi-retired from her painting business at this time.

Kenyon has a dream to open an aquaponics farm and she thought a good way to learn about plants and maintaining a garden would be to join the master gardener’s program. She found the Norfolk Master Gardener’s program to be far more than she expected and believes it is an amazing opportunity to be involved with the community, make new friends and increase skills and knowledge in many different areas.

As a member of the Class of 2022, more than half of the class sessions were conducted on Zoom. She would have preferred in-person classes, but considering the concerns with COVID, she felt the training was a great experience and she learned a lot. She felt that the instructors were knowledgeable and inspiring people.

To attain her fifty hours Kenyon worked primarily at the Fred Heutte Square Foot Garden and the Potager Garden at Norfolk Botanical Garden. She plans to volunteer at many of the projects before deciding where she will focus her time in the future.

Kenyon has been a prepper for almost ten years. She has a ham radio license and practices food storage, alternative medicine and edible plants.

Kenyon has a brother, two nieces, and other extended family scattered across the country. She lives with her two cats, “Butterfield” and “Artemus.”

When you see Kenyon, be sure to introduce yourself and welcome her as a Norfolk Extension Master Gardener.