If you enjoy learning about gardening, plants, and horticulture, and would like to meet people who share your interest, you may be interested in becoming an IOWA MASTER GARDENER.
Master Gardener trainees receive more than 40 hours of instruction from ISU and Extension specialists. Classes cover lawn care; ornamental trees and shrubs; insect, wildlife, disease, and weed control; pesticide safety; soil and plant nutrition; fruits; vegetable gardening; houseplants; plant propagation; garden flowers; and home landscape design.
In exchange for training, Master Gardeners are asked to volunteer 40 hours of service back to their community through horticulture educational activities. The type of service projects done by Master Gardeners varies greatly. They may share gardening information through plant clinics or newsletters, speak to local groups, provide horticulture therapy activities or assist the 4-H horticulture program activities. Present projects include plantings at community properties such as at the Lee Mansion, assisting with the Independence Band Boosters Garden Walk and assisting with the Master Gardener booth at the county fair. Some Master Gardeners create their own tailored projects.
The 2009 Master Gardener classes will be held on every Tuesday and four Thursdays from 6:30 to 9:30 PM from January 6 to March 1. Classes will be held at the Heartland Acres barn south of MHI except for one Saturday at Iowa State University. The cost of the program is $105.00 (the Buchanan County Master Gardener Association is offering $20 toward the $125 total for each participant). The fee includes two class resource books and a ringbinder filled with horticulture information. Please register by December 1.
For more information on the Master Gardener Program, contact Diane Slaughter at the Buchanan County Extension office at 319-334-7161.
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9/25/2008