By Jeff Burbrink
Ag & Natural Resources Extension Educator, Purdue Extension LaGrange County

I am happy to announce the Purdue Master Gardener Program will be offered this winter in a virtual setting. The statewide program will be offered in 14 sessions via the internet from 6:30-8:30 p.m. ET Tuesday evenings, beginning Feb. 4 and running through May 7. The speakers for the virtual portion of the program are among the most knowledgeable in the state.

Jeff Burbrink

In addition to those Tuesdays, several of my northeast Indiana colleagues will be hosting in-person face to face sessions in seven locations where the participants can get hands-on training. These “local connection” sessions will be held on Monday evenings: Feb. 10 and 24, March 17 and 31, April 14 and 28, and May 12.

Topics we cover in the Master Gardener program include plant science, plant nutrition, soils, disease, insects, pesticide safety, trees, herbaceous plants, weed control, lawn care, vegetables, fruit gardening, and more. In other words, just about anything gardening related.

But Master Gardeners is more than the classes, it is a volunteer training program. What makes Master Gardeners special is that you will often see people strike up long term friends as they meet others with common interests, and they in turn share their experiences with others in the community. Most Master Gardeners share a passion to share their knowledge with others.

To earn the title Master Gardener, a person must 1) apply for the program 2) pass the screening process 3) pay the registration fee of $185, 4) attend the trainings 5) pass an open book exam, and 6) complete 40 hours of volunteer time in the community within 2 years. That list may seem intimidating, but most people will say the time flies by and its actually fun and a great learning experience.

Where to start? Visit the Purdue Extension — Lagrange County website. You will find the full schedule, instructions to apply, and the application.

There are two key deadlines to remember

1) The application needs to be submitted to participating Extension Offices by Jan. 13.

2) Once you are accepted into the program, you will receive a link to register and pay the registration fee by Jan. 21. At that point, you should mark your calendars and prepare for a great experience.

Here’s another idea! Do you have a gardener in your family who might enjoy being a Master Gardener? Maybe the virtual Master Gardener program would be a great Christmas gift. Since participating in Master Gardeners training is a sizable commitment, it is best to talk about that potential gift first.