Come Grow with the University of Illinois: Become a Master Gardener

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 22, 2009

Area lawn and garden enthusiasts can get intensive horticulture training in exchange for volunteer hours through University of Illinois Extension's Master Gardener program. The training program consists of weekly sessions that run from January through April.

Participants get more than 60 hours of in-depth instruction on such topics as soils; botany; insect and disease control; flowers, trees, shrubs and other ornamentals; fruit and vegetable production; houseplants; basic landscaping and a wide range of other topics.

In exchange for this intensive training, Master Gardeners donate 60 hours of volunteer horticulture-related service back to U of I Extension in their local communities. Some Master Gardeners answer lawn and garden questions from homeowners. Others help design and operate displays and demonstrations at home shows. And, some make presentations to local schools and civic groups.

The Master Gardener training will be held starting in January and will end in April. For the Metro-East area, the training is on Tuesdays, January 5 through April 20, and rotates between Edwardsville, Belleville and Waterloo. In Springfield and Decatur, the program is scheduled to start on Thursday, January 21 and continue until April 1. At all locations, classes run from 9 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The University of Illinois Extension will offer Master Gardener training On-Line as an option for those who would like to take the Master Gardener course, but due to work schedules or travel concerns are unable to attend one of the face-to-face training programs. The 2010 class will run from January 14 through May 14, coinciding with spring semester on the U of I campus.

For more details, contact the U of I Extension office in Macoupin County, 217-854-9604 by December 1. Applications must be completed by December 11. Cost of the program is $160 for the classroom program and $250 for the on-line class

If you need disability accommodations to participate in this program, please indicate when registering.