Master Gardener Training

When: Fridays, June 12-August 28
Time: 9am-12pm
Location: 12923 Lawrence Rd. Sterling, IL (With occasional offsite visits)
Cost: $225 - Please contact the Whiteside County Extension Office if cost is a barrier to your participation. Call 815-632-3611 or email msedig@illinois.edu.
What is a Master Gardener? The University of Illinois Master Gardener program is an educational volunteer training program. The program is open to any adult willing to learn about horticulture and share that research based information with others. To become a Master Gardener, participants must be accepted into the program, complete the training and agree to volunteer at least 40 hours within 2 years to the local U of I Extension office.
Training covers various home horticulture topics including: Basic Botany, Flower Gardening, Insects, Integrated Pest Management, Plant Diseases, Small Fruits, Soils and Fertilizer, Tree and Shrub Care, and Turfgrass Care.
Volunteer Opportunities Include: staffing plant clinics or farmers markets speaking to local organizations establishing community gardens conducting programs for youth answering phone and email questions about gardening writing newspaper articles