...in Grant County, Indiana
Order Master Gardener merchandise here.
Program Overview
The Purdue Master Gardener Program is an integral part of the Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service and provides the citizens of Indiana a chance to grow. Under the guidance and support of Purdue Extension, selected residents of a county voluntarily begin a training program specifically designed to prepare them to help others grow.
The program provides a learning framework for participants to increase their knowledge on a wide variety of horticultural subjects.
When these volunteers complete the 12- to 16-week training program (one 3-hour class per week) and pass an examination (at least a 70% score), they are then identified by the county and Purdue as Master Gardener Interns. The Master Gardener Interns are expected to complete 35 volunteer service hours, representing the Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service. They help others grow by sharing knowledge while providing leadership and service in educational gardening activities within their communities, under the guidance of the local Program Coordinator.
When the minimum volunteer commitment has been fulfilled, volunteers are then certified as Master Gardeners. Master Gardeners remain active by completing six hours of educational training and twelve hours of volunteer service per year. Advanced levels of certification are offered to help with recognition and retention of volunteers.
Grant County's Master Gardener program began under the direction of Virgil Griffith in 1980, and it continues to be a very popular and thriving program today. If you are interested in more information about the Master Gardener Program in Grant County, you may respond through the county Master Gardener program informational brochure, the general Purdue Master Gardener Program informational brochure (Purdue publication HO-184: html or pdf), or through the e-mail link above.
In addition, if you are part of a local community group that would like to have a Master Gardener teach your group about a gardening topic, please e-mail the Purdue Extension office in Grant County, or call the office at 765-651-2413. Please allow plenty of time to make arrangements.
Back to Grant County ANR Program Page
Back to Purdue Extension - Grant County Home
Training Classes/Events
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Purdue Master Gardener program...
1. Intern Training (Basic Training) - This is step #1, the first course you take. It is typically a 12- to 16-week program that provides the foundation upon which the volunteer program is built. For a current listing of scheduled intern training classes in the state, click here. For more information, call the Purdue Extension office in Grant County at 765-651-2413.
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Hobby Gardener Series
Although completely separate from and unrelated to the Master Gardener program, Purdue Extension in Grant County is offering a new series to interested local people, the Hobby Gardener Series. No experience necessary! Come to learn and pick up a few tips that may help you become a better gardener.
Series 2 rescheduled! Informational Flyer Registration Form News Release
Series 1: "From the ground up," (soils and fertilizers, plant science, and composting) Sept. 23, 30, and Oct. 7, 2008 >>Series 2: "Keeping plants healthy," (plant diseases, insects, weeds, pesticide safety and alternatives) Oct. 27, Nov. 3, 10, 17, 2009. Marion Public Library Carnegie Building (Museum) Forrest Room. Register by Oct. 19! Series 3: "Way to grow!" (annuals, perennials, trees and shrubs) Sept./Oct. 2010 (tentative) Series 4: "Improving lawn and garden," (lawn care, vegetables, and introduction to landscaping) Sept./Oct. 2011 (tentative) |
2. Advanced
Educational Training - Advanced training sessions are typically
hosted by county Program Coordinators or by Purdue staff at conferences.
For upcoming advanced training sessions in the state,
click
here. Topics are different for each training location, and they
appeal to a wide variety of gardening interests.
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Minimum Certification Requirements |
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| Award | Cumulative Volunteer Hours | Cumulative Educational Training Hours |
| Master Gardener | 35 | 35* |
| Advanced Master Gardener | 60 | 45 |
| Bronze Advanced Master Gardener | 200 | 60 |
| Silver Advanced Master Gardener | 500 | 75 |
| Gold Advanced Master Gardener | 1000 | 100 |
Volunteer hours are reported to the Program Coordinator on a Volunteer Report. To remain "active," a Master Gardener must donate a minimum of twelve (12) hours of volunteer service and receive six (6) hours of advanced educational training each year. Advanced training may be obtained through:
Name badges and certificates: In Grant County, your intern badge, Master Gardener badge and Advanced Master Gardener badge are included with your initial intern training fee. However, bronze, silver and gold advanced Master Gardener badges are not included with the initial intern training fee to keep that cost down, and because few reach these levels. Therefore, volunteers reaching these levels are asked to provide money needed to pay for the badges. All certificates acknowledging your level of certification are free.
*These 35 hours are accumulated through the initial 12- to 16-week Intern Training class.
Master Gardeners and Friends Club
In Grant County, many Master Gardeners find rewarding fellowship, education and volunteer opportunities through participation in the Master Gardeners and Friends Club. The club meets on the second Thursday of each month, usually at 6:30 at the Marion Public Library (unless something special is planned). Contact the Extension office for more information at 765-651-2413.
In addition to regular meetings, the club conducts other various activities throughout the year, such as plant swaps, tours, trips, etc. Contact a club officer for details.
Meeting programs are planned as follows. We'll try hard to keep the website updated, or you may call club president or Extension office for updates to the schedule, which may occur. Note that times and meeting locations may be different for various months.
(TBA = to be announced)
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2009 Meeting/ Event Date |
Time |
Place |
Meeting/Program Notes |
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Jan. - no meeting |
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Feb. 12 |
6:30 p.m. |
"Buds to Blooms" W. 50th St., Marion |
New business tour: plants, coffee, nice gifts |
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March 12 |
6:30 p.m. |
Marion Public Library, Conf. room |
Starting Seeds |
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April 9 |
6:30 p.m. |
Marion Public Library, Room B |
Doug Darga: New plans for flower gardens in Matter Park Susan Ancil: Grant County Farmers Markets Valene Alexander: Gourds |
| May 2 |
9:00 a.m. setup 10:00 a.m. swap |
Grant County 4-H Fairgrounds | Plant swap - bring a plant and swap for another. |
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May
14
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6:30 p.m. |
Indiana Wesleyan Univ. Greenhouse (SE corner of lot at 4807 S. Western Avenue, Marion: Strip mall with Dunham's Sports, Dollar General, IWU Physical Facilities Building) |
*Bedding plants used by Indiana Wesleyan University (greenhouse tour) *Indiana State Climate office at Purdue University - presentation of CoCoRaHS: become a local weather reporter! For additional info, visit CoCoRaHS website at: http://www.cocorahs.org/state.aspx?state=in News release about this event here. |
| May 9 | 9:00 a.m. - noon | Tractor Supply Company, Marion, IN | Plant sale - bring your extras to sell and benefit the club! Set up at 8:00 a.m. |
| June 11 | 6:00 p.m. | Matter Park, Marion |
Picnic? (usually we're at Shelter 1 by tennis courts), bring a covered dish VOLUNTEER GRADUATION - cancelled for storms |
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June 22-27 |
4-10 p.m. M-F Noon - 10pm Sat |
Booth at 4-H Fair |
Horticulture Information Booth; promote Master Gardeners |
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July 9 |
6:00 p.m. |
Marion Public Library, Room B |
Show and tell |
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Aug. 13 |
6:30 p.m. |
Kathy Herbort's home |
Tour & other info; bring a lawn chair |
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Sept. 10 |
6:30 p.m. |
Marion Public Library, Room A |
Pam and Roy Childers: Master Gardeners from Miami
County - blueberries, maple syrup, fertilizing trees |
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Oct. 8 |
6:30 p.m. |
Marion Public Library, Room B |
"Show and Tell" |
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Nov. 12 |
6:30 p.m. |
Marion Public Library, Room B |
TBA |
| Dec. 10 | TBA | Indiana Wesleyan University | Holiday meal |
Horticultural Links of
Interest
Below are links to information that address some of the more common requests received in the Grant County Extension office.
Quick
Guide to Ornamental Annuals, by Mary Welch-Keesey - nice identification &
cultural requirements
tool! (7.37MB)
P=Purdue
If you see "P" beside the listing, it means the link is to an exclusive Purdue Extension publication or Purdue University web resource. Other sources, or joint projects between Purdue University and others are noted.
American Horticultural Society
Horticulture & Landscape
Abiotic Plant Disorders (Michigan State University)
ACORN P (Alternative Control Outreach Research Network)
All-America Selections (flowers and vegetables)
Annual Trials at Michigan State University
Attracting Butterflies to Your Yard P (Publication FNR-248)
Facts for Fancy Fruit Newsletter P
Fertilizing Woody Plants P (Publication HO-140)
Flowers and Houseplants, Purdue Extension publications on P
Fruit, Purdue Extension publications on P
Garden Calendar - Spring P (Publication HO-91)
Garden Calendar - Summer P (Publication HO-92)
Garden Calendar - Autumn P (Publication HO-93)
Garden Calendar - Winter P (Publication HO-90)
General Horticulture, Purdue Extension publications on P
Home Gardener's Guide P (Vegetables - Publication HO-32)
Horticulture & Landscape Architecture Extension P
The Indiana Flower Grower newsletter P
Insect and Mite Control on Woody Ornamentals and Herbaceous Perennials (Ohio State University Extension Bulletin 504)
IPM of Midwest Landscapes - Home Page (Univ. of Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station and USDA North Central IPM Center)
IPM of Midwest Landscapes - Beneficial Insects, Mites, and Spiders (Univ. of Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station and USDA North Central IPM Center)
IPM of Midwest Landscapes - Pests of Trees and Shrubs (Univ. of Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station and USDA North Central IPM Center)
IPM of Midwest Landscapes - Pest of Turf (Univ. of Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station and USDA North Central IPM Center)
Landscape Alternatives for Invasive Plants of the Midwest (Purdue University, The Nature Conservancy of Indiana and others)
Landscape Design and Management, Purdue Extension publication on P
Lawn Care publications P (Publications on lawn care and turfgrass management)
Managing Insects in the Home Vegetable Garden P (Publication E-21; large file: 5.94 MB)
Managing Pests in Home Fruit Plantings P (Publication ID-146, tree fruits)
Managing Yard Waste: Clippings and Compost P (Publication ID-182)
Midwest Small Fruit Pest Management Handbook (Ohio State University Extension Bulletin 861)
Midwest Tree Fruit Pest Management Handbook (University of Kentucky Extension publication ID-93)
Midwest Vegetable Production Guide for Commercial Growers P (Publication ID-56)
New Agriculture Network (Sustainable & Organic Ag in Great Lakes Region - Purdue Univ., Michigan State Univ., Univ. of Illinois, and growers)
New Crop Resource On-Line Program P
Organic Vegetable Production P (Publication ID-316, large file)
Plant Identification P (Purdue Horticulture "Senior Study" - ornamentals, flowers, fruits & nuts, vegetables)
Plant Information On-line (Univ. of Minn. & Minnesota Landscape Arboretum)
Planting Landscape Trees and Shrubs P (Publication HO-100)
Pruning Ornamental Trees and Shrubs P (Publication HO-4)
Purdue Master Gardener Program P
Purdue Master Gardener Program in Grant County P
Purdue University Floriculture Extension P
Purdue University Garden Publications P
Quick Guide to Ornamental Annuals (Identification guide by Mary Welch-Keesey, Purdue consumer horticulturist, 7.37MB)
Rx for Wounded Trees (US Forest Service, based on life work of Dr. Alex L. Shigo)
Turfgrass Disease Profiles P (Publications on turf diseases)
Turfgrass Fertilization Calculator P
Turfgrass Identification Tool P
Turfgrass Insect Management P (Publication E-61)
Urban Forestry P (Dept. of Forestry and Natural Resources)
Vegetable Crops Hotline newsletter P (Designed for commercial growers)
Vegetables, Purdue Extension publications on P
Grant County Office Complex ● 401 South Adams Street, Room 422 ● Marion, IN 46953 ● 765-651-2413
Last updated: November 9, 2009
There
are basically two types of training programs associated with the
Purdue Extension