Porter County Master Gardeners Association
Purdue Extension - Porter County
155 Indiana Avenue, Suite 301
Valparaiso, Indiana 46383
Phone (219) 465-3555, FAX 219-464-8976
Garden Walk 2008
Garden Walk 2008 on
6th Annual Gardening Show
Saturday, January 24, 2009
9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. CST
Porter County Exposition Center
IN-49 at Division Road
Valparaiso, IN
Thanks to all those who made our 2008 Gardening Show a resounding success -- speakers, vendors, volunteers, and especially, our guests! We look forward to seeing you again in January, 2009. In the meantime, happy gardening!
Association Membership Application
Record of Volunteer Hours Form (Excel spreadsheet)
New Member Guide Book (Hard copies are available at the Extension Office)
Purdue Extension - Porter County
Master Gardener Basic Training Application
Porter County Master Gardener Intern Class Directory: (Fall 2006) (Spring 2007) (Fall 2007)
Junior Master Gardener Programs:
Boone Grove Elementary
Chrisman Elementary
Hayes-Leonard Elementary - Garden of Heroes
Hilltop - Reiner Community Center
Myers Elementary
Yost Elementary - Rock n' Robins
The Porter County Master Gardeners Association (PCMGA) was formed as a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization in December 2003. Members donate funds received from their two educational projects: the Valparaiso/Porter County Garden Walk , scheduled for Saturday, July 8, 2006 and the Annual Gardening Show (formerly the Seed & Bulb Exchange), which was held ton January 28, 2006.
In addition to making community service donations of up to $500 per year, the PCMGA sponsors up to three annual non-renewable scholarships of $500 each for college students majoring in landscape design, horticulture, botany or a closely-related field. Scholarship applications are due by March 1st of each year and winners of these awards are announced by the following June. Finally , the PCMGA makes community grants of up to $250 annually to individuals and/or groups for materials (not labor) to be used in gardening/horticultural volunteer projects. All donation programs are open to individuals and/or groups in Porter County and the immediately surrounding area. Application forms for grants and scholarships are available in the Porter County Extension Office. The forms are also available on-line in the "Resources" section of this webpage.
Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service sponsors the Master Gardener Program whose motto is "Helping Others Grow". Purdue provides a learning framework for participants to increase their knowledge on a wide variety of horticultural subjects. In turn, certified Master Gardeners volunteer in counties throughout Indiana as representatives of the University. They help others grow by sharing knowledge while providing leadership and service in educational gardening activities within their communities.
In Porter County, Master Gardeners help staff the Purdue Extension - Porter County Horticulture Hotline from April through October and the booth at the Porter County Fair. They volunteer in county elementary schools as leaders of the Junior Master Gardener Program and they coordinate other community gardening activities.
Purpose Statement of the Association:
The purpose of the PCMGA, a non-profit organization, shall be to promote the art, science, education, and pleasure of gardening in the community, in cooperation with the Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service of Porter County; and to abide by the Purdue University Master Gardener Program guidelines. The methods of attaining this objective may include, but are not limited to:
a) increasing the members' knowledge of new and proper gardening techniques through informative programs at meetings, special activities, and additional approved instruction on various aspects of gardening;
b) providing the community with education and information on good gardening practices through news articles, clinics, telephone help lines, presentations at garden clubs, schools, and other community groups, and at public events and shows;
c) providing volunteer service in community projects involving gardening knowledge and skills;
d) assisting members of the Association in fulfilling their volunteer service commitment;
e) encouraging the visitation of members' gardens.