Welcome to the Purdue Master Gardener program. You are about to become part of SWIMGA: The Southwestern Indiana Master Gardener Association.

Transcription

1 Welcome to the Purdue Master Gardener program. You are about to become part of SWIMGA: The Southwestern Indiana Master Gardener Association. There are currently 450 active Master Gardeners. In 2013, they turned in over 20,000 hours of volunteer service! 1

2 2

3 3

4 The Purdue MG Program provides intensive education in horticultural principles to those with an interest in gardening. 4

5 5

6 6

7 Indiana s Master Gardener Program was initiated in 1978, modeled after the original Seattle, Washington program. The program currently has more than 70 active 7

8 county programs. 7

9 John Orick 8

10 9

11 The motto for the program: Helping Others Grow. 10

12 Basic classroom training takes place in the local county and over a period of 15 weeks, usually as one 3-hour class per week. The classes are taught by local Extension Educators, Purdue University Specialists, 11

13 and other qualified instructors. Master Gardeners increase their knowledge on a wide variety of horticultural subjects. 11

14 12

15 Purdue Master Gardener Program guidelines require the teaching of basic subjects including plant and soil science, and plant problem diagnosis. 13

16 Topics such as pesticide safety, herbaceous and woody ornamentals, and lawn care are also required. 14

17 Some training sites may also include additional subjects such as landscape design or home fruit production. 15

18 At the end of the multi-week training session, participants must pass a final exam with a minimum score of 70% to be certified as a Master Gardener Intern. 16

19 After passing the final exam, interns serve as volunteers for the Master Gardener Program, representing Purdue University. 17

20 Volunteer service can be done in a number of ways while participating in educational events while representing the Purdue Master Gardener Program 18

21 Here an Advanced Master Gardener is giving a formal presentation about bees at the Indiana Flower & Patio Show. 19

22 Master Gardeners are teaching youth how to make a terrarium. 20

23 Some Master Gardeners have become with teaching therapeutic gardening through hands-on workshops at nursing homes. 21

24 Master Gardeners in Hamilton County offer a series of classes about gardening at the library for the public. 22

25 Improving the community through education: Rain garden in Mt. Vernon 23

26 Educating with hands-on projects: Upper left: Garden walk Upper right: Tri State Food Bank Garden Lower right: Demo Day at MGDG Lower Left: MGDG 24

27 Garden Projects: Have a total of 20 or more in the 4 county area. 25

28 Answering questions: Garden walk (President Sharon Giles working hard ) Home Show Answering Phone 26

29 Our Plant Sale is held every year, 1 st weekend in May. Draws hundreds of residents from tristate. Netted over $40,000 last year. 27

30 Master Gardeners love to socialize. Here we are anxiously awaiting a fabulous herbal lunch, complete with lemon verbena lemonade. 28

31 After volunteering for a minimum of 35 hours, Master Gardener Interns are certified as Purdue Master Gardeners and receive a certificate and an engraved badge. 29

32 Certified Master Gardeners who continue their education and volunteer service are eligible for Advanced Master Gardener Status. 30

33 After becoming an Advanced Master Gardener, there are additional levels of recognition to strive for: bronze, silver, and gold. 31

34 Gold MG 32

35 Advanced training opportunities are offered several times each year throughout the state. These Master Gardeners are getting a first-hand look at the Purdue Horticulture 33

36 Demonstration gardens. 33

37 Master Gardeners have the opportunity to delved into specific subjects at advanced training opportunities such as plant problem diagnosis. At every monthly meeting, we have an 34

38 educational speaker. 34

39 Walking tours provide live specimens for subjects such as proper pruning techniques and problem identification. Local gardens, and bus tours to regional gardens. 35

40 These are just some of the Master Gardeners from Indiana that attended the International Master Gardener conference in Cincinnati in June,

41 How this class will work 37

42 38

43 Recommendations part 1 39

44 Recommendations, part 2 40

45 Organic vs. pesticides 41

46 Check out the Purdue Master Gardener Website for the latest information about the program and what it has to offer! 42

47 My contact info 43