The University of Tennessee and Master Gardeners of Hamilton County announce that registration is open for a special Fall 2020 Master Gardener Training Course. Classes will be held online via Zoom for 15 consecutive weeks from October, 2020 through January, 2021. In addition to class presentations, there will be special opportunities for hands-on experience. Each participant will receive a package with books and other materials.
There are two class options: Monday evenings beginning Oct. 19 from 6-8 p.m. and Tuesday mornings beginning Oct. 20 from 9-11 a.m. Seminars will be live or recently taped and will be accessible for repeat viewing. Mentors will be available online throughout to answer questions and offer individual assistance to all participants.
The cost of the Master Gardener Training Course is $150 per person and includes a comprehensive information handbook, numerous handouts, and much more. Couples taking the class and sharing materials may enroll for $225. Applications can be obtained at the Master Gardeners of Hamilton County website: www.mghc.org or by phone: 855-6113. For
questions, contact Tom Stebbins, Extension Agent at tstebbins@utk.edu.
The UT / Master Gardener Training Course is open to both experienced and beginning gardeners and offers the highest quality instructors imparting current, research-based information on topics related to home gardening and landscaping, said officials. Subjects to be covered in the 15-week course include soil and water management, mulch and fertilizers, controlling pests and plant diseases, basic landscaping, vegetable, flower and herb gardening, understanding native plants, attracting wildlife, beekeeping and other related gardening issues.
Extension Agent Tom Stebbins said, “With this year’s pandemic keeping everyone at home, people turned to gardening in their own backyards for diversion. In response we decided to offer a special Fall Master Gardener Training Classes for this eager group of interested gardeners. Over the 15-week course, they will be introduced to the most up-to-date information about gardening and landscaping techniques presented by UT Extension specialists and local experts in horticulture. Experienced Master Gardeners serve as mentors and guides to the many volunteer activities undertaken by MGHC members all around Hamilton County. In addition to 40 hours of informative lectures, demonstrations, and hands-on experience, trainees attend MG meetings and earn both volunteer hours and education credits toward becoming Certified Master Gardeners. We look forward to meeting new Master Gardeners at this year’s classes and welcoming them into our community.”
With over 25 years of education and service, the Master Gardeners of Hamilton County is a non-profit, educational, volunteer organization that plays an important role in the civic life of Chattanooga and the surrounding area. Each year, MGHC presents the “Master Your Garden” Garden Expo at Camp Jordan Arena in April, the Spring Garden Tour in June, and an exhibit at the Hamilton County Fair in September. Among the many on-going landscaping and garden partnerships undertaken by MGHC are: Alpine Crest Outdoor Learning Center & Gardens, Aquarium Butterfly & Hummingbird Garden, Bonny Oaks Arboretum, Brainerd Community Garden, Brainerd Mission Cemetery, Chattanooga Area Food Bank, Chattanooga Zoo, McCoy Farm & Garden, and St. Albans Community Rose Garden, among others. For more information about MGHC activities, visit www.mghc.org.