The Marshall County Extension Office offers a Master Gardener Intern Class to help gardeners expand their knowledge and skills. This class provides the educational class hours needed for an individual to become a certified Purdue University Master Gardener. The class will start on Tuesday, February 7th, and have seventeen sessions mainly held on Tuesdays and some Thursdays. The class series will conclude on Tuesday, May 9th. It will be offered during the day from 11 am to 1 pm. There will be snacks available to enjoy and you can bring lunch with you as well.
The class series is being held at Marshall County Extension Office located East of the Marshall County Courthouse at 112 W. Jefferson Street one block west of Michigan Street.
The purpose of the Purdue Master Gardener Program is to spread horticulture knowledge throughout our community by providing quality horticulture education to garden enthusiasts.
According to Bob Yoder, Marshall County Extension Educator, a positive aspect of the intern class is gardeners getting to spend time together, developing new friendships, and swapping gardening information among themselves. The seventeen class series will provide educational presentations on plant science, soil science, plant nutrition, insects, disease, weed identification and control options, woody ornamentals, herbaceous ornamentals, fruit and vegetable production, pesticide safety, basic organic production options, lawn care, basic principles on landscaping and plant propagation.
Once this class is completed and 35 hours of volunteer time are completed, you will become a Purdue Master Gardener and be eligible to be active in our local organization, in state and national level programs. Participating in this program and being a member of our local organization is a great way for gardeners to make new friends and to further their horticulture knowledge.
The cost of the Marshall County Master Gardener Intern Class is only $125, which includes a $70 reference material, or $200 for a couple willing to share Master Gardener resource handouts. Again, this program will start on Tuesday, February 7th. Class size is limited to the first 20 individuals. For more information on the Master Gardener Intern Class and Purdue Master Gardener Program or to obtain the registration form, call the Marshall County Extension Office (574) 935-8545, or to visit our web page: Google Marshall County Extension Office or e-mail Robert Yoder at ryoder@purdue.edu.
