Clinton County Master Gardeners
The Purdue Master Gardener Program is an integral part of the Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service and provides the citizens of Indiana with a chance to grow.
The Program provides a learning framework for participants to increase their knowledge on a wide variety of horticultural subjects. In turn, participants volunteer and help others grow by sharing knowledge while providing leadership and service in educational gardening activities within their communities.
The purpose of the Purdue Master Gardener Program is to teach people more about growing plants and to more effectively extend information related to plants. Its specific aim is to provide information and technical assistance in the areas of gardening and home horticulture through the use of trained and certified volunteers.
How do I Become a Master Gardener?
To become a Master Gardener you must first attend an intensive training course. In Clinton County this generally consists of 13 three-hour classes or a total of nearly 40 hours of instruction. You must then pass a final exam with a score of at least 70% (don't worry - if you attend classes and complete the assignments you shouldn't have any trouble with this). Once you have completed this you must donate 35 hours of service to the community. This can be in the form of answering questions from the public, working with a church, school or other organization on a horticultural project, or working on an approved community beautification project. Volunteers should not be considered a "cheap labor force" but rather an educational resource for the community.
Topics covered in the course include:
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Plant Nutrition |
Plant Disease Identification and
Control |
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Pest identification and Control |
Pesticide Use and Safety |
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Lawn Care |
Perennials |
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Basic Landscaping |
Tree Planting and Care |
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Fruit Production |
Vegetable Production |
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Houseplants and Plant Propagation |
Backyard Wildlife Habitats |
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And Much More! |
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Master Gardener Intern Trainings
Master Gardener Intern Trainings are scheduled when enough people express interest in the program to hold a class. We are tentatively planning on having the next class in January-April, 2010. If you are interested in signing up for this class, please call the Clinton County Extension Office at 765-659-6380 or 765-296-3511 or email Curt Emanuel, Clinton County Master Gardener Coordinator, at cemanuel@purdue.edu. Please include your name and contact information.
If you are interested in taking a class in another location, the link below includes Master Gardener training programs around the state.