by Beth Ellen Doran, Beef Specialist and Master Gardener
Someone asked me why an Extension beef specialist writes gardening articles. The answer is simple – I am a Master Gardener who enjoys gardening and participating in the Master Gardener program!
The Master Gardener program helps garden enthusiasts learn and teach others about plants and gardening in the home landscape. To be a “Master Gardener,” you must complete required hours of gardening education and community service. But both requirements are easy to achieve.
Iowa State University offers a variety of educational opportunities. Ten free winter Master Gardener webinars can be viewed from your home Tuesday evenings beginning January 9 and continuing through March 12. Here is a sampling of the topics that will be offered – tomatoes, grapes, insect pests, climate change and garden design. More information and registration are at https://www.extension.iastate.edu/mastergardener/.
Another benefit of the Master Gardener program is interacting with other gardeners. For example, Sioux County is hosting an informal “Cat Chat” in late January for gardeners to bring their favorite seed catalog and share what they like.
A new opportunity for gardeners is the Siouxland Gardening Symposium on March 16 at the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center in Sioux City, IA. Keynote speaker is Stephanie Barelman, founder of the Bellevue Native Plant Society, who will inspire you with the beauty and importance of incorporating native plants in your garden. Check out the details at: https://www.siouxlandgardenshow.org/.
Sometimes gardeners feel intimidated by the community service hours, but they can be easily met. For instance, Sioux County will be hosting a plant sale in May with plants grown by Master Gardeners. Or volunteer to help at the Butterflies and Blossoms Garden Open House next to the Sioux County Extension Office.
Other community service projects have involved repotting weary houseplants for city merchants, working in a community garden, writing judges’ comments at the local county fair, giving a gardening presentation at your local library, helping at a local garden tour, or planting flowers in a public area. The only limit is your imagination!
Do yourself a favor – become a Master Gardener. Have fun while learning and gardening!