Montana State University Extension in Gallatin County will host the Level 1 Master Gardener class starting Monday, Jan. 18, 2016, on consecutive Mondays until March 7, from 6-8:30 p.m. at the Museum of the Rockies. MSU Horticulture Specialist Toby Day will be the instructor. The Level 1 Master Gardener class is intended for beginner to intermediate gardeners who want to be more successful in vegetable or flower gardening and to better understand yard and garden maintenance.
Topics covered in the Level 1 Master Gardener Program include: an introduction to Montana State University Extension and the Master Gardener Program, soils and fertility, plant growth and development, flower and vegetable gardening, planting and maintaining trees and shrubs; an introduction to proper pruning and maintaining lawns; and an introduction to integrated pest management.
This class offers a certification track or a non-certification track, and both include the Montana Master Gardener Handbook. The certification track costs $180 and requires passing an open book test and completing 20 hours of community volunteer commitment by May 1, 2017 to be considered a certified Master Gardener. Without the volunteer commitment or test, participants are charged the non-certification track price. The non-certification track costs $250 and participants do not need to take a test or complete volunteer hours, but they will not be considered certified Master Gardeners.
The volunteer commitment may include activities such as answering questions at the local farmer’s market, assisting local garden groups, volunteering at community gardens, donating time and food to local food banks and pantries, and other horticulture-based volunteer projects. Projects will be discussed in more detail in class.
To sign up for the Gallatin County MSU Extension Master Gardener Level 1 program beginning Monday, Jan. 18, 2016, call the Gallatin County MSU Extension office at (406) 388-3213, email Emily.Lockard@montana.edu or visit us at 201 West Madison, Ste. 300, in Belgrade.
If you would like to learn more about the Montana Master Gardener Program please visit: www.msuextension.org and follow the Yard & Garden link on the left menu to Master Gardener Program.
