Approximately 100 pre-registered for the day long event. People learned about everything from mushrooms, growing garlic, and vegetables to installing rain gardens and making a rain barrel.
]]>Visit our Booth and talk to a Master Gardener At the Chisago County Fair, July 15-19th in Rush City, MN Look for us in the 4H Building.
Or at the Almelund Threshing Show, held August 7-9th in Almelund, MN We have a new location in a log home...Look for our banner and come on in.
Saturdays, July through September, 8am-noon
Lindstrom Farmer's Market, Highway 8 at St. Bridget's Catholic Church parking lot.
Wednesdays, July through September, 3pm-7pm
North Branch Farmer's Market, Peterson's Farm Home & Garden Store Parking Lot
Also, 30 minutes prior to the start of any class offered by Chisago County Master Gardeners.
Instructions for giving us a plant sample:
If you are not able to stop by during clinic hours, please leave a message on our voice mail 651-674-4417 x18
and a Master Gardener will call you. Due to budget cuts the office is closed some days and there is no longer staff
in the office available to handle samples and answer questions during the week.
Plant Identification
Bring a live portion of the plant 8-10�? long that includes leaves, flowers and/or fruits. Dried samples can be difficult to identify.
Disease Problems
Bring a sample as above that includes healthy and diseased parts and note the following:
Insects
Put them in a screw top jar and store in your freezer if it will be more than a day before you can attend a clinic.
Note the following:
Call the Info-U Phone Line: 612-624-2200 -- FREE
Call this number and listen to pre-recorded messages on common yard care and gardening questions, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Info-U also contains messages on food preservation, food nutrition, parenting and family issues, home maintenance, and small acreage agriculture. For a catalog of the 400+ titles, call the Info-U number, 612-624-2200, and enter topic number 100.
You can also get Info-U information at:
www.extension.umn.edu/info-u
Publications on the Internet
Many University of Minnesota Extension publications are available for free on our website at: www.extension.umn.edu/gardeninfo
Master Gardeners are University of Minnesota-trained volunteers whose job is to educate the public about a variety of horticulture subjects using readily-available, up-to-date research-based information. This educational effort is designed to enhance the public's quality of life and to promote good stewardship of the environment.
Chisago County Extension
651-213-8905
*please visit our Have a Question? page if you are looking for an answer to a gardening-related question.
]]>A love of gardening, a search for knowledge and a desire to share that knowledge with others is central to why people join the Master Gardener program. They remain Master Gardeners to enjoy the friendship of others who share their interests, to gain and share research-based horticultural knowledge and to give back to the community through their volunteer commitment.
If combining your passion for people and plants sounds appealing, you may be a good Master Gardener candidate. A formal education in horticulture isn't necessary--we will provide the training and resources to help you teach others. There are five steps to becoming a Master Gardener - each step is described in more detail below.
To become a University of Minnesota Master Gardener in Chisago County, you must first apply and be accepted into the program. The application process starts early - we begin sending out applications in August.
Commitment
You agree to volunteer service in exchange for training from the University of Minnesota. You also agree to participate in Master Gardener meetings in your County, where you receive continuing education and learn about new projects and other volunteer opportunities.
Training
Training is held once each year in the metropolitan area in January and February. Master Gardeners attend a 48-hour class at the University of Minnesota known as the "Core Course" or Horticulture 1003 if taken for U of M credit. The course is taught by Extension faculty, and a textbook and mini-reference library are provided to each participant. For more information about the Core Course training, including times, locations, fees, and specific course content, visit the Minnesota Master Gardener page.
Chisago County Master Gardeners provide an additional incentive for perspective Master Gardeners...If a person is interested - we allow them to take part in what we call a pre-intern program. Each pre-intern candidate must attend at least 3 of our regular monthly meetings, volunteer 10 hours total at 2 or 3 of our events of their choice (Bonanza, Threshing Show, Farmers Markets, etc...) always working with a trained Master Gardener. And then fill the group in on their experience. We feel that this gives those interested in the program a birds eye view of what we do...and in return for thier hard work - each pre-intern participant in awarded a $100 scholarship towards to help pay for the Core Course Master Gardener Training.
Internship
Following completion of Core Course Training, Master Gardener interns are required to do 50 hours of volunteer work and 8 hours of continuing education during their internship year (which ends December 31). We make an effort to ensure that our new interns are placed with other, more seasoned volunteers and we assign a mentor to each new intern. So whether you volunteer at an "Ask a Master Gardener�? event, the Diagnostic Clinic or another event, you'll be with knowledgeable, helpful people who will make sure you're not on your own. You'll have fun--and you will learn a lot!
Certification
You'll receive a certificate and name badge designating you as a Master Gardener once you have completed the Core Course and fulfilled your internship requirements.
Remaining Certified
Once certified, Master Gardeners must volunteer a minimum of 25 hours and receive 5-10 hours of approved continuing education each year in order to maintain their certification.
Advanced Training
After you are certified, you are eligible to attend other training programs and workshops. These courses offer more technical information. Advanced training opportunities include: