Held in May each year at the Sherburne County Fairgrounds in Elk River. The 2013 MG and 4-H Plant sale will be on Saturday, May 18, 2013.

This is a great opportunity to get nice and reasonably priced plants for your home and garden. We often have many types of plants, including flowers, bushes, shrubs, perennials, annuals, bulbs, herbs, vegetable seedlings and more!

All proceeds benefit the Sherburne County Master Gardener Program. Thank you to all who came out and made our 2012 Plant Sale a huge success!

Click here for the 2013 flyer.

You are invited to visit this special garden that was design just for pollinators! It was developed in 2008 with funds from a University of Minnesota Extension Master Gardener Grant. Designed by a Sherburne County Master Gardener volunteer and installed with the help of other Sherburne County Master Gardeners.

The purpose of this special garden is to increase public awareness of the importance of pollinators in our lives and provide a learning environment to view them. Plants include native and hybrid perennials, bi-annuals, annual, and herbs. All have been selected because they provide nectar or are host plants to the many pollinators we see in Minnesota, including bees and wasps (they do over 80% of our pollinating), butterflies, moths, and hummingbirds. For example, the milkweed plants provide both nectar and are host to the Monarch butterfly caterpillar.

The plants are symmetrical in keeping with the butterfly design, with labels on the right giving the common name and on the left, the Latin name. Some are in bloom this season, while others will bloom as they mature over the next couple of years. As you visit, watch for evidence of pollinators in action.

Year one view after planting.

Year two view.

Close-up view.

Pollinator Guide for Master Gardeners: PollinatorGardenGuideforMGs.pdf

Read our BLOG, see the photos and read about what happened at our gardens in Elk River, Becker and Zimmerman at:
http://www.arboretum.umn.edu/forum9-veggies-by-the-yard.aspx

This is the Dig It! plot at the Zimmerman Community Garden shortly after it was first planted at the end of May. Note the fencing as there are lots of deer in the area and the fencing seemed to keep them out of the plots. It did not however stop the gophers which proved to be a challenge at that site especially as the summer went along.

This is the First Timers Plot at the Zimmerman Community Garden Site shortly after it was planted.

The Elk River Veggies by The Yard plots planted in early June by Sherburne Master Gardeners (MG) and Junior Master Gardeners (JMG). They grew the "First Timers" and "Salad Lovers" plots. The kids and adults worked together grow and record data from four MG Variety Trails as well including Sunflowers, Mini Pumpkins, Bok Choi, and Bush Beans. Photo of the JMG kids and MG volunteers in action during the summer.

In Sherburne County, our trained Master Gardeners are required to volunteer 50 hours the first year after training and at least 25 hours annually thereafter. Active volunteers must complete a minimum of 5 hours of continuing education each year and are encourage to get 10 hours of education each year. For more information on the Master Gardener Program in Sherburne County, contact:

University of MN Extension - Sherburne County
e-mail: mnext-sherburne@umn.edu
phone: 763-765-3075 or 800-433-5236

or visit the University of Minnesota Master Gardeners page.

Or Find Us on Facebook at:
http://www.facebook.com/SherburneMasterGardeners

Composting 101: The what, when, where, why, and how of composting (PDF powerpoint slides, 2.6 MB)

Read our Composting brochure - UNDER REVISION - Check back soon!

View a handy Composting Recipe Card (PDF). It includes basic ingredients and instructions for composting.

Also, be sure to visit UM Extension's Gardening Information page on Soils & Composting.

Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Yard and Garden Line 952-443-1426

Publications on the Internet Many University of Minnesota Extension publications are available for free on our website at: www.extension.umn.edu/gardeninfo

Wildlife Questions University of Minnesota Bell Museum at 612-624-1374

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 -

Application

To become a University of Minnesota Master Gardener Sherburne County, you must first apply and be accepted into the program. The application process starts early - we begin sending out applications in October.

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.

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 in Sherburne County must volunteer a minimum of 25 hours and receive at least 10 hours of 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:

• Tree Care Advisor
• Pesticide Applicator
• Plant Healthcare Advisors
• Household Insects
• Shoreline Restoration
• Special one-time classes