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Nancy Pollard
Extension Educator, Horticulture
University of Illinois Extension
One Prairie Office Center, Suite 208
4749 Lincoln Mall Drive
Matteson, IL 60443
Phone: 708-679-6889
FAX: 708-679-6855
pollard@illinois.edu

Cook South Suburban Master Gardeners

Cook South Suburban Master Gardeners

Become a Master Gardener in the South or Southwest Suburbs of Cook County

FALL MASTER GARDENER CLASS ADDED! Fridays, September 13, 2013 to November 22, 2013

Who We Are

Do you enjoy gardening and would like to learn more? Do you enjoy sharing your knowledge with others? The Suburban Cook County Master Gardener Programs may be for you. All you need is an interest in gardening, an open mind and a willingness to volunteer and share your knowledge with others.

The Cook South Master Gardener Program focuses primarily on serving the Cook County suburban area south of Roosevelt Road. Master Gardeners are required to do the volunteering in the unit that they train with. There are affiliated but separate Master Gardener Programs for other parts of Cook County. These are in the North Cook and Chicago units.

The Master Gardener adult volunteer program is nationwide. Master Gardeners are a vital link in getting horticulture information to the public through University of Illinois Extension offices. Education is what we're all about. With no products or services to sell, Master Gardeners can provide unbiased, research-based information from the University of Illinois to the public.

Training

Master Gardeners participate in more than 60 hours of training on botany, vegetables, tree and small fruits, diseases, insects, soils, fertilizers, pruning, trees and flowers and environmentally friendly gardening. Attendance at all 12 Master Gardener training classes is mandatory. The sessions are taught by University of Illinois specialists and Extension educators and are coordinated by local extension staff. The emphasis of the information is practical, yet research based. Students must pass a final comprehensive exam (all open book).

Volunteering

In exchange for this challenging educational experience, Master Gardeners are required to volunteer 60 hours, primarily to share their new knowledge and skills with the community. Fellow Master Gardeners are a dedicated group, and many chose to return year after year to share their knowledge with others.

Instruction Options

In 2013 an added Master Gardener training will take place from Friday September 13, 2013 to November 22, 2013. Classes are held on Fridays and run from 9am-3:30pm at rotating locations including but not limited to:

  • Little Red School House Nature Center at 9800 Willow Springs Rd., Willow Springs, IL 60480
  • Sand Ridge Nature Center at 15891 Paxton Ave, South Holland, IL 60473

Application for the added face-to-face training to become a Master Gardener in the South and Southwest Suburbs will next be accepted in April - June of 2013. Application period will close by June 30, 2013 or when class fills. Cook County residents will receive priority for this training.

January - April Master Gardener training

The regular winter Master Gardener training will be offered in the North and South Suburbs of Cook County in even years, and the City of Chicago and the Chicago Botanic Gardens in odd years. Information on applications for the program is usually updated by July first of each year.

Application for training to become a Master Gardener in the South and Southwest Suburbs will next be accepted in July - September of 2013 for classes that will run from January 2014 to March 2014. There is an independent online training option for those not able to attend training during the week that should be applied. Online training typically runs from January to May.

If you are a Cook County resident, you can apply for either the regular winter online or the regular winter in-person training here. Applications will be available in May 2013, and the application period will close by September 14, 2013 or when class fills. (If you are not a Cook County resident find the office in your county that does training for your area at http://web.extension.illinois.edu/state/findoffice.html Check their website or call their office find out details about your local program.)

For more information e-mail Nancy Pollard, at pollard@illinois.edu.

Registration

Register on-line after you receive acceptance notification. If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this Extension program, please contact our office.