Master Gardener Program in North Suburban Cook County: New Class Starting January 12, 2010!

The Illinois Master Gardener program is an educational, volunteer program offered by University of Illinois Extension. The program is designed to increase the availability of university-based horticultural information to local communities and individuals through trained volunteers known as Master Gardeners.

Master Gardener Mission

The mission of the Illinois Master Gardener Program is: "Helping Others Learn to Grow". Master Gardeners involve people in improving the quality of life, and enhancing the economy and environment through horticultural education, applied research and the resources of the University of Illinois.

What Is a Master Gardener?

A Master Gardeners are adults of all ages who love gardening and who have previous gardening experience. They come from all aspects of life. You can become a Master Gardener if you have some knowledge or experience in gardening and landscape management (you need not be an 'expert'); are willing to learn about horticulture and share that researched-based information with others; are accepted into a local Master Gardener training program; and can volunteer at least 60 hours conducting horticultural educational programming coordinated through the local University of Illinois Extension Unit.

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.

Master Gardeners provide information about:

• Herbaceous ornamental plants (annuals, perennials, etc.)
• Woody plants, including trees and shrubs
• Houseplants
• Turf grass
• Fruit trees and small fruits
• Vegetables and herbs
• Composting & soils
• Proper use of chemical controls
• Nonchemical control options and IPM
• Plant disease & insect identification
• Cultivation practices

Master Gardener Volunteer Job Opportunities

After receiving the core horticultral training, Master Gardener trainees are required to engage in 60 hours of volunteer work to complete their internship and graduate to become a certified Master Gardener. After graduating and becoming certified, a Master Gardener must continue to provide 30 hours of volunteer work to remain an active, certified Master Gardener. That volunteer work typically falls under one of these approved categories:

• Answer consumer calls & questions
• Gardening with special audiences
• Home garden research
• Demonstration gardens
• Garden classes
• Informational booths
• Speakers' bureau
• School/after-school programs
• Administrative assistance

Tentative Cook North Schedule for 2010 Program:

Jan 12 Botany - Stack

Jan 19 Soil - Phillips

Jan 26 Woody Plants (Trees, Shrubs) - Hentschel

Feb 2 Vegetables - Wolford

Feb 9 Herbaceous flowers & Roses - Stack

Feb 16 Fruits - Hentschel

Feb 23 Insects - Grupp

Mar 2 Turf - Kostelnick

Mar 9 Plant Pathology (Diseases) - Pollard

Mar 16 Integrated Pest Management and Pesticide Safety - HigginsVolunteer Opportunities, and Master Gardener Idea Exchange - staff & volunteers

Mar 23 Recording volunteer hours on the web; Volunteer Orientation to the Ask the Master Gardener Office. - staff & volunteers FINAL EXAM DUE

March 30 SNOW DATE MAKEUP DATE or (if there is no snow date to make up) this date will be used as the Pest Guide Training.

Ask a Master Gardener

Friendship Park Conservatory, 395 Algonquin Road, Des Plaines, IL 60016; Phone (847) 298-3502 (Available April 1-September 30, Weekdays 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. and Saturdays 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.)

Due to reduction of calls that come into the Master Gardener desk during the winter months (October 1 - March 31), Master Gardeners are available to answer calls on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

For more information about the North Suburban Cook Master Gardener Program, contact us at: University of Illinois Extension North Suburban Cook Office, Third District Court Building, 2121 W. Euclid Avenue, Suite 251, Rolling Meadows, IL 60008; phone (847) 818-2901