Master Gardening Success

Published: 2020
By Kaleena Miller

In early 2020, we held a Level One Master Gardener Course in Whitehall. Twenty-four gardeners traveled from five communities to learn about soil fertility, vegetable and flower gardening, landscape design, pest management, tree pruning and more. Attendees listed over 30 new skills gained during the course, including soil testing, proper tree watering and pruning techniques, integrated pest management, and understanding plant growth and development stages. Eighty percent of course participants stated they were interested in taking Level Two Master Gardener and more than 50 percent said they made a new connection among their classmates as a result of attending the course. Since the course has concluded, the graduates have logged hundreds of hours of volunteer service collectively. They have pruned trees, taught youth about gardening, and maintained community garden spaces.