Pandemic Rekindles Interest in Gardening

Published: 2020
By Shelley Mills

In 2020, Valley County residents experienced food and durable goods shortages in their communities which created a renewed interest in home gardening. Clients new to gardening or new to the area sought the science-based information offered by MSU Extension. Requests for horticultural and agricultural information doubled in 2020 from the previous year (from 179 to 329). Agricultural agent Shelley Mills helped clients with planting, soil management, plant selection, pest and disease identification, harvesting, season extension, and fall lawn and garden care. Through the Montana Certified Seed Potato program, MSU Extension provided over 1,300 pounds of Montana grown seed potatoes to gardeners. Mills also researched and presented “Best Urban Trees” to the Glasgow Beautification Committee to make an informed decision about the best species of tree to plant along Main Street. The committee chose Dropmore Linden trees, which will be purchased locally from Neubauer Tree Service. In April, MSU Extension was asked to partner on a Facebook project with a recent graduate of the level one Master Gardener Program. The Facebook group page of over 400 members from the region is for gardeners in northeastern Montana climate zone 3, and it accounted for 115 direct requests for help with gardens, lawns and urban tree care over a six-month period.