Registration nears for initial Master Gardener course

A Master Gardeners training program for anyone interested in improving their gardening skills and becoming a community leader will be held this fall.

Registration for the course, “Growing and Caring for Plants in Wisconsin: Foundations in Gardening, “ opens on July 13. Those registering by Aug. 9 will receive a discount.

After completing the course, participants have as long as five years to enroll in the Wisconsin Extension Master Gardener Onboarding course, held annually in winter. This online course covers what it means to be a Master Gardener — from reporting volunteer hours to keeping up with continuing education — as well as a horticulture entrance exam that covers information from “Foundations in Gardening. “

Participants who successfully complete both courses will be part of a statewide network of Master Gardeners who use their knowledge of plants and environmental stewardship to improve lives and enhance the quality of local communities.

The University of Wisconsin–Madison Extension is offering a limited number of need-based scholarships for the “Foundations in Gardening” course. They provide a $100 discount for the course and free registration for those who intend to enter the Wisconsin Extension Master Gardener Program in 2027.

Scholarship applications will be accepted starting July 13.

The Wisconsin Extension Master Gardener Program has a variety of participation levels to allow flexibility based on a participant’s life circumstances. The most rigorous level is “Certified,” which requires 10 hours of continuing education and 24 hours of volunteer service per year. Other levels require smaller time commitments.

For more information, visit www.mastergardener.extension.wisc.edu/join.