Become an Extension Master Gardener

Are you interested in learning more about gardening, the outdoor environment, and best practices in horticulture? Are you interested in helping others become better gardeners?

If the answer is yes, consider becoming an Extension Master Gardener (EMG)!

Extension Master Gardeners of Greater Kansas City are volunteers for MU Extension. They share MU Extension’s mission of improving the quality of life for all Missourians, providing research-based horticultural information, and “helping others learn to grow.”

EMGs volunteer with children’s gardening programs, historic gardens, community gardens, wildflower gardens that benefit pollinators, the Gardeners’ Hotline, Speakers Bureau, #TuesdayTip videos, and many other exciting and worthwhile programs and activities.

We are offering EMG training this fall.

When: Thursdays, starting August 17; 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. via Zoom, plus optional in-person field trips.

What: The 15-week EMG training course includes intensive horticultural training taught by University faculty and local experts, and individual or group projects.

Cost: $200. A limited number of scholarships are available. Information on scholarships is available upon request.

Extension Master Gardener Training includes:

• Basic plant science

• Maintaining healthy soil

• Fruit and vegetable gardening

• Tree, shrub, and lawn care

• Insects – beneficials and pests

• Integrated pest management

• Landscape design

• Ornamental annuals, perennials, and native plants to koi, shubunkins and goldfish, and all are beautifully landscaped with a variety of plantings—calla lilies, cannas, papyrus, taro and elephant ears, to name just a few. Additionally, two of the gardens display the end result of 30 years of experimentation and learning what grows best in our Kansas rockfilled, heavy clay soil. Here visitors will find yards transformed by native flowers and grasses, and other lower maintenance perennials that attract birds, butterflies, bees and other pollinators.

• And more!

To round out the tour, the Thowe garden reveals that you don’t need a huge yard to make a big impact! To make the most out of every inch of their property, the Thowe’s have extended their small home to include a beautiful outdoor living space. Hosting frequent outdoor parties, guests enjoy a fire pit surrounded by a variety of low- and Olathe locations), Shawnee’s Earl May Garden Center or via Eventbrite at www.thegardenclubofshawnee.org. Tour tickets will provide maps and directions to all the gardens. Visitors accompanied by a ticket holder can also purchase a ticket at any of the gardens.

Visitors will also have the opportunity to win great prizes donated by local merchants by purchasing raffle tickets ($2 each or 3 tickets for $5) at any of the gardens. Proceeds from the tour and raffle fund the club’s grant program, which supports gardening projects for local schools, churches and other non-profits.

Come enjoy these outdoor sanctuaries, see how to use space creatively, take photographs and make lists! Take your time, sit among the birds and butterflies—join us for a great day!

After training, Year 1 EMGs become interns and volunteer 30 hours in locally approved projects to become certified EMGs. Years 2+ EMGs offer 20 hours of volunteer service and 6 hours of continuing education to recertify.

Applications are now available. Go to www.mggkc.org and click on “How to Join’’ to access the application. Applications are due by July 31, 2023. If your application is accepted, payment for EMG Training is due by August 14, 2023, 5 p.m.

For more information, contact Tamra Reall (ReallT@Missouri.edu) or Cathy Bylinowski (BylinowskiC@missouri.edu).

MU Extension via the Columbia campus also offers two online EMG training sessions each year – spring and fall. Online graduates join their local chapters to fulfill volunteer requirements. More information can be found at https://extension.missouri.edu/programs/master-gardener.

For a more concise gardening training without the internship, consider the Extension Garden Steward course: https://sites.google.com/umsystem. edu/garden-steward/home.