Ida County Extension is proud to announce the following six participants in this spring’s Master Gardener Program have completed their 40 hours of training to become Master Gardener Interns: LuAnn Bennett of Galva, Evelyn Franker of Correctionville, Shari Kieffer of Schaller, Jeff Koth of Schaller, Verdean “Curly” Kruse of Ida Grove, and Dee Ann Paulsrud of Danbury. Elizabeth Davison and Ruth Ellis, both of Ida Grove, will also be completing their 40 hours of coursework this spring to earn their titles of Master Gardener Interns.
Master Gardeners are individuals who have an interest in horticulture, have taken the Master Gardener training offered by Iowa State University Extension and share their time and expertise with other gardeners. It is the acquisition of knowledge, the skill in gardening and giving back to the community that distinguish a Master Gardener from other gardeners.
The first Master Gardener Program was initiated in Washington State in 1972. In response to overwhelming requests for horticulture information, the extension agent came up with the idea of trading specialized training in horticulture for a commitment to spend a specified number of hours doing volunteer outreach work for extension. The Iowa Master Gardener program was piloted in Scott County in 1977. To date, more than 6,000 Iowans have been trained in the program.
The purpose of the Iowa Master Gardener Program is to provide unbiased, research-based horticultural information to the citizens of Iowa through the volunteer efforts of Master Gardeners. Master Gardeners are residents of a community who take an active interest in horticulture. Individuals receive 40 hours of training in through ISU Extension a wide range of horticulture and related areas: houseplants, flowers, turfgrass, vegetables, woody landscape plants, plant propagation, fruits, soils, wildlife management, pesticide safety/ integrated pest management, plant pathology and entomology. In return for their training, Master Gardeners volunteer 40 hours in extension horticulture programs and projects that enhance the community.
After completing the training program, individuals become Master Gardener Interns. They are promoted to the title of Master Gardener upon completion of their 40-hour service commitment. Master Gardeners can remain active members in following years by attending six or more hours of in-service education and contributing six hours of community service.
Master Gardeners provide many services to ISU Extension and their communities. They use their knowledge, talents and skills on various projects and activities, such as answering horticultural questions and phone calls at their local county extension office, sponsoring lawn and garden shows, developing educational displays and giving horticultural presentations. Master Gardeners also assist with youth gardening programs, help manage farmers' markets and community gardens, plant demonstration and city beautification gardens, assist at public gardens, conduct horticulture therapy programs at nursing homes, write newspaper columns, participate in radio call-in programs and assist with the coordination and management of the local Master Gardener program. Besides the educational and community service aspect of the Master Gardener program, gardeners get to know others with similar interests. They share their gardening experiences and, occasionally, their plants. If you are interested in becoming an Iowa Master Gardener or would like to have a Master Gardener contact you, please call the Ida County Extension Office at 712-364-3003 for details.