Master Gardener Activities

We are people from all walks of life who love gardening, along with every other aspect of the natural environment. We have undergone an intensive training course in all areas of home gardening and landscaping. And we have made a commitment as volunteers to continue to learn and to share our knowledge and our experience with other home gardeners and anyone else interested in any aspect of the urban landscape. The Master Gardener program is an auxiliary of the Maryland Cooperative Extension, a part of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Maryland at College Park. We assist the Extension Service professionals by answering phone requests, staffing plant clinics, giving talks on gardening subjects, maintaining composting demonstration projects, and other similar tasks. We actively encourage other active gardeners to join the program.

In 1997 we provided 3,662 hours of volunteer service, including 665.5 hours during nine special events, when 1,836 people were assisted.

Our primary objective is to provide information to the home gardener and landscaper, with an emphasis on environmentally safe practices and the enjoyment of working with nature. Master Gardener programs may be found in many counties and states in the US, though organizational structures may be different.

Home and Garden Information Center

The University of Maryland Home and Garden Information Center, located in Ellicott City, was established by the Cooperative Extension Service in 1990 as a central education center for home horticulture and landscapes. Consultants, many of them Master Gardeners, answer telephone questions Monday thru Friday from 8 a m to 1 p m.

These consultants provide insight and helpful advice about plant diseases, vegetable gardens, fruit trees, lawns, flowers and shrubs, houseplants, indoor and outdoor pest problems, and other practical information.

Also available 24 hours a day are short informative audio tapes on more than 120 gardening subjects, including a special "Tip of the Week."

Consultants are also able to supply fact sheets on a wide range of gardening and landscaping subjects, emphasizing integrated pest management techniques, limited use of chemicals, and other environmentally sound practices.

The Mt. Pleasant Conservancy

Located just east of the corner of Route 99 and Woodstock Road in Howard County, the Mt. Pleasant Conservancy is a 232-acre farm, currently undergoing renovation by Master Gardeners and other volunteers under the stewardship of the Howard County Conservancy. Workdays are held periodically to rejuvenate flower beds and walkways, maintain the streambeds, provide birdhouses and feeders, and maintain composting activities.

The Conservancy has recently signed an agreement with the Howard County Antique Farm Machinery Club, which will farm 10 to 20 acres using antique farming equipment. They are also planning harvest demonstrations.

Plant Clinics

Master Gardeners provide assistance directly to home gardeners through plant clinics held at local public libraries throughout the growing season -- spring through fall. Plant Clinics are held weekly at Miller Branch Library, once each month at the Catonsville, Central, and Glenwood Branchs, and three times per season at the Savage Branch Library. (See schedule below.)

Master Gardeners are available in the library lobby to answer gardening questions, analyze samples of ailing plants, and provide printed educational material on a variety of gardening subjects.

Schedule of Plant Clinics

(April - September)

Compost Demonstration Sites

Master Gardeners maintain five compost demonstration projects throughout Howard County: Centennial Park (Columbia), Schooley Mill Park (Highland), Rockburn (at Rockburn School on Route 103), the Alpha Ridge Landfill (Marriottsville), and Savage Park (Savage).

These are maintained in collaboration with the Howard County Dept. of Public Works, Bureau of Environmental Services. At each site, the various methods of composting are illustrated. Lecture demonstrations are frequently held at some of the sites, providing instruction in how and what to compost. Free compost bins may also be obtained at the County Department of Public Works.

Speakers Bureau

Master Gardener volunteers offer public talks or demonstrations on a variety of gardening subjects to many organizations which express an interest. Areas of expertise are diverse and include such subjects as herb gardens, roses, vegetable gardening, houseplants, flowering perennials, and other subjects.

Over the past few years, the program has grown in the number of volunteers, gardening subjects covered, and requests for Master Gardener talks. In 2002, Howard County Master Gardeners presented 42 talks to various groups. As of February 1, 43 public talks are already scheduled for 2003.

Arrangements for a speaker may be made through Georgia Eacker, the Howard County Master Gardener Program Coordinator at (410) 313-1913.

Maryland Home and Flower Show

Held annually in March at the Timonium Fairgrounds, this show grows larger in size and scope every year. All aspects of home improvement and landscape maintenance are covered and represent both commercial and nonprofit exhibitors. For the gardener, there are booths and exhibits dealing with every aspect of the home landscape.

The Howard County Master Gardeners' booth is staffed continuously as long as the Show is open to the public. It features a theme--one year edible plants, another butterfly gardening. MGs are on hand to answer questions, provide printed information, and to offer advice and encouragement about every aspect of gardening and landscaping.

We take pride in having won blue ribbons and silver bowls in our category in recent years. Even more importantly, we have talked to, and possibly helped, nearly a thousand visitors to our booth.

For more information about this year's event, click on the Maryland Home and Flower Show web site.

Master Gardening Training Class

Every spring the Howard County Master Gardener Program Coordinator, Georgia Eacker, receives applications from people interested in the Master Gardener training program, and who are committed to serving as volunteers in the activities of the program in Howard County.

This 40-hour course meets twice a week at the Extension office in Ellicott City. Every aspect of home gardening and landscaping is taught, primarily by professionals from the University of Maryland, including those affiliated with the Cooperative Extension Service.

The classes are quite intensive, focussing on basics of botany, entomology, soils, integrated pest management, turf management, and specialized topics, such as roses, flowering perennials, herbs, and similar topics.

There is a nominal fee for the course, which covers the weighty MG Handbook and other materials.

Anyone interested in applying may call 410-313-2707 or write for an application form to:

Continuing Education

Master Gardeners participate in many programs to continue learning about new concepts and methods in the constantly-changing fields of horticulture, pest management, wildlife, soil management, and other related innovations and discoveries.

Howard County Master Gardeners write and share a monthly newsletter, Looseleaf, which disseminates MG news and reports timely information appearing in various media.

There are also frequent lectures and demonstrations sponsored by the Cooperative Extension and other agencies. And individual Master Gardeners often attend programs offered in Washington, Baltimore, and other locations, all as part of the continuing process of learning as dedicated gardeners.

Catonsville Branch Library
1100 Frederick Road	2nd Saturday of month	10 am -- Noon
Catonsville, Maryland 21228
Central Library
10375 Little Patuxent Parkway	2nd Saturday of month	10 am -- Noon
Columbia, Maryland 21044
Glenwood Branch Library
2350 Route 97	3rd Saturday of month	10 am -- Noon
Cooksville, Maryland 21723
Miller Branch Library
9421 Frederick Road	Saturdays (except August)	10 am -- Noon
Ellicott City, Maryland 21042	Mondays	7 pm -- 8:30 pm
Savage Branch Library
9525 Durness Lane, off Gorman Road	3 clinics in 2003	10 am -- Noon
Laurel, Maryland 20723	4/26, 7/26, 9/27