Registration Opens for UW Extensions Online Master Gardener Training

University of Wyoming Extension’s fall/winter online Master Gardener training will be offered Sept. 15, 2022-Feb. 16, 2023. The 16-week course, which includes breaks for holidays, features about 48 hours of gardening instruction led by subject matter experts in UW Extension.

“The course is for anyone with an interest in gardening, from beginning gardeners to experienced gardeners,” says Master Gardener Statewide Coordinator Chris Hilgert. “The focus is all about growing in Wyoming.”

Live classes take place via Zoom on Thursdays from 6-9 p.m. Class sessions also are recorded.

Registration for the 2022-23 online training is open until the course begins Sept. 15. To sign up, visit bit.ly/master-gardener-2022. The registration fee is $150.

Topics include an overview of the training; basic botany; soils and composting; plant propagation; season extension; growing vegetables and herbs; fruit trees and berry crops; site analysis and landscape design; herbaceous plants; woody plants; lawn care; weed management; integrated pest management; diagnosing plant problems; entomology; and volunteering in the Master Gardener program.

Instructors include Hilgert and nine other experts from UW Extension. The team approach is a great asset, Hilgert says, as not only do the various specialists and county educators offer different perspectives and areas of expertise, but they also garden in different parts of the state.

Participants each will receive an electronic copy of “Sustainable Horticulture for Wyoming: A Master Gardener Handbook” as well as a variety of other resources provided by instructors.

The training’s flexible online format allows participants to engage with instructors and fellow students in real time, but also ensures that time conflicts won’t interfere with accessing course content.

Participants cannot earn college credit for the course, but each will receive a certificate of completion. Those interested in earning a volunteer certificate also must fulfill a 40-hour volunteer commitment coordinated with a local UW Extension educator.

While volunteering is not required to take the Master Gardener course, local UW Extension educators facilitate meaningful volunteer opportunities for those who want to serve their communities through gardening, education and service, Hilgert says.

To learn more about the Master Gardener program, visit www.uwyo.edu/mastergardener or email Hilgert at chilgert@uwyo.edu.

About UW Extension

Since 1914, UW Extension has provided lifelong learning opportunities to Wyoming citizens across the state. With roots in agricultural education, UW Extension supports rural communities facing contemporary challenges and changes. UW Extension brings the university’s resources to each of the state’s 23 counties and the Wind River Indian Reservation. To learn more about UW Extension, visit www.uwyo.edu/uwe or call (307) 766-5124.