I am now a certified master gardener! I took a three month, intensive course, with my county extension office, through Michigan State University. Our last class was last week. We had to learn plant science, entomology, tree fruit, flowers, veggies, woody ornamentals, turf, soil and pests and diseases.

Now I have to spend 40 hours this year volunteering in the county in gardening related events. That could be teaching other classes, answering questions at the extension office, helping others plant gardens like at shelters and schools and stuff.

One thing I'm doing is helping the USDA observe communities for the citrus longhorned beetle, giant hogweed, leek moth and the nun moth this summer. I also helped my mom's day care kids plant herb seeds to start an herbal garden at daycare.

So I'm really proud of myself. I've wanted to do this for so long, and just went for it this year. Sat through every four hour class with a bad back muscle acting up every day. It was torture, but now I can tell people, "well, I am a master gardener..."

Awesome! I have always wanted to do that.

Congrats!

If you have an opportunity to take the class, you should do it. I thought I knew a lot about gardening...boy was I wrong! Every where I go now, I see things that are planted wrong by people.

The class is not fun, but you do learn a whole lot. I was pulling my hair out the day we learned about turf grass, it was so boring, but I actually came away with a head full of knowledge about it. Now I know what diseases people have in their lawns and the proper fertilizers to use and when.

Congratulations, that's awesome!

congratulations. good job

congrats!

Good for you! I love gardening and it's very therapeutic. If something is bothering you, just get outside and start digging and planting and your mind will clear in minutes.

so glad this thread wasn't about Farmville

ZombieKitten said:

I love to garden.

Shyra said:

That's true for some people. I've got a sister-in-law who can't stand anything that has to do with being outside. I mean, she won't even plant flowers in a pot. And she's got an acre for her back yard! What a waste!!!

Some people are passionate about things, and gardening is my passion (along with baking). I literally get giddy when I begin my garden planning. For me, there's something about putting my hands in warm, loamy soil that is really satisfying. And when I see my plants begin to bare fruit, it makes my heart full (am I a garden geek, or what)???!!!

ZombieKitten said:

dustysgirl said:

Geemoneez! Some people just don't appreciate what they have. What I could do with an acre!

And don't you just adore the smell of fresh compost?

Gardening is awesome. I've only got a little herb garden and grew some tomato plants but it's so lovely to have that fresh flavour in my cooking. Fresh torn basil and tomato on toast with a little olive oil is so simple but so good.

I would love to have a bigger plot of land for flowers and a bigger vege patch to try and live off as much as possible.

I've always liked the idea of these courses, there seems to be so many options out there... There aren't such things here

Good for you

Everything I try to grow turns to shit. I don't have a green thumb, but one day I do want my own fruit farm....a few veggies would be nice too. It'd be kinda nice to go out in the yard and pick out your own produce. It would save lots of money too. Roses are pretty hard to grow, but I really want to try my namesake rose and the Pink Promise rose (National Breast Cancer Rose). I work for a plant/seed company and can't grow shit. lol

AnckSuNamun said:

How great that you work for a seed company!!! Ever get any freebies? I just recently learned that spraying your roses with a mix of 1 tablespoon of epson salt and 1 gallon water will help them produce more flowers and prevent yellowing of leaves. Spray when they are starting to bloom. This provides magnesium which they need a lot of.

mynameisnotsusan said:

Make you wanna "smack yo mama," huh?

dustysgirl said:

Sometimes the staff hort will come around and hand out seeds. It's usually something I don't want.....like tomatoes. lol. We give out donations for free to schools and organizations if they meet qualifications, but I've never asked for free seeds for my own use before. We do get 50% off seeds. It's been a while since I've been to our actual store since I work in a different department. Thanks for the rose tip. I hope it's not too late to start a rose. It's starting to get pretty hot out during the day. It's still nice to dream, right?

stunned that there are no baiter jokes up in here...

org's lost it's touch I 'spose...