MSU Extension offering a Foundations of Gardening Course

This year marks 45 years since the first Michigan State University (MSU) Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Program came to Michigan, starting in a Wayne County Extension office. Today, this volunteer training program provides counties across Michigan access to world-class horticulture education. MSU Extension Master Gardener® Volunteers donate their time to educate others, improve quality of life and food security, protect our natural resources, and empower youth. In 2022 Upper Peninsula Extension Master Gardeners’ volunteer efforts amounted to over $98,000 being contributed to local communities.
Now, becoming a MSU Extension Master Gardener is easier than ever. The first step is to complete MSU Extension’s new online horticulture class: Foundations of Gardening. This is a 10-week online course that will provide participants with in-depth practical knowledge based on the latest horticultural research. Topics include: plant biology, soils, propagation, entomology, plant disease and pest management, flowers, trees and shrubs, fruits and vegetables and environmental gardening. The weekly lessons include self-paced online modules and live virtual lectures with experts in the field. To learn more about Foundations of Gardening and how to register, visit https://www.canr.msu.edu/courses/foundations-of-gardening.
Registrations are required as soon as possible or by March 31. The course will begin on April 6 of this year, with live virtual sessions held Thursday evenings from 6 – 8:30 p.m. EST through June 15. 
Following the successful completion of Foundations of Gardening, individuals who would like to become MSU Extension Master Gardener Volunteers can proceed to enroll in the MSU Extension Volunteer Screening Process and complete the MSU Extension Volunteer Onboarding Course. More details to follow.
Next, the final step to earning a MSU Extension Master Gardener certification is the completion of 40 volunteer hours on a MSU approved project. There are many existing volunteer projects in the Upper Peninsula to choose from. MSU Extension Master Gardener Volunteers work with community partners to identify the needs of local community members and provide horticulture education to fit those needs. Examples include: helping coordinate the Escanaba Community Garden, beautification efforts, teaching children about gardening and many others.
Upper Peninsula Extension Master Gardeners can also become involved directly with MSU Extension’s outreach and educational efforts by becoming Smart Gardening Volunteers and teaching the public about Smart Gardening at various local and regional events such as county fairs, the U.P. State Fair, and farmer’s markets. Others, choose to become Diagnostic Responders and assist Michigan citizens across the state with their lawn and garden questions on the MSU Extension’s lawn and garden hotline and/or the online Ask Extension resource.
If you want to learn more about the MSU Extension Master Gardener program, please visit https://www.canr.msu.edu/master_gardener_volunteer_program/ . You can also contact Rebecca Krans, UP Extension Master Gardener Program Coordinator, kransr@msu.edu.