Sign up early for Purdue Master Gardener Program

Monday, July 4, 2016

If you want to sharpen your gardening skills or you have an interest in sharing your gardening knowledge with others, Purdue Extension has the ideal program for you.

Beginning Aug. 22, a Purdue Master Gardener Program training series will be offered for residents of Putnam County and surrounding areas. The Purdue Master Gardener Program is a volunteer training program that provides a learning framework for participants to increase their knowledge on a wide variety of horticultural subjects.

Training will be on Monday nights from 6:9 p.m. at the Putnam County Extension Office, 152 E. Columbia St., Greencastle. The final class will be on Nov. 14.

Participants will be exposed to a wide range of subjects including soil and plant science, diagnosis of plant problems, pesticide safety, and culture of vegetables, flowers and landscape plants.

Cost of the program is $50 to the first 15 individuals who sign up and pay, thanks to a donation from the Putnam County Master Gardener Association. The cost for additional participants is $125.

The program fee covers the cost of course materials, speakers and a copy of the Purdue Master Gardener book (which individuals will receive upon completion of the course). Please note you are not considered registered for the course until your program fee is paid and turned into the Extension Office.

Once you complete the course, you have the opportunity to join the Putnam County Master Gardener Association which does numerous activities throughout the year.

The Putnam County Master Gardener Association sponsor scholarships for students who are interested in majoring in horticulture-related fields. To raise funds for scholarships, they stage several events, including a plant auction. During the Putnam County Fair they are at Harris Hall all week, organizing the various open class shows, keeping the building open for the public and answering questions about plants.

Additionally, throughout the year, they have monthly educational meetings, host a seminar/garden fair, and promote Master Gardener events.

If you would like to register for the course or have questions about the course, call the Purdue Extension Office at 653-8411 or email Jenna Nees at smith535@purdue.edu. Register early to ensure your spot in this course. Registration deadline is Aug. 17.

Visit www.extension.purdue.edu/putnam or contact the local Purdue Extension Office by calling 653-8411 for more information regarding this week's column topic or to RSVP for upcoming events. It is always best to call first to assure items are ready when you arrive and to RSVP for programs. While many publications are free, some do have a fee.

Upcoming events

July 4 -- Extension Office closed.

July 7 -- Cake Decorating Workshop, 6 p.m., Harris Hall.

July 7 -- Extension Board meeting, 7:30 p.m., Extension Office.

July 11 -- Public Speaking and Demo Contest, 5 p.m., Fairgrounds.

July 22-29 -- Putnam County 4-H Fair.

July 28 -- Wetland compliance webinar, 12-1 p.m. Register at https://ag.purdue.edu/Extension/wia/Pages/webinars.aspx

Aug. 5-21 -- Indiana State Fair.

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