Class fees range from free to $20, making them an affordable and accessible way to explore gardening for those who are new to the hobby or, for those who are more advanced, to learn more. Other classes focus on specific tools and techniques, like pruning or transplanting, while others are centered on growing specific types of plants, such as begonias, dahlias and asparagus. These classes, held at the Cooperative Extension Office on Harry Sykes Way, off of Red Mile Road, cover the basics of flower gardening, growing food and caring for houseplants for beginners. The primary way that Master Gardeners educate others is through the Gardener’s Toolbox series of classes. Master Gardeners also learn about pesticide use, soil types, fertilizers and organic gardening practices, and at the end of their course are ready to pass on their knowledge. To become a Master Gardener, participants must go through an intensive training program that is held every other year and that prepares the participants to instruct community members on a variety of topics, including botany, entomology, and plant pathology, as well as landscape design and care of lawns, trees and shrubs. “Each Master Gardener, after completing the training program, volunteers a specific number of hours each year and continues their own education on the latest gardening techniques and research.” “There are around 100 Master Gardeners who are currently active with the program,” says Susan Umberger, the current Fayette County Master Gardener Association president, and a 20-year member of the organization.

Master Gardeners share their knowledge through workshops, newsletters and other means, teaching others how to plant and care for home gardens of all types. The Fayette County Master Gardener Program was established in 1987 by the local Cooperative Extension Office – a part of the University of Kentucky’s College of Agriculture, Food and Environment – as a means of training and engaging long-term volunteers to provide safe and reliable gardening information to the community. Pictured here are several Master Gardener volunteers from the Herb Garden Committee. The Fayette County Master Gardeners volunteer hundreds of hours each year toward a variety of community gardening projects.

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