Pictured in front from left are recent Purdue Extension Elkhart County Master Gardener program graduates Marcia Chambers, Topeka, Roxanne Ewing, South Bend, Steve Ramer, Nappanee, Sue Bumgardner, Elkhart, Katie Madonna Lee, South Bend, Kerry Head, Middlebury, Madison Blue, Elkhart and Eva Ruiz-Nava, Elkhart. In back are Cindy Watson, Elkhart, Ginger Thorne, Middlebury, Tammy McDonald, Goshen, Kathy O’Reilly, Middlebury, Kathleen Moore, South Bend, Malinda Stickel, Middlebury, Lori Huynh-Porter, Mishawaka, and Marsha Schrock, Elkhart. (Photo provided)

By JEFF BURBRINK
Purdue Extension Educator – Ag/Natural Resources, Purdue Extension – Elkhart County

GOSHEN — Sixteen people have completed the first phase of the Purdue Master Gardener program in Elkhart County.

Jeff Burbrink, extension educator with the Purdue Extension Service, Elkhart County, and coordinator of the local Master Gardener program, explained that Master Gardeners is a volunteer training program, not just a series of gardening classes. Participants have been attending training for four months and have passed an exam.

The participants will now give volunteer time back to the community in exchange for the knowledge they have gained. The focus of the volunteer time is education, with the intent of making our community a better place to live.

“This is a very talented group of people with a wide variety of experience,” Burbrink said. “With interests ranging from landscaping, vegetables, to flowers and raising dahlias for competition, they kept me on my toes.”

The Master Gardener class of 2015 is planning to offer several seminars this winter and spring on vegetable production, perennials and landscaping. Brochures for the Master Gardener seminars will be available soon at local garden centers, libraries and hardware stores in Elkhart County.

In addition, Master Gardeners are available to help with groups in the community, including schools, service clubs and church groups. The Master Gardeners operate a horticultural hotline at the extension office from April through September each year. About 1,000 horticultural questions were answered in 2015 through the hotline.

This is the 21st Master Gardener class held in Elkhart County since the program was started in 1996. Burbrink suggested interested people call the Purdue Extension Office, Goshen, (574) 533-0554 to be placed on a mailing list for an application for the next class to be offered this fall.

Members of the 2015 Elkhart County Master Gardener class are Marcia Chambers, Topeka, Roxanne Ewing, South Bend, Steve Ramer, Nappanee, Sue Bumgardner, Elkhart, Katie Madonna Lee, South Bend, Kerry Head, Middlebury, Madison Blue, Elkhart, and Eva Ruiz-Nava, Elkhart, Cindy Watson, Elkhart, Ginger Thorne, Middlebury, Tammy McDonald, Goshen, Kathy O’Reilly, Middlebury, Kathleen Moore, South Bend, Malinda Stickel, Middlebury, Lori Huynh-Porter, Mishawaka, and Marsha Schrock, Elkhart.