Vermilion County Master Gardeners

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Gardening has increased in popularity, with more people growing their own fruit and vegetables.

  • Master Gardener Training Classes will next be available in Winter 2025. 
  • Volunteers commit to complete 40 volunteer hours on approved Master Gardener projects within two years. 
  • In 2023, about 75 Vermilion County Master Gardeners volunteered about 9,000 hours in the community and grew nearly 6,000 pounds of produce.

Interested? Fill out the Master Gardener Interest Form to get your name on the list for 2025! Learn moreApply today.

Our Community Projects

Garden Day Workshop, Saturday, March 9, 2024: This annual event that local gardeners wait for all winter. The program includes speakers, a bag filled with garden-themed items, coupons, and a silent auction. Attendees are encouraged to register early in February. The silent auction is free and open to the public. Call 217-442-8615 to Register starting February 1st. The fee is $30 and includes four speakers, a hot lunch served by DACC Culinary Students, and a Garden Day Bag filled with goodies.

Atwood House Garden: Located at Kennekuk County Park, Master Gardeners maintain the gardens from spring to fall and help with new plantings of both flowers and vegetables. They participate in the Plant A Row program, where they grow vegetables for local food pantries.

Kennekuk Herb Garden: Master Gardeners plant and tend over 100 labeled herbs in raised beds. The Kennekuk Herb Garden received certification from the Illinois Herb Society in 2015. 

Plant Sale/Donations for Plants: May 11, 2024, at First Presbyterian Church, Danville. You will find a large selection of tomatoes, both heirloom and hybrid, grown by Master Gardeners from seed. Meet the MG who grew the plants and ask them questions to ensure you get a suitable variety for your vegetable garden. Plants include annuals, perennials, vegetables, and herbs, with a table for pollinator plants and natives. 

Radio Program Master Gardeners discuss the latest gardening topics and ask questions from callers about gardening practices or concerns during a weekly radio show. Airs Wednesdays on WDAN at 5:00 pm. Listen to a Podcast

Speakers Bureau: Master Gardeners deliver horticulture presentations to local community organizations on a wide variety of topics like Container Gardening, Pollinator Pockets, Herb Gardens, Vegetable Gardens, Seed Starting, Annuals, Perennials, Trees, and Shrubs, etc. Call the Extension Office for more information: 217-442-8615

VA Committee: Master Gardeners volunteer at the Danville VA about 2,500 hours a year. They are active in the VA Greenhouse, propagating, growing, and maintaining plants. They design, plant, and maintain a Pollinator Garden on the grounds. They are responsible for maintaining the VA Healing Garden, a peaceful, secluded garden available only to veteran residents, and monthly programs for veterans of different ages. 

Danville Public Library Children's Wonder Garden A Children's Garden Club meets weekly all year. Master Gardeners design, plant, and tend a garden with the children and offer horticulture programs indoors, like growing mushrooms, seed starting, and forcing bulbs.

Danville Library Prairie Garden: A large area with native prairie plants planted by Master Gardeners. They plan to eventually include information to help educate Library visitors on the history and beauty of native plants and encourage residents to add some of these plants to their landscapes.

Douglas Discovery Garden Master Gardeners plant and maintain annual, perennial flower, herb, and vegetable gardens with the local community. There is also a small orchard. They collaborate with local schools to offer horticulture classes in winter months, culminating with students planting in May.  

Garden Share Master Gardeners grow fruit, vegetables, herbs, and flowers for senior citizens. Produce is distributed on Wednesdays from July to October. Watch for more details!

Monthly Horticulture Programs are open to the public and usually occur on the 3rd Tuesday at 6 pm (unless indicated otherwise). Live webinars and in-person programs are free unless supplies are required. Check Events for Upcoming Programs Attendees are asked to register online or at the Extension Office 3164 N. Vermilion. Call 217-442-8615 or email jhanraha@illinois.edu to ensure there are enough handouts.