Vermilion County Master Gardeners

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

  • Registration for Master Gardener Training Classes 2023 has Closed. Classes will be offered again in 2024.
  • Volunteers make a commitment to complete 40 volunteer hours on approved Master Gardener projects within two years. 
  • In 2022, about 75 Vermilion County Master Gardeners volunteered over 8,000 hours in the community. 

Interested? Fill out the Master Gardener Interest Form to get your name on the list for 2024! Apply today.

Our Community Projects

Garden Day Workshop, Saturday, March 11, 2023 Sold Out! An annual event, local gardeners wait for all winter.  Program includes speakers, tote bag filled with garden themed items and 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. Fee is $30 and includes 4 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: May13, 2023 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 just the right 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 topics in gardening and take 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 and Perennials, Trees and Shrubs etc. Call the Extension Office for more information: 217-442-8615

VA Committee: Master Gardeners volunteer about 2,500 hours a year at the Danville VA. They are active in the VA Greenhouse where they propagate, grow, and maintain plants. They design, plant and maintain a Pollinator Garden on the grounds. They are responsible for maintaining the VA Healing Garden- as peaceful secluded garden available only to veterans residents, as well as 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 as well as offering 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 own landscape.

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 Wednesdays July- Oct Watch for more details!

Monthly Horticulture Programs Open to the public and usually the 3rd Tuesday of the month at 6pm (unless indicated otherwise). Live webinars and in-person programs are offered at no charge 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.