Kendall County residents interested in becoming a Master Gardener can join an online informational meeting June 22 at 6:30 p.m. to learn about the training program and requirements, hear from certified Master Gardeners, and understand how Master Gardeners serve local communities.

Master Gardeners are a diverse group of residents with a desire to learn and share with their communities.You do not need to be an experienced gardener to qualify. After training, Master Gardeners reach into communities by speaking at garden clubs, civic groups, or schools; establishing demonstration gardens that serve as educational tools; and educating citizens on how to establish community gardens. They also staff the Master Gardener Help Desk.

This fall, there are two options for Kendall County residents who want to train to be a Master Gardener:

• Hybrid training features a mix of online materials and in-person Tuesday sessions, Sept. 14 to Nov. 30 from 9 a.m. to noon. The class will likely meet at the Extension office in St. Charles. During these sessions, educators will attend virtually to answer questions and present material which will be followed up with hands-on activities.

• Online training is a great opportunity for those who need more flexibility to participate. The self-paced online course starts Sept. 27 and can be completed in 14 weeks with approximately four to six hours of weekly work. The online course also is available for participants who only want the training and choose not to become Master Gardener volunteers after it is completed.

Core training topics include botany, soils and fertilizers, vegetables, woody ornamentals, fruits, insects and diseases, pesticide safety, and perennials. A program fee of $350 covers the training costs and includes a copy of the award-winning Illinois Master Gardener Manual.

There is a volunteer application process, including an interview and background check. Sign up for the June 22 virtual meeting at go.illinois.edu/KendallMG2021RSVP to learn more and receive application materials. For questions, email Sarah Fellerer at fellerer@illinois.edu or call the Extension office at 630-553-5823.

If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this program, please contact your local University of Illinois Extension office. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time for meeting your access needs. Interested volunteers will need to complete an application and interview, and background checks are required.