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Master Gardeners continue to help others learn to grow
In 2025, over 2,000 Master Gardeners contributed over 150,000 hours to the program's mission and celebrated a 50-year legacy of "Helping Others Learn to Grow." These hours were dedicated to providing gardening education to the public, donating produce to local food pantries, and community garden projects that attract individuals and pollinators.
Master Gardeners make impactful relationships for sustainable school gardening
This project successfully advanced garden-based education, community engagement, and sustainable school garden operations through a series of coordinated, year-round initiatives. In partnership with the U of I Extension Master Gardener program, the school implemented three seasonal gardening programs that integrated core academic subjects. During the fall, students engaged in math-focused activities, including seed collection and sorting, calculating germination rates, and tracking the pounds of produce harvested. Winter programming emphasized science through hands-on exploration of plants. Staff training sessions were conducted on the newly installed automatic irrigation system. Staff and volunteers learned system operation, coverage adjustments, freeze protection, and winterization procedures. A dedicated garden committee was also formed to support ongoing maintenance and program planning.
Plant-a-Row Learning Garden
This project aimed to deliver hands-on, community-focused educational experiences centered on local food production, gardening practices, and resource stewardship. Although some goals of this project, such as collaborations with SNAP-Ed, local garden-to-table food delivery, and educational events, were not achieved. Master Gardeners prevailed and participated in other hands-on learning events, demonstrating the operation of an existing irrigation system, including how to adjust coverage areas, manage controls, and perform essential freeze-protection tasks. Participants also learned how to drain system branches properly, reinforcing best practices for seasonal maintenance and long-term system care.
Master Gardeners Celebrate 50 Years
University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners celebrated a 50-year legacy rooted in community and growing through connection at the 2025 annual conference in Springfield. With 300 volunteers in attendance to celebrate half a century of helping others learn to grow, volunteers enjoyed tours of some of the capital's exhibits, like the historic Lincoln Home National Historic Site and the heirloom garden. Volunteers also participated in intensive, hands-on sessions on topics such as native landscape design.
Over the next 50 years and beyond, the program aims to expand its reach and bridge intergenerational gaps to sustain the legacy and provide even more opportunities to grow, connect, and learn.
