JACKSONVILLE, Ill. – Take your love of gardening to the next level by participating in University of Illinois Extension’s Master Gardener training. This course will expose participants to in-depth horticulture content, including flowers, trees, vegetables, soils and fertilizers, plant diseases, entomology, pest management, organic gardening, and more.

The next training for Calhoun, Cass, Greene, Morgan, and Scott counties will begin February 6 and run for 12 weeks. This hybrid method offers a flipped classroom style. Participants will study independently before the weekly sessions. During Tuesday sessions, participants participate in a live webinar. Then, work in small groups within the unit to discuss case studies and hands-on activities.

The training includes a Master Gardener manual, videos, reading materials, and quizzes. Participants will join in person on Tuesdays (9 AM-noon) at the Morgan County Extension office (104. N Westgate Ave., Jacksonville, IL).

To register for the Hybrid Master Gardener training, visit https://go.illinois.edu/hybridMG. Registration is $150 and covers the cost of materials and the Master Gardener manual. Registration closes on January 26. Fee waivers are available; contact the Morgan County Extension office for an application. To learn more about the Master Gardener training, contact Ken Johnson at 217.243.7424.

Master Gardeners are members of the local community who are interested in gardening and the environment. They participate in an extensive training program and commit to completing volunteer hours on horticulture-related community projects each year.

University of Illinois Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment. If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate, contact 217.243.7424. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time for meeting your access needs.