Are you looking for the perfect winter activity to keep you focused on spring and summer outdoor pleasures? The University of Illinois Extension Master Gardener program trains adult volunteers who assist on many local projects.  Master Gardeners grow produce for area food pantries, maintain demonstration gardens, and teach educational workshops for youth and adults. 

Classroom and online training is available.  Classroom sessions are held on Tuesdays, January 14 through March 25 from 9:00 am-4:00 pm.  Online training is conducted January through April, and participants work at their own pace.  All trainees receive a copy of the Illinois Master Gardener Manual.  Topics included in training are soil health, fruit and vegetable production, ornamentals and landscape design, disease and insect management, and much more.  Classroom training costs $250 and online training costs $350. 

Participants must pre-register for the training by December 20, 2019.  Applications are available at the U of I Extension Office at 901 Illinois Avenue, Waterloo or 1 Regency Plaza Drive, Collinsville beginning November 1.  They are available online at https://extension.illinois.edu/sites/default/files/application_-_revised_2019.pdf.  If you have questions regarding the Master Gardener training, please contact Sarah Ruth at 618-939-3434 or ruth1@illinois.edu.