Uncategorized

Fundamentals of Home Gardening Online Course

Posted on by

person in a vegetable gardenUConn Extension is excited to announce that the Fundamentals of Home Gardening online course, designed to help gardening enthusiasts of all levels cultivate thriving home gardens, is available for home gardeners who want to expand their knowledge and skills. The course is divided into four modules covering essential gardening topics:

  • CORE – Water, Soils, and Botany
  • ENVIRONMENTALS – Plants and the Environment, Plant Pathology, Entomology, and Pest Management
  • FOODS – Growing Vegetables, Tree Fruits & Berries, and Herbs
  • ORNAMENTALS – Herbaceous Ornamentals, Woody Plants, Turf, and Native-Nonnative vs. Invasive Plants

Participants will learn from UConn Extension experts and complete the course at their own pace. Whether you’re new to gardening or looking to refine your skills, this course provides the essential knowledge needed for success. Unlike the UConn Extension Master Gardener Program, the Fundamentals of Home Gardening course does not have a volunteer component. It is a fully online, self-paced program designed for individuals who want to deepen their gardening knowledge without the commitment of volunteer service. “Gardening is not just about planting; it’s about understanding the science behind it,” said Bonnie Burr, assistant director for UConn Extension. “This course gives participants the foundation they need to create and maintain healthy, productive gardens.”

Benefits of Gardening Participants in this course will not only gain practical gardening skills but also experience the many benefits gardening provides:

  • Health & Well-being: Gardening is a great form of physical activity, reduces stress, and improves mental well-being.
  • Food Security: Learning to grow your own fruits, vegetables, and herbs ensures access to fresh, nutritious produce.
  • Environmental Impact: Sustainable gardening practices promote biodiversity, reduce pesticide use, and contribute to a healthier planet.
  • Personal Enjoyment: Whether growing flowers, food, or landscaping plants, gardening is a fulfilling and rewarding hobby.

Registration is now open. Learn more and enroll at: s.uconn.edu/fundamental.

Seed Distribution Applications Available

Posted on by

packets of vegetable seeds in rows on a table

Apply Now for the Ocean State Job Lot Seed Distribution with the UConn Extension Master Gardeners

The UConn Extension Master Gardener Program is now taking requests for our 2025 free seed distribution program. The updated information and seed request are available at: s.uconn.edu/seeds. Thank you for your interest in the program.

We reserve the right to substitute seed packets due to availability, and orders are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Visit mastergardener.uconn.edu for more information and resources. 

Applications are Open for the 2025 Master Gardener Program

Posted on by

The hot, hazy summer days are a great time to plan for next year’s gardening activities! Apply now for the 2025 UConn Extension Master Gardener Program; the deadline for applications is Friday, October 25, 2024.

“The program provides the opportunity for beginner, intermediate or experienced gardeners to increase their personal knowledge of the practice of gardening … The program allows you to meet with like-minded people over a common interest – growing plants,” says Advanced Master Gardener Ken Sherrick of Middletown.

UConn Extension Master Gardeners have an interest in plants, gardening, people and the environment.  Specifically, they are willing to share their knowledge, passion and enthusiasm with their communities, providing research-based information to homeowners, students, gardening communities and others. They receive horticultural training from UConn, and then share that knowledge with the public through community volunteering and educational outreach efforts. UConn Extension Master Gardeners help with community and museum gardens, school gardens, backyard projects, houseplant questions and more.

Classes begin the week of January 13, 2025. Subject matter includes basic botany, plant pathology, soils, entomology and other aspects of gardening such as plant categories, native plants, and pest management. After the classroom portion, students complete 60 hours of outreach experience during the summer, along with a plant identification project.

“The Master Gardener program gave me an understanding the role of plants and insects within the ecosystem, which fostered a passion for removing invasive plants,” says Advanced Master Gardener Karen Berger of Canton, who now volunteers on a project to remove invasives, replacing them with native plants that benefit the local environment.

More information and the application are available on our website.

UConn Gives is Coming!

Posted on by

Jonathan the Husky with words All Paws In and UConn Gives, April 17-18

UConn Gives is right around the corner! This is a great opportunity to give back to an organization that gives to so many people. The UConn Extension Master Gardeners organize community projects, provide horticultural training and expertise, and donate and grow vegetables for food banks. What better way to give back to your community, than by giving to an organization dedicated to serving Connecticut’s communities! We’ve appreciated all your support during our previous UConn Gives efforts and hope you will support our program again this year.

2024 Ocean State Job Lot Seed Order

Posted on by
garden pots with seeds sprouting in them

February 15th Update: We are no longer accepting seed requests, please check back in January 2025 for next year's opportunity. We will reach out to those who completed the form in the coming weeks.

Each year, the UConn Extension Master Gardener Program partners with Ocean State Job Lot to distribute free seed packets to community groups, non-profits, schools, and municipal groups. We are pleased to continue offering this service to community organizations and groups.

We reserve the right to substitute seed packets due to availability, and orders are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. You must select the location where you will pick up your seed order.  You will be contacted by someone from that location regarding pickup dates and times. Happy Gardening in 2024!

Master Gardener logo

FULL: Learn Gardening Fundamentals in New Online Course

Posted on by
four pots on the ground with different plants growing in them
Photo: Markus Spiske

Class is full, stay tuned for the next session. Interested in how plants grow? Do you want a healthy, productive, and sustainable landscape for your home?  UConn Extension now offers the Fundamentals of Home Gardening, an asynchronous online series of classes covering a wide variety of gardening topics. These classes explore the foundation of good gardening practices, and help explain the “why” of successful gardens.  Taught by UConn Extension educators and specialists, and drawing on the Extension Master Gardener curriculum, this four-part, online series can be taken at your own pace, at times that work for you. Choose just the segments you’re interested in or complete all four components and earn a certificate of completion in the Fundamentals of Home Gardening.

The four modules cover Core Fundamentals, Environmental Factors, Ornamental Plants and Growing Your Own Foods. Each module is independent and does not require any prerequisites. All modules will be available by the end of April, and a registrant will have six weeks to complete the three or four classes contained per module.

Modules are $150 each. A flyer with more information is available. Registration is at https://uconnmastergarden-ers.gosignmeup.com/  or for more information, contact sarah.bailey@uconn.edu.