A Purdue Extension Master Gardener Basic training program will be offered in La Porte County beginning Thursday, September 9, 2021, and continuing until December 16, 2021, on Thursday afternoons from 1 to 4 p.m. central time.  The classes will be held at the Purdue Extension – La Porte County office on State Road 2 near the county fairgrounds in La Porte.

The purpose of the Purdue Extension Master Gardener Program is to teach people about growing plants and to effectively share information related to plants with others. The specific aim is to enhance literacy and technical assistance in the areas of gardening and home horticulture with the help of trained and certified volunteers.

The Purdue Extension Master Gardener Program is an integral part of Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service and provides citizens of Indiana a chance to grow. The program provides a learning framework for participants to increase their knowledge of a wide variety of horticultural subjects. In turn, participants volunteer, representing Purdue University. They help others grow by sharing knowledge while providing leadership and service in educational gardening activities within their communities.

To become a Purdue Extension Master Gardener, there is a two-step process to register for the class, which is limited to 25 participants.  Please call the La Porte County Extension Office at 219-324-9407 for more information.  After being accepted for training, one must attend a series of weekly classes, each lasting 3 hours.  Upon completing the required training and passing a final exam, one achieves the rank of Master Gardener Intern. Master Gardener Interns are required to volunteer for minimum 40 hours within 2 years, representing Purdue University, to be certified as a Purdue Extension Master Gardener. Then, to maintain their certification, each year a Master Gardener has to volunteer 12 hours and attend 6 hours of educational training.

The registration fee is $200 for the Master Gardener Basic Training class, which includes a Master Gardener name badge, training material, class handouts, mailings, and opportunities to network with other Master Gardeners. The training is fun, it’s interesting, and one meets many people who love gardening.

For more information about the Purdue Extension Master Gardener Program or about attending the upcoming Master Gardener Basic Training class, please contact the Purdue Extension – La Porte County office at 219-324-9407 or visit www.extension.purdue.edu/laporte and click on “Garden” and then click on “Fall Master Gardener Class”.  The applications should be completed, signed, and returned by Wednesday, August 25, 2021, to Purdue Extension – La Porte County, 2857 W. State Road 2, Suite A, La Porte, IN 46350.