Descsription

This is an 18 week course providing foundational horticulture education and skills for personal gardening. It’s ideal for those looking for the educational content of the Master Gardener Volunteer training program without the volunteering requirement. This online course provides valuable horticulture education to take your garden to the next level.

Course Fee

This training program is offered on a sliding scale (self-selected). We strive to make the training accessible and affordable for all Maine residents.

• $600 (Full Price): Suggested for those who can afford the full course fee.
• $300 (50% discount): Suggested fee for those who can afford 50% of the full course fee. Please use voucher code: 50_mgt
  
• $150 (75% discount): Suggested fee for those who can afford 25% of the full course fee. Please use voucher code: 75_mgt
• Pay it forward through our UMaine Extension Horticulture Fund to help keep this training accessible for all!

Please contact us if the course fee is a barrier for participation.

Refund Policy
50% refunds will be available until 15 days after the course begins.

Program Format

Online training course: An 18-week course with 4 – 5 hours per week of self-paced content on Brightspace, our online learning platform, plus live Q&A session on Zoom.

• Course Orientation
• Foundations of Horticulture: Ecology, Botany, Propagation, Soils and Composting
• Food Production: Vegetable Gardening, Garden Maintenance and Food Safety, Small and Tree Fruits,
• Garden Pests and Diseases: Prevention, Identification and Management
• Maine Landscape and Design: Plants for the Maine Landscape, Design and Maintenance

Certification

Upon completing the training, participants will earn a Maine Gardener Training certificate.

Program Schedule

Online content released by module:

• October 21, 2024 – March 17, 2025
  
  • Breaks: December 16 – January 5 and March 3 – 9

Zoom Q&As, two options:

• Watch them live: Tuesdays 6:00 – 7:30 pm
• Watch the recordings

Technology Requirements

This is an online course. An email address, access to a reliable internet connection, the newest version of your web browser and an electronic device (i.e. laptop, desktop, iPad, or tablet) with video/audio capabilities are required to complete this course. We do not recommend using a smartphone to complete classwork.

For more details about the program, please visit our website: Maine Gardener Training or contact us at extension.gardening@maine.edu

Accommodations
If you need reasonable accommodation to participate in this course, please contact us at extension.gardening@maine.edu or 207.581.3188.