The Master Gardener Program is offered by the University of Tennessee Extension. The purpose of the Master Gardener program is to train people as horticultural-educated volunteers. These volunteers work in partnership with their counties to expand the educational outreach, providing home ga​rdeners with researched-based information. Each volunteer has been trained with 40 hours of horticultural education, and keeps updated with continuing education events.

The Northeast Master Gardener Association (NETMGA) membership includes  volunteers from Hawkins, Sullivan, Washington, Carter and Unicoi Counties. Their many activities include information booths at various home and farm shows, answering Ask-a-Master Gardener phone calls, teaching classes in the community, and organizing new Master Gardener classes. Their presence can be seen in many local historic site gardens, demonstration gardens and community vegetable gardens.



Dear Master Gardeners,

Currently, all UT and TSU Extension Face to Face meetings have been cancelled starting March 16 and continuing through April 30.*  I’ll keep you updated as changes in the status of the Extension Office and Master Gardener Program develop.

Thanks,

Chris Ramsey

County Director and Extension Agent

140 Spurgeon Lane

Blountville, TN 37617

423 – 574-1961 Office

423 – 646-9043 Cell

*UT face-to-face meetings are now cancelled through July 31.

NEW MASTER GARDENER CLASSES

August 6 – November 19

Thursday evenings 6:00 - 8:30

Ron Ramsey Regional Agricultural Center

149 Spurgeon Lane

Blountville, TN

Cost $185.00

IT’S TIME TO TAKE THE CLASS!

Register now for fall classes to become a volunteer master gardener. Learn the best gardening methods from UT trained experts, then volunteer your talents in your community!

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the first four classes will be by Zoom. Class size is limited to 20 students.

Deadline to register is August 3.

Contact Chris Ramsey for more information.  (423) 574-1919

Membership Meeting 

Monday, August 3 

6:00 p.m.

Ron Ramsey Agricultural Regional Center

140 Spurgeon Lane

Blountville,TN  

From our Program Chairman:

I am delighted to invite you to a General Membership meeting on Aug. 3, 2020 at 6:00pm at the Ron Ramsey Ag Center. We will be practicing Social Distancing at the meeting. * See guidelines below

Our speaker will be Margie Hunter, author of "Gardening with the Native Plants of Tennessee", she will discuss methods for using native plants in our gardens.

Ms. Hunter is a member of Tennessee Native Plant Society and Tennessee Exotic Pest Plant Council, as well as volunteering with the Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage in the Smokies. A graduate of the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont’s Southern Appalachian Naturalist Certificate Program, 

Margie is a founding board member of the Tennessee Naturalist Program and helped develop the course curriculum and teaches some of the classes. She was named 2017's Conservation Communicator of the Year by the Tennessee Wildlife Federation. 

Ms. Hunter is also a member of the Great Smokey Mountains 900 miler club. You can read about her accomplishment in her blog

https://hikinginthesmokies.wordpress.com

She is also a long-time volunteer at Nashville's Cheekwood Botanical Gardens.

After her presentation, there will be a question and answer period and her book will be available for purchase. For more information on her book,

"Gardening with the Native Plants of Tennessee, the Spirit of Place", check out her website at www.gardeningwithnativeplants.com

*NETMGA Social Distancing Guidelines for attending the Margie Hunter presentation on "Gardening with the Native Plants of Tennessee".

1. Seating is limited to 50 people. We will send out a Sign Up Genius for those wanting to attend, you can also indicate if you would like to purchase one of her books at that time, cost is $30.00, including tax. They are also available online on her website or on Amazon. 

2.  The meeting will be available on Zoom, we will send out a link on the day of the presentation.

3. If you decide to attend in person, there are a few guidelines that need to be followed.  

• All persons entering the Ag Center will have their temperature taken by No Contact Infrared Temperature Thermometer.  Your temperature is your personal business and will not be discussed with anyone else.
• Masks are required per UT directives. You must wear a mask to enter the building and continue to wear one during Ms. Hunter's lecture.
• Tables and the general meeting area will be sanitized by Program Committee members before members arrive to the Ag Center.
• If you want to bring a bottle of water, you are welcome to do so but you must take it with you when you leave. There will be no trash cans available. 

CEU Opportunities

While social distancing requirements are in effect, Master Gardeners may earn CEU credits by watching or participating in online teaching sessions, particularly those offered through Extension. 

TENNESSEE MASTER GARDENER HORTICULTURAL SERIES

11:00 – noon ZOOM Meetings (click to register)

June 16

July 14

August 11

***** READ ALL ABOUT IT ****

5/30 See Chris' Column for interesting facts and a little folklore about fairy rings.