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.



Membership Meeting *

Monday, October 5 

6:00 p.m.

Ron Ramsey Agricultural Regional Center

140 Spurgeon Lane

Blountville,TN  

*The University of Tennessee has set out some rules for in-person meetings. We expect all our members to comply with these guidelines to ensure a safe and enjoyable meeting.  The requirements are listed at the end of this announcement.**

The meeting will also be available to all NETMGA members on ZOOM.

Our speaker will be Jeremy Stout, City of Bristol Arborist and Manager of the Nature Center at Steele Creek Park. The subject of his presentation is "Edible and Medicinal Trees of the Appalachians". 

Jeremy has a BS in Biology that he received from ETSU, where he went on to earn a MS focusing on vertebrate paleontology. In 2018, Jeremy Stout received the Tennessee Recreation and Parks Association's Four Star Public Relations Award for his participation in the nature themed show, "Steele Creek Explorer", that can be watched on YouTube at:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL67C8D0EE7F5A39F4

** University of Tennessee Guidelines for In-Person Meetings:

1.  Please wear a mask when you enter the Ag Center.
2.  You will be asked to sign a brief questionnaire about your temperature.
3.  We may be required to take your temperature and if it exceeds the upper limits you will be asked to leave.
4.  The seating area will be sanitized before and after the classes. Everyone must maintain a distance of 6 feet so you can only sit in an assigned seat. This also pertains to families, no one may sit next to another person.
5.  No food or drink is to be brought into the building. You may bring in a bottle of water 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. 

GREENE COUNTY EXTENSION ZOOM SESSIONS (click to register)

September 21, 6:30 pm  -  The Appalachian Range

October 5, 6:30 pm  -  Hike the Appalachian Trail

October 12, 6:30 pm  -  Appalachian Woodland Plants

October 19, 6:30 pm  -  Native Plant Species

October 26, 6:30 pm  -  Appalachian Folklore

November 2, 6:30 pm  -  Herbs

November 9, 6:30 pm  -  Edible Landscapes

November 16, 6:30 pm  -  The Harvest Celebration of 1621

November 23, 6:30 pm  -  Intro to Herbal Remedies

November 30, 6:30 pm  -  Celebration of Holiday Plants

NEW NETMGA MASTER GARDENER CLASSES

Due to restricted class size caused by COVID 19 precautions only five current Master Gardeners will be allowed to attend each new Master Gardener class.

There will be an opportunity to sign up for these 5 vacancies each week via SignUpGenius. Current Master Gardeners will receive more information via email. 

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

9/20 Learn about the Unicoi County Hospital project, one of our newest Master Gardener projects, in the Projects and Photo Gallery .

8/20  A new photo and future plans for Rocky Mount can be found in the Projects and Photo Gallery .

8/17  Visit the Projects and Photo Gallery for a 2020 update on the

Church Hill Senior Center garden. 

8/16  Read updated information on the Harvest of Hope in the Projects and Photo Gallery  

8/15  See the Projects and Photo Gallery for information and pictures on a new NETMGA project:  The Nature Center at Steele Creek Park.