Katie in CityScope Magazine

Recently, Katie was highlighted among other Master Gardeners in CityScope Magazine! Each gardener spoke a little about their experiences with the Hamilton County Master Gardener program and about their gardens.

How long have you been a Master Gardener? What was the process of getting the certification?
This is my first year as a Master Gardener. To become a Certified Master Gardener you must complete the 40 training course, 40 hours of volunteer service and 8 additional hours of continuing education. 

The training course was held once a week, for 15 weeks, at the Hamilton County Extension Office. Each week focuses on a different topic. On night one, you are given access to the Master Gardener Intern Website and a large binder filled with workbooks. This is your course material broken out week-by-week. Each week before class you should read the workbook, complete online assignments and watch any associated videos. It was like going back to school! 

Volunteering is the heart of the Master Gardener program. In order to graduate from Master Gardener Intern to Certified Master Gardener, you need a minimum of 40 volunteer hours with approved projects. This is easy to do since there are many events, partner gardens and opportunities to earn service hours. In my opinion, volunteering is where you gain the most knowledge. A few of my favorite places to volunteer are Chattanooga Food Bank, Battle Academy (they have a great rooftop kitchen garden!), Crabtree Farms and Chattanooga Zoo. Once you become a Certified Master Gardener annual minimum volunteer hours drop to 27 hours.

Continuing Education Units (CEUs) can be earned by attending monthly Master Gardener meetings and classes, attending programs of approved organizations, or watching approved videos. There are so many fabulous speakers and classes happening all around Chattanooga, so these credits are easy to come by if you are truly interested in learning more about gardening in our ever-changing world. 

I highly encourage anyone interested in the program to visit mghc.org to learn more.

Why did you want to become a Master Gardener?

I went to Horticulture school in Seattle, Washington. Chattanooga and Seattle are in the same horticultural zone, but there are differences when it comes to plants that thrive in each location. One of my main focuses of becoming a Master Gardener was to learn more about the native keystone plants in Tennessee. 

How does being a Master Gardener take the skillset from hobby to professional? What were some of the key things you learned?
I began my kitchen garden business, Umbel Gardens, before starting the Master Gardener program. While in the program I learned where to access scientifically researched and trialed information about edible plants that grow best in Chattanooga. The program also allows me access to volunteer with incredible organizations who have been growing food in this city for years. They offer a wealth of knowledge and new ways of doing things in the garden! 

View the entire fall issue of CityScope Magazine here.