EVERY - The Bulletin Magazine

in the garden
S.O.S. for Gardens
Where did you go with your last
question about plants or pests? Big
box garden centres are more than
happy to sell you the latest new
product. Neighbours and friends may
offer advice based on personal
experience, but what are their
credentials? Did you know that you
can get expert advice from a certified
Master Gardener, and it’s free?
Master Gardeners are trained
volunteers, certified horticultural
experts who provide information and
education to home gardeners. In
Ontario, they are a part of Master
Gardeners of Ontario, Inc. (MGOI), a
non-profit service organization
committed to providing non-biased,
science-based information through
clinics, demonstrations and
presentations in your community.
Are weeds invading your lawn? Do
you have a lovely plant that you don’t
know how to prune? Do you want to
start a native shrub garden to attract
colourful butterflies and songbirds?
What’s bugging your vegetable
garden? Ask a Master Gardener! He
or she will guide you with
sustainable options based on the
most current horticultural research.
With Ontario’s ban on pesticides, it’s
no longer acceptable to grab the
powder or spray that’s been sitting in
the garage for several years. Master
Gardeners can provide you with
suggestions for better ways to
manage pests, build healthy soil, and
maintain a beautiful yard. At the
same time, you will be keeping the
earth, air and water table poison-free.
You can talk with a Master Gardener
at garden clinics held at many local
events such as fairs and farmers’
markets. Watch for workshops and
presentations hosted by libraries,
municipalities, and even nurseries.
Many Master Gardener groups also
maintain phone or email help lines to
offer answers to your gardening
questions. Some groups provide
radio and TV phone-in-programs as
well as news articles on
gardening issues.
The Master Gardener organization
got its start in 1972 in response to an
overwhelming number of requests
for gardening information in the
western state of Washington, USA.
Here in Ontario, the Ministry of
Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
(OMAFRA) initiated a provincial
program in 1985. When OMAFRA’s
funding support ended in 1996,
Master Gardeners of Ontario, Inc.
was incorporated as a non-profit
organization. MGOI’s partners now
include Landscape Ontario, the
Vineland Research Institute and
Canada Blooms.
Barbara Evans, Coordinator of LSSMG, at the Markham Farmers' Market
There are currently 38 local groups
providing horticultural advice across
Ontario. The Lake Simcoe South
Master Gardener group (LSSMG)
serves the York Region area. Our
members are familiar with the issues
you may have in your garden, so
when you have a gardening question,
ask a local Master Gardener!
We would love to
hear from you.
Questions, requests
for speakers at a club
or advice clinics at a business...
Contact us at
lssmastergardeners@gmail.com or
visit www.mgoi.ca.
www.thebulletinmagazine.com August 2010 | The Bulletin 25