Gardening is in my DNA. I grew up when we ate seasonally; my family grew and preserved much of what we ate. The veggie garden was organic, but the roses were kept bug-free with systemic chemicals. I have always had a garden at home but have evolved as a gardener. For many folks, gardening is an aspiration despite minimal hands-on experience.
For all of us, however, gardening is a love affair with the unknown and a huge leap of faith. There is so much that knowledge can help us with, but often we are flying by the seats of our pants, sharing our spaces with the weather, the sun and visible and invisible pests. The number of things to know about soil and its importance to our planet is daunting but exciting. Being a gardener is being a steward of your own space and, by default, our communities and our world.
I became a Marin master gardener in 2009 because I just continued to realize how much I didn’t know but sure wanted to. I quickly learned that I had totally overestimated my actual knowledge. It was a pure gift to be taught by professionals in their fields and people with like-minded passions for nature. A mantra of the Marin Master Gardeners is that you tell people, “I don’t know, but I can find out for you.” We are visible in our community through our helpful website; the help desk in Novato; the Leaflet newsletter that you can sign up for and receive quarterly in your email; our work with school gardens and the Exploring Habitats educational field trip projects with children; the demonstration gardens at Falkirk; the farm and garden at College of Marin’s Indian Valley campus; our articles in the Marin IJ; classes offered at libraries; our always popular demonstration garden at the Marin County Fair; our information booths at various farmers markets; and so much more. The ongoing work in sustainable and Earth-friendly gardening is just heating up.
The mission of the Master Gardeners is to extend research-based knowledge and information on home horticulture, pest management and sustainable landscape practices to California residents. This program is a win-win for the community and the individual master gardener. There are many ways to grow in your knowledge and abilities to contribute wherever you choose. Continuing education classes are abundant; everyone can find a niche that fits individual talents and goals.
It takes a large village of well-educated volunteers to meet this mission. The application for the class of 2025 closes on Aug. 30. You can find a link to the application on our website and in the Leaflet. Classes start in early January, and graduation is in early May. The classes combine in-person and Zoom training. There are master gardeners of every age and so many varying backgrounds, and everyone has a contribution to make. Join us!
Sponsored by UC Cooperative Extension, the University of California Marin Master Gardeners provides science- and research-based information for Marin home gardeners. Email questions to helpdesk@marinmg.org. Attach photos for inquiries about plant pests or diseases. Please call 415-473-4910 to see when a master gardener will be at the office or drop off samples 24/7 in the sample box outside the office. To attend a gardening workshop or subscribe to Leaflet, a free quarterly e-newsletter, go to marinmg.ucanr.edu.
