Become a Master of Gardens

A new season of Rutgers Master Gardener Environmental & Community Stewardship classes will be starting soon at the Middlesex County EARTH Center (Davidson’s Mill Pond Park, 42 Riva Ave., South Brunswick).

The County’s Extension Service will offer both daytime and evening programs. Orientation will be on Thursday, Sept. 8 at 6:30 p.m. for the evening class and Friday, Sept. 9 at 9:30 a.m. for the Friday morning class. Middlesex County is currently the only county that offers the Rutgers Master Gardeners course in the evenings. Pre-registration for the course is required. 

Rutgers Master Gardeners are community volunteers, trained in earth-friendly gardening and environmental principles. Lecture classes meet once per week for three hours from mid September through mid April.

The 60-70 hours of classroom instruction includes practical field experience. Outdoor, hands-on garden classes meet weekly for 3 hours from mid April through mid September (every other week in summer). New students create and care for a large demonstration vegetable and herb garden.

Topics covered include: sound gardening techniques; composting; creative methods of conserving resources; and horticulture therapy. The program also requires participants to volunteer a minimum of 60 hours of service towards Extension projects, activities and events throughout the year. The program fee (to cover the cost of supplies, instructional materials and speakers) is $425.  

The Middlesex County Master Gardener program will be offered at the EARTH Center, in Davidson’s Mill Pond Park, 42 Riva Ave., South Brunswick. If you are interested please call the EARTH Center at 732-398-5262. 

Interested parties can see what the Master Gardeners have been up to, by reading their newsletter available at the Master Gardeners page on the website www.co.middlesex.nj.us/extensionservices.