For anyone that has a green thumb, or wishes to make their thumb greener, Dallas County ISU Extension has the perfect program coming this August.
The Iowa Master Gardener program is offered through ISU Extension, and their yearly certification classes are coming soon. Dallas County Extension Director Jeff Jackson says the program includes six weeks of training, and this year it will be more hands-on than in previous classes. “We’re actually changing the training this year to be a little more interactive, and less ‘sitting in a classroom.’ You’ll learn everything you need to know about weeds, fertilizer, plant styles, perennials, annuals, and you literally at the end will become a Master Gardener. There’s an actual certification honored by the State.”
Jackson adds, Dallas County had the largest Master Gardener class in Iowa last year, so he encourages people to sign up soon before the program fills up. Training fees are $195 per person, but Jackson says there are scholarships available to help with the cost. People can register by calling Extension at 515-993-4281, stopping into their office on the Dallas County Fairgrounds, or on their website which you can access by clicking the link below.