Editor’s Note: The Gardeners’ Guide is a seasonal rundown of gardening related events. Listings are free. Email: features@recorder.com. Questions? Call 413-772-0261, ext. 276. Weather may cancel or force the rescheduling of some of these events. Additionally, space is often limited. Please contact organizers to ensure you can attend. This is particularly important if registration is required.
Western Massachusetts Master Gardener Association
Master Gardener Training Program: Classes to meet weekly from January to April 2019 at Holyoke Community College, 303 Homestead Ave., Holyoke. University of Massachusetts Amherst faculty and staff, and other green industry experts, present horticulture lectures that cover: ornamental plants, fruits, vegetables, identifying common pests and diseases, and sustainable gardening practices.
To become a Master Gardener, participants must attend a mandatory two-hour orientation, successfully complete the course and exam, and fulfill 60 volunteer service hours in the first year. Participants should have access to the internet and a printer. Once certified, Master Gardeners maintain active status by completing 15 hours of volunteer service and three hours of continuing education annually. Volunteer activities include: maintaining demonstration gardens, assisting at plant clinics, answering hotline questions and speaking to community groups.
The deadline to register is Sept. 21 as the class size is limited. For more information or to download an application, visit www.wmmga.org. With questions, email Sharon at rogalssm@gmail.com or call 413-253-7931.
Grown in Westhampton
“Growing Pollinator Pathways in Neighborhoods and Towns”: Tuesday, Sept. 25, 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Westhampton Public Library, 1 North Road in Westhampton. Presentation by Peggy MacLeod of the Western Mass Pollinator Networks about pollinator habitat and what to do to support local pollinators. Learn about host plants, why some plants and seeds are not “bee safe,” trusted sources for pesticide-free plants and how to participate in the 1,001 Pollinator Gardens project. For more information, visit: bit.ly/2w96zq4.
