In this episode of the Valley Today, host Janet Michael welcomes Joanne Royalty, an Extension Master Gardener and Program Associate with Frederick County Extension Office, along with Susan Matyuf and Brigette Grimm, both Extension Master Gardeners from the class of 2022. They gather to discuss the 2025 Master Gardener class and the impact it will have on the community.

Susan talks about her journey of becoming a Master Gardener and why she decided to take on the mantle of organizing the upcoming class. Despite being relatively new, she felt confident due to her background in education and love for the gardening community in the Northern Shenandoah region.

Brigette joins in to share how having a co-lead makes organizing the class easier. She mentions that Susan did most of the legwork, but the support from fellow gardeners and volunteers makes them confident about the success of the upcoming class.

Joanne highlights the importance of rotating the Master Gardener classes across different localities for inclusivity. She reassures potential applicants that they don't need to know everything about gardening right away as the learning process is ongoing and community-oriented.

Susan provides logistic details of the 2025 class, stating it will start on February 11th and run through May 8th, with meetings every Tuesday and Thursday evening. She emphasizes the hands-on nature of the program, including Saturday labs and various activities with experts.

The conversation then moves to the application process. Brigette reminds listeners that although the 2025 class will be in Warren County, it's open to residents from surrounding counties. She also mentions that the application is due by January 10th and gives details about the class schedule and location.

Janet and Susan discuss the in-depth application process, which includes background checks due to the public nature of their volunteer work. They also talk about the passion for gardening and volunteering as key motivations for joining the program.

Brigette highlights the variety of volunteer activities available, from community events to maintaining gardens. Susan describes how the program has taught her correct gardening techniques and helped her become a better gardener.

The episode wraps up with a discussion about the extensive resources available to Master Gardeners for research and the importance of educating the community about gardening practices and invasive species.

Click here to learn more: https://nsvmga.org/join/