HOPKINSVILLE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – Christian County Master Gardeners Association will be spending their spring and summer teaching new gardeners the ins and outs of horticulture. 70 volunteers are trained and ready to spread their knowledge at garden centers and businesses around the county.
“Our master gardeners, they are workhorses, I call them an army,” said Kelly Jackson, the County Extension Agent for Horticulture in Hopkinsville. He explained that becoming a master gardener takes a lot of dedication and requires completion of a 13-week college level program. Everything about soil, insects, pesticides and so much more is covered during that time, with an exam at the end.
“There’s so many new things to learn all the time,” said Master Gardener Gary Fromm. “Working out there, especially in the spring, it’s always nice and peaceful. It’s a calming place to be.”
Fromm said the certification process was intense, with a lot of focus on insects and diseases in plants, but it was worth it in the end. He encourages anyone interested in furthering their knowledge to give it a try. His specialty is in raised garden beds, a method he teaches at programs in Christian County.
Master Gardener mission
As a certified arborist and self-described tree and shrub guy, Jackson told Christian County Now that it’s unbelievable how much there is to learn about gardening practices. Since the COVID-19 lockdown, they have noticed a huge shift in interest in gardening and are excited to have a new generation to teach with hands on demonstrations provided by master gardeners.
“You can only teach so much, sometimes you just need to see it,” said Jackson. “We’ve got to provide those sources for those people.”
Master Gardners have recently set up at the Hopkinsville Library, Hopkinsville Brewing Company and garden centers at Lowe’s to have talks and classes on various gardening practices. In addition to these workshops, Fromm and other volunteers help maintain several garden beds around Hopkinsville, including the community garden at Jeffers Bend.
Basic gardening tips
Fromm insists that using the raised bed method is the best way to start your own vegetable garden because of the soil control, and diverse options with the beds. Beds can be fully constructed with wood, but even planting tomatoes in a bucket is a good starting point. “It’s pretty simple and easy to do, just start small,” Fromm said.
“Friends don’t let friends plant annuals,” Jackson added when asked to offer tips for beginners.
One of organizations main focuses is helping people create pollinator gardens and planting specific plants that support pollinators local to Christian County. These tiny bugs are separate from traditional bumble bees, and supporting their population supports all horticulture in the area.
In addition to regular programs that can be found on the Christian County Master Gardeners Association Facebook page, their massive Garden and Outdoor Expo is also coming up on April 12-13. The event will be held at the Christian County Extension Office Expo Center. Admission is free, and it will feature more than 30 local and regional garden and outdoor living exhibitors, kids’ activities, free tree seedlings, food and hourly seminars.
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