Master Gardener Hybrid Training Fall 2025
This registration is now closed. Contact Tracy Jo Mulliken for information about the program at (309) 756-9978 or email tmully@illinois.edu
How to become a Master Gardener
Master Gardeners are adult members of the local community who are interested in gardening and the environment. They participate in an extensive training program and commit to completing a certain number of volunteer hours on horticulture-related community projects each year. They are organized by their local county Extension unit.
This training is for volunteers of Henry, Mercer, Rock Island and Stark counties program.
Master Gardeners are adult members of the local community who are interested in gardening and the environment. They participate in an extensive training program and commit to completing a certain number of volunteer hours on horticulture-related community projects each year. They are organized by their local county Extension unit.
This training is for volunteers of Henry, Mercer, Rock Island and Stark counties program.
The cost for the training is $225 and includes a comprehensive horticulture textbook.
In this flipped classroom style training, trainees have at least 4 hours of independent study to do prior to the weekly session, including the quiz. During Tuesday sessions, trainees participate in a live webinar presented by Extension Educators. Then trainees work in small groups within the unit on in person days to discuss case studies and participate hands-on activities
Individual Zoom sessions with two in-person sessions at the Extension Unit office located at 321-2nd Ave West Milan, IL
- Daily Schedule
- 9:00 to 10:30 am- Question and Answer session with Educators with 2 longer in person days on Sept 30th and October 28th
- 2025 Fall Hybrid Training
Tuesdays, September 9 – November 25
Sep 9- Welcome and Introduction to Master Gardener Training
Sep 16- Botany
Sep 23- Soils
Sep 30- Insects IN PERSON in Milan office
Oct 7- Trees and Shrubs: Chris, Ryan, Sarah
Oct 14- Annuals and Perennials
Oct 21- Vegetables
Oct 28- Diseases IN PERSON in Milan office
Nov 4- Lawns
Nov 11- Fruits
Nov 18- Skipped for Staff Annual Conference
Nov 25- IPM
Each training topic will include an online quiz in Moodle. The final exam will also be online in Moodle. The Moodle software will grade the quizzes and the exam.
Master Gardener volunteers work on behalf of and under the supervision of University of Illinois Extension. The volunteer work is conducted in the local Extension unit and throughout the community on various projects involving parks, schools, gardening, or other city agencies.
Certified Master Gardeners are those who have completed their training and internship.
To remain active, certified Master Gardeners must complete 20 hours of volunteer service and 10 hours of educational training yearly. These are reported on line and recorded by University of Illinois Extension.
For further questions contact Tracy Jo Mulliken at tmully@illinois.edu