DIG IN!! Extension Master Gardeners

Tuesdays 6 - 7 p.m. ET

Feb. 10, March 10, April 14, May 12, June 9,

July 14, Aug. 11, Sept. 8, Oct. 13, Nov. 10

Online via Zoom - (recordings will be available for registrants two weeks after airing)

Cost: Free (This class is only for certified Extension Master Gardener volunteers)

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Join MSU Extension Consumer Horticulture staff for this year-long series of 1-hour presentations. Each online class includes an exciting educational topic that counts towards your EMG continuing education. Register once for the entire series.

TOPICS:

Feb. 10: Amanda Novak and Bob Batt - MDOT
MDOT Roadside & Rest Area Vegetation Management

Learn how the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is managing roadsides and rest areas to balance safety, aesthetics, and ecological health. Discover how MDOT’s strategies are evolving to support pollinators, reduce maintenance costs, and enhance Michigan’s natural beauty. 

March 10: Sigrid Resh (she/her) - Research Assistant Professor of Forest Ecology and Coordinator, Keweenaw Invasive Species Management Area (KISMA)
Untying the Knotweed Problem: 9-year Study of a Chemical-Free Approach

Invasive knotweeds form dense monocultures, outcompeting native plants, depleting native insects and other wildlife communities, and damaging infrastructure like foundations and fences. Knotweed also is incredibly challenging to control. Here I will present a successful option for controlling invasive knotweeds without the use of chemicals that is based on nine years of research. I will also present chemical-free management options for woody invasives like barberry, buckthorns, and invasive honeysuckles. 

April 14: Stefanie Steele. Xerces Society
Best Gardening Practices to Protect Pollinators and Their Habitats 

Join Stefanie Steele,  Xerces Society Pollinator Conservation Specialist and NRCS Partner Biologist for Urban and Small Farms in Michigan for a presentation on Best Gardening Practices to Protect Pollinators and Their Habitats. Learn about “cues to care” to help people in your communities learn to understand functionality of small-scale native plant gardens, selecting and sourcing the “right” plants for your space, tips on how to maintain your native garden, and a brief overview of how the diversity of pollinators may interact and use your habitat. 

May 12: David Lowenstein - Consumer Horticulture Educator, MSU Extension
Boxtree moth: Munching Monster

Box tree moth (Cydalima perspectalis) is a new invasive pest in Michigan that can defoliate and kill boxwood shrubs. In 2023 MDARD initiated a quarantine for boxwood shrubs. Join David Lowenstein to learn more about this voracious pest and how you can identify and potentially manage it.

June 9: Dr. Katherine Alaimo - MSU Associate Professor, Director of Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Minor and Specialization
Caretaking, Accomplishment, and Connection to Nature: The ‘Gardening Triad’ and its Role in Community Gardeners’ Physical, Social, and Emotional Well-being

Join Dr. Katherine Alaimo to learn more about her research and the benefits of gardens and gardening education in communities. Learn about the benefits that go beyond exposure to nature, food production, and physical activity. Dr. Alaimo will discuss what she calls the ‘gardening triad’ which includes aspects of nurturing, feelings of accomplishment, and a connection to nature. 

July 14: Susan Bryan, Rain Garden Coordinator 
Plant A Rain Garden – Keep our Rivers Clean, One Garden at a Time

Anyone can plant a rain garden! You don’t need any special equipment – just a yard, a spade, compost and a few plants.  Rain Gardens are a beautiful addition to any landscape - and keep our rivers, lakes and streams clean!  We’ll talk about the benefits of Rain Gardens and how to build and plant one at your own home. Rain gardens are for the greater good, and are practical solutions for basement and yard flooding.   

Aug. 11: Doug Reith - Resource Specialist, Washtenaw County Conservation District
Michigan Conservation Districts 

Sept. 8: Maeve Basset - Education Director at Beal Botanical Garden & Campus Arboretum
Peopling Plants and Place at Beal Botanical Garden 

Oct. 13: Barbara Gregerson, Barslund Judd, and Lindsey Kerr - Consumer Horticulture, MSU Extension
Horticultural Horrors: Tales of Plants, Pests, and Poor Decisions 

Join MSU Extension Educators for a fun look at the dark side of gardening! Cringe as they share a collection of downright disturbing photographs of pruning blunders, disfiguring plant diseases, terrifying invasive species, and more. Treat yourself to an evening of learning tricks and tips to keep your own garden from becoming a horror show.

Nov. 10: Joshua Cohen, Senior Conservation Scientist for Michigan Natural Features Inventory, MSU Extension  
Michigan Natural Features Inventory and their Resources for Michiganders

Join MSU Extension's Senior Conservations Scientist, Joshua Cohen, to learn about the interesting and important work the Michigan National Features Inventory (MNFI) team does to guide the conservation of Michigan's biodiversity. Their mission is to serve as the authoritative source of information on biodiversity that is widely used to conserve Michigan's unique natural heritage for current and future generations. Joshua will discuss MNFI resources for the public, including his work creating 'A Field Guide to the Natural Communities of Michigan'. 

Cost: FREE! All certified EMGs and Trainees must register one time to have access to the entire series. Do not share the recording links with non-registrants and/or non-EMGs.

Education Hours - Each session will count as 1 EMG Continuing Education hour.    

How to Connect: The day before each event, registrants will receive an email containing the virtual event link and Zoom instructions. (Be sure to check your Inbox and Spam folders for this email.)

Technology Requirements: Below are recommendations for the optimal interactive online learning experience:
   *  A computer, laptop or tablet with the latest version of your browser
   *  A reliable, internet connection - broadband wired or wireless (3G or 4G/LTE)
   *  Webcam or HD webcam - built-in or USB plug-in
   *  Speakers and a microphone - built-in or USB plug-in

First-time Zoom users: Never used Zoom before? No worries. Registrants will be emailed an overview of how to get started, complete with screenshots. Plus, there’s a help line to contact if you encounter any difficulties.