The University of Illinois Extension has announced that Master Gardener training will be held with a flipped classroom style starting in September. Interested individuals can apply now for the training. Applications can be obtained by e-mailing brucejb@illinois.edu or at their website go.illinois.edu/clwmgtraining.

To allow participants more flexibility during the training, a flipped classroom style training will be used instead of the traditional classroom of Master Gardener training. Each week, trainees will be given a reading assignment and a quiz, which is the typical classroom style training. The difference will be that instead of being in a class for seven hours in one day, trainees will be given 2-4 videos to watch at their own pace before meeting online via Zoom with the section instructor. The Zoom sessions will be on Thursdays from 9-10:30 a.m. and include discussion, review and follow-up. The training consists of 12 sessions, two of which are optional. The first one will take place on Thursday, Sept. 3 and continue through Nov. 19.

Coursework covers botany, soils and fertility, woody ornamentals/pruning, organic gardening, vegetables, annuals and perennials, fruits, insect identification and control, turf management, disease diagnosis and control, U of I resources and more.

Once training is complete, participants join the existing Master Gardener volunteers in their county and serve the community, fulfilling the Master Gardner mission “Helping others learn to grow.” As volunteers, Master Gardeners make a difference in the community.

Pre-registration is required to attend Master Gardener training. An orientation interview will be conducted with participants in advance of the class. Registration for the training is $175 to cover the cost of the manual. For more information about Master Gardener training, contact Bruce Black at (217) 244-1923 or brucejb@illinois.edu.