Master gardners share their knowledge at the fair and beyond
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LISBON -- For master gardeners Terri Ruggiero, New Waterford, and David Burnham, Canfield, their paths to becoming master gardeners couldn't have been more different.
But now since becoming certified as master gardeners in the same class at Ohio State in 2024, they share a common love of gardening, sharing their expertise, volunteering, meeting new people and making new friends who share their same interests.
Ruggiero said she really had no prior gardening experience except for going to Master Gardeners' public events and their Spring Seminar and hands-on classes. She said she really decided to join when she attended the Bring One Take One event where participants bring in flowers and take-home different ones brought in by others.
Until then she didn't know much about gardening.
"I love being outside and working with nature, so for me this is a very good fit," Ruggiero said.
Burnham on the other hand has been exposed to gardening his whole life with his dad being a vegetable gardener in Hanover Township, and his grandmothers on both his mom and dad's sides had vegetable and flower gardens, and they both lived nearby.
"So, I grew up with a lot of different gardening techniques and then I bought my house in 2000 in Canfield which started with one little garden patch and since grown and grown and grown," Burnham said.
His garden was one of the ones where the group sourced plants from for their plant sale.
Burnham's family has a house in Guilford where he plants a three-season garden for his dad on the deck so his dad can easily access the plants.
Ruggiero and Burnham were both 4-H members, but Ruggiero said she was in cooking not gardening.
Burnham said his children helped with planting last year, so they had four generations of his family planting together in front of the house.
Burnham describes master gardeners as a very diverse group who do a lot of things as part of a joint collaborative between Columbiana and Mahoning counties' Master Gardners programs.
The group meets monthly at the Mahoning County Extension Office on the second Thursday of each month at 6 p.m.
Burnham said that being a master gardener means being involved in the community and trying to educate the community on different aspects of gardening.
"This isn't one size fits all," Burnham said. "We have people in our organizations that are into natives, people just into pollinators, others that are into organic (vegetables), people that just do flowers and people like me. I just do a little bit of everything."
Ruggiero said that it's a very diverse group that is very tightly bonded with instant friendships formed.
The training for becoming a certified master gardener involves a 13-week, 50-hour training program with classes held once a week.
"So, we are very well educated," Ruggiero said. "We are trained in Biology, Chemistry and all the plants' parts and then we take all that information and learn how to use it and then take it to the public."
For master gardener certification, after completing the training, the students must either take a test or do a research paper and give a 20-minute PowerPoint presentation demonstrating the knowledge they obtained.
Burham said that after completing the class, 50 hours of volunteering must be completed within 12 months, which moves the student from intern status to master gardener volunteer. After that Master Gardener volunteers are required to do 10 hours of continuing education and 20 hours of volunteer time in the community each year.
The class is only held every two years, in even number years and to register there is an interview process and references required. Not everyone who applies gets accepted.
Burnham also noted that the group has 12 to 13 committees that work on different community projects such as the pollinator garden at Columbiana County Fairgrounds, maintaining the grounds at the Mahoning County Extension Office, taking care of the Veterans Cabin and the gardens around them in Canfield, Wreath Across America, Veggies and More which is a group that helps with community/city gardens in the Youngstown area and more.
They hold a yearly spring workshop for the public which includes keynote speakers and multiple breakout sessions. An educational spring workshop is held for the public with keynote speakers and breakout sessions, Ruggiero said.
Burham said that they have a plant and pest series where anyone can just walk in and bring a plant or pest in a Ziploc bag or jar, and they will work with them to identify it.
They hold Ask the Master Gardener sessions at the Lepper Library in Lisbon and a similar program at the Mahoning County Library called Morning with the Masters.
Ruggiero said that people who attend these programs walk away with a lot of information and new friends.
Master Gardeners also has a soil testing program for those who need to know what to add to their soil for optimal growth. There is a $20 cost for the testing which involves bringing in a soil sample which is sent to Penn State for testing, Burnham said.
Upcoming Master Gardener programs include Garden Aprons, which will be held Oct. 6 at 5 p.m. at the Columbiana County Extension Office, 7989 Dickey Drive, Lisbon. Master Gardener volunteers will lead a hands-on garden art demonstration with participants being able to make garden art and take it home. Cost is $25, which includes an apron and supplies. For more information call 330-967-7249 or visit go.osu.edu/aproncol26.
There will also be a Holiday Art Series on Dec. 1 at 6 p.m. at the First Methodist Church of Salem, 244 S. Broadway Ave., Salem. Participants will create holiday gnomes for a front porch or other outdoor space. Cost is $25. For more information call 330-967-7249 or visit go.osu.edu.holidaygnome26.
For additional information on The Master Gardener Volunteer (MGV) Program or are interested in becoming a Master Gardener volunteer call 330-424-7291.