Do you have a love for gardening, a desire to learn more about the world of gardening, and a commitment to being a positive part of your community? If so, the Master Gardener program may be right for you!! Master Gardeners are members of the local community who take an active interest in growing flowers, vegetables, fruits, shrubs, trees and lawns, and also have a desire to share their knowledge through education and community involvement.

Master Gardener trainees attend 40 hours of classes taught by Iowa State University Extension staff and specialists in topics ranging from lawn care, flower and vegetable gardening, ornamental trees and shrubs, fruit crops, and houseplants to insect, disease, and weed control, soil and plant nutrition, and pesticide safety.

In exchange for training, participants are asked to volunteer 40 hours of service to their local extension program. The service opportunities are wide-ranging. Master Gardeners answer telephone requests for gardening information, staff plant clinics or displays, speak to local groups, teach youth, provide horticulture therapy activities for the elderly, and supervise or judge county fair horticulture activities as judges or project coordinators. Cass County also has an active Master Gardener group that meets regularly to coordinate volunteer and educational opportunities for members.

Classes will be held at the Cass County Extension office, located at 805 W. 10^th Street in Atlantic. The first session will be Tuesday evening, September 6 from 6:30 to 9:30 pm, and will continue on consecutive Tuesday’s through November 1.  There will also be three Thursday evening sessions, and one Saturday in October will be spent on the ISU campus for hands-on training in the horticulture department.  The cost for the entire program, including reference materials and all training, is just $150 per person.

Registrations must be in the Cass County Extension office by August 30 to have materials available for the first training session. Persons interested in becoming a trained Master Gardener in Cass County are encouraged to contact the Cass County Extension office at 712-243-1132 or visit www.extension.iastate.edu/cass for information on signing up for the fall certification classes, or to learn more about Iowa Master Gardeners.

Do you want to learn how to preserve food but don’t know where to begin?　 Have you been canning for years but want to learn the latest recommendations? Food Preservation 101 will be offered, free of charge, on Thursday, September 1 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the ISU Extension office in Cass County, located at 805 W 10^th Street in Atlantic. The program will be presented by Barb Fuller, Nutrition and Health Program Specialist with ISU Extension. Topics covered will include canning, freezing and dehydrating food, as well as tips for keeping food safe.

In addition, free testing of pressure canner lids will be offered before the class, from 5:15 to 6 p.m. on the 1st. Only the lids need to be brought in for the testing, and those unable to attend may drop their lids off to be tested prior to this time. While there is not charge to attend the class, pre-registration is requested in order to have enough materials available.　 Please call the Cass Co. Extension Office at 712-243-1132 by August 31st to pre-register.

(Cass Co. Extension Press Release)