(Malvern, Iowa) – Local women landowners and farmers wanting to learn more about ways to improve the health of their soil can attend a workshop on September 13^th at 6:00 p.m. in Malvern. The event, co-hosted by Soil Health Partnership and Women, Land & Legacy of Southwest Iowa will focus on the basics of soil science, soil health resources and land management discussion.  This is one of at least nine field days planned by The Partnership throughout the state through September.

Elyssa McFarland, Soil Health Partnership field manager for Iowa, says “Iowa has some of the richest, most productive farmland in the world. By understanding the basics of soil properties and soil health we can gain a better understanding of implementing new practices to prevent nutrient loss and erosion and improve soil structure.”

The soil health workshop will take place at Classic Cafe, located at 317 Main Street in Malvern.  Dinner will be provided by Soil Health Partnership and is limited to the first 25 registrants.  This event is open to anyone, with pre-registration required by Friday, September 9^th at 4:30 p.m.  To register, call Iowa State University Extension & Outreach-Mills County at (712) 527-3316, Fremont County at (712) 374-2351, or Montgomery County at (712) 623-2592.  Special accommodations may be requested by contacting these offices.

WLL events are sponsored through a partnership of Fremont, Mills and Montgomery counties Farm Service Agency, Soil and Water Conservation District, Iowa State University Extension & Outreach, and Women, Land & Legacy of Southwest Iowa.  Women, Land & Legacy is committed to offering learning opportunities for rural women in areas such as business, management, agriculture and family.

About the Soil Health Partnership:
An initiative of the National Corn Growers Association, the SHP works closely with diverse organizations including commodity groups, federal agencies and well-known environmental groups toward common goals. The Partnership is in its third year with 65 partner farms across eight Midwestern states.

The Soil Health Partnership brings together diverse partner organizations including commodity groups, federal agencies, universities and environmental groups to work toward the common goal of improving soil health. Over a period of at least 10 years, the SHP will identify, test and measure farm management practices that improve soil health and benefit farmers. We believe the results of this farmer-led project will provide a platform for sharing peer-to-peer information, and lend resources to benefit agricultural sustainability and profitability. An initiative of the National Corn Growers Association, we provide the spark for greater understanding and implementation of agricultural best practices to protect resources for future generations. For more, visit soilhealthpartnership.org.

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 any type of gardening and have a desire to share their knowledge through education and community involvement. Cass County Extension will be hosting a Master Gardener training course for the fall session in 2016, but the deadline for registration is September 1!

Master Gardener trainees attend 40 hours of classes taught by Iowa State University Extension & Outreach staff and specialists on topics including lawn care, flower and vegetable gardening, ornamental trees and shrubs, fruit crops, and houseplants, insect, disease, and weed control, soil and plant nutrition, and pesticide safety. No previous gardening experience or expertise is necessary to become a Master Gardener, just a willingness to learn and give back. In 2015, 30 Master Gardeners reported over 1250 hours of volunteer service in and around Cass County!

In exchange for training, participants are asked to volunteer 40 hours of service to their local communities. The service opportunities are wide-ranging. Master Gardeners speak to local groups, teach youth about gardening, plant/maintain community gardens, staff plant clinics or displays, and provide horticulture therapy activities for the elderly, to name a few. Cass County has an active Master Gardener group that meets regularly to coordinate volunteer and educational opportunities for members. Membership in this group is optional, but open to anyone who has completed the training.

Classes will be held at the Cass County Extension office, located at 805 West 10th Street in Atlantic, Tuesday evenings, from September 20 through November 15.  There will also be three Thursday evening sessions held locally, and one Saturday in October 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 $195 per person. Registration deadline to ensure consideration for the class is this Thursday, September 1^st.

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 stop in the office for information on signing up for the fall certification classes, or to learn more about Iowa Master Gardeners. A printable application form can also be found on the Cass County Extension website at www.extension.iastate.edu/cass.  Applications can also be completed online by visiting http://mastergardenerhours.hort.iastate.edu/application-form.php to fill out an online application that will be immediately submitted for consideration. For more information about the application process and classes you can also visit www.extension.iastate.edu/mastergardener/become-master-gardener.