The Extension Master Gardeners of Greater Kansas City is an affiliate program of the University of Missouri Extension Master Gardener Program. This site is maintained by local volunteers who represent these programs in their communities.

Lala Kumar, West Central Region Horticulture Specialist
Faculty Member
kumarl@missouri.edu
MU Extension Center
Jackson County
1106 W Main Street
Blue Springs, MO 64015
(816) 252-5051 phone
(816) 252-5575 fax

Training

Master Gardeners of Greater Kansas City volunteers undergo a 16-week training on the many areas of basic gardening. The classes are taught by University of Missouri Extension specialists, University of Missouri professors, and representatives from the private sector. Core course topics include:

Introduction to Plants
Introduction to Soil
Woody Ornamentals
Ornamental Perennials
Home Lawn/Turf
Home Vegetables
Home Fruits
Garden Insects
Trees
Plant Propagation
Annuals
Plant Diseases
Organic Gardening/Hotline/Speaker's Bureau training
Wildlife Problems/Landscaping

The annual course is provided once a year in the fall from August to December. The classes are once a week, every Wednesday, for three hours. The class times rotate afternoon (2:30-5:30pm) and evening (5:00-8:00pm). A majority of the classes will be held at the Trails West Branch Public Library in Independence (23rd St.), but several field trips are included.