I earned my blue pin

I had a letter in the mail a couple of days ago letting me know that I had earned the 50 volunteer hours required to become an “official” URI Master Gardener. They sent my “blue pin” as well. Now I don’t have to wear the paper “intern ” badge any more. Guess I better know what I’m talking about now, too!

Master gardeners regional conference

I attended the Northeast Regional Master Gardeners Conference last week in Newport, RI. This is a picture of the conference, the Hyatt on Goat Island. It's a beautiful location–right on the harbor. Unfortunately the weather was horrible–rainy, gray, chilly, & windy–so I didn't spend much time outside.

Northeast Regional Master Gardener Conference

On Tuesday & Wednesday, posts will be light. I'm volunteering both days at the Northeast Regional Master Gardener Conference, which is being held in Newport, RI and hosted by the URI master gardeners. The theme of the conference is Passion for Gardening.

Master gardener? Not quite yet

Last week I finished up the master gardener training class at URI–here’s my completion certificate. It’s good to be finished with class although I’ll miss a few buddies that I made. Hopefully I’ll see them around in different volunteer events.

Finishing the class doesn’t make me an “official” MG yet, though. I still have to complete 50 hours of volunteer work. By my account, I’m halfway there. Yesterday, I volunteered to work at the East Farm Spring Festival in Kingston, RI.

Online chat with a URI Master Gardener

Mark your calendars for an online chat at May 9 at 1 pm, when you can ask a URI master gardener a burning gardening question that's been stumping you. (Of course you can always ask me on this blog, but hey, online chats are more fun.)

Cyclamen from the flower show

Yesterday I put in my first volunteer hours for the URI Master Gardener program. Until I actually complete the class and get a lot more hands-on experience, I'm trying to limit myself to "actual gardening," versus for example, fund-raising, event coordination, or working on the gardening hotline. But because there's not that many projects in my end of the state, I volunteered to staff the "Ask a Master Gardener" Booth at a flower show that's nearby. Since I have to put in 50 hours, I figured this was a quick way to get in three hours.