Northern Lights Master Gardeners Association Inc. plants seeds of knowledge

PESHTIGO – Across Marinette County the Northern Lights Master Gardeners Association Inc. (NLMGAI) has been sowing more than seeds, they are planting the seeds of knowledge.

The Master Gardener program and training was formed by the Washington State University Extension office in 1973.

The goal of the program was to provide professional assistance to hobby gardeners and horticulturists. To become a certified Master Gardener interested members were required to complete classes and pass a certification exam before working at the call center to directly help gardeners across the country.

Interest in joining the program spread across the country, and by the early 1990s the first Master Gardener training program was held in Marinette County. This resulted in the forming of NLMGAI in 1991.

NLMGAI members volunteer their time to improve the gardens of others through hard work and education. Their distinction of being a 501c3 group and recognition from the state as an incorporated organization in 2022 has allowed them to further their mission.

NLMGAI President Bill Swan explained that the group has a mission of horticultural education. Some of the ways that they provide education is through “various in-person presentations and discussions, which we do one-on-one with people to understand their work and have them ask questions so we can share our knowledge with them.”

These “Ask a Master Gardener” presentations are held in Marinette and surrounding counties at town halls and libraries. The topics vary, ranging from broad topics for those just getting into gardening to specific niches directly selected for community members. Courses regarding managing a vegetable garden and successfully propagating plants are just a few of the sessions NLMGAI has recently led.

In addition to the educational aspect, one thing that Swan said sets them apart is their public garden.

“We have a demonstration garden that we’ve been running down at Harmony [Arboretum] that is a way for us to show people what really grows around here,” he said.

The three-acre demonstration garden is just one aspect of the 496-acre publicly accessible parcel in Peshtigo that is owned by Marinette County, with management assistance from NLMGAI, the Marinette County Land Information Department and UW-Extension.

Over the course of nearly three decades, the Harmony Arboretum has been transformed by the NLMGAI to become a one-of-a-kind asset to the community.

Harmony Arboretum is located at seven miles west of Marinette on Hwy 64 and then half a mile south on Cty Rd E. More information about the NLMGAI and their upcoming events, including an open house at Harmony Arboretum, can be found on the Northern Lights Master Gardeners Association Volunteers Facebook page. Continued next week.