Category: Education

The class schedule and several important dates have been announced for those interested in taking the 2019 Master Gardener Course through Clemson’s Greenwood Extension Office. Completion of this course is the first step to becoming a certified master gardener through Clemson University Extension. All of the following will be at the Extension Office, 105 North University Street in Greenwood.

• July 15, 2019, 6 PM – 8 PM: Public informational meeting. Meet the course instructor and some of our current master gardeners, and get answers to any questions you may have about the course. (Note that previously this date was erroneously listed as July 16.)
• July 31, 2019: Scholarship applications must be received at the Greenwood Extension Office no later than 1:00 PM. Click here for office hours. Scholarship applications may alternatively be mailed to Clemson Extension Service, c/o LMG, Inc. – Scholarship Fund, P. O. Box 246, Greenwood, SC 29648. However, they still must be received by 1:00 PM on July 31 to be considered, so please be sure to mail yours well in advance. You can download a copy of the scholarship form here.
• August 9, 2019: Scholarship recipients will be notified. If you have applied for a scholarship, please wait until this date to register for the course, as scholarship recipients will receive special registration instructions with this notification.
• August 13, 2019: Deadline to register for the course and pay the course fee. Click here to complete the registration form.
• August 20, 2019: Scholarship recipients must reimburse LMG for whatever balance of the course fee was not covered by their scholarship, no later than the first day of classes.
• August 20 – November 19, 2019: Classes will be held each Tuesday evening from 6 PM – 9 PM.

If you have questions about the course and are unable to attend the informational meeting on July 15, feel free to contact us electronically, or call the extension office at 864-223-3264.

Registration is now open for the spring/summer offering of Clemson Extension’s Master Rain Gardener course.  This multi-week hybrid course provides the knowledge and skill set needed to design, install and maintain rain garden and rainwater harvesting systems.  Rain gardens and rainwater harvesting systems assist residents with flood and erosion management, water conservation and establishment of backyard habitat.
 
As part of the Master Rain Gardener program, participants will learn about:

• Rain garden site assessment
• Soil analysis
• Design standards and elements
• Plant selection
• Maintenance and more

 
Participants will also spend time learning about rainwater harvesting system sizing, component considerations, water use and safety measures. The program includes four weeks of online learning modules with hands-on learning exercises. The Master Rain Gardener course offers a Letter of Completion Track (online classroom only) and a Certification Track (online classroom, field session and exam). Master Gardeners will earn 10 hours of CEU’s with completion of Letter of Completion Track. The class starts May 6^th.

Please visit clemson.edu/raingarden for more information and register HERE! Any questions can be directed to Kim Morganello, Water Resources Extension Agent at kcounts@clemson.edu.

The Certificate in Native Plant Studies program is offered jointly by the South Carolina Native Plant Society and the South Carolina Botanical Garden.

2019 Certificate courses that are already on the calendar include:
February 2 Basic Botany (Clemson)
March 22 Basic Botany (Charleston)
Basic Botany is a prerequisite for all other courses.
March 13 Principles of Sustainable Landscaping
March 23 Natural Plant Communities
March 30 Nature Journaling
April 9 Tree Identification
April 18 Native Plants and Birds of the Beidler Forest
April 20 Principles of Sustainable Landscaping
May 4 Plant Communities of the Jocassee Gorges via Lake Jocassee
May 8 Vascular Plants of the Low Country
May 9 Longleaf Pine Savanna
May 10 Ferns

To find out more, visit the South Carolina Native Plant Society

Class size is limited, so sign up now!

See a complete list of upcoming courses for this certificate program here.

Clemson’s Greenwood County Extension Office is offering three afternoon courses this Spring. All are open to any interested gardeners who would like to attend. They are a great opportunity for those thinking about taking the Master Gardener course later in the year to get a taste of what that program is like. The cost for each 3-hour course is $10, and registration is required ahead of time to ensure we have enough materials. If you are interested in attending, please contact extension agent James Hodges or call the extension office at 864-223-3264 ext 116.

All courses will be held at the extension office: 105 North University Street, Greenwood, SC 29646.

February 12, 2 – 5 PM: Pruning Fruit Trees and Urban Trees

February 26, 2 – 5 PM: Spring and Summer Vegetable Gardening

March 12, 2 – 5 PM: Home Turf Management