Gardening in Montana (formerly Master Gardener training)

Location: Online Self-Paced
Cost:  $100.00

There are still openings remaining at this time.

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About Gardening in Montana

The Gardening in Montana online course (formerly the Master Gardener training course) is intended to support your role as informed gardeners here in Montana, giving you the foundation to make science-based decisions about plant selection, soil management, planting, pruning, watering, and problem-solving.

For those working in the green industry, this information can also be applied professionally. Whether you’re involved in landscaping, arboriculture, urban forestry, nurseries and garden centers, or horticulture-related sales, the principles covered in this course provide a research-based foundation of gardening principles.

For eligible Montana residents who are interested in taking their learning a step further, this course can serve as a pathway into the Montana Master Gardener Volunteer Program. Master Gardeners are trained through MSU Extension to use this science-based knowledge to educate others and strengthen their communities through outreach and service, and taking the Gardening in Montana training course is the first step towards this process.

Objectives

In all of these roles, the goal is the same: to apply reliable, Montana-specific information in ways that support healthy plants, landscapes, and communities.

Participants will learn foundational topics—from soil and plant science to vegetable gardening, fruit trees, turf and alternatives, woody ornamentals, and integrated pest management—to help them become confident and informed Montana gardeners. Through videos, resources, and hands on activities, learners will gain practical skills they can apply in their personal or professional roles, including opportunities to engage with community-based programs like the Montana Master Gardener Volunteer initiative.

Intended Audience

  • Individuals interested in science-based information pertaining to gardening in Montana.
  • Individuals interested in becoming Montana Master Gardener Volunteers.
  • Individuals working in the green industry, with an interest in applying science-based gardening knowledge to their professional roles.

Please note: This course is intended for adults (18+) who reside in the state of Montana.

Self-Paced Format

This online class is self-paced via Canvas, meaning you can complete it on your own time and at your own pace within six months from when you register.

After your registration and any outstanding payments are received, you will receive an automated email from MSU Outreach with login instructions to access the course in Canvas. If you do not receive your login information within 2 business days, please check your junk folder. If you don't find it there, email outreachadmin@montana.edu.

Contact

Gardening in Montana is brought to you by the Montana State University Extension Yard and Garden program in collaboration with the Montana Master Gardener Volunteer program.

Direct questions to the relevant contacts below:

Fee:  $100.00

Call us at (406) 994-6550 to see if you qualify for a discount on this course.

Online Self-Paced

This online class is self-paced via the Canvas learning management system, and you have 6 months in which to complete it.

After your registration and any outstanding payments are received, you will receive an automated email from MSU Outreach with login instructions to access the course in Canvas. This email is in addition to your registration confirmation email. The registration confirmation will not contain login info.

If you do not receive your login information within 2 business days, please check your junk folder. If you don't find it there, email outreachadmin@montana.edu.

Sarah Eilers

Sarah Eilers is the Montana State University Extension Master Gardener Coordinator. She has worked at Montana State University since 2016. She is also an ISA Certified Arborist who has worked in the green industry for over 20 years. She has her BA in Education from the University of Wyoming. As the Extension Master Gardener Coordinator Sarah supports Extension Master Gardeners, Extension Educators ( Agents) and individuals interested in gardening in Montana. Her areas of concentration are trees, herbaceous ornamentals and landscape design.

Abiya Saeed

Abi Saeed is the state Extension Horticulture Specialist at Montana State University. She assists home gardeners, commercial and private green industry professionals, and county and reservation extension offices with horticulture-related workshops, questions, support, and diagnostics throughout Montana. She is also a writer for the Garden Professors Blog, and a recurring panelist on Montana Ag Live. Abi has been a faculty member in the Plant Sciences & Plant Pathology department at MSU since 2020, and teaches Topics in Horticulture (including Turfgrass Management and Horticultural Entomology) on campus. She writes several Extension publications, participates in media, and travels frequently throughout Montana and teaches several classes across the state on a variety of horticultural topics. Originally from Pakistan, Abi has a Master’s degree in Entomology from the University of Kentucky, and is currently working on her PhD in Plant Sciences through MSU. She has over 12 years of research, education, and outreach experience in horticulture, entomology, and Integrated Pest Management at multiple higher education institutions including Montana State University, Michigan State University, Colorado State University, and University of Kentucky.