Registration now open.

2024 HOME GARDENER BOOT CAMP

Join us for weekly Zoom sessions from the comfort of your home!

10 two-hour ONLINE  sessions - One weeknight per week for 10 weeks

Friday evenings, 6:30-8:30 PM 

January 19, 26, February 2, 9, 16, 23, March 1, 8, 15, and 22.

In recent years, seasonal patterns have become unstable.  Climate change requires smart gardening practices. In response, horticultural science and gardening best practices are constantly evolving. As gardeners, we can have a positive impact by creating a resilient, ecologically-friendly landscape.

Interested in digging deeper?  Our ten-week boot camp will provide you with information to help combat climate change and support a healthier environment.  Our series begins with an in-depth discussion of what an ecosystem is and how you can use that knowledge to enrich your own landscape. We then explore how you can build ecologically-friendly gardens from shade to groundcovers.  

WHY WE CALL IT BOOT CAMP: In recent years “Boot Camps” have become popular for everything from parkour to yoga to chess and even knitting! The MMGA is not about the latest fads or fashions, but it occurred to us that our program and all these other boot camps share something in common: they are short, focused, and led by subject matter experts. And they help you take a favorite pursuit to the next level by imparting knowledge and skills that you can put to use both immediately and long-term.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND: Boot Camp is designed for home gardeners at all levels of experience who are looking to build an ecologically-friendly landscape. Information is presented in a way that is easily understandable to less experienced gardeners while including enough science-based background to be useful to everyone. While much of Boot Camp’s content is geared to Massachusetts, gardeners in other lower New England states may also benefit.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN IN BOOT CAMP/Program Topics:

• Landscapes / Ecosystems 

• Native New England Plants

• Creating a Pollinator Habitat Anywhere 

• Creating an Eco-friendly Garden 

• Shade Gardening

• Groundcovers 

• Lawn and Lawn Alternatives 

• Water Wisdom: Save water, the environment and money 

• Composting 

• Inviting Wildlife into your Yard

WHO ARE THE PRESENTERS: Sessions are taught by our most experienced Certified Master Gardeners who are passionate subject matter experts and trained presenters. They started out as home gardeners just like you, so they know what information will help you the most.

YOUR INVESTMENT AND WHY IT’S WORTH IT: The fee for all ten sessions of Boot Camp is $250, payable online by credit card or PayPal. This averages out to just $25 per session - $12.50 for each of the 20 hours you’ll spend in class.

Here are just some of what makes Home Gardener Boot Camp unique:

• It’s the only program of its kind taught exclusively by Certified Massachusetts Master Gardeners.

• Classes are geared toward learning about the biodiversity of landscapes and ecosystems which are intimately connected.  You’ll learn the right habitat for flora and fauna to thrive in your landscape. 

• Because sessions are live, you will have the opportunity to interact with presenters via a 30-minute Q&A. No relevant questions will go unanswered: If we run out of time, we’ll get back to you with written responses.

• Missed class?  No problem.  Classes will be recorded and available for viewing up to 1 week after the missed lecture to paid registrants.

• To provide an ongoing reference, most lectures include handouts, which will be emailed.

Create a healthy, thriving landscape in your own backyard this Spring!

Winter is the perfect time to learn how by attending

Boot Camp, January 19-March 22!

Registration closes at 5:00 PM on Wednesday, January 12, 2024, or as soon as limited “virtual seats” are filled. Because this program will only be offered once in 2024, we expect to book up quickly. To avoid missing out, you are encouraged to sign up soon. 

Questions?

Check our our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) HERE.

Still stumped? Email BootCamp@MassMasterGardeners.org

Looking for help with seasonal garden care? Consider our Gardening Know-How Series, offered online over a 4-week period, with different topics each season.

The Home Gardener Boot Camp Program does not lead to Master Gardener certification. Classes are not available individually and refunds will not be given for individual classes missed. If you miss a class, you can watch the recording up to 1 week after the missed class. 

Boots image courtesy of Waldorf School of Louisville