Master Gardeners are individuals who are passionate about gardening. We are part of a vast international non-profit Master Gardener organization. Master Gardeners are a respected group of horticultural persons educated and certified through accredited universities or colleges.
Mission Statement:
The Manitoba Master Gardener Association (MMGA) cultivates the development and continuous education of Master Gardeners, supports volunteerism and encourages sustainable, proven gardening practices throughout Manitoba.
The Manitoba Master Gardener Association (MMGA) is an independent organization and has no affiliation with other Manitoba garden clubs which are listed under the banner.
Resources- Garden Club News
Book Sale
Garden pests are a part of the life of every gardener. If you want to learn more how to deal with them in an environmentally friendly way then this is the book for you.
Gardening, Naturally
By Hugh Skinner and Sara Williams
The MMGA is offering the book, published by Coteau Books, Regina in 2011, for $10.00/copy, plus shipping cost. It is being made available to members of the MMGA and the general public.
To place your order e-mail:
education@mgmanitoba.com
Please specify your preference for pick-up or mail delivery. You will receive payment information upon receipt of your order.
Gardening Naturally – Book Review
By Liz Sellors, Interim Director of Educational Standards
Gardening, Naturally is a chemical-free handbook for the prairie gardener, co-authored by Hugh Skinner and Sara Williams. The book was written in 2011 and was published by Coteau Books of Regina, Saskatchewan. Gardening Naturally is a well written and easy-to-use guide specifically intended for Canadian Prairie gardeners who are interested in effective ways of eradicating pests and diseases from the garden without resorting to chemicals. The book addresses alternatives to the use of chemical pesticides, insecticides and herbicides. Chemical products intended for use by gardeners were developed in the late 1940’s. Until that time solutions for addressing pests and diseases in the garden were largely based on folk wisdom, much of which began to be lost once chemicals were introduced. But, over the last few decades, environmental movements have once again looked to natural ways of dealing with garden pests and diseases. With the move to green solutions, scientifically based alternatives have begun to emerge and are gaining notice. It was the emerging interest in alternatives to chemicals for the garden that was the inspiration behind Gardening, Naturally.
The over-arching theme of this well-laid-out, well-illustrated book of alternatives to chemical use in the garden addresses the fundamentals of maintaining a healthy garden through natural means. The book first examines the history of controlling pests and diseases in the garden, starting with a look at the use of organic solutions that had been developed over centuries, and how they began to be replaced by the successful marketing campaigns of the companies producing chemical solutions for gardeners. The promotion of the idea that chemicals were the answer to the perfect garden was in reality a concept that ensured repeat business by making plants dependent on chemicals. The result was unimaginable harm. Gardening, Naturally points the way to a return to dealing with garden issues organically.
Through the use of alternatives to insecticides, herbicides and pesticides, the book demonstrates how to ensure that the basic needs of plants are met. The book is well researched and scientifically based. It not only looks at how to work with natural products, but also addresses why change is crucial. It looks at the importance of changing our attitude toward insects; the importance of identifying of insects and why their survival is crucial to human survival. It looks at essential garden practices like soil testing, water conservation, effective organic lawn care and weed control. It looks at growing food successfully without chemicals and recommends the best vegetables to grow in the prairie garden. Other sections are devoted to flowers, bulbs, and vines suitable for the prairies. It also includes a comprehensive section on trees and shrubs for the prairie gardener.
If you missed this Zoom Information event here is the link to the presentation:
Click Here
Frequently asked Questions about the Manitoba Master Gardener Program
FAQ, Program Info Session PPT, September 2020_nk edits
Master Gardener Course Schedule is Posted!
Do you like gardening, volunteering and passing on your gardening knowledge? Have you thought about becoming a Master Gardener? The 2020 -2021 course schedule is now out!
Click Here
Coming Soon!
The MMGA and Bell/MTS have partnered to gift Manitoba gardeners, and the world, a series of six virtual video garden tours of local Winnipeg gardens. Watch our social media for future information!
Garden Tour That Did Not Happen!
By Shelley Walker, Events and Fundraising Director
Every July Master Gardeners and the public alike look forward to the Manitoba Master Gardener Association Tour. This year, due to Covid-19, the tour had to be cancelled.
A big thank you goes out to all the gardeners who volunteered their gardens for the tour. They had certainly made plans well ahead of time to ensure their gardens would look the best at the time of the tour. Almost all were able to confirm their gardens for next year’s tour and sent us photos to create anticipation.
Master Gardeners and Master Gardeners in Training (MGIT)
Association members: access volunteer opportunities on the Member Login page frequently. Also, new important messages and items that have arisen at MMGA Board meetings.
Support our Local Manitoba Greenhouses!
A very special “Thank You” to local garden centres who generously give members of our Manitoba Master Gardener Association a 10% discount on regularly priced plants and garden merchandise. As Master Gardeners let’s give local garden centres our support and keep them in business. Let them know how much we appreciate them, their plants and their expertise. Remember this is a mutually beneficial relationship! For 2020 the list stands at TEN garden centers. Here are the names of participating 10% off donors:
Alternative Landscaping Ltd., 34th St. & Patricia Ave., Brandon, MB www.alternativelandscapingltd.com
Green Oak Gardens, Beausejour, MB – https://www.greenoak.ca/
Jardins St-Leon Gardens, 419 St. Mary’s Rd.,Wpg. – www.stleongardens.com
Jensen’s Nursery & Garden Centre, 2550 McGillivray Blvd., Wpg. – http://www.jensennursery.com/
Lacoste Garden Centre, 2787 St. Mary’s Rd., Wpg. – www.lacostegardencentre.com
Red Valley Plant Market, 3091 St. Mary’s Rd., Wpg. – www.redvalley.ca
Ron Paul Garden Centre, Winnipeg – www.ronpaulgardencentre.com
Sage Gardens Greenhouses, 3410 St. Mary’s Rd., Wpg. – www.sagegarden.ca
Schriemer’s Greenhouse, 2857 McGregor Farm Rd., Birds Hill – www.schriemers.com
Shelmerdine Nursery & Garden Centre, 7800 Roblin Blvd., Headingley, MB – www.shelmerdine.com
The Green Spot, 139 Rosser Ave., E., Brandon – www.greenspotbrandon.com
To all Manitoba Garden/Horticultural or Garden related organizations!!
This website is a great opportunity for your organization to post or advertise meeting schedules or events on our Resources section under Garden Club News. To submit please send your information to: mndudek@mgmanitoba.com We look forward to helping you advertise your event.
For all inquiries contact ask@mgmanitoba.com
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
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| Butterflyway Project Webinar Series – Preparing your Garden for Winter 7:00 pm Butterflyway Project Webinar Series – Preparing your Garden for Winter Oct 8 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm  Registration required: Click here David Suzuki Foundation(DSF), Senior Strategist, Jode Roberts, will host. Presenters are: Manitoba Master Gardener, Susan Leblanc and Kelly Leask, owner of Prairie Originals, a native nursery garden centre in Selkirk, MB. The theme is … | ||||||
| Winnipeg’s Urban Forestry Strategy 6:00 pm Winnipeg’s Urban Forestry Strategy Oct 22 @ 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm Ways to participate include: * Taking the survey * Adding your favourite urban forest place to the mapping tool – _you can also see what others have added and explore the City’s tree inventory_ * Adding comments on … | Winnipeg’s Urban Forestry Strategy 2:00 pm Winnipeg’s Urban Forestry Strategy Oct 23 @ 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm Ways to participate include: * Taking the survey * Adding your favourite urban forest place to the mapping tool – _you can also see what others have added and explore the City’s tree inventory_ * Adding comments on … | |||||
| Perennials for Northern Gardens – Zoom Presentation 7:00 pm Perennials for Northern Gardens – Zoom Presentation Oct 29 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm  Join us for this presentation with renowned horticulturist Hugh Skinner and learn more about the many perennials suitable for our Manitoba Gardens. To register go to: www.mgmanitoba.com Perennials for Northern Gardens is a discussion about the wide variety … |
