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
Thinking about becoming a Master Gardener?
Join us for our next Master Gardener Program Information Session, live via
Zoom on Wednesday, January 11, 2023 at 7 pm CST.
Click here to register.
Book Sale!
Perfect for Christmas Gifts!
$10.00 plus shipping if required
Retail is $24.95
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: volunteers@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, Master Gardener
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.
Highlighting two of our members, Debbie Innes and Loressa Klassen!
To read the article: Click Here
Chat with the Gardeners – viewable now!
Lourdes Still and Raymond Ngarboui – An International Perspective
Lisa Renner and Derek Yarnell – The Naturalized Urban Gardeners
Wilbert Ronald and Philip Ronald – The Horticultural Influencers
Wilbert Ronald – The Plant Makers
Philip Ronald – Growing Fruit on the Prairies
Gardening in the Heart – Season 2
Lourdes Still – Masagana Flower Farm
Raymond Ngarboui – Land in Canada
Derek Yarnell – More Butterflies Please
Thank you to Colleen Zacharias for featuring the Gardening in the Heart season 2 in the Winnipeg Free Press! Read Here
Gardening in the Heart Season 1 can be viewed below.
2022 is the Year of the Garden!
Look for our New Signs in the Community!
These are Projects where we Volunteer
Gardening in the Heart Season 1
a 6-part video series of private Manitoba gardens
Lisa Renner – Designing a Garden Naturally
John Tinkler – A Designer’s Garden
Colleen Zacharias – A Gardening Workshop
Linda Cameron – A Scientist in Her Garden
Diana Dhaliwal – At Home in the Prairies
Millennium Gardens – A Garden for a Community
Bell MTS subscribers available on FIBE TV1 Channel 1 and 1001 Lifestyles folder!
A big thank you to Colleen Zacharias for this Winnipeg Free Press article highlighting the journey to producing these films: Click HereMaster Gardeners and Master Gardener Interns
Association members: access volunteer opportunities on the Volunteer Impact page which are added frequently. Click here for the direct links.
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! 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
St. Mary’s Nursery & Garden Centre, 2901 St. Mary’s Rd., Wpg. – www.stmarysnurseryandgardencentre.com
The Green Spot, 139 Rosser Ave., E., Brandon – www.greenspotbrandon.com
T&T Seeds – 7724 Roblin Blvd., Headingley, MB – https://ttseeds.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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grounded in Science – Fall Symposium 9:00 am Grounded in Science – Fall Symposium @ Master Gardeners Association of Alberta Nov 5 @ 9:00 am – 3:30 pm  Join us as we explore the impact plant invasion has on our environment and learn of methods being used to reduce their introduction and spread with Environmental Horticulturalist Andrea Eastman; How growing ground cover plants reduces maintenance, controls … | ||||||
| Sun Mapping your Garden – Charleswood Garden Club 7:30 pm Sun Mapping your Garden – Charleswood Garden Club Nov 9 @ 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm Sun Mapping Your Garden; How Shady is your Shade Garden? How do you tell the difference between shade or part-shade? You can’t, unless you stand there all day. Virginia Stephenson, Master Gardener, will show you how to sun … | ||||||
| The Prairie Garden Book Launch – Climate-Aware Gardening 2:00 pm The Prairie Garden Book Launch – Climate-Aware Gardening @ Zoom online Nov 13 @ 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm  Join us on November 13 at 2:00 pm for our online launch of the 2023 edition Climate-Aware Gardening! Please visit McNally Robinson Booksellers to register for the launch & receive the Zoom link. | All About Succulents 12:00 pm All About Succulents @ Zoom online Nov 15 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm  Master Gardener Marilyn Dudek will share her tips on succulents, and how to overwinter both tender outdoor succulents and succulent houseplants. Learn about keeping them healthy, and rejuvenating and … Registration required: Click Here | |||||
