Master Gardeners commitment to education and community
The Value of Gardening, and what the Master Gardener Program contributes to community.
Master Gardeners are gardeners who have chosen to embrace lifelong scientific learning about everything related to gardening with the purpose to share that knowledge with the public.
The Grand Erie Master Gardeners (or GEMG as we like to call ourselves) work from the Southern tip of Cambridge along the Grand River south through Brant, Norfolk and Haldimand Counties- right through to the shores of Lake Erie.
A Master Gardener achieves their certification by being an active volunteer for 2 years as well as completing study, either by self study and monitored examination, or through formal study at the University of Dalhousie or Guelph and completing the mandatory courses required by the Master Gardeners of Ontario. (MGOI)
Grand Erie Master Gardeners have been committed community members participating in Seedy Saturdays, community plant sales, Bite of Brant, and speakers at various events across Ontario. Grand Erie Master Gardeners follow science, evidence based research and encourage ecological solutions and practices to gardening. In an ever changing climate, gardeners can play an active role in supporting nature and providing ecosystem benefits to their communities- whether through sustainable food growing practices, or in the plant choices they make- supporting biodiversity and monitoring and eradicating invasive species in their gardens.
We are always welcoming new members who feel like their gardening experience has brought them to a point in their life that they would love to contribute as a knowledgeable volunteer in the community.
Our CoordinatoR
LYNNE GOULET-SMITH Coordinator
How long have you been gardening?
30+ years
What inspired you to become a Master Gardener?
I have always enjoyed the natural world, the beauty of flowers and gardening. I started taking courses to obtain my Horticulturist Certification through the University of Guelph for personal interest, then it became a career change for me when I star
How long have you been gardening?
30+ years
What inspired you to become a Master Gardener?
I have always enjoyed the natural world, the beauty of flowers and gardening. I started taking courses to obtain my Horticulturist Certification through the University of Guelph for personal interest, then it became a career change for me when I started to work in the horticultural industry. That led to my desire to become a Master Gardener.
What is your favourite part of gardening?
I enjoy watching the activity in my gardens, on a warm, sunny day. I love when the birds, bees and butterflies visit and spend some time. I enjoy the peace and calm that gardening brings to my life.
What is a personal goal for you as a Master Gardener?
My goal is to continue learning and become more comfortable with public speaking.
our passionate group of green thumbs
NANCY LEE-COLIBABA
NANCY LEE-COLIBABA
NANCY LEE-COLIBABA
**WATCH** A Interview with Nancy
" For me, the values are many. Even though I've had a life-long interest in horticulture, being a Master Gardener allows me to learn from others in my community and gives me access to a whole new set of resources.
There is also value in how I am both inspired by other Master Gardeners and how I can help
**WATCH** A Interview with Nancy
" For me, the values are many. Even though I've had a life-long interest in horticulture, being a Master Gardener allows me to learn from others in my community and gives me access to a whole new set of resources.
There is also value in how I am both inspired by other Master Gardeners and how I can help inspire others to achieve their dream gardens. I love passing on the information that I've learned that has proven so worthwhile to me.
There is also so much value in the community that develops around gardening. I'm so thankful for the opportunities I've had to make connections with other Master Gardeners and members of my community. "
ANNE SAUNDERS
NANCY LEE-COLIBABA
NANCY LEE-COLIBABA
**WATCH**An Interview with Anne
How long have you been gardening?
60 years
What inspired you to become a Master Gardener?
I wanted to know more about plants, gardening practices and to connect with others who are passionate about gardening. MG gives me the opportunity to share my passion with others and to continue learning.
What is your f
**WATCH**An Interview with Anne
How long have you been gardening?
60 years
What inspired you to become a Master Gardener?
I wanted to know more about plants, gardening practices and to connect with others who are passionate about gardening. MG gives me the opportunity to share my passion with others and to continue learning.
What is your favourite part of gardening?
Seeing new growth in the spring and the little accidents that occur in the garden that create a perfect little vignette or when a plant pops up where it wants to grow, rather than where I put it. I also love to see the wildlife that makes my garden it's home.
What is a personal goal for you as a Master Gardener?
To learn as much as I can about designing with and growing native plants.
KEVIN KAVANAGH
NANCY LEE-COLIBABA
KEVIN KAVANAGH
How long have you been gardening?
I have gardened since I was 5 years old when helping my grandparents with their gardens! By the time high school arrived I was helping out many people with their gardens and digging up my parents backyard to create more and more garden area!
What inspired you to become a Master Gardener?
I've always enjoye
How long have you been gardening?
I have gardened since I was 5 years old when helping my grandparents with their gardens! By the time high school arrived I was helping out many people with their gardens and digging up my parents backyard to create more and more garden area!
What inspired you to become a Master Gardener?
I've always enjoyed learning new approaches to gardening and sharing that knowledge with others. The educational focus that is central to fulfilling ones duties as a Master Gardener greatly appealed to me. I also enjoy volunteering with others and being part of a highly motivated group of people.
What is your favourite part of gardening?
Creating new gardens (especially where lawns get shrunk) with a focus on using native plants and then just watching over time how nature in the form of pollinators, birds and other insect life discover the plants they love and need.
What is a personal goal for you as a Master Gardener?
To help other gardeners attain the information they need to achieve their own landscape goals and to hopefully inspire in everyone a stronger conservation ethic to better support nature at home.
MARILYN PARK
MARILYN PARK
KEVIN KAVANAGH
How long have you been gardening?
Variations of gardening for a long time- over 40 years.
What inspired you to become a Master Gardener?
Life-long learning
What is your favourite part of gardening?
Creating spaces that are both beautiful and functional.
What is a personal goal for you as a Master Gardener?
To learn more about different pollinators and birds, and the plants they need.
LAURA RODGER
MARILYN PARK
LAURA RODGER
How long have you been gardening?
40 years
What inspired you to become a Master Gardener?
A love of gardening and a deep interest in science, art and nature.
What is your favourite part of gardening?
I love the beauty of the garden landscape and observing the interactions between the plants and animals. Being outside in the garden creates
How long have you been gardening?
40 years
What inspired you to become a Master Gardener?
A love of gardening and a deep interest in science, art and nature.
What is your favourite part of gardening?
I love the beauty of the garden landscape and observing the interactions between the plants and animals. Being outside in the garden creates happiness and sharing the joy of environmentally beneficial gardening through volunteer work as a Master Gardener is inspiring.
What is a personal goal for you as a Master Gardener?
To become skilled at native garden design and to learn to enjoy public speaking.
KIM HUTTEN
MARILYN PARK
LAURA RODGER
How long have you been gardening?
25 years
What inspired you to become a Master Gardener?
I was exhibiting signs of garden obsession and someone asked if I was going to be a Master Gardener. After learning that Master Gardeners are volunteer community members that commit to life long learning and education in the community I realized th
How long have you been gardening?
25 years
What inspired you to become a Master Gardener?
I was exhibiting signs of garden obsession and someone asked if I was going to be a Master Gardener. After learning that Master Gardeners are volunteer community members that commit to life long learning and education in the community I realized that was a great way for me to enjoy a hobby with like minded people and serve the community.
What is your favourite part of gardening?
There is so much to love about gardening; the wind in the grass, the pollinators bouncing from plant to plant, eating food that was started from seed and grown just outside the door. It is wholesome, healthy and it fulfils me.
What is a personal goal for you as a Master Gardener?
To always think outside the box and continue to learn and grow- to think ecologically, and to appreciate even the smallest joys that gardening brings to peoples lives. I want to embrace community and appreciate perspectives of people from different backgrounds and walks of life. I want to learn from people, from the garden, from nature and continually learn and remember to give in the cycle of reciprocity of life and ecosystems.
LIZ HOPKINS
CAROLYN BENNETT
How long have you been gardening?
40 years
What inspired you to become a Master Gardener?
Retiring gave me the freedom to spend my time following my passions and becoming a Master Gardener provided the additional challenge of expanding my gardening knowledge.
What is your favourite part of gardening?
Being outdoors, watching the garden
How long have you been gardening?
40 years
What inspired you to become a Master Gardener?
Retiring gave me the freedom to spend my time following my passions and becoming a Master Gardener provided the additional challenge of expanding my gardening knowledge.
What is your favourite part of gardening?
Being outdoors, watching the garden thrive and change from year to year. Seeing nature enjoy my little oasis as much as I do. Really every part of it, even puttering and weeding!
What is a personal goal for you as a Master Gardener?
Continue and share my education. I have already learned so much and expanded how I see my garden and my relationship with it. Love to share this with others in the community.
CAROLYN BENNETT
CAROLYN BENNETT
How long have you been gardening?
30 years
What inspired you to become a Master Gardener?
Kim, a co-worker and friend invited me to join. I have always enjoyed gardening but wanted to get more involved. As I learned more about the Master Gardeners program, I realized it was exactly what I was looking for.
What is your favourite part of
How long have you been gardening?
30 years
What inspired you to become a Master Gardener?
Kim, a co-worker and friend invited me to join. I have always enjoyed gardening but wanted to get more involved. As I learned more about the Master Gardeners program, I realized it was exactly what I was looking for.
What is your favourite part of gardening?
I love starting my day by taking my coffee outside and sitting in my yard to watch and listen. When I added native plants to my garden, I noticed a remarkable change—it came alive. Bees, butterflies, birds, and many other different kinds of pollinators appeared. This inspired me to learn more about the diverse number of native plants and the pollinators they support. We can all play a role in supporting declining pollinator population and in doing so, help our planet.
What is a personal goal for you as a Master Gardener?
My goal is to educate as many people as possible about the vital role we all play in caring for our planet. Plants are essential to the planet’s survival, and understanding their importance is key. If more people recognized the value of biodiversity and how they can contribute to it, we would create a healthier world.
KATIE IARROCI
How long have you been gardening?
Almost 20 years
What inspired you to become a Master Gardener?
I was looking to connect with a group of people to share knowledge and learn from.
What is your favourite part of gardening?
Growing unique varieties of food that you couldn't find at a store, eating seasonally from the garden.
What is a persona
How long have you been gardening?
Almost 20 years
What inspired you to become a Master Gardener?
I was looking to connect with a group of people to share knowledge and learn from.
What is your favourite part of gardening?
Growing unique varieties of food that you couldn't find at a store, eating seasonally from the garden.
What is a personal goal for you as a Master Gardener?
My goal is to become more knowledgeable about tree ID, pruning, and grafting so that I can eventually teach these skills to beginning gardeners who feel the same uncertainty I used to feel.
BETTY GOODFELLOW
GEORGIA MCCORMICK
How long have you been gardening?
Forever
What inspired you to become a Master Gardener?
After retirement I had time to get more involved with gardening. I’ve always been interested in the program and I love learning new things, so here I am.
What is your favourite part of gardening?
Having my hands in the dirt.
What is a personal goa
How long have you been gardening?
Forever
What inspired you to become a Master Gardener?
After retirement I had time to get more involved with gardening. I’ve always been interested in the program and I love learning new things, so here I am.
What is your favourite part of gardening?
Having my hands in the dirt.
What is a personal goal for you as a Master Gardener?
To help bring back our native species. Biodiversity around the globe is threatened and if I can do anything to help our small corner of the planet I’ll be happy.
GEORGIA MCCORMICK
GEORGIA MCCORMICK
GEORGIA MCCORMICK
How long have you been gardening?
60 years
What inspired you to become a Master Gardener?
My love of gardening and learning all related aspects of horticultural. Since a very young child, I did a lot of exploring in the woods, meadows, fields where we lived and preferred being outdoors. My parents had a keen interest in nature that I b
How long have you been gardening?
60 years
What inspired you to become a Master Gardener?
My love of gardening and learning all related aspects of horticultural. Since a very young child, I did a lot of exploring in the woods, meadows, fields where we lived and preferred being outdoors. My parents had a keen interest in nature that I believe may have encouraged my interests.
What is your favourite part of gardening?
Figuring out what to plant, where, with what else, making selections and planting them.
What is a personal goal for you as a Master Gardener?
To gain and share knowledge associated with all aspects of plants, woody and non-woody as well as techniques and methods to advance ornamental and native gardening.
AMY SANDY
GEORGIA MCCORMICK
GEORGIA MCCORMICK
How long have you been gardening?
10 years
What inspired you to become a Master Gardener?
I’ve always loved gardening since I was young, I’m always eager to learn more and share my knowledge with others.
What is your favourite part of gardening?
My favourite part about gardening is being outside with nature. I love getting my hands di
How long have you been gardening?
10 years
What inspired you to become a Master Gardener?
I’ve always loved gardening since I was young, I’m always eager to learn more and share my knowledge with others.
What is your favourite part of gardening?
My favourite part about gardening is being outside with nature. I love getting my hands dirty, working with plants, and having the ability to grow my own food and live off the land.
What is a personal goal for you as a Master Gardener?
A personal goal of mine is to create a space at my home (Six Nations of the Grand River), where I can grow fresh produce for my community and share my knowledge all while implementing the Mohawk (Kanyen'kehá) language.
DYLAN COWAN
MORE TO COME...
MORE TO COME...
How long have you been gardening?
Since I've been able to walk I've expressed a strong interest in gardening and the natural world. I can remember many moments as a very young child making my mother impatient with an endless stream of questions about our gardens and all of the life that lives in them. It was only natural that I then began
How long have you been gardening?
Since I've been able to walk I've expressed a strong interest in gardening and the natural world. I can remember many moments as a very young child making my mother impatient with an endless stream of questions about our gardens and all of the life that lives in them. It was only natural that I then began to excavate the yard and plant trees and shrubs anywhere I could squeeze them in! Which lead me to my composting and homeade ferttilizer endevours, they were not as fond of that..
What inspired you to become a Master Gardener?
I think my personal inspiration to become a Mater Gardener began from my foundational passion to educate myself and those around me and reach our community. Another encouraging factor was the wonderful like mided community and joint enthusiasm that the GEMG's provide in everything we do.
What is your favourite part of gardening?
To choose a favorite part is challenging but the envisionment, dreaming and imagining is endlessly inspiring for me! Designing and installing the garden feels like my art form, where I place my passion in life. I also love to appreciate and recognize the beauty of the garden in all of its forms and sizes. But like most gardeners I love to get my hands dirty and cultivate, plant seeds, transplant, prune, weed, and harvest all the garden has to give.
What is a personal goal for you as a Master Gardener?
I think one of my many goals is to continue to involve and enrich myself and others in this wonderful community of gardeners. Another is to learn, educate and refine my knowledge of gardening and related subjects.
MORE TO COME...
MORE TO COME...
MORE TO COME...
Our Master Gardeners are multiplying like the plants in Laura's Winter Sowing containers!
We are so happy to have a thriving and active group of volunteers:
These members are still working on their profiles:
Erin Casey
Alex K.
Len Cole
Christa Hunter