{"id":20193,"date":"2022-07-20T16:08:13","date_gmt":"2022-07-20T20:08:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/?page_id=20193"},"modified":"2026-04-17T16:01:23","modified_gmt":"2026-04-17T20:01:23","slug":"maine-gardener-training","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/learn\/maine-gardener-training\/","title":{"rendered":"Maine Gardener Training"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2023\/08\/DITCH-GARDEN-Joe-Pie-Monarch-resized-9.19-LIZ-copy.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-22681 size-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2023\/08\/DITCH-GARDEN-Joe-Pie-Monarch-resized-9.19-LIZ-copy-e1762532312261-150x150.jpeg\" alt=\"A butterfly flying above Joe Pye weed\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2023\/08\/DITCH-GARDEN-Joe-Pie-Monarch-resized-9.19-LIZ-copy-e1762532312261-150x150.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2023\/08\/DITCH-GARDEN-Joe-Pie-Monarch-resized-9.19-LIZ-copy-e1762532312261-32x32.jpeg 32w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2023\/08\/DITCH-GARDEN-Joe-Pie-Monarch-resized-9.19-LIZ-copy-e1762532312261-300x300.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2023\/08\/DITCH-GARDEN-Joe-Pie-Monarch-resized-9.19-LIZ-copy-e1762532312261-400x400.jpeg 400w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2023\/08\/DITCH-GARDEN-Joe-Pie-Monarch-resized-9.19-LIZ-copy-e1762532312261-600x600.jpeg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>For your garden.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cI learned so much from this course. Empowered with all this new information, I will head outdoors with a PLAN instead of my usual trial and error! Our environment can&#8217;t afford &#8216;errors&#8217; these days- a healthy respect for insect and wildlife habitat, and gardening with the safety of our food and environment in mind is so important. This course should be a requirement for every gardener!\u201d &#8211; Program participant<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h3>Flexible, Online Learning At Your Own Pace<\/h3>\n<h4><strong>Ready to Enroll?<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p><strong>Enrollment for the 2025-2026 course is closed<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>We will be pausing all three of our training programs for a year to focus on updating our training content, as part of our five-year review cycle. <strong>Check back summer 2027 for information on the next session.<\/strong><br \/>\nWant to stay in the loop? <a href=\"https:\/\/umaine.us20.list-manage.com\/subscribe?u=a1cf4a5b2845aebdbba1bf076&amp;id=98f9beb328\">Subscribe to the Maine Home Garden News<\/a> for updates.<\/p>\n<h3>About the course:<\/h3>\n<p>Get the same comprehensive training as the Master Gardener Volunteer training program without the volunteering requirement.<\/p>\n<p>We offer three versions of our in-depth training, based on your interests. <a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/which-horticulture-training-is-right-for-you\/\">Which of our in-depth courses is right for you?<\/a><\/p>\n<h3>What\u2019s Included:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Engaging videos<\/li>\n<li>Informative readings<\/li>\n<li>Interactive activities<\/li>\n<li>Thought-provoking reflection questions<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Learn about:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Horticulture Resources and Food Security<\/li>\n<li>Foundations of Horticulture: Ecology, Botany, Propagation, Soils, Composting<\/li>\n<li>Food Production: Vegetable Gardening, Garden Maintenance, Food Safety, Small and Tree Fruits<\/li>\n<li>Garden Pests and Diseases: Prevention, Identification and Management<\/li>\n<li>Maine Landscape and Design: Plant Selection, Design, and Maintenance<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/learn\/maine-horticulture-learning-standards\/\">Full Learning Standards Available Here<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Earn:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Maine Gardener Training Certificate<\/li>\n<li>7 Continuing Education Credits (CEUs)<\/li>\n<li>Maine Gardener digital badge. Learn about <a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/micro-credentials\/\">UMaine\u2019s Micro-Credentials<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Course Details:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>2025 Course Fee: <\/strong><strong>$600<\/strong>, with self-selected sliding scale options available ($300 and $150). Please contact us if the course fee is a barrier for participation.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Schedule:\u00a0<\/strong>Typically late October through late March with several breaks.<\/li>\n<li><strong><strong>Format: <b><\/b><\/strong><\/strong><b><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Online, self-paced through the Brightspace learning platform, with optional live or recorded Zoom Q&amp;A sessions.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong>Technology Requirements: <\/strong><strong>This is an online course<\/strong>. Reliable internet, an email address, and a device with video\/audio (laptop, desktop, tablet) are required. Older devices or outdated software may cause technical problems with the course, and smartphones are not recommended.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Is online learning right for you? <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/learn\/online-learning-what-you-need-to-succeed\/\">Learn more about the technology and skills required for online learning as well as options for those with limited computer or internet access.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong>Time commitment: <\/strong>18 week course, 4 -5 hours per week<\/li>\n<li><strong>Refund Policy: <\/strong>50% refunds available before November 1st, 2025 (for 25\/26 course).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Access: <\/strong>You will have access to the course content in Brightspace through the end of 2026.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Transferring: <\/strong>Information about <a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/learn\/which-horticulture-training-is-right-for-you\/\">transferring between our training programs<\/a> available under \u201cFAQs.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Have Questions?<\/strong>\u00a0 Contact us at: <a href=\"mailto:extension.gardening@maine.edu\">extension.gardening@maine.edu<\/a><\/p>\n<p>For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, please contact Rebecca Gray at email <a href=\"mailto:extension.gardening@maine.edu\">extension.gardening@maine.edu<\/a> or phone 207.356.1348.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>Our Other Training Programs:<\/h3>\n<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/learn\/maine-horticulture-apprentice-training-micro-credential\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-22678 size-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2023\/08\/IMG_1403-resized-photo-from-Pamela-Hargest-copy-150x150.jpeg\" alt=\"2 people planting in a raised bed with greenhouse in background\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2023\/08\/IMG_1403-resized-photo-from-Pamela-Hargest-copy-150x150.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2023\/08\/IMG_1403-resized-photo-from-Pamela-Hargest-copy-32x32.jpeg 32w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a><\/h4>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/learn\/maine-horticulture-apprentice-training-micro-credential\/\">Maine Horticulture Apprentice Training: For your career.<\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/master-gardeners\/training\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-10379 size-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/01\/IMG_8358-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"Purple Coneflower\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><\/a><\/h4>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/master-gardeners\/training\/\">Master Gardener Volunteer Training: <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/master-gardeners\/training\/\">For your community.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>For your garden. \u201cI learned so much from this course. Empowered with all this new information, I will head outdoors with a PLAN instead of my usual trial and error! Our environment can&#8217;t afford &#8216;errors&#8217; these days- a healthy respect for insect and wildlife habitat, and gardening with the safety of our food and environment [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":137,"featured_media":0,"parent":12691,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"templates\/page-withsidebar.php","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-20193","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Maine Gardener Training - Cooperative Extension: Garden and Yard - University of Maine Cooperative Extension<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/learn\/maine-gardener-training\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Maine Gardener Training - Cooperative Extension: Garden and Yard - University of Maine Cooperative Extension\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"For your garden. \u201cI learned so much from this course. 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