Program Areas > Horticulture > Consumer Hort

Consumer Horticulture

Program Description

Gardening is the most popular pastime in the United States. It is estimated that Minnesotans spend over $291 million annually on plant materials and related merchandise to improve the quality of their homes and businesses in both rural and urban areas. The Extension Service's Consumer Horticulture Program provides researched-based, up-to-date information to the general public and Master Gardeners. Concentrating on the topics of consumer horticulture, entomology, and plant pathology, the Consumer Horticulture Program seeks to improve the quality of life in the state by disseminating the knowledge for successful beautification of the landscape. To reach the diverse gardening audience in Minnesota, information sharing is done through a wide variety of sources, including publications, a call-in line, a web-board, newspapers and radio programs, and Master Gardeners--University-trained volunteers who work in their communities answering consumer gardening questions and coordinating beautification projects. Training Master Gardeners to be effective and enthusiastic ambassadors of horticulture is a high priority of the Consumer Horticulture Program's outreach.

Audience

Minnesotans with gardening, landscaping, insects, plant disease, soil, wildlife interests or questions.
Master Gardeners who use the information to help answer questions from the public

Specific Goals

To provide researched-based, current information on gardens, landscapes, insects, and diseases to Minnesota educators and consumers.
To train volunteers in horticulture who can educate the public with research based information on the best practices in consumer horticulture and environmental stewardship