Featured Publication

The 2024 Garden Calendar from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach features tree care. Inside the calendar are beautiful photos, timely garden tips and tasks, as well as information on properly caring for trees so that they may last a lifetime or more in your landscape. Buy one for yourself to use as a garden journal and buy several more to give as gifts!



In this month's featured publication, you will find timely garden tips to keep your lawn and landscape on track throughout the year.

For more publications, visit the Horticulture and Home Pest News publications page.

Search for Excellence Award Proposals Due February 9, 2024

Thinking of applying for the Search for Excellence Award? Now is the time! Please note: this is a timeline change from previous years. Why the change? Our award cycle will now align with the ISU Extension and Outreach award cycle. This means award winners will be notified earlier in the year and invited to campus to receive their award at the ISU Extension and Outreach annual conference in March.

Applications are due February 9, 2024 at 5 p.m.

Applications must include the completed application form, an e-mail letter of support from the county ISU Extension and Outreach staff, and up to 6 high resolution photos with accompanying photo releases.

Visit the Search for Excellence webpage to learn more about the application process, scoring rubric, and view past winners.

Don't Forget to Enter Your Hours!

It's hard to believe, but the year is almost over! Have you been keeping your hours updated in the Volunteer Recording System (VRS)?

So far this year, over 59,000 volunteer hours have been entered. Make sure you are entering your hours on a regular basis so you don't forget to track all your hard work.

Remember, all volunteer and continuing education hours are due December 31, 2023!

MG Skill Development Webinar Recordings

Did you miss one of the quarterly Master Gardener Skill Development Webinars? Have no fear, the recordings and supplemental materials are available on the Volunteer page of the Master Gardener website.

(Q4: Deep Dive into the VRS will be available in November but is not yet posted.)

We are hard at work on the lineup for the 2024 season, so stay tuned for more information.

*Some counties offer these sessions in-person to provide opportunities for interaction with your peers and county staff. Contact your county Master Gardener coordinator to see if your county plans to host in-person or prefers you connect virtually.

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel

Our YouTube channel is your one-stop archive for all Home Gardening Webinar and Department of Horticulture Seminar recordings. Recordings will be added once they are processed after the live event.

Subscribe to the channel to be notified when new recordings are available.

Sign Up for Horticulture and Home Pest News 

Want to stay updated on the most current news from Horticulture Extension? 

Sign up for Horticulture and Home Pest News. You'll get regular articles from ISU Extension experts about timely topics delivered right to your inbox. 

Message from the Statewide Master Gardener Coordinator

If you've made it this far, thanks for being here and reading this newsletter. I know our inboxes and minds are constantly inundated with information and it can be hard to choose what gains our precious attention.

August 2023 marked two years since I joined Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and took on statewide coordination of the Iowa Master Gardener program. This milestone, coupled with November being the time of year we think about and share all the things we are grateful for, made me think I should pop in and share a few words with all of you.

The past two years have been a time of considerable learning and growth for me. Both this program and ISU Extension and Outreach are intricate organizations with many complexities to learn. Thank you to everyone who has welcomed me, taught me about their local programs and projects, and shown me why our Master Gardener program is so special. The county staff and volunteers I have interacted with on my visits to county offices, gardens, and symposiums have been nothing short of caring, intelligent, and skilled in their craft.

A huge thank you to all of you volunteers for your hard work and dedication to the program and bettering your local communities. This program would not exist without the volunteers, and it certainly wouldn't have the clout or reach that your knowledge, skills, and character provide. The work you do is vitally important and you are valued.

Thank you for a great year! Enjoy some well-deserved rest as your gardens are put to sleep. May the upcoming holiday season bring you peace, happiness, and joy, things that we all could use much more of.

Thank you again for all you do and all you are.

Alicia Herzog

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