When it comes to community out reach, The University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture Extension Service is comparable to the way Peace Corps reaches out to folks in other countries. The Master Gardener program is an important component of the UHCTAHR Extension Service. The program is set up to assist local folks with home gardening issues.
Fortunately, UHCTAHR has been active in the development of the Master Gardener Program in Hawaii County. If you decide to get involved with the Master program you will have 45 hours of classroom and hands-on horticultural training plus on going continuing education. Course topics include basic botany, native plants, nutrition, insect and disease management, propagation, pruning and much more. Once you finish the course you will become a local expert to assist others to be better gardeners. Master Gardeners also have several outings each year and get involved with community landscape projects.
The last day of registration for the 2023 class series was supposed to be Monday, Jan. 16, but there is still time to sign up as long as you call by Friday, Jan. 20.
This year’s class series includes field trips to places like the Kona Cloud Forest Sanctuary in Kaloko Mauka where participants will be planting native hibiscus and collecting seeds of the famous Blue Marble, (Eleaocarpus grandis) trees used in the making of Buddhist prayer beads.
This tree is closely related to our Hawaiian specie, Eleaocarpus bifidus or Kalia. Hawaiians made cordage of the inner bark and used the branches in constructing pili grass houses according to Marie C Neal’s book, “In Gardens Of Hawaii.”
The Sanctuary is a 70-acre forest dedicated to teaching living forest friendly and to remind folks that our forests are the lungs of the planet.
Most of the land is native forest, but 15 acres that were originally pasture are now totally reforested with a variety of plants and trees donated by plant societies and Hawaii’s Department of Wildlife and Forestry. Once the aggressive Kikuyu grass was suppressed by shade, many native plants began to reestablish themselves as well.
To learn more about the Master Gardener program in West Hawaii, contact Ty McDonald, UH Extension agent at 322-4884 or by email at tym@hawaii.edu.
Other opportunities to learn and apply your horticultural knowledge is to join a plant society like local chapters of the Outdoor Circle, Hawaii Island Palm Society, Hawaii Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society or one of the many orchid societies. We also have societies and associations focusing on coffee, tea, nuts and tropical fruits.
Information on getting in touch is available online or by contacting the UH College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources offices in Hilo and Kona. Getting connected with local plant enthusiasts is a great way to expand your knowledge with others of our Island community and make friends as well.
Don’t forget, the East Hawaii Master Gardeners are presenting a big plant sale from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 29, at the UH Komohana Ag Complex in Hilo. For more information call Russell Galanti at (808) 746-0910 or email at rgalanti@hawaii.edu.