The Kentucky Home Extension Master Gardeners is an association made up of Certified Master Gardener volunteers who have been trained by University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service personnel and have completed an initial 40 hours of service. Interested in gardening, they render volunteer service by teaching horticulture to others, giving gardening advice, visiting garden sites, and assisting at the Extension Office. 

Other things that they do or have done include:

·         Work the information booths at community events, the Nelson County Fair, the Kentucky State Fair and malls

·         Assisted at the Community Gardens at Nazareth

·         Maintain demonstration gardens

·         Landscape and care for the Bardstown entrance signs

·         Landscape the flower beds around the Old Courthouse

·         Landscaped a Habitat for Humanity home

·         Support and mentor beekeepers in Nelson County

·         Assist at the community vegetable gardens at St. Monica’s

·         Donate garden and landscape design books to the Nelson County public library

The Master Gardeners also sponsor an annual scholarship for up to two freshmen in a horticulture, forestry or landscape design-related field.  To raise funds for the scholarships, they hold an annual garden tour and marketplace event on the Saturday before Father’s Day weekend.  This year’s tour is scheduled for June 8 from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. with the Marketplace open 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.

The Master Gardeners meet the third Tuesday of every month at 6:30 p.m. at the Nelson County Extension Office, 317 S. Third Street, Bardstown, KY.

For more information, please contact Robbie Smith, Nelson County Extension Agent, at (502) 348-9204