Gardening School

Overview

Helping members become accomplished horticulturists.

The NGC Gardening Study Courses are designed to provide educational information to those especially interested in gardening, horticulture and related subjects.

The School consists of a series of four courses, scheduled usually for two days of instruction, followed by a general examination. Courses cover all aspects of growing, from understanding soil structure to pruning techniques, plant identification, etc. Topics include basic botany, soils, growing annuals, perennials, trees and shrubs, fruits and vegetables, lawns, pests and diseases of plants, plant classification, and selected subjects of local interest.

Additional topics and areas of interest that may be covered are subjects such as Reconciliation Ecology (the science of inventing, establishing, and maintaining new habitats in places where people live, work, and play), and creating backyard habitats to help endangered species such as pollinators and amphibians.

The courses are intended primarily for garden club members, but they are also open to the general public, requiring only the payment of a nominal fee. Courses may be sponsored by member clubs, groups of clubs, Districts and State Garden Clubs. Garden club members completing the series of four courses are awarded the designation of NGC Gardening Consultant. Attendees from the general public may attain Consultant status by joining a garden club during the school series or shortly after completion.

In planning, promoting and publicizing Gardening Study Schools, consider the theme for the 2019-2021 NGC administration, Plant America, with its focus on gardens and gardening. It is both a description of what NGC clubs do and a command to service. Learn all aspects of Planting America in GSS. Learn information and skills that can be used in new or existing club, district or state projects and apply for Plant America Community Project Grants.

NGC Schools Handbook and Forms

• NGC Schools Handbook
• NGC Schools Handbook Forms (.zip download)
• Hints for Completing Forms 5, 6, 7

Reconciliation Ecology Presentation

• Reconciliation Ecology Presentation (PDF file)
• Reconciliation Ecology Presentation (Powerpoint file)
  Note: this is a large file (about 40MB) and may take extra time to save. Microsoft Powerpoint required.

Botany and Soil Presentations

Dr. Kimberly Moore, PhD

• General Botany Presentation (PowerPoint file)
• Soils Presentation (PowerPoint file)
• Dr. Kimberly Moore, PhD Biography

Gardening School Courses

Course 1

Course 2

Course 3

Course 4

Required Reading

The reading for this course is the NGC subscription publication The National Gardener magazine. There are several ways to order the magazine and there is more information available on this website.

Click here to order The National Gardener subscription from the official NGC Online Store

Click here for more information about The National Gardener magazine.

Resources

For information about a course near you, contact the event chairmen listed, or:
Barbara Hadsell, Chairman: Gardening Study Schools

Click here for the 2019-2021 GSS Directory.