Save the Date
Master Gardeners’ Garden ExpoMeet your local Master Gardeners and equip yourself like a pro at the fourth annual “Master Your Garden” expo.› When: April 9 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and April 10 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.› Where: Camp Jordan Arena, East Ridge, Tenn.› What: Dozens of different vendors offering a wide variety of goods, including plants, tools, fertilizer, worm castings, birdhouses, ironwork and more.To learn more about the Master Gardeners program visit mghc.org.
As a boy, Tom Stebbins remembers tending strawberries and sweet corn with his grandfather. Gardening taught him work ethic, he says.
Today, it is his livelihood as University of Tennessee’s horticulture extension agent for Hamilton County. Among his outreach responsibilities, each year, Stebbins organizes and teaches Chattanooga’s Master Gardeners program, a training course that covers topics that range from landscaping to urban forestry.
According to Stebbins, the class attracts a broad demographic of people: from 20-somethings who want to save the world through sustainable farming to 80-somethings who want a relaxing hobby. The roster is as varied as the benefits reaped from gardening, he says.
Studies have shown gardening to treat depression, reduce stress and improve self-esteem. It can reduce the risk of high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and osteoporosis. Not to mention, gardening can be great cardio, says Stebbins. “Especially when you’re getting your garden in shape for the spring.”