{"id":12976,"date":"2026-04-02T14:47:44","date_gmt":"2026-04-02T18:47:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/hla\/sites\/master-gardener\/?page_id=12976"},"modified":"2026-04-02T14:47:44","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T18:47:44","slug":"purdue-extension-master-gardener-impacts","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/hla\/sites\/master-gardener\/purdue-extension-master-gardener-impacts\/","title":{"rendered":"Purdue Extension Master Gardener Impacts"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"pl-12976\"  class=\"panel-layout\" ><div id=\"pg-12976-0\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-12976-0-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-12976-0-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-image panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"0\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-image so-widget-sow-image-default-a258e6bfa2d8-12976\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"sow-image-container\">\n\t\t<img \n\tsrc=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/hla\/sites\/master-gardener\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/04\/garden.jpeg\" width=\"587\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/hla\/sites\/master-gardener\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/04\/garden.jpeg 587w, https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/hla\/sites\/master-gardener\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/04\/garden-229x300.jpeg 229w, https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/hla\/sites\/master-gardener\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/04\/garden-21x27.jpeg 21w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 587px) 100vw, 587px\" alt=\"\" \t\tclass=\"so-widget-image\"\/>\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pgc-12976-0-1\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-12976-0-1-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"1\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<p>The Purdue Extension Master Gardener Program provides a learning framework for participants to increase their horticultural knowledge on a wide variety of subjects. In turn, participants share knowledge and provide leadership in educational gardening activities within their communities.<\/p>\n<p>This is a snapshot of the impact the Purdue Extension Master Gardener program had in 2025.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12977 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/hla\/sites\/master-gardener\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/04\/laporte-master-gardener-1024x608.jpeg\" alt=\"Master Gardener outside a school with a cart full of plants.\" width=\"512\" height=\"304\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/hla\/sites\/master-gardener\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/04\/laporte-master-gardener-1024x608.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/hla\/sites\/master-gardener\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/04\/laporte-master-gardener-300x178.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/hla\/sites\/master-gardener\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/04\/laporte-master-gardener-768x456.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/hla\/sites\/master-gardener\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/04\/laporte-master-gardener-31x18.jpeg 31w, https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/hla\/sites\/master-gardener\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/04\/laporte-master-gardener.jpeg 1134w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pg-12976-1\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-12976-1-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-12976-1-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-headline panel-first-child\" data-index=\"2\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-headline so-widget-sow-headline-default-ec1eb4cebc48-12976\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t><div class=\"sow-headline-container \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"sow-headline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t2025 By the Numbers\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"decoration\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"decoration-inside\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><div id=\"panel-12976-1-0-1\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor\" data-index=\"3\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<p>In 2025, the <strong><span style=\"color: #8e6f3e\">2,770<\/span><\/strong> active Purdue Extension Master Gardener volunteers reported:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><div id=\"panel-12976-1-0-2\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-features panel-last-child\" data-index=\"4\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-features so-widget-sow-features-default-0e0f8d436f18-12976\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t><ul\n\tclass=\"sow-features-list\n\tsow-features-responsive\">\n\n\t\t\t<li\n\t\t\tclass=\"sow-features-feature sow-icon-container-position-top\"\n\t\t\tstyle=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; width: calc(33.333% - 25px);\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div\t\t\t\tclass=\"sow-icon-container sow-container-round\"\n\t\t\t\tstyle=\"color: #404040; \"\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sow-icon-fontawesome sow-far\" data-sow-icon=\"&#xf252;\"\n\t\tstyle=\"font-size: 24px; color: #fff\" \n\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"textwidget\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-features-feature-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"text-align: center;font-size: 20px\"><span style=\"color: #8e6f3e\"><strong>35,822<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\neducation hours<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\n\t\t\t<li\n\t\t\tclass=\"sow-features-feature sow-icon-container-position-top\"\n\t\t\tstyle=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; width: calc(33.333% - 25px);\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div\t\t\t\tclass=\"sow-icon-container sow-container-round\"\n\t\t\t\tstyle=\"color: #404040; \"\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sow-icon-fontawesome sow-far\" data-sow-icon=\"&#xf3d1;\"\n\t\tstyle=\"font-size: 24px; color: #fff\" \n\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"textwidget\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-features-feature-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"text-align: center;font-size: 20px\"><span style=\"color: #8e6f3e\"><strong>170,926<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/span>volunteer hours valued at<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #8e6f3e\"><strong>$5.2 million<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\n\t\t\t<li\n\t\t\tclass=\"sow-features-feature sow-icon-container-position-top\"\n\t\t\tstyle=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; width: calc(33.333% - 25px);\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div\t\t\t\tclass=\"sow-icon-container sow-container-round\"\n\t\t\t\tstyle=\"color: #404040; \"\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sow-icon-fontawesome sow-far\" data-sow-icon=\"&#xf2b5;\"\n\t\tstyle=\"font-size: 24px; color: #fff\" \n\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"textwidget\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-features-feature-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"text-align: center;font-size: 20px\"><span style=\"color: #8e6f3e\"><strong>371,138<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\neducational contacts<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\n\t<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pg-12976-2\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-has-style\" ><div class=\"so-rounded panel-row-style panel-row-style-for-12976-2\" ><div id=\"pgc-12976-2-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-12976-2-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"5\" ><div class=\"panel-widget-style panel-widget-style-for-12976-2-0-0\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<p style=\"color: #8e6f3e;text-align: center;font-size: 32px\"><strong>Improving<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"color: #8e6f3e;text-align: center;font-size: 32px\"><strong>Communities<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pgc-12976-2-1\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-12976-2-1-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"6\" ><div class=\"panel-widget-style panel-widget-style-for-12976-2-1-0\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<p style=\"color: #8e6f3e;text-align: center;font-size: 32px\"><strong>Expanding<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"color: #8e6f3e;text-align: center;font-size: 32px\"><strong>Opportunities<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pgc-12976-2-2\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-12976-2-2-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"7\" ><div class=\"panel-widget-style panel-widget-style-for-12976-2-2-0\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<p style=\"color: #8e6f3e;text-align: center;font-size: 32px\"><strong>Fostering<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"color: #8e6f3e;text-align: center;font-size: 32px\"><strong>Sustainability<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pg-12976-3\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-12976-3-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-12976-3-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"8\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<p>Here are some of the ways the Purdue Extension Master Gardener (EMG) Program impacts Indiana communities.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\u00a0More than 402 Purdue Extension Master Gardener volunteers reported 23,120+ volunteer hours working in 66 educational demonstration gardens and donated 74,135 pounds of produce to local food banks to help fight food insecurity.<\/li>\n<li>Purdue Extension Master Gardener associations awarded $43,700 in college scholarships to students studying horticulture, agriculture, and related majors.<\/li>\n<li>Purdue Extension Master Gardeners reported several changes in gardening practices, including:\n<ul>\n<li>Using more pollinator plants and practices to protect pollinators<\/li>\n<li>Choosing the right plant species for the right locations in their gardens and landscapes<\/li>\n<li>\u00a0Removing or replacing invasive species from their landscapes and gardens<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>\u201cLaPorte County Purdue EMG volunteers collectively bring hundreds of years of gardening experience and generously share their time and talents,\u201d said Vicki Znavor, association president. \u201cThis year reflects truly impactful work aligned with our mission to \u2018Help Others Grow.\u2019 We are proud to serve so many individuals and organizations across LaPorte County.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The 2025 Garden Show welcomed more than 500 visitors and featured expert speakers covering edible plants, herbs, and trees and shrubs, along with engaging children\u2019s activities, a beautiful fairy garden, and more than 40 vendors.<\/p>\n<p>A highlight was the association\u2019s collaboration with Paladin Head Start, where Master Gardeners taught more than 100 preschoolers about plants. Volunteers installed grow lights, planted seeds with students and supported the children\u2019s gardens throughout the summer. Educators appreciated the added classroom enthusiasm, and students were thrilled to watch their seeds sprout and grow, building early curiosity and confidence in gardening and healthy foods.<\/p>\n<p>In addition to operating a garden hotline to answer community horticultural questions, members presented educational programs for numerous organizations, facilitated activities at community events, and staffed information booths at the Beach Garden Walk, Sunflower Fair and the Home Builders Association show. They continued stewardship of the Pioneer Garden at the LaPorte County Fairgrounds and supported Friendship Botanic Gardens, where thousands of visitors benefit from volunteer eforts each year. The association also awarded $2,358 in community grants to five local organizations for projects including prairie plant signage, children\u2019s gardens and neighborhood produce programs.<\/p>\n<p>Purdue University prohibits discrimination against any member of the University community on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin or ancestry, genetic information, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, or status as a veteran.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pg-12976-4\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-12976-4-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-12976-4-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"9\" ><div class=\"panel-widget-style panel-widget-style-for-12976-4-0-0\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<h2 style=\"text-align: center\">Find Out More<\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">To learn more about the Purdue Extension Master Gardener Program\u2019s impact, please contact the state coordinator or visit us online.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">John Orick, Purdue Extension Master Gardener State Coordinator,<br \/>\nDepartment of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture<br \/>\n<a href=\"mailto:orick@purdue.edu\">orick@purdue.edu<\/a> \u2022 765-496-7956 \u2022 <a href=\"https:\/\/purdue.ag\/master-gardener\">purdue.ag\/master-gardener<\/a><br \/>\nFacebook: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/purduemastergardener\/\">@purduemastergardener<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pgc-12976-4-1\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-12976-4-1-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-image panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"10\" ><div class=\"panel-widget-style panel-widget-style-for-12976-4-1-0\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-image so-widget-sow-image-default-a258e6bfa2d8-12976\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"sow-image-container\">\n\t\t<img \n\tsrc=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/hla\/sites\/master-gardener\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/04\/laporte-volunteers.jpeg\" width=\"1163\" height=\"504\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/hla\/sites\/master-gardener\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/04\/laporte-volunteers.jpeg 1163w, https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/hla\/sites\/master-gardener\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/04\/laporte-volunteers-300x130.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/hla\/sites\/master-gardener\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/04\/laporte-volunteers-1024x444.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/hla\/sites\/master-gardener\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/04\/laporte-volunteers-768x333.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/hla\/sites\/master-gardener\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/04\/laporte-volunteers-31x13.jpeg 31w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1163px) 100vw, 1163px\" title=\"laporte volunteers\" alt=\"LaPorte County volunteers standing next to their organization&#039;s banner.\" \t\tclass=\"so-widget-image\"\/>\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Purdue Extension Master Gardener Program provides a learning framework for participants to increase their horticultural knowledge on a wide variety of subjects. In turn, participants share knowledge and provide leadership in educational gardening activities within their communities. This is a snapshot of the impact the Purdue Extension Master Gardener program had in 2025. In&#8230;<span id=\"post-label-12976\" class=\"sr-only\">Read more about Purdue Extension Master Gardener Impacts<\/span><a class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/hla\/sites\/master-gardener\/purdue-extension-master-gardener-impacts\/\" aria-labelledby=\"post-label-12976\">[Read More]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":260,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-12976","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/hla\/sites\/master-gardener\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/12976","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/hla\/sites\/master-gardener\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/hla\/sites\/master-gardener\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/hla\/sites\/master-gardener\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/260"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/hla\/sites\/master-gardener\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12976"}],"version-history":[{"count":27,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/hla\/sites\/master-gardener\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/12976\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13007,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/hla\/sites\/master-gardener\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/12976\/revisions\/13007"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/hla\/sites\/master-gardener\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12976"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}