The Master Gardener Program is offered by the University of Tennessee Extension. The Program trains and engages with volunteers to provide the public with research-based information on lawn and garden topics. TEMGs are volunteers who have a love of plants and horticulture coupled with Extension training to equip them to teach and assist Tennessee residents. These volunteers work in partnership with their counties to expand the educational outreach. Each volunteer has been trained with 40 hours of horticultural education, and keeps updated with continuing education events.

The Northeast Master Gardener Association (NETMGA) membership includes volunteers from Hawkins, Sullivan, Washington, Carter, Johnson, and Unicoi Counties. Their many activities include information booths at various home and farm shows, answering Ask-a-Master Gardener questions, teaching classes in the community, and organizing new Master Gardener classes. Their presence can be seen in many local historic site gardens, demonstration gardens and community vegetable gardens.

October Membership Meeting

Monday, October 5

Details to be provided

CEU OPPORTUNITIES

SULLIVAN COUNTY EXTENSION 

Watch email for more info on NETMGA  and local sponsored events

 2026 UT Extension Horticulture May Food Production Series AND Friday Office Hours Sign-Up

August 14   Office Hours Live Diagnostic Visits via Zoom

August 24-25 Fall Gardeners Conference in Crossville 

September 11 Office Hours Live Diagnostic Visits via Zoom

CEU OPPORTUNITIES

WASHINGTON COUNTY EXTENSION 

Save the Date, August 6^th,

Nature Walk with Johnson City Parks and Recreation Naturalist Connie Deegan. Details soon.

Interest list here: https://tiny.utk.edu/NatureWalk

2026 NETMGA INTERN PRESENTATIONS

Monthly on selected Mondays

6:00 p.m.

Ron Ramsey Ag Extension Office

Each 2026 Master Gardener intern will be developing and presenting a program on a relevant topic.  NETMGA members are encouraged to attend these programs to support our interns and to learn more about their specialized topics.

Monday, August 10th

Bee Balm: The Garden Powerhouse by Benjamin Staton

Rosemary: The Herb That Does It All by Charmane Goforth

From Mild to Wild - Exploring the World of Peppers by Denise Milhorn

Monday, September 28th

Plants as the Source of Cutaneous Disease by Jenn Kletsov

Detering Wildlife by Karen Kite

Invasive Plants by Kathy Bedbury

Monday, October 19th

Worm Composting by Stephanie Foster

The Wonders of Sunflowers by Esther Petrousek-Beck

Monday, November 16th

Blueberry Bushes by Shelly Baggett

Native Plant Species for Culinary Purposes by Devyn Schneck

Trees by Marissa Kirchenbauer

COMMUNITY SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES

NETMGA has many ongoing projects.  Review the list in the Projects and Photo Gallery tab. For specific work days and times, contact the project leaders.  Contact info for all project leaders can be found in the THYMES newsletter. 

FUTURE MASTER GARDENERS

The next Master Gardener class will run from January - April 2027.

Please fill out the following interest form if you would like more information about the class.

Master Gardener Interest Form – Fill out form

NETMGA members enjoyed their August meeting at Warriors' Path State Park. A sub sandwich meal and a bug scavenger hunt, along with

a bug talk by Melody made for a fun and informative evening.   

READ ALL ABOUT IT

6/22   If you are worried about a brown lawn after the drought, see timely tips on lawn care in the Agents' Column.

*                                                                                                                 *