Master Garden PSA

   

     Ever since the county fair and until the end of the year, I meet regularly with about 2 dozen other garden-growing fools-- (They call us"interns") studying to become Master Gardeners. Even the phrase sounds intimidating, as you could spend lifetimes mastering a garden, but given my love of learning and need of discipline, I was drawn to the course for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the networking it provides, as it pits me with some of the most dedicated (read: diehard) folks to ever hold a hoe, led by folks who make their living from Tennessee soil.
     Everything from soil testing, seed identification, insects, blights, temps, equipment...you name it. The course tackles gardening from the roots up, led by the best professionals and specialists you could ever hope to meet, much less spend hours conversing with. (As much time as I spend questioning, even bitching about government, I must give equal time; this one agency alone restores my faith. I've said it before; I'll say it again. I don't know what I'd do without 'em.)
     As I've mentioned previously, the concept of organic (touched upon this week) is not for sissies. On this, the government IS going to get in your face, (and your barn and your yard), so strict are the requirements for earning this label. Year one and I got the picture pretty quick...It's one thing to avoid bug spray. It's quite another to keep the delicate balance of organic matter systematically working --(why I have goats). Little did I know that even buying plant nutrients in those big bags from the co-op will disqualify you. When they say "organic" they mean organic. No chemicals. (Even the good ones.) Think Amish.
     All this to say, agribusiness is booming. Were I starting my career all over again I'd swap my communications degree for an ag diploma in a heartbeat. (Not that one doesn't compliment the other; I'm just saying... if you've got a kid who doesn't know what she wants to be when she grows up, this one's only going to get bigger as we've been complacent for far too long assuming our farmers would always be there growing things for us. Little hint to those would be interns out there. Little PSA for my local ag extension.)
     For now, the plan is to absorb all I can...Practice what I learn...and keep it green from Tennessee. My hat's off to the folks who make this, and the myriad of other resources available to folks like me --the would be, first time farmer.