Public Events - hELPING OTHERS GROw - caring for gardens - calendar

The Plant Sale is traditionally held mid-spring at the Lake County Fair Grounds. Plants are offered to the public as a means of fund-raising to support the scholarship and grant funds.  Some plants are purchased from commercial growers to satisfy home gardening needs and even more plants are grown and offered by the Lake County Master Gardeners.  Plants include annuals, perennials, herbs, house plants, bulbs, shrubs and even some trees.  All are labeled and Master Gardeners are available in abundance to answer questions.  

The Sale includes a “Trash to Treasures” area where “gently used” gardening items such as flower pots, garden tools, garden art, garden gloves, tomato cages, trellises, rose cones—even gardening books--can be purchased.  Mini-presentations on gardening topics are offered.  

(Photo Courtesy of the Master Gardeners)

The Garden Walk is held to showcase the beautiful home gardens in Lake County on a date between mid-June and early July.  Attendees and volunteers alike experience other gardens and share gardening ideas. A committee identifies the gardens for the event and Master Gardeners are available at each garden to answer questions.    

Help Line:  We operate a Help Line at the Lake County Extension Office in Crown Point from April through September, where questions from the public about gardening are answered by calling (219) 755-3240 and asking for a Master Gardener.  

Habitat for Humanity®: : This unique activity encompasses education and hands-on planning and planting with a new Habitat homeowner. Plants are supplied or donated based on conversations with the new homeowner.  Planting is done as a group with the new homeowner to provide education and gardening skills for the new landscape.  

Ask a Master Gardener Booth Activities:  Master Gardeners have the opportunity to interact directly with the general public at various community events and offer gardening tips or answer questions.

• Lake County Fair Booth: During each day of the Lake County Fair in Crown Point, LCMGA provides educational material and answers garden/plant/horticultural questions. Reference materials are available. Donated plants are offered for sale to raise funds for our scholarships and grants.  
• AG Awareness Days: “Kids' days” at the Lake County Fairgrounds happen in early April during Agriculture Awareness Days. Third and fourth graders from all over the county attend to learn firsthand about agriculture and food supplies. The program includes educational stations on a variety of topics. Master Gardeners create an information booth on a related topic and interact with the students. 

Buckley Homestead Fall Festival: Buckley Homestead Living History Farm is a county park and historical museum located at 3606 Belshaw Road, Lowell, Indiana. The Buckleys first moved to Northwest Indiana in 1849, where they built their first farmstead. The LCMGA sets up displays for the two day festival and interacts with the public about the 1910 garden and other related topics.    

Master Gardeners mainly engage in educating others—or “Helping Others Grow”  Sometimes we engage in actual planting, weeding and  maintaining selective gardens that are located throughout Lake County and are accessible to the general public.  Currently we maintain:

• Lake County Fairgrounds:  Pier area gardens at Fancher Lake and the garden at the North entrance to the Fairgrounds.
• Purdue Extension:  Demonstration Garden and other gardens as needed.