The Master Gardener Hotline is in full swing Monday-Friday, 9:00am-3:00pm. The hotline opens for the season in April and will run until the end of October. This is a volunteer service offered for the local community to call and ask questions about gardening, farming, pests, upcoming classes and events.
Master Gardeners are members of the local community who take an active interest in their lawns, trees, shrubs, flowers and gardens. They are enthusiastic, willing to learn and to help others, and are able to communicate with diverse groups of people. What really sets Master Gardeners apart from other home gardeners is their special training in horticulture. In exchange for their training, persons who become Master Gardeners contribute time as volunteers, working through their cooperative extension office to provide horticultural-related information to their communities.
Lyndsay Ploehn, the Agriculture and Natural Resource Associate Educator, has updated the hotline by taking it from not only the phone, but also online. She is encouraging people to use the Facebook page, Purdue Extension—Porter County, to ask questions and follow our updates on gardening, lawn care, agricultural news, and tips for consumers and farmers alike. It is a great way for the public to get in touch with Extension and the services we offer, while also freeing up the phone lines. Our Master Gardeners will still be available to answer your questions by phone at 219-465-3555. We also welcome walk-ins if you need to bring a sample in for identification. The office is located in the Porter County Administration Center, 155 Indiana Avenue, Suite 301, Valparaiso, IN.