Our Sub-programs:
Grow It-Eat It (GIEI): Our most active group in Carroll with a prominent place in the CORE garden. It was initiated to address the growing need of Marylanders for food security and for local food production. GIEI teaches classes onhow to start and maintain successful food gardens via soil building, no-till practices, container gardening, selection of best cultivars for our area as well as integrated pest management and more.
Native Plants-science-based information promoting Piedmont ecoregion native plants to support biodiversity, sustainability, and pollinator health but also on the importance of native plants for the ecosystem and removing the non-native invasive species. Closely related to pollinator program.
Ask a Master Gardener (AMG): Most often located at public libraries, farmer’s markets or tabling at special events. AMG provides a service of science based plant and insect identification for home gardeners, general diagnostics of plant problems caused by insects or diseases versus environmental stressors, and recommendations for composting, pruning, soil health and more.
Baywise--is a specialized landscape management program to educating residents about gardening with intent: sustainable gardening practices that anyone can apply to their yard to improve water quality, protect the Chesapeake Bay, and enhance local biodiversity. Baywise in the one Master Gardener group authorized to visit homeowner yards and other landscape spaces to offer advice on healthy soil, reducing runoff, and maintaining wildlife habitats. Gardeners can ask for a Baywise consultation or a later assessment to get certification that comes with a yard sign. As with other sub-programs, they also staff information booths and give presentations.
Pollinators: focuses on protecting biodiversity and restoring habitats for bees, butterflies, and other vital insects and cover pollinator biology, sustainable gardening, and habitat conservation. They often utilize demonstration gardens to showcase the native plants used by pollinators for food and overwintering materials to inspire public adoption of these practices that preserve pollinators and other beneficial insects.
Composting/Soils: Master Gardener (MG) soil and composting initiatives focus on turning leaves and organic plant waste into nutrient-rich “black gold” to improve soil structure, enhance water retention, and reduce landfill waste They teach backyard composting, vermiculture, soil testing and assessing soil health. There is a demonstration of small scale composting in the main demonstration garden.
Yearly Special Events:
Earth Day: Is a day of education, exhibits and activities that Carroll MG’s strive to hold in the north (Bear Branch) or south (Piney Run) Nature Centers, alternating sites each year. The goals is learning how to protect and preserve the Earth for the future and covers information about pollinators, Baywise, monarchs and children’s activities such as a Scavenger Hunt and rock painting.
Master Gardener Plant Sale: Offers MG-grown native plants and other perennials, annuals, herbs vegetables, native trees and shrubs plus a flea market. Our Master Gardeners are self supporting and this is the primary mode of earning money for the activities they offer to the public.
Heirloom Tomato Festival– Held annually at the Carroll Ag Center Blizzard Building, our Heirloom Festival is the one of the most prominent,long running frequently noted tomato festivals which draws huge crowds of visits. It features heirloom tomatoes (open pollinated and existing for at least 50 years) grown by the Master gardeners with tomato centric merchandize, recipes, baking samples, seed saving, growing advice and and so on! At least 3 dozen varieties are being grown by MGs for the festival tasting in 2026.
