Howard County Environment & Natural Resources

Howard County Master Gardeners

Howard County Master Gardeners are volunteers trained by the university to provide horticultural education services to individuals, groups, and communities, including government agencies, neighborhood associations, non-profit organizations, historic sites, schools and youth groups, senior citizens, and garden clubs. Master Gardener programs and services are available free of charge to all Howard County residents and community groups. 

• Howard County Master Gardeners Catalog of Presentations 
• UME Master Gardener Program 
• Master Gardener Volunteer Management System (VMS)
• Volunteer Resources

To schedule a talk, please contact hocomdmg.publiced@gmail.com.

• Ask an Extension Agent
• Home & Garden Information Center (HGIC) 
• Master Gardener Program
• Maryland Grows Blog

Visit UME's Home and Garden Information Center to learn about

• Preparing your soil for planting
• Food gardening with the Grow It Eat It program
• Lawn care and soil testing
• Soil testing information
• Planting and maintain trees and shrubs for your landscape

Visit the Resource Library for: Archived eNewsletters, Featured Plants, FAQ’s, Gardening Glossary, Publications, Tips, How-to Videos, and more!

Subscribe to the HGIC eNewsletter

News Release: Howard County Watershed Stewardship Academy awarded a prestigious Cornerstone Award

The Howard County Watershed Stewards Academy is a program of UME Howard County is a UME training program to empower residents to improve the water quality of local streams. Stewards become community leaders who reduce the harmful effects of polluted stormwater runoff into our streams. The program aims to increase the number and diversity of trained volunteers who become Master Watershed Stewards. These Stewards have the knowledge and skills needed to improve the health of our local streams, rivers, and lakes. Master Watershed Stewards also work with their community to provide the best stormwater management practices.

The Academy provides Stewards with knowledge and expertise from lecturers, training in using watershed assessment tools for analyzing stormwater runoff, and hands-on experience installing a solution to a stormwater management problem. Experienced stormwater management practitioners provide Stewards with ongoing support for community projects.

We provide property owners with assessments that help them correct erosion problems and storm water damage. We also work with Homeowners Associations, Condominium Associations, Schools, Scouts, Businesses, and Nonprofit Organizations to inform and help them prevent pollution.

For more information about Howard County Watershed Stewards Academy, please contact Terry R. Matthews, trmatt@umd.edu, or visit howardwsa.org.

The Middle Patuxent Environmental Area habitat restoration is a joint initiative by the University of Maryland Extension Howard County Master Gardeners and Howard County Recreation and Parks. Program volunteers protect the local ecosystem by eradicating invasive plants while gaining hands-on experience in park ecology, native species, and wildlife support. 

Howard County Gardens and Activities

Howard County Demonstration Garden

The Grow It! Eat It! campaign is a joint venture between the Maryland Master Gardener program and the Home and Garden Information Center to meet Marylanders' growing need to learn how to start and maintain successful food gardens. Master Gardeners achieve this goal through the following activities:

Food gardening offers many therapeutic and productivity benefits.

• Fresher & More Nutritious - Fruits and vegetables that ripen naturally in the garden and are consumed within days of harvest have more nutrients than store-bought vegetables.
• Save Money - A seed packet of basil costs as little as $.99 and contains hundreds of seeds. One small bunch of basil in the grocery store can cost 3x as much.
• Greater Variety - Food gardening lets you try plants and varieties that aren't available in markets.
• Less Environmental Impact - Growing food at home reduces its environmental impact.
• No Pesticides – Growing food at home means you have total control of how the plant is grown and cared for. It's a simple way to guarantee your food is organic when you don't use pesticides.

Resources:

• Ask an Extension Agent
• Building a Better Garden with Less Effort
• UME Home & Garden Information Center (HGIC)
• UME MD Grows Blog
• HGIC YouTube Channel on Food Gardening
• Howard County Environment & Natural Resource Programs

Community Education

Members of the ""row it! Eat it!""teams conduct presentations and talks addressing food gardening topics throughout the community. At public events, team members use displays to advocate for food gardening, and they make themselves available for discussions of food gardening. 

PowerPoints or PDFs of presentations are available in Grow It! Eat it! Howard County Presentations. 

Presentation topics and schedules are available in Public Events. 

At public events, team members use displays to advocate for food gardening, and they make themselves available for discussions about it. 

Pollinators and Native Plants
 

LooseLeaf Newsletter for Master Gardeners

Aquaculture and Seafood Technology

UME educational programs that support sustainable aquaculture, seafood safety, ecosystem restoration, and Maryland's seafood industry. 

Learn More

Forestry and Natural Resources

The University of Maryland Extension ENR program offers resources on forest stewardship, wildlife habitat, conservation practices, renewable energy, and natural resource management. 

Learn More

Home Horticulture & Gardening Programs

UMD Extension agents provide the community with science-based information on gardening, landscaping, integrated pest management, and sustainable landscape practices. 

• Ask an Extension Agent
• Home & Garden Information Center (HGIC) 
• Master Gardener Program
• UME Gardening Resources

Water and Climate

UME agents offer education on water quality, watershed protection, climate resilience, stormwater management, and the proper care of private wells and septic systems. 

Learn More