Rhubarb And A Master Garderner

A Personal Journey

By Marilyn N. Dudek, Master Gardener

Where does eating freshly-picked rhubarb dipped in sugar brimming from a custard dish lead? To a love for gardening - especially when one is born and grew up in the north end of Winnipeg where entire backyards were vegetable gardens. Call it osmosis. I am one of the first of the baby boomer generation, a generation touted as having a desire for continual learning.

Seven years ago, this desire manifested into a decision to enroll in a Master Gardener course. My journey began in the Niagara region where my cousin toured me of a Master Gardener's acreage garden. I was enthralled with the many species of unusual plants she grew, and in talking to her, I learned of the MG program she studied at the University of Guelph. She explained what she learned and how she volunteered. I was smitten.

On returning home and after surfing the internet, I learned that the closest place I could take this accreditation was at the University of Saskatchewan. I enrolled, received the "scary" thick book of learning, and began to read. Then, off I went to Saskatoon for three of the courses which conveniently were offered over one weekend. I had a wonderful learning time with extremely qualified instructors, who made learning a fun and therefore easier experience.

As the first courses for the MG program became available in Manitoba, I drove the two-hour trek to McGregor one January, and, in Winnipeg, I completed the remaining prerequisite courses. On the MG journey one must partake in six hands-on courses, 40 hours of volunteering, and must pass an exam. Additionally, in order to keep one's accreditation, an MG must have a minimum of twenty hours of volunteering per year and must either upgrade or take more courses. I set my own date for writing the exam—closed book—and met my goal. I was a bit worried about writing an exam after a "few" years of not doing so, but, no worries, I passed easily.

The culmination of this journey was receiving my certification at the International Master Gardener Conference 2005 in Saskatoon with 1000 plus MGs attending. What a wonderful ending to spending four days with like-minded people from all over the world and learning about their journeys and volunteerism!

Since receiving my certification, I have been involved in both private and corporate landscape design. I am dedicated to "passing on the knowledge" by volunteering at the Conservatory and other garden clubs and working at Schriemers' service desk answering garden problems. I have hopes to gather MGs in Winnipeg and to meet on a regular basis, so we might share ideas and projects. This gardening path continues to fulfill my curiosity of the plant kingdom because of my love of plants and nature and the motto I follow: "The goal in life is to live in agreement with nature."