-Submitted photo
Master Gardener Gayle Rinehart spends her retirement years volunteering to care for outdoor landscapes at the Boone County Hospital.

BOONE — Every spring brings great expectations for those who dig in the dirt. Fresh tomatoes, homegrown sweet corn, and long days spent in the sun. Such is the stuff that dreams of Master Gardeners are made of.

Iowa State University’s Master Gardener program has raised up new gardeners throughout the state, teaching them the basics of gardening so that they may share their knowledge and the work of their hands in their own communities.

“I’m a retired teacher, and before I retired I always saw the information about Master Gardener classes. I thought, ‘I’m going to take that class when I retire,'” said Gayle Rinehart, now a veteran Master Gardener in Boone County.

In fact, Rinehart wasted no time in signing up for the classes when she retired some nine years ago. The Denison native had spent her career teaching preschool special needs and was ready to give back to her community in another way — this time through gardening.

“I did that right away and signed up for the Master Gardener class the fall after I retired,” she recalled.

So, while her fellow teachers were heading back to the head of the class, she was heading back as a student in an entirely new field of endeavor.

“I just like working outside,” Rinehart said of her choice of an encore career as a Master Gardener.

One of the unique features of the Master Gardener program is that it’s not just about gardening, but education with community service. Graduates continue on by volunteering in their communities.

“I was naive enough that my first project was at a church that had a 70-by-100-foot plot of land that they were looking for someone to take over,” Rinehart recalled. “I wrote a grant, and the work was managed by Master Gardeners, and we donated all of the produce we raised.”

They selected plants that area food pantries said would be popular choices for the families served.

“We had about 100 tomato plants, we had 100 pepper plants, and we didn’t do a lot of odd things, just food that people would want,” she said.

Pumpkins, squash, turnips and a few small watermelons were also popular.

Organizing enough volunteers for such a large garden proved to be a challenge bigger than any evasive weed, but the community garden was appreciated as a way to help provide fresh foods and alleviate some food insecurity for area residents.

With the arrival of spring, Rinehart shared a few recommendations for those who want to grow their own produce this year.

First of all, she said to take a look at the space that you have and determine what plants would do the best, based on such things as how much sun it receives. At her own home, because the yard is mostly shaded, she has turned to raised beds placed where they can capture the most sunlight.

The raised beds can be very convenient and may require less weeding, but regardless of how large or small one’s garden is, it’s best to stay ahead of the weeds, rather than wait for one big day of pulling and hoeing.

“I think it’s easier if you look at your garden often, no matter what size it is, instead of waiting, and then you don’t get overwhelmed,” she said.

With the raised beds, she uses mulch or straw between the plants to discourage weed growth. This practice can also be used in larger garden spaces, as available.

Just as it’s important to rotate crops in a conventional garden, it’s good to refresh the soil and rotate crops as possible in raised beds. She doesn’t change out all the soil, but will replenish it annually with new soil and such things as bagged manure.

As a Master Gardener, Rinehart commits to 20 hours of community service annually, plus an additional 10 hours of education. Most of her volunteer hours are now at the Boone County Hospital where she maintains a number of outdoor plantings.

“I mostly volunteer at the hospital,” she said “They have some memorial gardens and rose bushes.”

With nearly a decade of service as a Master Gardener behind her, Rinehart still finds joy in sharing her work and volunteer efforts with the community. She encourages more people to get involved.

To learn more about becoming a Master Gardener, contact the Extension office in your county. Some counties offer classes both spring and fall, and staff will be able to advise when the next class session is starting.