By Serah Pesce
Whether you are a passionate backyard gardener, a professional landscaper, or simply interested in native plants and their connections with wildlife, Mt. Cuba Center’s Ecological Gardening Certificate program offers a comprehensive approach to gardening in harmony with nature, using ecologically sound practices. After completing our program, you’ll be able to identify and use native plants in the landscape, apply organic gardening practices to create resilient environments, design and create ecologically sound gardens by imitating nature’s patterns and systems, manage plant health issues using sustainable techniques, and become conservators of our water and natural habitats.
Image 1: Cardinal flowers (Lobelia cardinalis) blooming at Mt. Cuba’s ponds, one of the many plants taught in our Native Plants classes.
Students have used the program as a springboard into a new profession, to continue their education, or to follow a curiosity into a subject matter such as plant health care and water conservation. Susan Wozniak, a professional in the industry, recently completed the certificate program and explains, “Mt. Cuba has been incredibly instrumental in where I am today as both a landscape designer and citizen scientist. The courses are engaging and informative, but it’s the discussions and interactions with both the people and the plants that made the biggest difference for me. I can’t even begin to tell you how many ‘aha’ moments I had.”
Other students have pursued a certificate post-retirement, including Shirley Duffy, who recalls, “After retirement, I pursued my horticulture hobby… and I found my happy place.” Shirley finished the certificate program and subsequently enrolled in and completed the Landscape Architecture Program at the University of Delaware. Armed with a great deal of knowledge and many resources, she now volunteers for seven non-profit organizations to help with their tree, landscape, and design challenges and enjoys a very busy and happy retirement.
Image 2: Ecological Gardening Certificate graduates, Sue Wozniak, Shirley Duffy, and current student, John O’Connor.
Not only will you learn valuable skills in the program, but you will also have access to a thriving community of fellow students and expert instructors. As Susan puts it, “I don’t know that there’s any other program that can compare in the way that Mt. Cuba brings science, beauty, ecology, wildlife AND people back into gardening and landscaping.” Certificate student John O’Connor, the farm manager at the Food Bank of Delaware, has tapped into the many great professionals that instruct the classes and has drawn on their expertise to apply those concepts to the Food Bank’s farm and its unique challenges. Since joining Mt. Cuba’s certificate program, ecology has been at the forefront of John’s mind in his work. He shares that “best management practices are constantly evolving, and it is great to learn from an institution leading some of those developments while being surrounded by likeminded professionals and gardeners.”
Image 2: Ecological Gardening Certificate alumni sharing a laugh in the Natural Lands with Mt. Cuba staff.
Ready to start your personal certificate program journey? Join the community with the support of our education team, who will guide you through the entire program and celebrate when you complete it. We passionately believe that with each course you take, you will gain confidence and knowledge in ecological gardening practices, find a community of like-minded peers and learn from expert and renowned instructors. By design, the certificate program allows for students to complete the program within a year, but some participants take only as many courses as their schedule allows, progressing at their own pace. See where it will take you! Email education@mtcubacenter.org today to sign up and start your journey.