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Thompson Shuswap

Welcome to the Thompson Shuswap Master Gardeners (TSMG) home page

The Thompson Shuswap Master Gardeners' Association was formed in January 2010.  The Chapter provides horticultural advice to the gardening public in the Thompson Shuswap region.  Currently we have members in Kamloops, Lillooet and Salmon Arm, and would welcome new members from the surrounding areas.

Our objective is to educate the public on environmentally-responsible gardening practices.  We encourage the use of preventative gardening practices such as the principle of ‘right plant, right place’, the use of biological controls, the provision of habitats for beneficial insects, and natural pest control strategies.

What do Thompson Shuswap Master Gardeners do?

  • Foremost, our volunteers give gardening advice at Clinics held in garden centres, at Seedy Saturdays/Sundays, fall fairs, farmers' markets and community gardens.
  • We have also worked with the community on a range of projects:  these have included coordinating garden workshops, presenting garden issues to garden clubs and other organizations, acting as consultants to community and school gardens, participating in garden tours and other community garden events, and presenting garden seminars through the City of Kamloops Parks and Recreation.
  •  As well, we have cared for the McDonald Park Public Produce Demonstration Garden using ecology based on best Integrated Pest Management practices, and volunteered with Thompson Rivers University (TRU) Friends of the Garden (FOG) in projects such as Horticulture Horizons, the FOG spring plant sale and the Tomato Festival.

If you are a gardening enthusiast who likes to volunteer and share gardening knowledge, then you may be interested in taking the Master Gardeners Basic Training Program.  The program advances the gardener's knowledge of botany, soil health, diagnosis of plant problems, propagation and pruning techniques, vegetable gardening, the principles of xeriscaping and more.  

If you are interested in taking the TSMG Basic Training please email tsmastergardeners@gmail.com for more information or click here to view our Basic Training brochure.   

The next TSMG Basic Training will commence JANUARY 2024 
Thank you for your interest in the TSMG's 2024 Basic Training class. The class is now full!