The University of Connecticut Master Gardener Program, with an extension office in Norwich, held outdoor ceremonies for its 24 New London County graduates on Oct. 20. during a cool, damp morning.

But the drizzle let up long enough for the passing out of certificates and badges.

The 2020 graduates represented the towns of Danielson, East Haddam, Groton, Ledyard, Lyme, Mystic, New London, Niantic, North Grosvenordale, Norwich, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, Sterling, Thompson, Waterford, Windham, and Woodstock.

The Master Gardener program is an intensive study of many aspects of gardening and the environment from plant identification to cultural practices through learning from horticultural experts and hands-on training.

The courses of study include botany, entomology, plant pathology, soils, veggies, fruits, environmental impacts, natives and non-natives, invasives, pest management and more.

The students serve their communities with educational outreach, teaching, participating in community projects and responding to inquiries from community members about many aspects of gardens and the environment. The extension centers serve as hubs for community members to access help with questions about their gardening issues.

This year, restrictions relative to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic significantly changed the program. For the first time, it was shifted to online learning. The students no longer had the face to face classroom experience.

With the move to online three months into the course, the teachers did the best they could. The extension offices were closed, and those resources were no longer available to us, including many books and even the use of microscopes, a heavy loss.

The instructors came up with a virtual team method for the lab portion of the program. We were split into small teams. Ours had three students and three mentors. The mentors were prior master gardener graduates, who most generously offered their time to assist, which required weekly class preparation. We couldn’t have done it without their generous help.

Since the extension center resources were not available, we did most of our research online. There are actually many educational sites that have great resources.

We are fortunate to have the UConn Master Gardener program available to us. It is a great experience with amazing instructors. Let’s hope the restrictions ease up soon. I’m looking forward to my turn at the microscope!

The 2021 Master Gardener class begins in January. For more information, visit mastergardener.uconn.edu.

Carol Chappell lives in Norwich.

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