Mark your calendars for Sept. 6 — it’s time for the Master Gardeners of Noble County Fall Symposium. The moto “Helping Others Grow” is in full swing at the symposium. Learn about seed collecting and storage, hear about a case study of glyphosate and the pesticide controversy, and learn how to prepare your garden for the season’s change and winter.
The event on Sept. 6, from 8 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. at West Noble Middle School, 5194 U.S. 33, Ligonier, will have great speakers with deep knowledge in their topics.
Up first will be Freya Berntson, natural resources manager at Merry Lea Environmental Center. Freya started at Merry Lea a little over a year ago, taking the reins from long-time manager, Bill Minter. Berntson oversees the management of the varied natural areas found at Merry Lea. She grew up just down the road from Merry Lea and fell in love with the place in her teenage years.
As someone who volunteers often at Merry Lea, I safely can say we are happy she found her way back to Noble County.
Her first career was in informal science education, using skills that she continues to utilize in her work with volunteers, particularly regarding native and invasive plant education, prescribed burns and outreach.
Berntson completed a master’s degree in Natural Resource Stewardship with a focus on Ecological Restoration from Colorado State University and has several years of experience in ecological restoration work throughout northern Indiana, northwest Ohio, and southern Michigan. This work has included prescribed fire, invasive plant management, large-scale native plantings, and more.
Bernston’s topic will be seed collecting and storage where we will learn, among other things, how Merry Lea collects seeds in the fall to create new prairies and re-seed old ones as well as info on gathering seeds from vegetables and annual flowers.
The second speaker will be Ann Kline, who is the Agriculture and Natural Resource Educator with Purdue Extension in Noble County. She began her role in April 2018 and is responsible for providing educational resources and support to the residents of Noble County. She holds a master’s degree in Agronomy from Purdue University and brings a strong foundation in plant science and soil systems to her outreach work.
Before joining Extension, Ann worked as a pesticide regulatory consultant, giving her a unique perspective on integrated pest management and responsible chemical use in the garden.
Kline’s topic will be a Glyphosate Case Study: Pesticide Controversy. Knowing Ann, it will be an exciting “who dun-it,” capturing the pros and cons of pest control.
Christi Nickey will be the day’s third speaker. Nickey joined the Merry Lea team in March 2025 as farm manager, where she oversees the day-to-day operation and function of the Merry Lea Teaching Farm. Though originally from the Muncie area, she has spent much of her life living in Florida, South Carolina, Colorado and Iowa.
As a long-time professional chef and restaurateur, Nickey has been deeply involved in food systems work for many years before pivoting into farming full-time. Nickey recently completed her master’s degree in Regenerative Organic Agriculture while working at Seed Savers Exchange in Decorah, Iowa. She has a deep love of nature and is passionate about seed sovereignty, local food webs, social justice and education.
She is excited to lead the teaching farm and engage deeply in the environmental stewardship and regenerative capacity of Merry Lea as a whole.
Nickey’s topic will be “Preparing your Garden for Winter.” Bring your questions and take great notes. I’m sure the talk will be an excellent source of information.
To round the Symposium off, there will be three demonstrations offered. You can choose one of the three to attend. Jan Keefer will oversee “Winter Sowing” and boy, does she excel in this topic. Jan is amazingly successful at growing hundreds of seeds over winter in milk jugs.
The Junior Master Gardeners will have a demonstration of Flower Pounding and guests will ‘make and take’ a card.
Sara Weeks will demonstrate how to make a pine cone decoration. Sara is a craft wizard, and this one is sure to add to your decorating ideas and something to take home.
Local vendors will have tables around the Symposium. Morning snacks, door prizes and handouts will all be provided.
The registration fee is only $25. Call the Extension Office at 260-363-2111 to register before Aug. 15 for the Master Gardener’s Symposium and to get your gardening ON!! Everyone is welcome.
Cecilie Keenan is an avid gardener and naturalist in Noble County and the author of The Noble Gardener. Contact her at keenancd@aol.com for information on gardening topics.