The St. Louis Master Gardener Speakers Bureau provides quality horticultural information as a public service. All speakers are Master Gardener volunteers who have completed the Master Gardener training under the direction of University of Missouri Extension.
Each year St. Louis Master Gardeners make over 100 presentations to garden clubs, schools, businesses, churches, neighborhood and civic organizations. Presentations are typically 50-60 minutes in length.
If you'd like more information about the presentations or about the booking process, please email us at stlspeakersbureau@gmail.com.
Fees
Speaker Presentation Fees:
$50.00 – garden, church, retirement groups
$100.00 – for-profit groups
$100.00 – for groups of more than 50 attendees
Program Topics
Approaches to Garden Problems
This presentation will emphasize the importance of correctly identifying the plant and diagnosing the problem before considering solutions. Tips and hints will be provided to distinguish among abiotic problems (not caused by living pests or diseases) vs fungal, bacterial, and insect problems. Potential solutions or treatments will be summarized to demonstrate choosing solutions (including doing nothing) that range from least to most harmful to other plants and to beneficial insects.
Presenter
Kathleen Kennedy has been a Master Gardener since 2022 and has been working on the St. Louis Master Gardener Hotline since then. She is also a member and treasurer of the Kirkwood Garden Club. Her science-based approach to diagnosing and solving garden problems grew from her previous experience practicing and teaching evidence-based medicine.
Container Gardening and Kratky Hydroponics
Participants will explore the basics of container gardening and learn how plants can grow without soil using Kratky hydroponics. Through demonstrations, hands-on activities, and practical examples, participants will learn what plants need to grow, compare traditional container gardening with hydroponics, and explore how everyday containers can be reused to grow fresh food. The program can be adapted for children or adults and is designed to make gardening simple, affordable, and approachable for beginners.
Presenter
Cyrhonda Hill, PhD, has been a Master Gardener since 2025. She is an educator and founder of Eat Green Grow Green, a community gardening initiative that teaches children and families how to grow fresh food in small spaces. Her gardening interests focus on container gardening and simple hydroponic methods, especially Kratky hydroponics. She enjoys helping people understand where food comes from and showing them that growing food can be simple, affordable, and accessible.
Dirt Detectives
This hands-on program encourages children to investigate the partnership between soil and earthworms. Activities may include digging, observing and experimenting with soil samples. The program connects children with concepts of ecology, sustainability and the environment, making learning both fun and informative. This program will be tailored to the group based upon age, knowledge and venue.
Presenter
Tammie Korte is a Master Gardener In-Training (Class of 2026) actively completing service and volunteer hours towards final certification. Activities may include digging, experimenting with soil samples, and making a "dirt cup" using either food products or soil components. She volunteers in several areas at the Missouri Botanical Garden, including their children's School Programs. Tammie also volunteers as a tutor through the St. Louis Oasis Intergenerational Tutoring program.
Missouri’s wild mushrooms, is it edible?
There are many common, edible mushrooms in Missouri. This program gives information on finding mushrooms in the wild or even in your own backyard!
This instructor will provide you with the steps to identify poisonous mushrooms and give you clues as to where to find those terrific morels!
Presenter
Maxine Stone has been a Master Gardener since 2006. She is the author of the book, Missouri’s Wild Mushrooms.
Maxine retired from a career in the nursing home business working with the elderly and mentally ill. She is the past President of the Missouri Mycological Society, 1999-2006, a Master Gardener and Master Naturalist with the Missouri Department of Conservation and on the board of the Great River Chapter. She is a member of the North American Mycological Society, instructor with the Missouri Mycological Society teaching mushroom identification and author of Missouri’s Wild Mushrooms.
Organic gardening
Organic gardening promotes a healthy, sustainable environment. Enhance your gardening, your plants, and your life with these simple and effective techniques.
Learn how to garden successfully without applying synthetic chemicals. Learn the reasons people choose to grow plants organically, how to keep plants healthy, and ways to handle challenges such as pests, disease and weeds. Discover the joys of growing plants in balance with nature.
Presenter
Cheryl Rafert became a Master Gardener in 2000. She volunteers at the Kemper Center Plant Doctor desk answering questions about plants.
Seed to Harvest
Andy Schiefelbein has created a productive garden from scratch in his south city backyard. Follow Andy’s journey creating a productive vegetable/herb garden in his south city backyard.
Reference materials he used to plan his journey, and various tools of his trade will be discussed.
Presenter
Andy has been a St. Louis Master Gardener since 2021. He has been growing vegetables in his back yard since the early 2000s and has done garden consultations at Logan University, area food banks, and community garden organizations. In recent years, he has expanded his vegetable production to include small-scale commercial farming with a focus on local production using regenerative agricultural practices.