London Middlesex Master Gardeners have reached a milestone this year (2025). We are 40 years old. This is a big deal for us!
Our History
Back in 1985, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) decided that Ontario should have an educated body of people to help the public with everything gardening. At that time many US university extension services had an army of qualified volunteers, the Master Gardeners, to fill the need. They were (and still are) required to take courses through the university and pass intensive tests to ensure the volunteers were educated in all topics of horticulture. OMAFRA decided to do the same here. Although not connected to universities here, the new Ontario Master Gardeners were (and still are) also required to study extensively and pass a horticultural competency exam. The Ontario Master Gardeners were born.
Back in 1985 three new Master Gardener groups were formed. They were located in Brigden, Englehart and London. Of the three, we are the only original group still around. And, as of the time of publishing, we still have one of the founding members as a very active member. This is something we are very proud of!
In 1998 OMAFRA discontinued the funding and Master Gardeners of Ontario (MGOI) was incorporated.
What We've Accomplished
Over the past 40 years the London Middlesex Master Gardeners (LMMG) have been very active in the community. In the early years we were often found manning booths at The London Home & Garden Show or the Western Fair and giving advice at many Horticultural Society meetings. The biggest accomplishment at that time was the telephone hotline. There was a phone number Londoners could call and leave a message with their gardening questions. A Master Gardener would then call them back and offer advice.
Not long after our 20th anniversary in 2007, LMMG launched our first website. This allowed for even more information to be provided to the residents of London and area.
In 2008, the inaugural Seedy Saturday was a success (despite a blinding snow storm) with 100 in attendance. We were able to pivot, learn new skills and create and online Seedy Saturday for 2021. In 2022 we returned to in person. Since then Seedy Saturday has grown to be the largest in Southern Ontario with over 1,000 in attendance the past couple years.
Email was the next innovation in 2010 allowing for speedier responses to gardening questions.
In 2012 the award winning Seeds to Table course was introduced. This very popular 8 week course continues to sells out every year.
Partnerships Over the Years
MGOI’s core mission is to educate and support home gardeners by providing expert horticultural advice. Over the years we have partnered with many local community groups. We’ve provided advice clinics, given countless talks and have run many seminars.
Some of the many partners include:
- City of London
- TD Friends of the Environment
- London Civic Gardens Complex
- Chippawa of the Thames
- Growing Chefs
- London Public Library
- Seeds of Diversity
- Thames Talbot Land Trust
- Upper Thames River Conservation Authority
- London Environment Network
- Thames Regional Ecological Association
- IODE
- Lee Valley
- local area horticultural clubs
- local nurseries
How We Celebrated
On June 22nd, 2025 we held a drop in party at the Civic Garden Complex. Joining our current members were past Master Gardeners along with government officials, representatives from the local hort. clubs, our many partners plus MGOI chair Ann.
We had a number of speakers giving congratulations and recapping the partnerships over the years. A couple of our members put together a compilation of the past 40 years. In the archives we have old newsletters, study guides, previously published books and many pamphlets. It is quite interesting how horticultural practices have changed over the past 40 years. The afternoon was a lot of fun catching up with past members and meeting new faces.
From the humble beginning back in 1985 with 14 members to 2025 with close to 40 members, LMMG is a dynamic group of gardeners from many walks of life. Some of us are young, some still young at heart but we all have a love of everything horticultural in common.
Cheers to another 40 years!
About The Author: Heather O'Shea
Bees, butterflies, spiders, and worms all make Heather happy! A long-time gardener and nature lover, Heather is often found outside observing the world around her. These two passions are combined in the ecologically sustainable gardens she designs to attract as many native critters as possible — even skunks are welcome to travel through her yard (as long as they don’t take up residence).
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