Meet the Team
We are trained volunteers who offer unbiased, science-based horticultural information and advice to home gardeners and community groups. Established in 1996, Grey County Master Gardeners are a member group of Master Gardeners of Ontario Inc. (MGOI).
If you would like to learn more about Master Gardeners of Ontario or would like to join Grey County Master Gardeners please visit the link below:
Master Gardeners
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Rebecca has been a Master Gardener for 14 years and lives in Conn at the south end of Grey County.
Rebecca inherited her love of gardening from her mother and her artistic talent from her father.
She earned her Horticulturist and Landscape Design Diploma with Distinction from the University of Guelph.
She operates her own business, Frog Fen Gardens, and loves to work with plants and teach others about them.
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Tory Bowman holds a master's degree in adult education and community development from OISE/UofT and has worked in the field of disability services for almost two decades. She is an ambitious home gardener and is working towards a Horticulture Diploma from University of Guelph. Tory is interested in gardening for wildlife and Ontario native plants, with a side project of growing enough greens to avoid the grocery store from May through November. She joined Grey County Master Gardeners in 2022.
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Passionate about all things gardening, Elizabeth became a Master Gardener in 2006. She a Horticulturalist from Guelph University and a graduate of the Ivey School of Business, Western University. In 2021 Elizabeth joined the David Suzuki Foundation’s Butterflyway project as a Ranger and co-founded Pollinate Town of the Blue Mountains. Her enthusiasm for gardening came from her mother, who taught her that with good soil, patience, and love, almost everything will blossom. She shares her passion with her youngest daughter, an avid veggie gardener and plant enthusiast in Kelowna, BC. Elizabeth firmly believes that there is always room for one more plant in every garden.
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Margot always loved plants and gardening which she inherited from her Dutch parents.
She is a Horticulturist and Landscape Designer, a Master Gardener for 16 years, and operates her own business, Ladybird Garden Designs.
She enjoys sharing her design and plant knowledge with anyone interested in gardening.
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Since retiring from the public service and moving to Grey County, I now have the time and space to indulge my passion for gardening. I live near Kemble (north of Owen Sound) on a country property with many gardens filled with herbs, vegetables, fruits, shrubs, native and non-native perennials. Starting in early spring, you'll find me either in the greenhouse nurturing seedlings or in the garden weeding, pruning and planting. As a lifelong learner, I love to share my passion for gardening.
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Originally from Mississauga, Jennifer has been based in Owen Sound since 2019. She has a diploma in horticulture from the University of Guelph and owns and operates Jenny’s Farm – a small landscape company. When the winter weather hides the gardens, her collection of over 150 houseplants gets much more of her time and attention.
With a particular interest in plant propagation – particularly of native species, her most exciting new acquisition is a small greenhouse to experiment with a longer growing season.
Jennifer generally enjoys caring for living things and is also a Registered Veterinary Technician of 23 years and counting. She considers herself a lifelong learner and is currently working towards a specialized veterinary certification. When not working, you can find Jennifer combining her two favourite things by spending time in her own gardens with her bearded collies, Watson and Moriarty.
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Stephanie attained her horticulture diploma from the University of Guelph (2023) and her MBA from Nottingham Business School, UK (2003). Stephanie and her husband reside in Thornbury, Blue Mountains.
In her previous career, Stephanie held senior level roles in product management and product marketing in both the insurance and legal research industries. She tended her garden in her free time, and it became a great stress reliever and creative outlet.
Now she puts her energies into outreach, advising and educating would-be gardeners in all things garden.
Stephanie is a great believer in having fun and experimenting while getting her hands dirty.
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Ann has been a Master Gardener since 2020. Ann has a Master’s of Environmental Studies from York University and is a lifelong gardener. She has spent her working and private life devoted to protecting our natural spaces and ecosystems as a consulting Professional Planner and University lecturer. She joined the David Suzuki Foundation’s Butterflyway project as a Ranger in 2022. Over her life, she has grown vegetables, berries, hops, fruit trees, ornamental and pollinator plants to support her bee hives. Her current garden demonstrates how native plants and perennial food plants can be used to create an ornamental and engaging space. Ann is particularly interested in exploring how each and every garden can contribute to ecosystem health and support our native insects and other animal species while bringing joy to the garden user.
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Vicky Thompson has been a member of Grey County Master Gardeners since 2013. She gardens in downtown Owen Sound and at the family cottage on the Bruce Peninsula. A major interest (and challenge) is making home gardens more ecologically responsible – more a part of nature. As a retired physician Vicky is also interested in the links between gardening, plants and human health.
These interests coalesce in a passion for native plants – growing native plants from seed and planting them wherever possible is her focus in gardening. Our native plants are crucial for the survival of our native insects, which are crucial for the health of our ecology. The link between ecology and human health becomes more obvious, and important all the time.
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Andrée believes volunteers offer a vital component for enriching community. In 2011 she received the Ontario Volunteer Service Award for 20 years of volunteerism and continues that commitment. A science nerd, she’s a published writer of blogs, non-fiction, fiction, and poetry. She posts reviews on gardening books focussed on sustainable gardening, and she endorses local nurseries that sell native plants, as well as those that offer courses on food security. Andrée enjoys helping at GCMG Clinics, supporting native plant gardens, and researching solutions for garden challenges while promoting a healthy ecosystem for future generations.
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For as long as I can remember, I’ve felt a strong connection to plants, gardens and wild spaces. While other kids were reading Nancy Drew, I was pouring over “The Complete Book of Garden Magic”. Gardening has provided the happy through-line to a circuitous life -as a musician, sheep farmer, strawberry grower and long-time CBC Radio producer. I joined GCMG in 2021, attracted by the chance to study more formally, connect with like-minded folks and share my obsession by volunteering. I currently live in Owen Sound, where I’m in the process of making my ever-changing gardens more pollinator-friendly.
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Karen makes her home in Bognor, a small village located between Owen Sound and Meaford. She opened her business Willow Farm Grasses in 2012. Leaving a 16 year career as a teacher, Karen dove headfirst into the seedy world of grasses. Developing the most varied and hardy collection of ornamental varieties became her passion.
When she is not watering, planting or propagating, Karen loves to pull weeds, hike and travel. She has been an active member of the Grey County Master Gardeners since 2010 where she has continued to develop her love and knowledge of native plants.
Master Gardener Emeritus
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Jackie grew up on a farm in Southern Ontario and, under the influence of her mother and grandmother, became interested in gardening at an early age. She joined the Grey County Master Gardeners in 2004, shortly after moving to Grey County from Oakville and, during her time with the group, served as Treasurer and Co-ordinator. She remains active in the group, and is currently the “Gardener in Residence” at the Durham branch of the West Grey Library.
Jackie and her husband grow vegetables, herbs and a large variety of perennials on their property near Allan Park.
Master Gardener in Training
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Courtney has had a lifelong love of gardening. Grey County Master Gardeners has provided her with many opportunities to explore this interest, including plant sales, education, volunteer work, and more!
For the last 10 years Courtney has worked for the CMHA’s garden space, which provides veggies to the Fresh Roots café. She also has been working at the Fresh Roots café; it’s a joy for her to see the veggies go from seeds to sandwiches!
Courtney attained a BA in visual arts. For her, gardening is an art form, ever-changing and collaborating with mother nature.
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Karen joined the Grey County Master Gardeners in 2023. Karen’s academic background in Horticulture & Geography from the University of Guelph was followed by a busy career in research and teaching. Upon retiring, Karen has returned to her roots and now spends much of her time with her hands in the dirt on her two-acre property in Georgian Bluffs. Between gardening, house renos, clubs, dogs and grand-dogs, she wonders how she ever had the time to “work”! The outdoors has become the new classroom and the learning never stops! In addition to being a lifelong learner, Karen has a particular interest in the physical and mental health benefits of gardening as we age.
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In March 2005, I purchased a home and had no idea what spectacular curated garden delights awaited me! With key in hand 60 days later, I found a new passion with gardening that has followed me through the years. In retirement, this passion has transformed into a second career in horticulture and gardening. As a Master Gardener in Training with Grey County Master Gardeners, I find great pleasure in helping my neighbors and family with suggestions, garden gifts and sometimes, just some much needed “heavy lifting”.
As the saying goes “hands in the dirt and head in the clouds” warms my heart and fills my soul.
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Bette Sweatman, the friendly gardener, who enjoys chatting with people about their gardening puzzles and challenges. Bette is a graduate of Horticultural Science with an additional qualification in Landscape Design and Construction. Currently, while helping with several community-focused gardening initiatives, Bette is completing academic qualifications to become a Master Gardener. This inherent passion for “greening of the land” was significantly influenced by her father Bob, who loved all things gardening, particularly Roses and Iris. Through to her senior years, Bette’s continues to enjoy the privilege of learning and sharing the many treasures of the horticultural world.
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I have always had a desire to do more gardening in both ornamentals and vegetables, but recently I am drawn to exploring more native perennials and pollinators as well as where best to use non-native perennials.
I have pond areas that I would like to fill with native plants that will thrive in the ecosystem. The area must be a conducive habitat for the current pond inhabitants and wildlife while attracting additional species. In addition, these gardens must be fairly low maintenance and visually pleasing.
This has become a very enjoyable journey switching from the healthcare of people to learning how to care for plants.
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Jenna was raised among the monuments of a peaceful and quiet cemetery in North York, Ontario. It was there that her passion for horticulture bloomed, passed down by her father and several generations of passionate Dutch gardeners.In August 2018, Jenna graduated with distinction from the University of Guelph with her diploma in Horticulture and certificate in Creating Landscapes.
She is especially motivated to make positive impacts in areas of sustainability, ecological conservation, and naturalizing landscapes.
Jenna is eagerly looking forward to her new journey with the GCMG by helping to motivate and inspire home gardeners within Grey County.