Gardening with Confidence — Tips and Tactics for a Greener Thumb

Welcome to the wonderful world of gardening! Gardening is a hobby enjoyed by young and old throughout our nation and all around the world.

Master Gardener Mark Lyons shares advice for the home gardener, including planning, plant selection, soil preparation, cultivation, harvest, pest control, common diseases, preparing for winter, and extending the growing season.

Mark Lyons, a.k.a. “The Garden Troubadour”, is a master gardener, consultant and educator. He has been gardening since he was 10 years old, and his first success came when he grew a foot long, two-and-a-half-pound cucumber and was featured in the local paper.

Today, Mark runs a successful business, called Green Thumb at Your Service, dedicated to inspiring and coaching people on growing their own food. Based in Palatine, IL, Mark travels around the country to deliver dynamic presentations on vegetable and mushroom gardening, harvest preservation, and home cheesemaking. He is also an accomplished singer/songwriter and performer, who plays guitar, ukulele, and washboard.