Program Overview

Program Overview

The Ecological Gardening program is an online, self-paced course that provides an opportunity to further plant identification skills while learning about the use of plants in a specific context, in this case, the creation of the 'new prairie landscape'.

Course Description

This course will help students understand the ecology and creation of a landscape influenced by the prairie biome, and supportive of wildlife. Students will learn about natural succession and its management in naturalistic meadow landscapes, and explore the use of plant associations in garden design.

Course Outline

The course is divided into modules, including:

• Module 1: Plant Identification
  • Identification and use of plants suited for creation of gardens in the New Prairie Landscape style
  • Perennials
  • Bulbs
  • Ornamental Grasses
  • Trees and Shrubs
• Module 2: Creating Gardens in a New Way
  • Introduction
  • Garden innovation and History
  • Garden ecology
  • Designing in the Prairie Landscape Style
  • Planning the Garden Layout
  • Grade Changes
  • Plant associations
  • Creating structure in landscapes
  • Block planting v/s filtered planting
  • Architectural plants
  • Covering ground

Program Details

• The course is an independent study program, with students having up to nine months to complete it.
• A suggested study plan is provided to help students keep on track.
• Students who are self-directed and self-disciplined are most successful with this approach to learning.
• It is suggested that students plan on studying the material at least three to four hours per week.

Recommended For

This course is an optional module within the Master Gardener Training Program and is not part of the Master Gardener Training Program.

Instructor

The instructor for this course is Carol Goodwin, the faculty advisor for the Master Gardener program and a recently retired Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental Science at Dalhousie University Faculty of Agriculture.

Course Format

• The course is online and self-paced.
• Content is provided in various formats, including print, videos, and/or podcasts.
• Assessments and assignments may have deadlines within the posted course offering schedule, but learners can choose when to work on their assignments and participate in online discussion.

Tuition

• The course fee is $488.00.
• Tuition is refunded if a course is cancelled by Extended Learning.
• Learners are also eligible for a refund if they formally withdraw within two weeks after registering for a course.

Section Details

• Section Title: Ecological Gardening
• Type: Online - Self-Paced
• Dates: Oct 01, 2025 to Jul 31, 2026
• Total Learning Hours: 39.0
• Instruction Delivery Method(s): Online Self-Paced