Kate Schneider, entrepreneur and founder of Ibis Coastal Landscapes, has received the Master Gardener certification, indicating that she has received formal horticultural training and advanced knowledge of gardening practices for plants in the southeastern United States. To receive this certification, she was required to take 42-50 hours of core horticultural classes and hands-on labs, and pass a midterm and a final exam.
Upon receiving the certification, Schneider is required to complete 50 hours of volunteer service on extension-approved community projects within her first year. After her first year, she is required to give at least 25 hours of volunteer service and 10 hours of continuing education each subsequent year to maintain Master Gardener status.
Earning the title of Master Gardener is an important milestone for Schneider, as Ibis continues to grow and gain a reputation in the Lowcountry area as a premier gardening service. She plans to use her newfound knowledge to enhance her landscaping skills and bring great results to her clients.
Schneider launched Ibis Coastal Landscapes earlier this year, serving Savannah, Hilton Head Island, Bluffton, and Charleston. Ibis specializes in traditional Southern landscapes, using plants native to the southeastern United States to bring health and resilience to the local ecosystem.