Karen Durnin
Karen has been with the Durham Master Garderners since 2011. She has a certificate in Horticulture from the University of Guelph. Her passion for gardening began early. She grew up on a farm in southwestern Ontario where she learned how to grow, harvest and preserve a large variety of fruits and vegetables. She has carried this tradition on in her own garden, growing many heirloom vegetables and a wide assortment of herbs. In the last number of years, her focus has expanded into the area of naturalized gardening and a love of native plants. She has become increasingly aware of how essential it is to provide habitat for birds and pollinators in an urban setting as their natural habitats disappear. Karen enjoys the opportunity to talk with other gardeners interested in increasing biodiversity in their own yards to sustain birds and other wildlife.
Gini Sage
Gini Sage has over 30 years of gardening experience in urban and country settings. She graduated from Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Forestry and earned a diploma in Landscape Design from the University of Guelph. Gini is an active Master Gardener, volunteering with Master Gardeners of Ontario for over fifteen years, as well as being a member of several local garden societies. Her primary interests are expanding the use of native plants in the urban landscape, incorporation of vegetables and herbs in ornamental gardens and the development of creative solutions for landscape problems.
