Love Where You Live: IndeCleanup Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Opportunities & Community Clinics

Location

Truman Memorial Building
416 West Maple Avenue, Independence, MO 64050

Date

September 27, 2026 at 12:00 PM - October 4, 2026 at 6:00 PM

About

September 27–October 4, 2026 | Independence, Missouri

One week. One city. A lot of good.

MU Extension Master Gardeners of Greater Kansas City are joining the City of Independence and community partners for Love Where You Live: IndeCleanup, a citywide volunteer effort held in conjunction with Missouri Good Neighbor Week.

These events are open to the public. Community members can work alongside Extension Master Gardeners on hands-on projects while learning practical, research-based approaches to caring for their own yards, gardens and neighborhoods.

Each project will feature a free Extension Master Gardener Clinic (plant clinic) where residents can ask gardening questions, pick up educational resources and learn about topics such as:

  • Fall garden and landscape cleanup

  • Plant, insect and weed identification

  • Pruning and seasonal plant care

  • Invasive plant management

  • Soil health and MU Extension soil testing

  • Seed collection and seed activities, including making seed bombs

The Ext Master Gardener role is educational—not routine landscape maintenance. Projects combine community service with hands-on learning, demonstration and research-based horticultural education.

Come volunteer, learn something new and help care for Independence.

Sessions

Sept. 27, 2026

  • 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM CDT Love Where You Live: IndeCleanup Extension Master Gardener --Santa Fe Lookout Area

    Work alongside Extension Master Gardeners and other community volunteers to reclaim and care for the landscape surrounding the Santa Fe lookout area. Activities may include: • Trimming overgrown vegetation • Clearing vegetation around the lookout • Identifying and removing bush honeysuckle where present • General landscape stewardship Extension Master Gardener Clinic & Learning Focus: Recognizing invasive and overgrown vegetation, appropriate fall cleanup practices and making informed decisions about what to remove, prune or leave in an established landscape.

    Location: Santa Fe Lookout Area- 2900 S Santa Fe Rd, Independence, MO 64052

  • 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM CDT Love Where You Live: IndeCleanup Extension Master Gardener--Lipton Conservation Area

    Help improve this natural area while learning how invasive plants and vegetation management affect the health of our shared green spaces. Activities may include: • Bush honeysuckle removal • Trimming small trees and vegetation • Identifying invasive plants • Clearing overgrown areas • Possible litter and trash cleanup Extension Master Gardener Clinic & Learning Focus: Identifying and managing invasive vegetation, including bush honeysuckle; weed management; and understanding how thoughtful plant management contributes to healthier natural areas. Educational guides and resources will be available for community members.

    Location: Lipton Conservation Area- W 31st St, Independence, MO 64055

  • 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM CDT Love Where You Live: IndeCleanup Extension Master Gardener -Truman Memorial Building

    Help care for the landscape surrounding one of Independence's important community spaces while learning and demonstrating good horticultural practices. Activities may include: • Pruning shrubs • Trimming small trees • Weeding landscape areas • Caring for parking lot planting islands • General horticultural cleanup and site stewardship Extension Master Gardener Clinic & Learning Focus: Proper pruning, fall landscape care, weed management and thoughtful stewardship of established landscapes. Ext Master Gardeners will be available to answer community gardening questions and share educational resources.

    Location: Truman Memorial Building, 416 W Maple Ave, Independence, MO 64050

Sept. 30, 2026

  • 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM CDT Love Where You Live: IndeCleanup Extension Master Gardener--

    Spend a morning working with plants, learning alongside Extension Master Gardeners and helping care for one of Independence's nature parks. Activities may include: • Transplanting plants • Weeding • Dividing plants • Collecting, separating or working with seeds • Making seed bombs with community participants • Other seasonal plant and garden projects Extension Master Gardener Clinic & Learning Focus: Hands-on learning around plant division, transplanting, seed collection, seasonal plant care and other practical horticultural skills. Community members can participate, ask questions and take home research-based gardening information.

    Location: George Owens Nature Park- 1601 S Speck Rd, Independence, MO 64057

Oct. 4, 2026

  • 1:00 AM - 4:00 PM CDT Love Where You Live: IndeCleanup Extension Master Gardener --Waterfall Park

    Help wrap up IndeCleanup week by giving some extra attention to Waterfall Park while learning about thoughtful approaches to caring for an established public landscape. Activities may include: • Weeding landscape areas • Trimming vegetation away from walking areas • Cutting back overgrowth • Cleaning around the waterfall area • General landscape and park stewardship Extension Master Gardener Clinic & Learning Focus: Fall landscape cleanup, weed management, appropriate pruning and plant-care practices that support healthy and accessible landscapes. Ext Master Gardeners will also be available to answer gardening questions and share information about topics such as soil health and MU Extension soil testing.

    Location: Waterfall Park--4501 S Bass Pro Dr, Independence, MO 64055