Dec 9, 2016

New Extension educator serving West Michigan greenhouses

Heidi Wollaeger Lindberg will begin serving the greenhouse and nursery industry for Michigan State University Extension Districts 5, 7, and 8 beginning Jan. 2, 2017. This territory includes high-ranking Michigan counties in the production of ornamental plants, including Ottawa, Kent and Allegan. This region is currently served by Thomas Dudek, who will retire Dec. 31, after 38 years of service.

Linderberg will be based out of the Ottawa County MSU Extension office at 12220 Fillmore St. Suite 122, West Olive, MI 49460.

She will continue to serve the greenhouse and nursery industry in southwest Michigan, which includes Kalamazoo, Calhoun, Barry, Branch, Van Buren, Cass and St. Joseph counties. Lindberg joined MSU Extension in August 2013. Prior to joining MSU Extension, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in biology from Wittenberg University and Masters of Science degree in horticulture while working with Erik Runkle on sole-source LED lighting for horticultural crops.

Since joining MSU Extension, Lindberg has worked on numerous local projects such as lighting and biological control initiatives. She also worked on several national initiatives including being a member of the Electronic Grower Resources Online (e-GRO) group and planning the First National Protecting Pollinators in Ornamental Landscapes Conference. Lindberg said she looks forward to working with greenhouse and nursery industries across west Michigan while continuing to work with growers across southwest Michigan.