2018 Master Gardener Program is ready
What is the Master Gardener program? The Master Gardener volunteer program is a great way to gain horticultural expertise at a low cost, meet other avid gardeners, share gardening experiences, get connected to the community, and belong to a well-respected and educational organization. It is an educational exchange program offered through county offices of the Mississippi State University Extension Service. Through this program, individuals are trained and certified in horticulture and related areas. In exchange for educational training, individuals are asked to volunteer their time to help county Extension offices with horticulture projects that benefit the local community. Master Gardeners help extend the educational arm of the university to the public by providing horticultural information based on university research and recommendations. What does the Master Gardener program provide? The Master Gardener training program provides more than 40 hours of classroom and hands-on instruction in horticulture and related areas. Class instructors include Extension specialists, agents, and Certified Master Gardener Instructor Volunteers. Class topics include botany, soils, vegetables, ornamentals, insects and diseases, and lawn care, among others. Curriculum material will be provided to support the classroom instruction.
What does the Master Gardener program require? In exchange for 40 hours of educational training, individuals are required to return 40 hours of volunteer service within one year of their training. After the first year, volunteers are required to return 20 hours of volunteer service and to attend 12 hours of advanced educational training to remain certified as Master Gardeners. There is a one-time $100 fee for entry into the Master Gardener program. Please make checks payable to Pearl River County Master Gardeners. This fee covers the cost of training class refreshments, supplies, a 1-year membership in the state Master Gardener Association, and the cost for funding the future development and growth of the statewide program.
The 2018 Master Gardener Training will be held February 20-March 27, 2018. The class meets Tuesdays and Thursdays 1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
Whom do I contact? The first step is to contact the Pearl River County Extension office and let us know of your interest. You may fill out the application form in this brochure and mail or bring it to the county office. The county Master Gardener coordinator will let you know if there are any upcoming training classes being offered. What are Pearl River County Master Gardeners doing? Pearl River County Master Gardeners are actively engaged in youth and community education programs and community beautification projects. Master Gardener projects include: * Conduct plant clinics *Answer home horticulture questions (phone, e-mail, face-to-face)
*Develop demonstration/teaching gardens
*Assist with research projects
*Provide leadership to county or state organization
*Participate in 4-H Junior Master Gardener or other 4-H gardening projects *Act as new class coordinator
*Participate in community beautification/ landscape projects
For more information about the Master Gardener program, contact the following:
Pearl River County Extension Office
401 West Lamar St. Poplarville, MS 39470
Phone: 601-403-2280
Visit the Mississippi Master Gardner website: http://msucares.com/lawn/master_gardener/ index.html
