Posted on
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Time Once Again For Master Gardener Training Program
It's that time of year again when the Smith County Master Gardener program seeks applicants to become part of a highly trained corps of volunteers to assist Texas Cooperative Extension conduct educational gardening programs and projects in Smith County.
Consider the following: Do you like to share with friends, young people or others your interest in plants and gardening? Would you like to learn more about the culture and maintenance of many types of plants? Would you like to participate in a practical and intensive horticulture-training program? Do you have time to attend two-month training? Would you be willing to complete 72 hours of volunteer work within a year after the training?
If you answered yes to all these questions, the Smith County Master Gardener program is for you. The Texas Cooperative Extension-Smith County program wants gardeners who, in exchange for some of the best training in horticulture available, would like to use their gardening knowledge and experience to teach and help others experience the joys of gardening.
The Master Gardener program, sponsored by Texas Cooperative Extension, is a volunteer program whereby trained volunteers provide research-based home gardening information to the residents of Smith County. This is done through various programs and activities such as workshops, speaker's bureau, school projects, gardening publications, research and demonstration gardens, and answering individual requests for gardening information at the Smith County Extension office.
If you are a resident of a neighboring county, there are Master Gardener programs in all of the counties surrounding Smith County. Contact your county extension agent for this information.
Applicants selected to be Master Gardener trainees will receive instruction in home horticulture from Texas Cooperative Extension specialists, staff, Master Gardeners and local experts.
The program offers instruction covering plant growth and development, lawn care, ornamental trees, shrubs and flowers, insect, disease and weed management, soils and plant nutrition, vegetable gardening; home fruit production; composting; propagation; pruning; diagnosing plant problems; and landscape maintenance.
The $125 fee includes the 450-plus page "Texas Master Gardener Handbook." After completing the initial training, interns must give 72 hours (within one year) of volunteer service in Smith County for Extension-approved activities in various areas of home horticulture.
There are many opportunities to use your talents and serve the community through the Master Gardener program. All Smith County Master Gardener interns are required to answer telephone and walk-in requests in the Extension office for information related to gardening, and to help maintain our two demonstration gardens in the Tyler Rose Garden.
Other service opportunities include staffing plant clinics and information tables, or creating educational displays for various community events, such as the new "Our Secret Garden" exhibit, part of the Agri-World exhibit at the East Texas State Fair.
Master Gardeners speak to local groups and clubs on various gardening topics, conduct workshops and seminars. They may help establish community garden plots, work with 4-H, Junior Master Gardener and other youth or school groups, or assist the Horticulture Extension agent in other activities.
Examples of Smith County Master Gardener activities include sponsoring the annual Home Garden Tour, and the Fall Gardening Conference and Plant Expo.
Other Smith County Master Gardener projects include producing the yearly Northeast Texas Gardening Guide and Calendar; maintaining the Heritage Rose Garden at the Tyler Rose Garden; development and maintenance of the I.D.E.A. Demonstration Garden in the Tyler Rose Garden; plant variety demonstration plots; helping neighborhoods and schools establish community gardens; and horticultural research assistance at Texas A&M at Overton. You may have seen the "Master Gardener Tip of the Week" articles written by Smith County Master Gardeners in this and other county newspapers. Currently, there are 150 certified and interning Master Gardeners in Smith County.
Master Gardeners also enjoy getting together monthly to share knowledge and plants through an Association.
Master Gardeners are representatives of Texas Cooperative Extension, which is part of the Texas A&M University System. In all volunteer work related to the program, Master Gardeners follow and provide only research-based recommendations of Texas Cooperative Extension. The title "Master Gardener" can be used by volunteers only when engaged in Extension activities.
Participants become certified Texas Master Gardeners after they have completed the training and internship by fulfilling their volunteer commitment. The certification is good for one year and is renewed through continued participation in horticulture classes and volunteering.
The 2008 Smith County Master Gardener class will begin Thursday, January 10, 2008. Classes will be held every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon from 1:00 - 5:00 P.M. through March 18.
For more information and an application, call the Smith County Extension office at (903) 590-2980, or write or come by the office at the Cotton Belt Building, 1517 W. Front St., Suite 116, Tyler, 75702.
Online applications will also be available starting Thursday, Oct. 4 in the "Programs" section of East Texas Gardening (http://EastTexasGardening.tamu.edu).
The deadline for submitting applications is Dec. 14. Applicants will be notified of their status in the program by Dec. 29. Class size is limited and preference will be given to qualified Smith Co. residents.
There will be an orientation meeting from 2 p.m.-3:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16 at the Extension meeting room in the Smith County Cotton Belt Building (Room 116), 1517 West Front Street, where you can learn more about and ask questions regarding the Smith County Master Gardener program.
All applicants are required to attend this meeting. No pre-registration is required.
Consider the following: Do you like to share with friends, young people or others your interest in plants and gardening? Would you like to learn more about the culture and maintenance of many types of plants? Would you like to participate in a practical and intensive horticulture-training program? Do you have time to attend two-month training? Would you be willing to complete 72 hours of volunteer work within a year after the training?
If you answered yes to all these questions, the Smith County Master Gardener program is for you. The Texas Cooperative Extension-Smith County program wants gardeners who, in exchange for some of the best training in horticulture available, would like to use their gardening knowledge and experience to teach and help others experience the joys of gardening.
The Master Gardener program, sponsored by Texas Cooperative Extension, is a volunteer program whereby trained volunteers provide research-based home gardening information to the residents of Smith County. This is done through various programs and activities such as workshops, speaker's bureau, school projects, gardening publications, research and demonstration gardens, and answering individual requests for gardening information at the Smith County Extension office.
If you are a resident of a neighboring county, there are Master Gardener programs in all of the counties surrounding Smith County. Contact your county extension agent for this information.
Applicants selected to be Master Gardener trainees will receive instruction in home horticulture from Texas Cooperative Extension specialists, staff, Master Gardeners and local experts.
The program offers instruction covering plant growth and development, lawn care, ornamental trees, shrubs and flowers, insect, disease and weed management, soils and plant nutrition, vegetable gardening; home fruit production; composting; propagation; pruning; diagnosing plant problems; and landscape maintenance.
The $125 fee includes the 450-plus page "Texas Master Gardener Handbook." After completing the initial training, interns must give 72 hours (within one year) of volunteer service in Smith County for Extension-approved activities in various areas of home horticulture.
There are many opportunities to use your talents and serve the community through the Master Gardener program. All Smith County Master Gardener interns are required to answer telephone and walk-in requests in the Extension office for information related to gardening, and to help maintain our two demonstration gardens in the Tyler Rose Garden.
Other service opportunities include staffing plant clinics and information tables, or creating educational displays for various community events, such as the new "Our Secret Garden" exhibit, part of the Agri-World exhibit at the East Texas State Fair.
Master Gardeners speak to local groups and clubs on various gardening topics, conduct workshops and seminars. They may help establish community garden plots, work with 4-H, Junior Master Gardener and other youth or school groups, or assist the Horticulture Extension agent in other activities.
Examples of Smith County Master Gardener activities include sponsoring the annual Home Garden Tour, and the Fall Gardening Conference and Plant Expo.
Other Smith County Master Gardener projects include producing the yearly Northeast Texas Gardening Guide and Calendar; maintaining the Heritage Rose Garden at the Tyler Rose Garden; development and maintenance of the I.D.E.A. Demonstration Garden in the Tyler Rose Garden; plant variety demonstration plots; helping neighborhoods and schools establish community gardens; and horticultural research assistance at Texas A&M at Overton. You may have seen the "Master Gardener Tip of the Week" articles written by Smith County Master Gardeners in this and other county newspapers. Currently, there are 150 certified and interning Master Gardeners in Smith County.
Master Gardeners also enjoy getting together monthly to share knowledge and plants through an Association.
Master Gardeners are representatives of Texas Cooperative Extension, which is part of the Texas A&M University System. In all volunteer work related to the program, Master Gardeners follow and provide only research-based recommendations of Texas Cooperative Extension. The title "Master Gardener" can be used by volunteers only when engaged in Extension activities.
Participants become certified Texas Master Gardeners after they have completed the training and internship by fulfilling their volunteer commitment. The certification is good for one year and is renewed through continued participation in horticulture classes and volunteering.
The 2008 Smith County Master Gardener class will begin Thursday, January 10, 2008. Classes will be held every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon from 1:00 - 5:00 P.M. through March 18.
For more information and an application, call the Smith County Extension office at (903) 590-2980, or write or come by the office at the Cotton Belt Building, 1517 W. Front St., Suite 116, Tyler, 75702.
Online applications will also be available starting Thursday, Oct. 4 in the "Programs" section of East Texas Gardening (http://EastTexasGardening.tamu.edu).
The deadline for submitting applications is Dec. 14. Applicants will be notified of their status in the program by Dec. 29. Class size is limited and preference will be given to qualified Smith Co. residents.
There will be an orientation meeting from 2 p.m.-3:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16 at the Extension meeting room in the Smith County Cotton Belt Building (Room 116), 1517 West Front Street, where you can learn more about and ask questions regarding the Smith County Master Gardener program.
All applicants are required to attend this meeting. No pre-registration is required.
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