Master GardenerYou Can Be a
Master Gardener!

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More About the Master Gardener Program

The Master Gardener Program in Minnesota is an educational program designed to train volunteers to help other people in their communities with horticulture. The program was created in 1977 and is administered by the University of Minnesota Extension Service. Most counties in Minnesota have active training in home horticulture by University specialists in exchange for volunteer time. This training enables Master Gardeners to be effective resources in their local communities. Working with local County Extension offices, Master Gardener activities benefit schools, community education programs, garden centers, farmer's markets, historical sites, and many other programs.

Qualifications

To be a Master Gardener you need to have an active interest in gardening and a desire to share this interest with others. You must be enthusiastic, willing to learn, and able to communicate with diverse groups of people. You must attend the Master Gardener Core Course and complete an internship of 50 volunteer hours the first year. Many counties have an application process, some with an interview and a horticulture test. New Master Gardeners must be willing to adhere to the policy of giving university-based recommendations and following county guidelines in working on approved volunteer projects.

University Training

The classroom instruction covers 16 basic topics:

botany; soils; herbaceous plants; trees & shrubs; lawn care; weeds; fundamentals of insect pest management; plant pathology; diagnostics; entomology; indoor plants; vegetables; fruits; living with wildlife and landscape design.

Classes are held in the Twin Cities, at various locations in Minnesota, and on the Internet. Along with classroom training, Master Gardener interns receive comprehensive educational materials, access to the online course and the Yard and Garden Briefs on CD.

After completing the Core Course, your training continues with a volunteer internship with the local Extension Office. This involves 50 hours of volunteer time to be completed within the first year of program participation. Master Gardener interns work with their local county to determine program needs and specific volunteer activities. You become a Certified Master Gardener volunteer upon completion of the Core Course and the internship. To continue as a Master Gardener you must volunteer 25 hours each year through your local Extension Office. Only those active in the volunteer program may call themselves Master Gardeners.

Volunteer Activities

Master Gardeners volunteer in County Extension programs. Activities include answering phone requests for gardening information, working with community groups, and holding plant clinics. Master Gardeners also give lectures and slide or power-point presentations, set up horticultural displays, write articles for local newspapers, and teach community education classes. Master Gardeners function as resource individuals for horticultural questions in their local Extension Offices. Their efforts help County Extension educators achieve the mission of the University of Minnesota Extension Service by "connecting community needs and University resources" to address critical issues in Minnesota.

Continuing Education

Master Gardeners receive online newsletters, low-cost educational materials from the University of Minnesota, and opportunities to attend educational conferences and meetings. Master Gardeners often become recognized experts in their local communities and have countless opportunities for community service.

To Apply:

To receive Master Gardener application materials contact your local County Extension Office. Locations and phone numbers are listed on the web at http://www.extension.umn.edu/gardeninfo/components/questions_yglines.html. More information, including class times and locations, is available at www.mg.umn.edu.

Hort 1003/ProHort

The Master Gardener Core Course is also offered as either a three credit University of Minnesota course, Hort 1003, or as a non-credit course, ProHort. These options provide personal or professional development to individuals who want to learn about horticulture but choose not to volunteer. ProHort is also accepted by the Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Association (MNLA) as an eight-credit continuing education course. Classes are usually held in the Twin Cities in January-February and at other locations or online January-March. For more information contact the State Master Gardener Office at 612-625-4211; to register for Hort 1003 go to www.cce. umn.edu under distance education or Horticultural Science.

Master Gardener Program
155 Alderman Hall
1970 Folwell Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55108

612-625-4211
bart0590@umn.edu
www.mg.umn.edu

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