Ready to Take Your Yard to the Next Level?

Master Gardener Program May Be for You

 

Dicliptera suberecta...one of many plants you can learn about in the demonstration garden

 

Bob Douglas is a Master Gardener volunteer with the University of Florida IFAS Extension in Leon County, http://leon.ifas.ufl.edu/

  

Anybody can be a gardener – and should be.

 

But it takes someone special to be a Certified Master Gardener.

 

Gardening, generally, is good for your body and soul – not to mention your neighborhood. Growing beautiful plants and tasty produce can bring joy to yourself and others.

 

Successful gardening is part art, part science. It can be self-taught -- or learned from others. Which brings us to the concept of a Certified Master Gardener.

 

The University of Florida IFAS Extension in Leon County runs a rigorous program that trains serious home gardeners in the secrets of successful gardening in the Tallahassee area. In return for the training, you make a commitment to help others in our community develop more healthy, attractive and environmentally friendly yards.

 

The program is not for everyone. But it is designed to support all area gardeners who want to maintain their landscapes more effectively.

 

In a nutshell, here’s how the Master Gardener program works:

 

·   Participants attend four-hour classes each Thursday from Sept. 7 through Nov. 30 at the Agriculture Center at 615 Paul Russell Road. The classes – covering everything from basic botany to best landscaping practices -- are taught by qualified experts and feature some hands-on experience in the demonstration garden adjacent to the building. And there is homework that involves reading material, either printed or found on the Internet.

 

·   Participants also help experienced Master Gardeners maintain the demonstration garden on the third Monday morning of each month during their training.

 

·   Upon completion of the training, participants volunteer for 100 hours – helping in the garden, fielding calls from area gardeners seeking advice with their yard problems, and in various other ways designed to serve our community. In addition, 12 hours of continuing education are required.

 

Altogether, attaining certification involves a 15-month commitment involving a minimum of 169 hours. And to maintain certification in future years, Master Gardeners must complete 50 volunteer and 12 education hours on a yearly basis.

 

To reiterate, the Master Gardener program is not for everyone. And if you’re not ready or willing to make such commitment at this time, that doesn’t mean you’re any less of a gardener.

 

But if you would like to learn more about this opportunity to become part of a rewarding life-long learning and community-service program, please call us (at 606-5202) or visit our website (http://leon.ifas.ufl.edu/), where you can download an application.

 

The deadline for this year’s session is July 31. There is a $150 program fee, to be paid when you submit your application. And applicants will be interviewed, so they will be able to find out more from veteran Master Gardeners about what the program entails.

 

The program is sponsored by the University of Florida IFAS Extension in Leon County, which is funded by both the state and county.

 

Click Here for Application Form

 

Click Here to See Basic Training Class Schedule

 

Click Here to See Master Gardener Schedule for After the Basic Training Classes End