Master Gardener program to be offered

Published 10:52 pm Wednesday, October 24, 2007

The Murray and Whitfield County Cooperative Extension is offering the 2008 Master Gardener Program for people interested in improving their gardening skills.

The objective of the program is to train volunteers who have gardening experience and a desire to help others. These volunteers extend Extension resources to additional residents at a time of reduced budgets.

The 20 sessions over 10 weeks start Jan. 8, 2008. The classes will be held Tuesday and Thursday nights at the North Georgia Fairgrounds off Cleveland Highway in Dalton. The class will conclude on March 13. Sessions will be taught by extension agents, industry personnel and master gardeners. Each class is from 7 to 9 p.m.

Subject matter will include soil and plant nutrition; plant physiology; basic pathology; basic entomology; weed identification and control; vegetable gardening; tree fruit culture; small fruit culture; annual and perennial flowers; turf maintenance and selection; composting; grass cycling; mulching, planting and maintaining ornamentals; garden equipment and safety; herbs; wildflowers and container gardening. The volunteers will be provided with research information useful in solving problems related to the home and garden.

The participants will be tested on the information taught and will receive certification from the Georgia Master Gardener Association if they attend 80 percent of the class sessions and pass the mid-term and final exams. Each person attending will be expected to volunteer time in their counties to meet the gardening needs of the people in those counties. This includes assisting with answering telephone calls, teaching gardening skills to youth and adults, conducting clinics in the community, and speaking to various garden and civic clubs. This will be worked out with each volunteer to place them where they are most beneficial to the Extension program and where they feel most confident.

The deadline for applicants is Dec. 3. The fee for the 20 sessions is $100 per individual. This fee covers the cost of training materials which include a name badge, training manual, membership in the Georgia Master Gardener Association and testing materials. You must include your check with your completed application before Dec. 3 to be considered for the program. There are 40 spaces available.

For more information or an application form, call the Georgia Extension Service in Murray County at (706) 695-3031 and in Whitfield County at (706) 278-8207.