   Become a Master Gardener - November 23, 2005 Jeff Schalau, County Director, Associate Agent, Agriculture & Natural Resources Arizona Cooperative Extension, Yavapai County Have you considered becoming a Master Gardener? Master Gardeners are skilled volunteers that provide science-based horticultural information to people in local communities. They attend a training course taught by local and regional experts then apply their knowledge through volunteer projects and grassroots education in local communities. In Yavapai County, we also have a Master Gardener Association that provides continuing education, recognition, and other fun opportunities. If this sounds intriguing, then read on and learn how to apply for the 2006 Yavapai County Master Gardener Program. Washington State University Cooperative Extension first offered the Master Gardener Program in 1973. It started with Dr. David Gibby, a County Extension Agent. He found himself overwhelmed by the enormous number of requests for horticultural information (some things never change). Dr. Gibby, along with several colleagues, designed a curriculum to train volunteers in various aspects of horticulture science. After completing the course, the volunteers would assist him in providing information to community members. The first Master Gardener course was a success and the idea spread across the country and beyond. Today, the Master Gardener program is active in all 50 states and four provinces of Canada. In Yavapai County, Master Gardeners must complete 50 hours of volunteer service within the first year of taking the course to become certified. There is a wide range of volunteer activities available. First and foremost, Master Gardeners assist Cooperative Extension by answering client questions on the hotline. However, some people are not comfortable answering calls, so we have a range of other activities. Some of these include: staffing booths at fairs and community events, assisting with school and community gardens, and speaking to diverse public groups. As you can see, the emphasis is on education and helping others to become successful, responsible gardeners. In 2004, 123 Yavapai County Master Gardener volunteers contributed 8,638 hours of service to citizens and institutions of Yavapai County. This included 1,457 face-to-face, 1,991 phone, and 74 E-mail contacts. Recent accomplishments include assisting with landscaping at the Verde Valley Medical Center, assisting with pecan judging and providing information at the Camp Verde Pecan and Wine Festival, presenting the 2004 Arizona Highlands Garden Conference in Camp Verde and associated garden tour in Sedona, and landscape maintenance at the Jordan Historical Park and Museum. All of these activities add value to the lives of Verde Valley residents. Yavapai County Cooperative Extension is also planning to build a new office in the Verde Valley in partnership with the V Bar V Ranch Experiment Station. At our new education center, we plan to have a Master Gardener demonstration garden where the public can come and learn about agricultural/horticultural practices and water conserving landscapes. This will be another excellent opportunity for Master Gardeners to provide education and service. If you are interested in becoming a Master Gardener, Yavapai County Cooperative Extension is currently accepting applications for the 2006 Master Gardener course. The course will meet every Wednesday morning between 9 AM and 12:30 PM starting on January 25 and ending on May 3, 2006. The cost of the Master Gardener Course is $150 and includes a manual. A limited number of partial scholarships are also available based on need. Applications are available on-line at cals.arizona.edu/yavapai/ or by calling 928-445-6590 ext. 221. All applications must be received by December 2, 2005. The University of Arizona Cooperative Extension has publications and information on gardening and pest control. If you have other gardening questions, call the Master Gardener line in the Cottonwood office at 646-9113 ext. 14 or E-mail us at mgardener@verdeonline.com and be sure to include your address and phone number. Find past Backyard Gardener columns or submit column ideas at the Backyard Gardener web site: http://cals.arizona.edu/yavapai/anr/hort/byg/. |