   Master Gardening in Yavapai County - December 5, 2007 Jeff Schalau, Associate Agent, Agriculture & Natural Resources, Arizona Cooperative Extension, Yavapai County Have you considered becoming a Master Gardener? Master Gardeners are skilled volunteers for the University of Arizona 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. 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 office hotlines. For those people not comfortable answering calls, we have a range of other activities. Some of these include: staffing booths at fairs and community events, assisting with school and community gardens, special educational projects, and speaking to diverse public groups. As you can see, the emphasis is on education and helping others to become successful, responsible gardeners. In 2006, 107 Yavapai County Master Gardeners contributed 8,090 hours of volunteer service to citizens and institutions of Yavapai County. This included 2,141 face-to-face, 1,229 phone, and 120 E-mail contacts. This volunteer service had a dollar value of $151,849. Recent Yavapai County Master Gardener accomplishments include a landscaping project at the West Yavapai Guidance Clinic in Prescott, assisting with pecan judging and providing information at the Camp Verde Pecan and Wine Festival, planning the 2008 Arizona Highlands Garden Conference for next October, answering questions at Farmer’s Markets and landscape assistance at the Jordan Historical Park and Museum. We are also organizing and training a Speaker’s Bureau. I’d also like to update readers on the Groseta Education Center that the University of Arizona College of Agriculture and Life Sciences will build in Camp Verde. Construction is scheduled to begin in April 2008. The Education Center will house Cooperative Extension and the V Bar V Ranch Experiment Station. We are planning to have a Master Gardener demonstration garden where the public can come and learn about agricultural/horticultural practices and water conserving landscapes. The Groseta Education Center will be another excellent opportunity for Master Gardeners to provide education and service to Verde Valley citizens. If you are interested in becoming a Master Gardener, Yavapai County Cooperative Extension is currently accepting applications for the 2008 Master Gardener course. The course will meet every Tuesday morning between 9 AM and 12:30 PM starting on February 5 and ending on May 13, 2008 at the Cottonwood Public Safety Building. The cost of the Master Gardener Course is $180 and includes a manual. A limited number of partial scholarships are also available based on need. 2008 Master Gardener course applications are available on-line at cals.arizona.edu/yavapai/ (click “Master Gardener” then “Training”) or call 928-445-6590 ext. 221. While the deadline was December 1, 2007, we may have a few seats left in the class. You may also ask to be put on a list for future class notification. 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 cottonwoodmg@yahoo.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/. |