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Union County Master Gardeners Association
“Americans now spend billions on landscape improvements according to American Nursery and Landscape officials. In 1999, US homeowners spent an all time high $17.3 billion on landscape, lawn and tree care professionals.”
Gone are the days when our home landscapes consisted of one tree, three identical green shrubs and a hanging basket. As our landscape expenditures suggest, we are not extending our designs to the exterior of our homes, utilizing these open spaces as our new color palettes. Although we dream of verdant and flowing landscapes, insufficient knowledge or understanding often constrains our ability to move from concept to reality. Becoming a Master Gardener provides you with the tools to grow your knowledge of basic horticultural principles and environmentally sound gardening practices so that you may confidently begin or enhance your gardening experience. An added bonus of being a Master Gardener is your ability to tap into the resource of other Master Gardeners and to share your gardening gifts within the community.
The Union County Master Gardener Program is entering its' 13th year supported by the expertise of The Ohio State University Extension Service. Applicants to the Master Gardener Program in Union County progress through a selection process consisting of an interview and test prior to entrance into the Master Gardener Program. If accepted, aspiring Master Gardeners attend a comprehensive training course taught by the Ohio State University Extension specialists, staff and local experts.
The Master Gardener Course consists of 50 hours of classroom instruction covering the best management practices for lawn, ornamental tree and shrub care; insect, disease and weed control; soil science and plant nutrition; vegetable gardening; home fruit production and other horticultural subjects. This course is offered during the late winter months concluding in early spring just in time to practice newly learned techniques with the advent of the spring growing season. The next training session begins January, 2009.
Along with the comprehensive classroom training, Master Gardener students receive a 400-page manual containing Extension publications and textbook. This mini-library is the students’ resource of reference materials including fact sheets, pamphlets, folders, bulletins and lecture outlines pertaining to subject areas covered in the training program. The $125 course registration fee ($150 for those who live outside Union County) covers the cost of this resource material.
A fundamental premise of The Master Gardener Program is the belief that gardening knowledge should be reinforced through practice and shared with the broader community. In return for their specialized training, Master Gardeners are asked to volunteer time in support of Union County Extension Programs. Volunteer activities include responding to telephone requests for gardening information, working with community groups, holding plant clinics--providing home gardening information to the community through a wide variety of gardening related activities. The scope of the activities enables you volunteer as an individual or team with other Master Gardeners, to pick and choose your involvement based upon your area of interest or expertise as well as your work and home schedule.
There are numerous benefits associated with becoming a Certified Master Gardener. Master Gardeners receive quarterly newsletters and other free update materials to stay abreast of the latest practices and horticultural information. Master Gardeners have the opportunity to participate in Regional, State and National Conferences and educational meetings covering a wide range of topics. Master Gardener meetings offer the particular benefit of enabling you to address gardening problems and new horticultural developments with other Master Gardeners and to become a recognized expert in your gardening specialty.
