Register now for the next Mississippi Master Gardeners class starting Oct. 1. All training is self-paced and online. (Photo by MSU Extension Service/Michaela Parker)
Bonnie Koblentz, Michigan State University Extension Service
Gardeners looking to improve their skills and give back to their community will have online training and certification opportunities available this fall.
Registration for the next Master Gardener class opens Aug. 13 and closes Sept. 12. Participants can begin training Oct. 1, and all coursework must be completed by Dec. 2. These professional volunteers are trained and certified in consumer horticulture and related fields by the Mississippi State University Extension Service.
“In exchange for 40 hours of educational training, participants will complete 40 hours of volunteer work within one year of their training,” said Jeff Wilson, Extension horticulture specialist and state coordinator for the Master Gardener program.
This year, Master Gardener instruction is entirely online and self-paced, and it costs $125 to enroll in the training and complete 40 hours of community service during the first year.
Communities benefit in many ways from the volunteer work of their local Master Gardeners.
“Master Gardener volunteers give back to their local community, gain horticultural expertise and gain personal satisfaction from connecting with the local gardening community,” Wilson said.
After completing the first year's 40-hour community service requirement, Master Gardeners continue to receive training and log a minimum of 20 hours of community service per year to maintain their certified status.
This volunteer work allows local Extension offices to reach a broader audience than would be possible through the efforts of Extension agents alone. Master Gardener volunteers extend the education arm of the university to the general public by providing horticultural information based on university research and recommendations.
There are about 1,400 Master Gardeners active in Mississippi, Wilson said, and similar programs continue to be offered in other states through their agricultural extension services.
Those who want advanced horticulture training but don't want to volunteer can enroll in a home gardening course for $200, or pay $25 per class for certain classes offered throughout the year without volunteering.
To register for training and learn more about the Master Gardener program, visit http://msuext.ms/mg
