Training for Master Gardeners begins in February

Southeast Missourian

The Cape Girardeau County and Bollinger County Extension offices are looking for interested individuals who wish to become Master Gardeners.

The Master Gardener program is sponsored by the University of Missouri Outreach and Extension. The purpose of this program is to assist the Extension's educational programs in horticulture, gardening, small-scale food production and consumer environmental issues. Members answer questions from the public by telephone, clinics, demonstrations and/or workshops.

Master Gardener students participate in classroom training once a week for 13 weeks. A core course training fee is $75 per person. Classroom topics include turf, soils, propagation, woody ornamentals and much more.

In addition to this Level I training, interns will be required to devote 30 hours of community service time before becoming an active Master Gardener. To continue in the program, members must devote an additional 20 hours of service per year to remain an active member.

Advanced training will also be offered to those who have completed the intern phase. Some of these topics include seed saving, water gardening, container gardening and butterfly gardening.

The Southeast Missouri Master Gardener group will be offering a Level I training course beginning Thursday, Feb. 20. The morning course will be in Farmington at 9:30; the evening course will be in Jackson at 6:30.

For more information, contact Donna Ledbetter at the Bollinger County Extension office at 304 High St. in Marble Hill, phone (573) 238-2420. Gerald Bryan may also be contacted at the Cape Girardeau County Extension office in at 684 W. Jackson Trail in Jackson, phone 243-3581.