Classes start next month at Green Spring for Master Gardener program
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| Green Spring Gardens |
Do you want to become an expert
gardener and educate the public about environmentally sound horticultural practices?
The Master Gardener program might be for you.
gardener and educate the public about environmentally sound horticultural practices?
The Master Gardener program might be for you.
A training course at Green Spring Gardens starts Sept. 9. The application deadline has been extended to Aug. 22. Applicants
also need to pass an interview process to be accepted into the program.
also need to pass an interview process to be accepted into the program.
“You don’t necessarily have to have gardening experience.
But you do have to have a true willingness to learn and to educate the public about
what you’ve learned,” says Pamela Smith, community horticulture program
coordinator with the Fairfax County Park Authority.
Master Gardeners are expected to give
presentations at public meetings and public school classrooms, staff
information booths at community events, create displays at
libraries, and teach classes and conduct tours at Green Spring Gardens.
presentations at public meetings and public school classrooms, staff
information booths at community events, create displays at
libraries, and teach classes and conduct tours at Green Spring Gardens.
Those accepted into the training
program attend a 12-week training session, with classes on Tuesdays and
Thursdays, 1-4 p.m. Another training series in the evening might be scheduled,
as well, if there is enough interest. Contact Pamela Smith, 703-642-0128, if
you’d prefer evening sessions.
program attend a 12-week training session, with classes on Tuesdays and
Thursdays, 1-4 p.m. Another training series in the evening might be scheduled,
as well, if there is enough interest. Contact Pamela Smith, 703-642-0128, if
you’d prefer evening sessions.
The classes are taught by experts on
these topics: botany, etymology, pesticides, plant pathology, turf,
water quality, pruning, landscape design, wildlife, invasive and native plants,
perennials, annuals, and trees and shrubs. The sessions also cover use of the
volunteer management system, how best to convey information to the public, and
civil rights issues to ensure master gardeners reach out to diverse populations.
these topics: botany, etymology, pesticides, plant pathology, turf,
water quality, pruning, landscape design, wildlife, invasive and native plants,
perennials, annuals, and trees and shrubs. The sessions also cover use of the
volunteer management system, how best to convey information to the public, and
civil rights issues to ensure master gardeners reach out to diverse populations.
The fee for the program is $250. To earn the certification
as a Master Gardener, participants have to put in 50 hours of volunteer
service with approved projects plus 12 volunteer hours answering questions from
the public at the Fairfax County office of the Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE).
as a Master Gardener, participants have to put in 50 hours of volunteer
service with approved projects plus 12 volunteer hours answering questions from
the public at the Fairfax County office of the Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE).
The Fairfax County Master Gardener program is sponsored by
the county and overseen by VCE.
the county and overseen by VCE.
There’s also a different Master Gardener program operated as
a nonprofit with a three-year training program. People working on that
certification serve as interns and host plant clinics at farmers markets and
libraries. That program, also overseen by the VCE, has training classes at
Merrifield Gardens in Fairfax. That program is closed through the end of 2014. People
interested in starting classes in 2015 need to sign up by Sept. 8.
a nonprofit with a three-year training program. People working on that
certification serve as interns and host plant clinics at farmers markets and
libraries. That program, also overseen by the VCE, has training classes at
Merrifield Gardens in Fairfax. That program is closed through the end of 2014. People
interested in starting classes in 2015 need to sign up by Sept. 8.
One response to “Classes start next month at Green Spring for Master Gardener program”
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A plus for this program is the participants have to do public service by hosting a booth and providing free advice to the rest of us with less-than-green thumbs. I got some good tips from some qualifying Master Gardeners at Greenspring one weekend., Good stuff!