Sally Scalera

Brevard County Horticulture Extension Agent
3695 Lake Drive -- Cocoa FL 32926 -- 321-633-1702

Master Gardener classes

August 14, 2004

The time has come for me to begin planning for the next Master Gardener Class which is scheduled to be held January 19 through March 23, 2005. The class will be held for ten consecutive Wednesdays from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. Just in case there are some of you gardeners out there that might be interested in the program, here is some information about it.

In 1972, an innovative Extension Service Agent in the State of Washington reasoned that well trained volunteers could respond to many of the everyday homeowner questions freeing him and his colleagues for more technical and difficult problems. The Extension Agent selected, trained and certified volunteers as Master Gardeners. They soon succeeded in meeting and surpassing his objectives. And so it was, the Master Gardener Program began.

Since that time, the Master Gardener Program has grown and is now active in 45 states. Florida's program began in 1979 with Brevard County being one of the first three counties to train Master Gardeners. The program has been a tremendous success and is now active in 57 of Florida's 67 counties. (The only reason the Master Gardener program isn't in every county is because the county must have a horticulture agent to coordinate it.)

Currently, we have 160 active Master Gardeners in Brevard County. Some of the ways in which they help us is by; answering homeowner questions over the phone, staffing Master Gardener Plant Clinics in 10 locations throughout the county and by conducting water testing on irrigation water for salt content. The title "Florida Master Gardener" is to be used only and exclusively in the Florida Cooperative Extension Service Master Gardener Program in which trained Master Gardeners answer gardening questions. Master Gardeners are expected to use the title only when doing unpaid, volunteer educational work in the Extension Horticulture program.

To become a Master Gardener you would receive approximately 50 hours of training in various areas of horticulture and agree to volunteer a minimum of 50 hours each year to remain active. The charge for the Class of 2005 will be $160. Of this, $60 will cover the cost of the books and materials and the other $100 will be refunded in early December of 2005 after the 50 volunteer hours have been met.

The main criteria for choosing volunteers includes: a desire to help people, a thirst for knowledge, the ability to volunteer during the weekdays and previous gardening experience. Here are some of the benefits of being a Master Gardener; continually learn new things about gardening, insects, etc.; the opportunity to go to Gainesville every year to attend the Master Gardener Continued Training that is put on by Professors from the University of Florida and other Master Gardeners; receive 10 issues of the Brevard County Master Gardener Newsletter; the opportunity to attend field trips throughout the state and the chance to attend meetings throughout the year that have guest speakers.

Anyone who is interested in becoming a Master Gardener can reach us by calling 633-1702 (Mon. - Fri. from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.) and give us your address so that we can mail you a Master Gardener application. Chances are, since you read this article, you like gardening but, if you like to help others (and continually learn new things in the process) then the Master Gardener program may be just the thing for you!