Thursday, February 2, 2012

Phelps County Master Gardeners accepting class applications for volunteer training Spring 2012

Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer Master Gardener can apply to take the Spring 2012 core course. The course will start Tuesday, March 13 from 9-3:30 p.m. and run once a week through May 1, 2012.
The course will be held at Rolla’s First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall and feature training by Tony Bratsch, Phelps County Extension horticulture specialist, as well as other gardening-related professionals.
Cost for the program is $200. Of that total, $50 will be reimbursed once the core course is completed and 30 hrs of volunteer time are contributed to Phelps County Master Gardener-approved community projects.
Enrollment is $250 for businesses and other parties interested in only completing the educational training.
To apply to take the course, contact University of Missouri Phelps County Extension Office at 573-458-6260 or email Laura Faherty at FahertyL@missouri.edu  by Friday, March 2, 2012.
Volunteer Master Gardeners advise and train communities on gardening and environmental horticulture. They also engage in various educational projects.
Participants become certified volunteer Master Gardeners after taking the 30-hour training course and returning those hours as volunteers in University of Missouri Extension-approved projects. Volunteers maintain their yearly certification by completing advanced courses and volunteering on pre-approved community education projects.
University of Missouri Extension has trained volunteer Master Gardeners since 1997.
During 2011, University of Missouri Extension Phelps County volunteer Master Gardeners contributed more than 3,000 volunteer hours to community projects, valued at $47,000.
For more information about the Master Gardener program, visit the University of Missouri Extension website: http://mg.missouri.edu/.
For more information and updates, contact:
Charlotte Wiggins, 2010 certified volunteer Master Gardener charlotte@bluebirdgardens.com 573-341-7405 or evenings 573-364-1908 Tony Bratsch, horticulture specialist bratscha@missouri.edu  573-458-6260

No comments: