Do you love gardening? Do you love to share your passion for gardening with others? Become a Cornell University Cooperative Extension Master Gardener.
The Cornell University Cooperative Extension Association of Allegany and Cattaraugus Counties will offer Master Gardener Training from January 28 through March 25, 2014. Training will be held each Tuesday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm at the Ellicottville Town Center/Cooperative Extension Center, 28 Parkside Drive, Ellicottville, NY 14731.
Training will cover the latest research-based information on a wide range of garden topics, including vegetables, ornamentals, fruit, soils, insects, diseases, environment and climate change, and many other topics. Training will be conducted using videos, presentations, demonstrations, readings, discussion, and handouts.
Upon completion of the training, new Master Gardeners will be expected to volunteer and share their time and gardening talents with others through Cooperative Extension programs. Master Gardeners present classes at Gardening Day and Wednesdays in the Arboretum, write articles for newsletters and our website, answer questions on the Master Gardener “hotline”, mentor new gardeners at area food pantries, serve as gardening resources for local garden clubs and public libraries, and many other activities that further the mission of Cornell University Cooperative Extension. The new Master Gardeners will be expected to volunteer 50 hours in the first year after completion of the training, and 30 hours in subsequent years that they wish to maintain their Master Gardener designation.
If interested in learning more about becoming a Master Gardener, contact Mark Holt at the Cattaraugus County office of Cornell University Cooperative Extension by telephone (716-699-2377 x115) or e-mail: mwh95 [at] cornell.edu by January 10.
