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in
Tompkins County
The Master Gardener Program is a national program of trained volunteers who
work in partnership with their county Cooperative Extension office to extend
information throughout the community. The first Master Gardener program was
started in Washington state in 1972. Forty-six states now have Master Gardener
programs. For information on Master Gardener programs outside Tompkins County,
visit the New
York State Master
Gardener Program website.
Master Gardeners are trained volunteers of Cornell Cooperative Extension of
Tompkins County assisting to expand the agency's educational outreach by providing
home gardeners with research-based information.
Master Gardener trainees should have a basic knowledge of, or interest in, gardening; free time to participate in volunteer activities; enthusiasm for acquiring and sharing horticultural knowledge and skills; an ability to communicate; and a willingness to participate in educational activities and enough time to do so.
Volunteer selection is made after completing both a written application and an interview. Priority for selection is given to Tompkins County residents.
The next Master Gardener training will be held in the fall of 2008. The application and interview process will take place in June/July, 2008. The exact schedule and details of the training will be decided in the spring, 2008. A fee for materials is charged. Training is usually held every other year. Experts from Cornell Cooperative Extension and elsewhere instruct the trainees on a broad spectrum of subjects applicable to home gardening. Certification as a Master Gardener includes a service commitment of 60 hours within one year, some of which may run concurrently with the training period.
Master Gardeners are offered and expected to participate in refresher training to keep their knowledge up-to-date.
Each Master Gardener must provide Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County with an additional 60 hours of service over a one year time period following certification for a total of 120 hours altogether. Participation beyond that commitment is encouraged.
To fulfill the volunteer commitment, Master Gardeners have in the past worked in the office to test soil samples, maintained files of gardening information, answered gardening questions, taught gardening classes, organized and run the annual Garden Fair and Plant Sales, written articles for publication, spoken or demonstrated to groups, and worked in the Education Center's gardens. New program initiatives are also welcomed.
Master Gardeners enjoy people and plants. They usually have no professional gardening or landscaping experience, only a genuine interest in sharing their knowledge, and sufficient free time to volunteer in Master Gardener activities.
Master Gardener trainees receive instruction in plant nutrition, soils, vegetable and fruit culture, trees, shrubs and lawns, diseases and insects that affect plants, pruning, and much more. After this instruction, trainees complete an examination and are certified as Master Gardeners. Advanced instruction is offered, and special seminars and workshops are held so that Master Gardeners are kept current on gardening information and methods.
Through the Master Gardener training sessions and workshops, you'll become a more knowledgeable gardener. You will receive publications, seeds and other related material. You will be able to attend regular Master Gardener workshops around the state as well as state and national Master Gardener conferences. You will travel with other Tompkins County Master Gardeners to interesting gardens and nurseries. And finally, you will meet lots of people who share your love of gardening.
As a Master Gardener volunteer, you are expected to share the knowledge you gained in the training sessions with other gardeners in the community. You can do this by participating in a variety of ways. Every time you answer a gardening question from a friend, you extend the knowledge you have gained. The Cooperative Extension Horticulture Program offers many volunteer opportunities, or volunteers can design their own projects to benefit the community.
Volunteer hours are flexible depending on interest and time available. Travel expenses are tax-deductible.
Tompkins County has had this program for a number of years, and it is a very successful program. Right now, we have approximately 55 active Master Gardener volunteers who do a number of different things in the county. It is a very popular program and we normally have more than enough applicants to fill the training program every two years.
The Tompkins County Master Gardeners are involved in many activities. Here are some of them:
If you are interested in becoming a Tompkins County Master Gardener, please send your name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address to:
Master Gardener Program
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County
615 Willow Avenue
Ithaca, NY 14850
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