Cornell Cooperative Extension
of Westchester County

What is the Cornell University Master Gardener Volunteer Program?
mThe Master Gardener Volunteers are a group of volunteers trained by Cornell Cooperative Extension to perform community outreach in horticulture and gardening.
mThe mission of Cornell University's Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Program is to extend research-based horticultural information to the communities of Westchester County.
mVolunteers attend an intensive 75 hour training course over a 10 week period followed by a 100 hour volunteer commitment over the next two years.

How do Master Gardeners volunteer their time?
mWriting gardening Q&A articles for the Journal News
mPerforming site visit for homeowners
mGiving lectures to garden clubs and other groups through our Speakers' Bureau
m Maintaining demonstration gardens such as those at Hart's Brook Park in Greenburgh and Hilltop Hanover Farm in Yorktown Heights
mMentoring and giving technical guidance to school gardens
mOrganizing the Home Garden Lecture Series consisting of a series of six monthly lectures given by local horticulture experts

What subjects does the training program cover?
mSoils and Fertilizers
mTree Physiology
mGarden Botany
mWoody Plants and Their Maintenance
mPruning
mPlant Pathology and Entomology
mIntegrated Pest Management
mComposting and Organic Gardening
mManagement of Nuisance Wildlife

How do I apply for acceptance into the Master Gardener Volunteer Program?
mYou must be a resident of Westchester County to apply for the CCE Westchester Master Gardener Volunteer Program.
mYou must complete an application and furnish two personal references with your application.
mPersonal interviews will be conducted from a pool of qualified applicants.

How often is training offered?
mEvery two years. Master Gardener training 2008 was completed in May '08 and barring any further budget cuts, is scheduled to begin in January 2010.

Is there a fee?
mYes. The fee will be $450 in 2010.

Contact either JoAnn DiRico Trautmann at jdt34@cornell.edu or Patris Beamon at pyb2@cornell.edu regarding your interest in future Master Gardener Volunteer Training offered by Cornell University Cooperative Extension of Westchester County.

Click here to see the brochure describing the Master Gardener Volunteer Program.
Click here for the Master Gardener Volunteer Training Application and Information packet for 2010.

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