HEART OF VIRGINIA MASTER GARDENERS Announce Recruitment of New Volunteer Members -- Application Deadline: September 15, 2008 -- Schedule -- September – October, 2008 - Interviews -- -- November, 2008 - Announcement of the new trainee group -- -- January – May, 2009 - Coursework -- -- May, 2009 – Final Exam -- -- May, 2009 – May, 2010 - Internship - Including 50 Volunteer Hours -- May, 2010 - Full Membership |
What is a Master Gardener?
Members of the Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) Master Gardeners are a unique group of volunteers who work under the guidance of VCE to provide unbiased, research-based, environmentally sound horticultural information and guidance to the public.
How Do I Become a Master Gardener?
The Application Process: From time to time HOVMG needs to recruit a few new members. We do not recruit annually, so, if you are interested, you won’t want to miss this opportunity. HOVMG will be accepting applications and nominations until September 1, 2008. Following phone interviews some applicants will be invited for in-person interviews. We expect to identify a group of about 15 trainees by November 1, 2008.
The Trainee Period: This is a period of about a year and a half in which each trainee works with an HOVMG mentor and completes a formal course of study and the required volunteer contributions.
Study: Master Gardener Trainees complete 50 hours of classroom instruction in subjects such as Basic Botany, Soils & Fertilizers, Plant Propagation, Diagnosing Plant Damage, Pesticide Use & Safety, Trees & Shrubs, Lawn & Turf Management, Pruning, Landscape Design, Water Quality, and Organic Practices. Once the classroom instruction is completed, the trainee becomes a Master Gardener Intern. (Note: There is a $100 fee for course materials.)
Volunteer contributions: Interns are each required to contribute 50 hours of volunteer service during their first year before becoming an official VCE Master Gardener.
The Master Gardeners: Members enjoy many opportunities to participate in interesting volunteer projects. Master Gardeners work with Virginia Cooperative Extension professionals and the community to encourage and promote environmentally sound horticulture practices through sustainable landscape management educational programs. VCE Master Gardeners are partners in providing educational programs and are considered non-paid staff.
Active Master Gardeners must receive an additional 8 hours of advanced training and volunteer at least 20 hours each year to remain a VCE Master Gardener.
Some Ongoing Projects
Annual Plant Sale: This is the organization’s primary fund-raiser, held on the first Saturday in May each year. Members contribute plants taken from their own gardens to be sold at very popular prices.
Radio Spots: About once a month master gardeners provide an educational segment for a local radio station. Members of HOVMG write and record these segments.
Community Education: This ranges from taking calls and answering specific requests to researching and writing horticultural programs to presenting demonstrations and talks.