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was last updated
May 1, 2008
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Bexar County
Master Gardeners |
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Official
Website of the Bexar County Master Gardener Program
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Now
taking applications
-- Fall 2008 Master Gardeners Training -- (CLICK HERE to download application) |
| Is the Master Gardener program for me? | |
The Master Gardener Program is a volunteer development program offered by the
Texas AgriLife Extension Service and is designed to increase the availability
of horticultural information and improve the quality of life through horticultural
projects. Master Gardeners are highly-trained volunteers working with Texas
AgriLife Extension to provide residents with information on environmentally
responsible gardening and landscaping. They provide unbiased, research-based
information, problem-solving expertise and educational opportunities to residents.
Master Gardeners are members of the local community who take an active interest in their lawns, trees, shrubs, flowers and gardens. They are enthusiastic, willing to learn and to help others, and able to communicate with diverse groups of people. They form a network of highly-qualified and concerned people who are capable of implementing a wide range of activities useful to the community.
What
really sets Master Gardeners apart from other home gardeners is their special
training in horticulture. In exchange for their training, persons who become
Master Gardeners contribute time as volunteers, working through their local
Extension office to provide horticulture-related information to their communities.
Is
the Master Gardener Program for Me?
To
help you decide if you should apply to be a Master Gardener, ask yourself these
questions:
— Do I want to learn more about the culture and maintenance of many types of plants?
— Am I eager to participate in a practical and intense training program?
— Do I look forward to sharing my knowledge with people in my community?
— Do I have enough time to attend training and to complete the volunteer service?
If you answered yes to these questions, the Master Gardener program could be for you.
Volunteer
Commitment
In
exchange for training, participants are asked to volunteer time to their County
Extension program.
The type of service done by Master Gardeners varies according to community needs, and the abilities and interests of the Master Gardeners. Some Master Gardeners answer telephone requests for information related to gardening. Others staff plant clinics or displays in shopping malls or community centers. Master Gardeners may speak to local groups and conduct workshops. They may help establish community garden projects, work with 4-H youth, or assist their agent with news or radio releases related to gardening. The Master Gardener Coordinator in the County Extension office decides how volunteer time can be best utilized.
Master Gardeners are representatives of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service. In all volunteer work related to the program, Master Gardeners follow the research-based recommendations of Texas AgriLife Extension. The title of "Texas Master Gardener" can be used by volunteers only when engaged in Extension-sponsored activities.
Qualifications
Qualifications
for the Master Gardener Program include:
Benefits
Benefits
of becoming a Master Gardener include:
Training
If
accepted into the Master Gardener program, you will attend a Master Gardener
training course. Classes are taught by Texas AgriLife Extension Service specialists,
staff, and local experts.
The program offers a minimum of 50 hours of instruction. Topics include:
Botany & Plant Physiology
Integrated Pest Management/Entomology
Plant Identification
Plant Pathology
Xeriscape
Perennials/Annuals
Turfgrass Maintenance & Diseases
Wildscaping
Natural Resources
Urban Forestry
Propagation
Water Conservation & Quality
Herbs
Vegetables
Specialty Gardening
Pruning Principles
Soils/Composting
Fruits & Nuts
What
do Master Gardeners do?
The
Bexar County Master Gardeners assist the local County Extension Office:
Certification/Recertification
Participants
become certified Master Gardeners after they have completed the training course,
pass an examination administered by Texas AgriLife Extension, and volunteer
a minimum of 50 hours within one year.
In order to retain the Texas Master Gardener title, individuals are required each year to participate in a minimum of six (6) hours of recertification training (CEU's) and provide an additional 50 hours of volunteer service through the Bexar County Extension office.
Master Gardener Classes in Bexar County
In Bexar County, Master Gardener classes are usually offered three times during the year--spring, summer, and fall. Please note that the summer class is usually designed for teachers affiliated with the Texas Junior Master Gardener Program. All Master Gardener Classes will be advertised when class dates are determined, and we will accept applications at that time. Please do not send your application for a class that is scheduled for more than six months from the current date. To obtain an application, you may call the Extension office (210/467-6575) or download an application from this site.
For
more information on the Master Gardener Program in Bexar County, contact
us by e-mail or call us at 210/467-6575.
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