Anyone who loves to
garden can become a master gardener
July 14, 2005
What are master gardeners? What do they do?
Highly trained, educated and dedicated, master gardeners are people just
like you. We are an elite group of gardeners of all ages and educational and
ethnic backgrounds. Strangely enough, we all fit together due to our common
passion for gardening and learning.
The Victoria Master Gardeners, through Victoria County Extension, invite
others to join. It is a unique opportunity to make a difference in our
community. Master gardeners meet people and make friends on a different level
than before. They get to talk "gardening" as never before, conversing
in terms familiar with one another. The benefits are too many to list here.
The first master gardener program in
Let me share a few of my own experiences with you. In 1993, my family moved to
I became a master gardener in 2003, and became certified in 2004. I continue
to reap rewards in knowledge and friendships.
Master gardeners educate the public about working with plants, types of
soil, plant diseases and pests. We are trained by professionals, and our goal
is to take our information to different groups - children's groups as well as
adults.
We are active in the community with our own Victoria Educational Gardens
(VEG) next to the Officer's Club at the
A terrific lineup of classes is scheduled to begin Aug. 11 from 1 to 5 p.m.
every Thursday into December at the air-conditioned 4-H Activity Center at the
airport. They are only held in the fall. Call the County Extension Office at
361-575-4581 for an application. Return it with a check for $135 by July 29.
The fee covers the cost of the classes plus materials. I think this will be our
best year. You can expect an introduction on the first day, and meet our county
agent, the master gardener president and board members and some of the people
you will be working with. An outline of the classes will be given, and at that
time, you can decide whether or not you want to be in the master gardener
program.
There will be classes on botany, plant propagation, pesticide safety and
application, soils, insects, plant diseases, vegetables and herbs, fruits and
nuts, perennials and roses, plants local in nature and turfgrass
during the 50-hour course. There will also be a new class on environmental
horticulture. A field trip is planned to a nearby gardening destination.
All volunteer organizations have obligations, and ours is no exception. To
be certified, one must complete the 50 hours of classroom training and
volunteer 50 hours of service by assisting with VEG, answering horticultural
phone calls at the Extension office and volunteering on various committees
and/or various approved projects. Those who complete the requirements in
classroom training and volunteer service hours earn their certification. Once
you become certified, you must meet annual training and volunteer hour
re-certification requirements and can attend all the training sessions taught
at following years' classes at no additional expense.
People in the training class often join interns, those who have completed
classroom training, and certified master gardeners in approved projects and
training opportunities. These include field trips, gardening lectures and
monthly membership meetings for fellowship, to learn from others and plan
programs and projects.