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Helping You Put Knowledge To Work
MASTER GARDENER VOLUNTEER PROGRAM
The Washington State University Master Gardener program grew out of the need for county agents to respond to the growing interest in home gardening. Several county agents in Washington State trained the first Master Gardeners in the nation almost 40 years ago. Today the program operates with trained volunteers working in communities to teach good gardening and environmental stewardship practices.
Over 300 Master Gardeners volunteer in Snohomish County donating more than 29,000 hours of volunteer time in 2012. Each winter a new class of approximately 50 volunteers is trained.
Training involves approximately 80 hours of classroom and workshop instruction held once a week every Thursday during January, February and March.
Classes are held at the Extension Office at 600 128th Street in South Everett generally from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Homework averaging 3-5 hours a week during training includes reading the
Master Gardener Manual and studying other course
material online.
Training focuses on familiarization and learning how to use resources to research, educate, mentor, and answer horticulture questions for the general public. With that in mind,
all quizes and exams are open book.
Tuition for this extensive training program was $245 for the Class of 2013 to cover the direct costs--which include the online training component, training DVD, equipment,
publications, materials and speaker fees--and a minimum volunteer commitment of 50 hours each year for two years working
on designated MG programs (100 hours total). Applications for the next training class will be available by Sept. 1, 2013, at the Extension Office and online here.
Cost of the training
without the volunteer commitment is $745 for a limited number of tuition-only students, which are usually, but not limited to,
horticultural professionals
who don't have the time for volunteering.
For more information, visit these links:
The Master Gardener Program Or contact:
Master Gardener Program Brochure
Extension 'Cord on the Master Gardener Program
History of the Master Gardener Program
Washington State University Master Gardener Program web site
Washington State University Master Gardener Program Handbook
Snohomish County Master Gardener Foundation web site
Howard
Voland, Master Gardener Program Coordinator
(updated 01-01-11)
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