Applause, Treehugger! Teaching in prisons is especially impressive.

And thank you, you convinced me that I should try for the WA MG program after I retire.

Staff the phones? Only if some miracle teaches me how to give short answers.

I completed our county's Master Gardener program about 7 years ago, while I was (and still am) working full time. The biggest challenge for me was finding a time that my work travel schedule didn't interfere with the class schedule, as we are not permitted to miss a class.

Our county requires our MG interns to do 35 volunteer hours before they become a MG. I realize that is less than some areas. The other thing that helps me is that our MG assocation is huge--we are 335 members strong, and have something close to 50 approved projects/committees that are approved for our volunteer hours. If you work, it is easy to find activities in the evenings or weekends. I manage to be the chairperson for one of our demonstration beds at the fairgrounds, and my committee members know that our workdays will be evenings and weekdays. I still have 45 people on my committee in spite of that limitation. Our county also permits us to submit volunteer hours that are performed in adjacent counties, as long as the greater portion of your volunteer hours are performed in the county of your education.

Regarding the "chemical" discussion (which I admittedly did not read all of).....the only restriction placed upon us is that we observe/make no recommendations outside of the product labeling. Our land grant university is Purdue...however, the county I reside is is mainly homeowners, rather than large agricultural concerns. Big difference in recommendations. Our group has many thoughts on this subject, and we each manage our gardens according to our beliefs. But, we cannot impose our "beliefs" upon the public....only the facts.

I think the MG program is a huge benefit to our community. Our group donates ~15,000 volunteer hours within our county each year, and I am very proud to be a part of that. I continue to learn and become a better gardener because of the great foundation this program has given me.

Stepping off my soap box now....


Linda

RickCorey said:Only if some miracle teaches me how to give short answers.

I saw you make a comment on another thread that didn't even take up an entire line. I thought someone hacked your account.

Just a thought for the OP, Gardenliz - you can go through horticultural programs without doing the Master Gardener thing. There are even distance education/online courses one can take which might be an advantage with small kids (unless you prefer to go to classes to get a break!). Depends if you're thinking of being an MG because you're already knowledgeable enough and wish to share, or are interested in a way to get some formal horticultural training.

Horntoad said:

I saw you make a comment on another thread that didn't even take up an entire line. I thought someone hacked your account.

Zing! Too true.

I became a Master Gardener in 1982. It was the second year they offered it in Georgia. At that time the professors from the University of Georgi came over to teach it. Now, Master Garderners do a lot of the teaching.
About chemicals . Chemicals are really old school and I am sure that chemical companies support the University's programs. It will change - look at all the "eat local" and "non GMO" and organic Farmers Markets that are thriving. Big AG will have to change too. If you are a Master
Gardener, you come in contact with a lot of people. If you know organic - tell them about organic!
About the 50-60 hours. I think you have a year to do that.
Benefits - you learn a lot. And you hook up with other people that are gardeners. I have made some very good friends through MG.

All good points, Laura. All our courses were presented by PhD's, either with the Extension Service of Mississippi State University. They are held on the MSU campus and videoed all across the state.

I just looked up Master Gardener because I'd never heard the term. Unfortunetly the course doesn't exist on Long Island, NY

I did go to a college that taught horticulture and botany but it only allowed certain GPA to take them which I didn't quite manage so I wasn't able to take the courses. They have their own greenhouse and botanical gardens. Farmingdale college in Farmingdale, NY very well known and close to my location.

Keith, check this out.

http://www.limastergardener.co...

Keith, here is one:
http://ccesuffolk.org/gardenin...

Thank you both, the original site only showed a location upstate ny, good to know there are some nearby.

I apologize this is taking us away from the original question a bit...
@keithp2012, The link that drdawg provided is a group calling themselves "Long Island Master Gardeners" and not every member has taken the required courses/classes to become certified as a "Master Gardener". You could fill out an application and pay your dues to join and meet lots of experienced gardeners in the Long Island area.

GardenLiz, perhaps there is a similar active gardening group in your area that you could join now, while the children are still young, and you can take the official Master Gardeners course later when you have more free time?

You are correct, Greene, this organization is an amalgam (I haven't used that word in a long time ) of certified Master Gardeners and interested gardeners. Personally, I like them doing this and wish our Extension Service would do the same. Being in a small town, there are just not a lot of us Master Gardeners and though we do a lot of volunteering, I think bringing "gardeners" into the fold would make us an even better group.

"this organization is an amalgam (I haven't used that word in a long time")

let me guess -- since you were doing fillings??

I agree that that would be a great idea -- I think it would also get more of those "interested gardeners" more interested in becoming Master Gardeners.

Yes, I agree also, it would certainly make a lot of sense to me.

Interesting....our Master Gardeners Association is an independent, non-profit group that is separate from becoming a certified Master Gardener. You may choose to join the association to take part in the many, many actitivies we support that are approved for projects that count toward your required MG hours each year. Our association works closely with our county education (formerly called Extension Agent) to determine which community project will be approved MG projects. The cost to join our assocation is only $10/year, and we provide all of the education hours needed on an annual basis for recertification. Our association does not allow non MG members to attend most meetings or participate in MG programs. We do offer educational programs on a yearly basis where non-MG can attend.


Our fundraising activities go toward supporting the community activities and gardens we are approved for, and we also provide 5-$3000 scholarships for college and post-grad students studying agriculture or horticulture programs and reside within our county.

I find it really interesting to hear how the different associations operate.

Though I fully retired in 2011, my last amalgam filling was done in 1990.

LOL, Ken -- I think that's pretty close to the time I received my last amalgam filling

Linda -- I agree; there certainly is a lot of variation from state to state (maybe even county to county?)