Hello everyone, Hope all of you had a great Christmas, Has any of you heard of the Master Gardening Program I have been looking into it to learn some more about gardening it's a 12 week program it starts Jan. 9th. I'm a little nervous about it, after it's over they want you to voluteer at different places and teach people what you learned,I'm not real good at standing in front of people and talk.I just thought if you all knew anything about it, I might feel better, I'm a big chicken, they have test and oh my GOSH What have I got my self into? Thank you Margie :-? moderator's note: added a more descriptive title to topic
There are Master Gardener programs and classes in every state in the US and some in Canada too. Giving talks is not the only way to teach, you can teach others what you learned by helping at a community garden or children's garden at a school, volunteering at the local extension office to help answer plant questions for people who call them, create demonstrations on different gardening projects. But yes you are required to put in a certain number of volunteer hours or you lose your MG status.
Margie, talk to some of the Master Gardeners who have been members of the group you are thinking of joining. See what they are giving and getting out of their experience. The only experience I've had with the MGs was a group in Central Texas, who sold plants several times a year, but did very little volunteer work in the community. We taught a class on Native Plants for that group, and saw the curriculum. It was an overview of lots of topics, and the graduated MG was expected to specialize in an area. Speaking to groups was not required. As Toni said, there are lots of other volunteer opportunities. Find out the hour requirements and think if you can fit them into your schedule. Also find out the tuition. The group we encountered charged about $200 for the course. If it fits your needs, and your budget, go for it. I'm sure you would be the star of the class!
I dont mind doing the volunterring I would pull weeds or anything I am just not good on talking to a group. But did you learn a lot in the class,what all did you all do I really want to learn more and I thought this is a good time to do it.The cost is 125.00 for 12 weeks. Is it hard. Sorry for so many questions, |Thank you Nargie
Margie, I'm sure you wouldn't be required to speak to groups if you didn't want to. I did not take the MG course, but we taught a section on Native Plants for several years during the MG training, and became familiar with the curriculum. I didn't see that the classes taught anything that couldn't be gleaned from a couple of good gardening books. There were too many topics covered in too little depth. If you are seriously considering taking the MG course, talk to a couple of people who have completed it. Also, ask to take a look at the curriculum. Also ask what volunteer opportunities are available. I have the feeling the MG groups vary widely, and I hope you can get into a good one.
I didn't take the course either. I did attend a 5 class gardening course at the local community college that was taught by 5 different MG's a few years ago and I have read the curriculum for an MG course in west Texas. The MG's who taught that course each specialized in one particular aspect of gardening,....creating an oriental type garden, rain water collecting, composting, roses and shade gardening. But again, what they taught was very basic information and easily learned in good books. But like Jane suggested, check out the local groups. Call the university that is sponsoring the program in your area and talk to the director about what they teach and possibly you can find an MG in your area to visit with.
Hi Margie, Hope your Christmas was great too. I did the Master Gardener training in 2005 at the University here. It was a 12 week course, and then 40 hours of volunteering. I enjoyed the training, and it was a good "networking" for all of us. It has lead me to a lot of work opportunities. I did learn a lot, but some of the course content was info that most experienced gardeners already know. I think it is a way to get people who love gardening to be involved with their community and help with schools, churches, community gardens, and the like. The volunteering was sort of tough to find time for, I was a very busy girl that spring!
Good for you!!!! I thought I wanted to do that too but I didn't realize the cost was so high I visited with one of our customers when I noticed the HUGE binder she was packing around. Her response to my questions made me really glad I didn't sign up for the program. Sadly, our little town if chock full of politics :'( . She told me she regretted paying for the class because of the childish clicks. Good Grief , these are adults for crying out loud! Any hoo, I think it would be an awesome experience :-D If nothing else at least you'd meet one heck of a network I'd like to join a garden club, kind of like The Stew where everyone is friendly, you learn some really cool things, can visit and eat cookies
When showing pictures when getting massage on shoulder.Lady said I should take a course.But I don't even know all my flowers names.I can talk in front of people. But the number of hours to volunteer.-wanted 30 hours a month. The garden club- 75% had no gardens.
Garden clubs in Texas are a hoot! Their members are ladies who have "little men" who do their gardens and the closest they personally get to greenery is ordering an arrangement from the florist. My husband and I were asked to do a presentation on "Gardening for Wildlife" to a garden club, so we jumped at the chance. We showed up with different kinds of bird feeders and food; pictures of little habitats like brush piles and snags; and had a toad house to give as a door prize. The garden clubbers were horrified! "You WANT toads in your garden? They're icky!" "Birds are SO-O-O messy." "Don't those brush piles and dead trees attract BUGS?" We left with our tails tucked between our legs. The next garden club invitation we got we did a presentation on "Cooking with Herbs" and just gave them food. That worked out much better.
And they all want those beautiful butterflies but insist that the gardener spray all of those nasty caterpillars that are eating up the plants.
I was always going to join but my gardens keep me busy enough and I wanted to make sure they were taken care of first. Good luck if you join and have a nice time. I have seen a couple ladies gardens in a few groups and I can see that they were not spending enough time in them. Weeds galore.
