Master Gardener Volunteers Wanted
Why Become a Master Gardener?
The Master Gardener program is an all-volunteer organization where you can develop your own leadership and teaching skills while teaching the younger youth about healthy eating, agriculture, and so on! Master Gardeners involve people in activities to improve their general well-being and overall enjoyment of life by helping them find sound management practices for home and urban natural resources, by creating pleasing environments through people-plant interactions and horticultural therapy (园艺疗法), and by contributing to a safe, abundant food supply through home fruit and vegetable production.
What Qualifications Must You Meet?
Anyone can apply to be a Master Gardener—you don't need to be an expert or have a degree. You do, however, need to:
●Have certain experience or know a little about gardening or landscape management.
●Be willing to share horticulture information with others.
●Be willing to attend a training program and can devote time to volunteering and continuing education.
Besides, to become a Master Gardener volunteer, each applicant needs to complete an application, prepare background screening paperwork and schedule an interview with Extension staff.
What Does the Training Involve?
Training sessions are offered one day a week over a three-month period and are led by expert educators in the region. Approximately 60 hours of classroom instruction and field study and 60 hours of volunteer internship (实习) work are required to complete the program and become certified. In order to remain a certified Master Gardener, 30 hours of volunteer work and 10 hours of continuing education or advanced training are required each year.
