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Latah County
> Master Gardener |
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Latah County
Master Gardeners "People Helping
People Grow"
The Master
Gardener Program is open to individuals who have an interest and
some knowledge or skills in basic gardening, ornamental
horticulture, or general plant related topics and who are
available to complete 45 hours of classroom training and the 40
hour volunteer service commitment.
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Master Gardeners are
university-trained volunteers who serve as educators in their
communities. The Master Gardener program originated in Washington
State to enable the Washington State University (WSU) Cooperative
Extension to better serve the public-- specifically home
gardeners.
In the early 1970s, interest in home gardening mushroomed. County
Extension offices were overwhelmed with requests for horticultural
information. Dr. David Gibby, then WSU Cooperative Extension Agent
for King and Pierce counties, recalls that responding to the
demand for information was an "enormous problem." He
tried various methods of reaching the public, including extensive
use of mass media, but each effort sparked an even greater volume
of calls.
Dr. Gibby, Dr. Arlen Davison (a WSU plant pathologist), and other
extension personnel discussed training knowledgeable gardeners to
respond to the demand. Volunteers would receive extensive
horticultural training; in return, they would help the Cooperative
Extension provide the public with information.
The spring and summer of 1972 were busy with brainstorming,
planning, and experimentation. The planning team selected the name
"Master Gardeners" and devised a plan to evaluate the
use of community clinics to provide gardening information to the
public. Articles and publicity flyers announced that several
Saturday clinics would be held at local shopping malls, conducted
by extension agents and specialists. Dr. Gibby notes that at least
250 people came to the first clinic at the Tacoma Mall.
The next steps focused on developing procedures to train
volunteers using WSU Cooperative Extension faculty as instructors.
The first group to be trained came from King and Pierce counties.
Recruitment publicity appeared in several local newspapers and in
Sunset Magazine. Dr. Davison remembers that at least 300 people
applied for the first class. One hundred twenty applicants were
selected and trained in early 1973. Spokane County later trained
another 50. The Master Gardeners were in business. They served
over 7,000 clients that first year.
Today, 2,900 Master Gardeners are at work in Washington State.
Thousands more work across North America as the program spread to
neighboring states and provinces. In 1995, WSU trained Master
Gardeners volunteered 101,335 hours and helped over 314,000
citizens with their gardening problems. The time volunteered by
Master Gardeners was valued at $1,216,020. Master Gardeners
currently operate in 35 of Washington State's 39 counties. Since
the inception of WSU Cooperative Extensions Master Gardener
program, the concept has spread to all 50 states and four Canadian
provinces.
While the main activity of Master Gardeners has been to answer
gardening questions at county Cooperative Extension offices or
community gardening clinics, other opportunities exist for
community service. From the beginning, the program diversified,
reflecting the skills and individuality of the volunteers. Many
Master Gardeners teach gardening classes, others write
horticultural articles, and some operate home pages on the World
Wide Web. Master Gardeners also address important social and
environmental issues in their communities. They educate the public
about the threat that fertilizers and pesticides can pose to water
quality if used improperly. Some have led efforts to re-vegetate
eroded stream banks with native plants. They help reduce the solid
waste problem by teaching people to compost. Master Gardeners
teach children's gardening classes that emphasize environmental
stewardship and human nutrition. Master Gardener demonstration
gardens test new vegetable varieties and donate excess produce to
food banks. In some communities, low-income citizens learn to grow
their own food and become more self-sufficient with the help of
Master Gardeners. The possibilities are unlimited.
As you can see, the Master Gardener program is more than a
horticulture class or a garden club. It is a volunteer program
that enables participants to serve their communities through
horticultural education. It's also promotes personal growth. Not
only do Master Gardeners increase their knowledge of horticulture,
but they can develop communication, management, and leadership
skills that can be used in all aspects of their lives.
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Please contact Rachel
Rausch,(208)
883-2267, at the Latah County Extension Office for more information.
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