[Image: Louisiana Master Gardener Association]Who Wants to be a Master Gardener?
The Louisiana Master Gardener program is a service and educational activity offered by the LSU AgCenter/Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service. The program is designed to recruit and train volunteers to help meet the educational needs of home gardeners while providing an enjoyable and worthwhile service experience for volunteers.
Experienced and beginning gardeners seeking up-to-date horticultural information can advance their gardening expertise and gain self-satisfaction through volunteer efforts. The volunteer aspect of the Master Gardener program allows individuals to dedicate their time and talents to enhancing the quality of life for citizens of their communities by using the science and art of horticulture. It allows individuals to put into practice what they know and learn.
Master Gardeners should be interested in horticulture, willing to help people, outgoing, flexible, dependable, unbiased and open-minded. Previous volunteer work and good verbal skills are desirable. As a trainee in the Master Gardener program, you must attend at least 80 percent of scheduled instruction, pass an open-book examination and volunteer for a minimum of 40 hours of service to earn the title of Louisiana Master Gardener.
Classes will begin on March 10, 2009, and conclude on May 25, 2009; however, a graduation ceremony will take place on a date thereafter. The class sessions will be held on Tuesday of each week from 5:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. in Lomax Hall on Louisiana Tech University’s campus.
The Master Gardener program is open to all people regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion or national origin. There will be a course fee of $100 per person, which covers the cost of the Master Gardener Manual, other printed material and a Master Gardener name badge, as well as refreshments.
Individuals interested in becoming a Louisiana Master Gardener should call the Lincoln Parish Cooperative Extension Office, a branch of the LSU AgCenter, at (318) 251-5134, or stop by 201 N. Vienna St. in Ruston, La., to pick up an application. Applications will be taken until the class is filled.