Who are Master Gardeners?
Master Gardeners are members of the local community who take an active interest in their lawns, trees, shrubs, flowers, and gardens. More importantly they volunteer to share that information with you, in conjunction with the Texas AgriLife Extension Service. What really sets Master Gardeners apart from other home gardeners is their special training in horticulture. In exchange for their training, people who become Master Gardeners contribute time as volunteers, working through their AgriLife Extension office to provide horticultural-related information to their communities. Master Gardeners do not know all the answers, but do know how to find the answers!
Is the Master Gardener Program for You?
To help you decide if you should apply to be a Master Gardener, ask yourself these questions:
* Do I want to learn more about the culture and maintenance of many types of plants?
* Am I eager to participate in a practical and intense training program?
* Do I look forward to sharing my knowledge with people in my community?
* Do I have enough time to attend training and to complete the volunteer service?
If you answered Yes to these questions, the Master Gardener program could be for you!
Master Gardener Certification
Certification as a Master Gardener involves:
* Minimum of 60 hours of instruction by local horticultural experts and state Extension specialists
* Minimum of 50 hours of volunteer service within the first year of completing your formal instruction. Of these 50 hours, a minimum of 25 hours must be onsite at the Green Acres Demonstration Gardens, including 8 hours at the Extension Office Answer Desk.
* Pass an exam (open book) administered by Extension.
To retain your certification, each subsequent year you will volunteer a minimum of 20 hours on projects designed to increase availability of horticultural and natural resource information in the community, and take 10 hours of Continuing Education. Annual dues are $15, payable by Dec. 15 for the following year.
2009 Training Class Information
The Aransas/San Patricio Master Gardener Training Class generally runs from the first week in August until the first week in December each year. The class usually meets on Tuesdays from 1:30 -5:00 PM at the Aransas County Library, 701 E. Mimosa, Rockport TX.
Information Session, Thursday, July 28, 2009 At this session, you will learn about the Master Gardener organization and its activities including the upcoming 2009 Master Gardener Class; then register for the 2009 class if you are interested. The 2009 class is limited to 20 people. Tuition is $175 ($50 refunded upon certification). Classes are Tuesdays, 1:30-5:00 P.M. starting on 11 Aug through Dec 1. A complete 2009 schedule can be found here.
Contact the AgriLife Extension Service, Aransas County Office at 361-790-0103, by email at aransas-tx@tamu.edu, or in person at 611 E. Mimosa, Rockport, TX for more details about the 2009 class.
Meet the Aransas/San Patricio Master Gardeners
Visit Green Acres, home of the Aransas/San Patricio Master Gardeners and the Texas AgriLife Extension Service, Aransas County Office, 611 E. Mimosa, Rockport, TX. Green Acres is a public demonstration garden designed, planted and maintained by Aransas/San Patricio Master Gardener volunteers that showcases plant materials and landscape schemes suitable for the Coastal bend.
You will find Aransas/San Patricio Master Gardeners at Green Acres and at local Master Gardener horticulture educational events sponsored throughout the year such as Brown Bags, Seminars, Classes, Plant Sales and the annual Hidden Gardens Tour.
