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gixxerific
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Is the Master Gardener class worth it

I have a chance here soon to get into a master gardener class put on by my local extension.

Is the class worth all the time and effort put into it?

Thanks

Dono

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ElizabethB
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YES :!:

Not only will you learn more than you have forgotten you will also find new friends that are gardening adicts. Your volunteer hours will greatly benefit you local extension office and provide local home gardeners asistance they would not have otherwise. I like propagation as my volunteer work. When I first went through the program I had a landscaping business and not a lot of time for volunteer work so my job was to record the volunteer hours of the memmbers and post monthly. It was great because I could do that from home. Now I really enjoy working with propagation. We have 2 big plant sales a year. Spring and fall. Working the sales is a lot of fun..

Yes, yes, yes. Sign up as soon as you can.

A wonderful learning opportunity and a way to give back to your community through volunteer work./

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rainbowgardener
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Just to have both sides represented. I keep thinking about it, and deciding no. It is a major commitment, not only of the class but the volunteering afterwards. And you do not get to decide what you want to learn, you have to learn what they teach. And Elizabeth has been an example of exactly what I expected of the Master Gardener class, full of advice about what poisons to use. (Sorry Elizabeth, and I think you are moderating your stance since you've been hanging out here, but when you first showed up that seemed to be your first response much of the time.) That is my sense of the MG class, that it doesn't have much commitment to organic/ natural gardening, native plants, avoiding mono-cultures, etc. even though they do give it as an option. People have been thru MG classes and never heard of Fukuoka, Ruth Stout, and others who espouse the kind of gardening I care about.

Personally, I have spent too many years in school, learning what other people thought I should know. I won't give over control over my learning any more.
Last edited by rainbowgardener on Mon Mar 04, 2013 8:52 am, edited 1 time in total.

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gixxerific
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:lol: What do I know Marlin?

I thought it would be fun to sit in and see how others do it. And to RBG's thoughts I figured it might be more chemical than I want. But maybe I could change some minds while in there.

It is a hell of a commitment 13 day's plus volunteer work I think 10 hours.
But with kids and the amount of stuff I want to do this year it may get too crazy. I will think about it the class actually starts on Wed. :shock:

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LA47
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I also thought about taking the class as it was offered near where I lived in Tx. My sister took it but was not dedicated enough to do the volunteer hours. Another friend took in at the same time as Sis did and ended dropping out 9 months later. I think it depends on the agents (or group) as the main people were friends and gave all the new members the jobs that were in full sun and always alone while they worked together in the shady parks. She gave it all summer thinking that they would accept her when she proved herself but all the newest member slowly dropped out. I would check it out first but at the same time my Sis and friend learned a lot of things in the class.

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gixxerific
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Thanks LA47, that has been thought about as well. Would I make it to the end? I am a bricklayer who works in the heat ALL DAY!!! It's hard enough to get out in my own garden much less someone else's garden. :lol:

I may try it out, if nothing else I will hook up with some like minded gardeners. I could always use more land to sneak in the latest this or that. :wink:

Pssst! I'm just thinking about my seed collection, it may need to be called a seed bank soon. :mrgreen: Somone talk me out of this. LMFAO

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gixxerific
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Than again it would be over for the most part about the 3rd week of May. :idea:)

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gixxerific
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Maybe I can get them to help plant my garden.

C'mon do I have to keep coming up with the ideas here or what? :lol:

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applestar
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Funny, my doctor brought that up. He had been asked to speak on healthy eating and he said he's now seriously thinking about taking the classes. Asked me if I knew about it and was I not interested.

I had pretty much the same response as others -- that the time commitment was a major factor, non-organic methods are non-interest that I don't want to -- uh... waste -- my time or dwindling memory capacity learning, and not sure about the significant amount of volunteer time req. when I have too many things not getting done as it is. A lavender farm/bee keeper MG friend once told me there was a lot of chemical stuff that she's trying to UN-learn. She's the one that had been trying to get me to give talks at their meetings.

Then too, the classes are held at locations about an hour drive away (in bad traffic I might add), so that was an issue as well. I would really have to want it to do that kind of commute any more.

I also have strong affinity with what rainbowgardener said about not letting other people dictate what to learn. I think you learn best in pursuit of what interests you most.

Social aspects are another matter. It's hard to find like minded people and sometimes you just have to reach out and take the chance.

My doctor said he's seriously considering it because he likes that kind of stuff -- [I.e. getting certified] -- he implied that his volunteer work would be specialized in some way.

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applestar
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BTW -- The free PDF's of botany class materials are still there even though they said they will be available until the end of February. So download them while you can if you are interested.

https://helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewt ... 823#289823

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ElizabethB
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There are obvious regional differences in the class duration and the volunteer commitment. In Lafayette La the class is a once a week half day for 8 weeks and 40 volunteer hours the first year. Following years the volunteer hours are 20 per year and a $10 membership fee. The sessions are generally given by Professors or subject experts. An example is tree pruning and preservation. That session is given by a local specialist. He is responsible the care and preservation of some of the historic live oaks in the area.

Yes Rainbow - when I had a landscaping business I used chemicals out of necessity. Homeowners were not interested in or willing to put out the effort to do otherwise. Not s a result of MG training. Although the knowledge about chemicals from the program gave me information on the least hazardous chemicals to use. I am now officially old. I turned 60 last week. I have made and effort to get back to basics in my garden. I have to admit that I still have to use ant poison for the red ants. I tried boiling water, bleach, vinegar and moving ants from one pile to another. Did not work. Other than that I am trying to garden chemical free.

As for Master Gardeners a lot depends on your region and the involvment of your county horticulturalist. We are blessed with an exceptional program. The best parts are the ability to give back to the community and the comradery. I have met and established friendships with wonderful gardening adicts through Master Gardeners.

Regardless of your level of gardening expertise you WILL learn something and you will make lasting friends.

The 2 most rewarding experiences of my life were my years in the Navy/Navy Reserve and Master Gardeners.

If you decide to go through the program it is like all things in life - you will get out of it what you put into it. Take what you like and leave the rest.

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gixxerific
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WOW! well with that said I am very much rethinking it. RBG and Apple both say no. They are my mentors and have reshaped my thinking and taught me a lot, I should listen.

If it was free I would definately do it. But it's $195 and if those things they bring up happen I would hate to just drop it.

I understand it will be what they want to teach, but the thing is there is a LOT I have no idea about. There is NO WAY IN HECK they would ever convert me to their method. I am too bull headed for that, it would be me trying to convert them. 8)

Still thinking about it, it was mentioned a couple times that is a huge responsibilty. They know this too here is aqoute from the flyer they sent me.
The training and volunteer requirement is a substantial time commitment, both in and out of class. Please be sure this volunteer activity fits your schedule. If in doubt, you can always apply in future years.
It's funny but I keep seeing the word volunteer, since when did volunteering cost money?

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gixxerific
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Elizabeth brings up good points too. -wall-

Of course you know the more you tell me NO! the more I want to do it right?

We do have a really awesome Extension here.

Here is the link https://extension.missouri.edu/stcharles ... ining.aspx

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ElizabethB
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One of my sisters is the class moderator. I went through the program in 2001. I asked her about the current curriculum. There is much more focus on organic, natural and native gardening than there was so many years ago. As an active member I can audit the classes and plan to do so this fall when the sessions start. I can never learn enough. You folks have changed my thinking in many ways. I thank you. I look forward to sitting in on the new and revised MG program. I will learn much and will be able to contribute much.

cynthia_h
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Just for...fun :wink:, I looked up the Master Gardeners (again) for my county. After some digging, I finally found this page.

Here's the core paragraph:

"Master Gardeners undertake a intensive training program that offers a practical course in plant science and horticulture. In Contra Costa, the Master Gardener Training Program is offered once a year in the fall and winter months, rotating between East, West and Central Contra Costa locations. [Note: I live in West County; the drive time to East can be 2 hours one way.] This intensive course of study comprises over 75 hours of classroom and field training and covers the field of horticulture from basic botany to plant pathology. Topics include soil science, irrigation and water conservation, weeds, diseases, insects, integrated pest management, edible gardening (vegetables, fruits & nuts), turf, landscape trees and ornamentals, and more."

I have no idea how many volunteers the Master Gardener program can accept at one time, or how much the training costs (yes, I've paid in the past for volunteer training; anyone taken a First Aid or CPR course lately?). The website doesn't say.

Reservations are being taken *now* for the orientation sessions to be held Fall 2013/Winter 2014; the most recent session just ended Friday, March 1, 2013.

Things do appear to have improved slightly for West County since my post a few months ago about California extension services. A couple of "one-off" appearances by Master Gardeners show up this spring, one at a Richmond Health Fair and another at an elementary school close by.

The classes seem to have been decreased somewhat in intensity; I read a write-up a few years ago which said that the training classes were all day, every day, for maybe four weeks (!), then the test, then the required volunteer hours. :shock:

No idea about California Master Gardeners vs. chemicals/organic gardening, but the language elsewhere in the page whose url I provided above does say "Projects range from staffing the free advice helpline to teaching the community about less toxic approaches to garden and home pest control." [bold added]

Cynthia H.
Sunset Zone 17, USDA Zone 9

lily51
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ElizabethB wrote:YES :!:

Not only will you learn more than you have forgotten you will also find new friends that are gardening adicts. Your volunteer hours will greatly benefit you local extension office and provide local home gardeners asistance they would not have otherwise. I like propagation as my volunteer work. When I first went through the program I had a landscaping business and not a lot of time for volunteer work so my job was to record the volunteer hours of the memmbers and post monthly. It was great because I could do that from home. Now I really enjoy working with propagation. We have 2 big plant sales a year. Spring and fall. Working the sales is a lot of fun..

Yes, yes, yes. Sign up as soon as you can.

A wonderful learning opportunity and a way to give back to your community through volunteer work./
I agree with Elizabeth and more. The range of topics was so much more than I expected, the speakers were excellent. There is just so much out there to learn.

As for some of the negative comments, some from people who have never taken the class, these are opinions based on a perception of theirs, not what the class or people in it are actually like.

I would encourage you to look into it if it's something you' wanted to do.

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applestar
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I would never tell someone not to do something they wanted to do.
I want to be clear that what I said was that it didn't seem "worth it" to me given my situation and accessibility of the program -- and yes classes are available at two different locations even in this little state and I live 1-1/2 hrs away from one and 55 min (in good traffic but its a major commuter traffic route so hardly ever good :roll:) from the other.

Those of you that have been members here for a while know I take on learning gardening experiments which interest me, that I dubb "new project!" and typically span several months. Each of these have meant hours of on-line research and "conversations" with experienced gardeners -- not necessarily with degrees but who have tried it before and have some advice to share. Depending on the subject, I may also seek additional hands on sources of information. And then I actually try out these techniques. I often share my experience and results with members of this forum in case anyone else is interested. I get obsessed with them at times and go way overboard but I always enjoy the process and come away with new knowledge that I have practical use for, securely stored away in my head.

These may in fact, take up more of my time than a MG course program, but I'm enthused and invigorated by the experience -- I.e. I have a lot of fun while doing them -- because I'm pursuing specific topic that interest me at the time.... But people learn in different ways, and ALL of them are right and NONE of them are wrong. You just have to identify what works for you best. :wink:

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KeyWee
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Another "yes" vote here. Of course, you don't get to choose the topics but you CAN take from them what you will and disregard what is of no use to you. Also, in asking many questions, you will learn what you need to learn.
Our MG program (western KY, 13 weeks, merely $80) was packed full of interesting topics and wonderfully qualified speakers (UK Princeton). I was completely impressed, and although I did not come away a gardening genius, I learned a LOT.
I did not feel that they advocated the use of chemicals but we DID learn about them in order to offer choices and make informed decisions. While some kinder methods may work for some (people will tell me to pick Japanese beetles off of affected plants and drown them) when you are dealing with 12 acres, it's not always the do-able choice.
As far as the volunteer hours, they go fast. We are able to include our meeting time so it adds up. First year 30 hours, after that just 10.
Good luck with YOUR decision!

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rainbowgardener
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Just because this conversation is still going on, I looked in to my local program a little more. I couldn't find on line any info about where the training is held or what the cost is, I would have to call someone. The next training is offered in Sept this year (interestingly at the same time as the International Master Gardener Conference, so I guess our local trainers aren't going to that). The program is 50 hours of instruction and then requires 50 volunteer hours in the following year. To maintain your certification requires " completing 20 additional hours of public service and 6 hours of advanced educational training each year."

It gives a list of topics covered:

Basic Botany
Plant Physiology
Soils and Soil Fertility
Basic Entomology
Basic Plant Pathology
Plant Disease Diagnosis
Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
Pesticide Use and Safety
Plant Identification
Home Lawn Care
Annuals
Perennials
Bulbs
Trees and Shrubs
Home Vegetable Production
Home Fruit Production
Backyard Wildlife Management
Organic Gardening
Herbs
Wildlife
Special topics, based on local needs, may be part of the curriculum.

It says you have to pass a criminal background check in order to be accepted in to the program. It is possible I wouldn't be accepted, since I have a pretty extensive history of misdemeanor arrests for peace demonstrations. No felonies though, so I don't know what they count.

Anyway, not saying anything about what anyone else should do. My time is full enough and I spent so many years in graduate school studying what I was told to study. I'm not going to take on learning more of what other people want me to learn, some of which I could probably teach already and some of which I'm not interested in learning. Certainly some of it would be new and interesting, but as long as I control my own learning, I can focus on that. I am learning every day, here and by reading and by doing...

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Ozark Lady
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A criminal background check to take a gardening course? One that you pay for in $$$ and in volunteer time? So odd to me.

I have seen that at jobs and at church for working with the kiddos, that I understand. But, plants don't want to be around a "criminal", that I don't understand.

Oh, I just got it, a thief might rob a seed bank?

A burglar might burglarize a greenhouse?

I don't get it...

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gixxerific
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Good one OL. :lol:

I have a BAD police record felonies and all. They don't care around here. Just wait till I rob their bank. :lol:

Well I want to thank everyone for their opinons either yay or nay. That is what a discussion is, the sharing of deas, wheter they be the same or not.

I understand all the points that have been made. Which is why I was up in the air about it. I decided to give it a go. What the hey right. It won't kill me and I might even make a big impact on them. Thinking about being able to learn what you want when you want is great and I do that all the time. But I can earn some knowledge in a garden with other actual people rather than from sitting in front of a computer that is a bounus. Plus I will be out in nature doing what I love.

Not sure if you know but Missouri University has an exceptional horitculture dept. The extinsion is great as well. I have been there several times. Nice place with a great demonstration garden.

We shall see how this goes but I have wanted to do this for along time and now is the time.

Dono :D

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applestar
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Sounds good, Gixx. Let us know how it goes. :D

lily51
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Ozark Lady wrote:A criminal background check to take a gardening course? One that you pay for in $$$ and in volunteer time? So odd to me.

I]Oh, I just got it, a thief might rob a seed bank?[/I] LOL :D



I don't get it...


THis is due to the volunteer aspect of Master Gardeners. You could be working anywhere with the public, including children, so that's how it is in Ohio. Fjor example, I helped with a kids summer class on plants, there are several community gardens includeing one at an elementary scshool, we have information booths at the fair and other events, we do tours for people of all ages....

And it is an extension program, state funded.

It could be overprotection, but I'm a retiree that grew up when these things weren't necessary. We have to change with the times.

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LA47
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I was just stating what had happened. I did state that the people that did take the class learned a lot and that I would check into it. It is not an option for me now as I live over 60 miles from the nearest class.

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ElizabethB
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Gix - glad you decided to follow through. There were some years when I was an inactive member - just too busy with other things. Once things slowed down all it took was paying my dues and doing my volunteer hours to estabilish myself as an active member. There are a couple of feed and seed stores and several retail nurseries that offer a discout to MGs. There are also 3 wholesale nurseries that will sell wholesale to MG members. Added incentive.

Regarding the volunteer hours. I don't remember the specifics of the first year other than 40 hours. Some of that was required to be spent answering the phones at the extension office for home gardener questions. Following years the phone duty is 8 hours per year. Other than that MGs get to choose their volunteer work.

This spring our association is pushing to get inactive members involved again. Over the next 3 months class reunions will be held. Our program started in 98. J and P (my sisters) attended in 2000. I went through the program in 2001. The three of us are hosting a reunion for the 98, 99, 00, and 01 classes.

I think you will enjoy the experience. If not - oh well. Becomeinactive after the first year. You can always come back. Once a Master Gardener - always a Master gardener.

Enjoy



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