Want to improve your gardening skills and share your knowledge with your community? If so, consider applying for the Master Gardener training program. University of California Cooperative Extension of Ventura County (UCCE) will be distributing applications at scheduled Information meetings held in October.
UCCE Master Gardeners are highly trained, certified volunteers who extend horticultural knowledge to home gardeners. These volunteers play a vital role in providing consumers with nonbiased, science-based gardening information.
Each year, Master Gardeners volunteer about 10,000 hours to gardening programs around
Hundreds of
Entrance to the Master Gardener training program is by application and interview only. Qualifications include a desire to expand one's knowledge of horticulture and share gardening skills with the community.
Successful applicants receive six months of comprehensive training by experts in fields including botany, horticulture, soils and fertilizers, irrigation, plant propagation techniques, plant pathology, insects, vegetables, pruning techniques, sustainable landscapes, California natives, integrated pest management, plant diseases and gardening techniques.
Trainees are required to spend 20 of the 80 required volunteer hours participating in hands-on garden learning activities in demonstration and theme gardens located at the UC Hansen Agricultural Center in Santa Paula.
Classes will be held at the UCCE Office in
Reservations for Information meetings can be made by calling the UCCE Office at 645-1450, or by emailing to: Leah Haynes at ljhaynes@ucdavis.edu
Applications will only be available at these meetings. More information is available at the Ventura County Master Gardener's Web site at www.vcmastergardeners.org