SLO County Master Gardeners encourage a progressive, integrated and environmentally responsible attitude toward all aspects of gardening, including pest management landscaping, and home food production. The University of California Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Program is a voluntary educational program. The purpose is to teach people more about home horticulture and to share research-based information produced by the University with the public. The Master Gardener role is primarily that of “educator”. A Master Gardener is a specially trained Cooperative Extension volunteer who has completed a comprehensive home horticulture training program under the supervision of the Cooperative Extension horticulture advisor. In turn, each volunteer agrees to donate time assisting with educating the gardening public through such activities as answering gardening questions on their telephone “helpline”, a weekly newspaper column, seminars and educational programs, children’s gardening programs, informational booths at Farmers Markets and SLO Botanical Garden events, and various other community outreach projects.