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If you are interested in becoming a
Master Gardener, it is recommend that you come to a few
meetings as a guest – get to know the Master Gardeners
and what they are all about. They enjoy having guests attend and often have
several guests at each meeting!
Before you can become a Master Gardener,
you will need to complete 40 hours of training and pass
an examination. Contact the Baxter County Extension
Office at 425-2335 to register and to get more
information. The class is offered once each year in the
fall. A fee is charged which includes the training, the
U of A Master Gardener Handbook and the first year’s
dues for group membership.
Once you have passed the examination, and become a
Baxter County Master Gardener you may use the title
“Master Gardener”. A complete orientation/volunteer
manual will be provided to each new Master Gardener.
Dues
The group collects $10.00 annual dues from each member.
Dues are payable by October 1st of each year. New Master
Gardeners pay their first year’s dues as part of their
tuition.
Volunteer/Re-certification
Hours
NEW Master Gardeners are expected to
volunteer 40 hours of work within one year plus 20
learning hours. These hours are earned between the
period of October 1 through September 30. Fifty percent
of the working hours must be on BCMG sanctioned
projects.
After the first year, members desiring to continue as a
Master Gardener must re-certify. 20 hours of continuing
education activities plus 20 hours of volunteer work are
required yearly for re-certification. Half of these work
hours must be on sanctioned projects.
Hours should be reported to the Timekeeper, on a monthly
basis. Time Record Forms are turned in at the monthly
meeting, mailed to the timekeeper or left at the
Extension Office. Others may e-mail their hours It is
important to report ALL hours — even after they have
reached the required amount. Our total hours are
reported to the state MG office as well as to the
volunteerism coordinator for the local community.
How to Earn Hours
Sanctioned Hours
are earned by working on a Sanctioned Project or Public
Education Event. A description of each sanctioned
project is listed on the Sanctioned Projects page along
with the location and the project coordinators. Work
days are scheduled by the project coordinator. Buddy
messages are sent with instructions regarding tools and
equipment to bring, and what the activity for the day
will be i.e. planting, pruning, and cleanup. Schedules
and descriptions for Sanctioned Public Education Events
are available and many hours can be earned at these
events. Other activities that also qualify for
“sanctioned hours” include attending Master Gardener
meetings (the business portion), MG committee
activities, and mentoring new Master Gardeners.
Other Working Hours
can be earned in a variety of ways. They involve
activities in which you are working to help others:
giving horticulture advice, sharing your gardening
knowledge with others, such as how to take a soil
sample, how to compost, how to prune. You could take on
an individual community service project in a public
place or assist someone not able to do gardening for
themselves. The key is that someone else is receiving
the benefit of your knowledge or activity.
Learning or Continuing Education hours
involve functions in which you are the principal
beneficiary. These hours may include horticultural
subjects covered in classes, seminars or BCMG meetings
(the program portion of monthly meetings); reading
horticultural books or literature; going on garden
tours; watching TV programs related to horticulture;
researching horticulture issues on the Internet; or
listening to radio garden programs as the Garden Show
with Janet Carson. Learning hours and continuing
education are to ensure that Master Gardeners continue
to expand their horticulture knowledge and skills.
If you have any questions about how to become a master
gardener, or any questions about the Baxter County
Master Gardener group, please contact the County
Extension office at 425-2335, the New Member Recruitment
Chair,
Marty Mace, or the BCMG president,
Audrey Holt. |
