Success StoryTraining New Master Gardener Volunteers



Training New Master Gardener Volunteers

Author: Kelly Jackson

Planning Unit: Christian County CES

Major Program: Master Gardener

Plan of Work: Endorsing Environmental Stewardship and Promoting Green Living

Outcome: Initial Outcome

The Christian County Master Gardener Program is an outstanding opportunity to develop community horticulture volunteers. To become a certified Master Gardener volunteer, participants must complete a minimum 13-week training, which consists of 24 hours of core subject courses including Cooperative Extension/Volunteerism, Botany, Soils, Plant Pathology, Entomology, and Pesticides/Pesticides Safety/Environmental Issues. They must also pass a final exam with a seventy-five percent score and volunteer forty hours of service. From September to December of 2021, a Master Gardener class was conducted at the Christian County Extension Office; fourteen participants completed their coursework and passed their final exam. At the end of the training, the new class of Master Gardeners was given a survey regarding the program. 71% of those who took the survey indicated a knowledge gain on integrated pest management methods for plant problems. 93% stated they felt confident in teaching recommended gardening practices to other home gardeners. Several attendees noted they would begin soil testing and making improvements to their soil because of the course.






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