Penn State Master Gardeners of Delaware County are recruiting a new class interested in learning scientifically based horticulture practices and sharing their knowledge with the community.
Information sessions about the training program will take place on the evenings of May 12th (in person at the Environmental Center at Smedley Park in Springfield) and on May 13th and 21st (both via Zoom). Those interested in becoming a Master Gardener must attend one of these sessions as part of the application process.
Over a five-month period, Master Gardener trainees receive 40 hours of instruction across a wide variety of topics, including plant botany, native plants, soil science and integrated pest management. In addition, prospective Master Gardeners visit local public gardens and attend several Saturday workshops. Coursework is followed by 50 hours of community volunteer work with other Master Gardeners.
“First and foremost, Master Gardeners are educators,” explained Sam Barnett, co-chair of this year’s recruitment committee. “There’s a time commitment to get up to speed, yet the rewards are many,” he added. “Trainees gain knowledge and expertise, and it is a great way to give back to the community.”
Master Gardener and recruitment co-chair Cindy Kravatz said the information sessions are designed to clarify what a Master Gardener is and what it is not. “For example, we have all sorts of gardeners – flower gardeners, vegetable gardeners and people with container gardens,” she said. “Being a Master Gardener is about constantly learning because best practices can change over time. The beauty of our program is that everyone can develop their own expertise or special niche.”
For more information and to register for one of the three sessions for prospective Master Gardeners, contact Holly Thorpe by email at Hat5041@psu.edu or by phone at 610-690-7669.