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MASTER GARDENER PRE-ORIENTATION has been rescheduled!
The last pre-orientation has been re-scheduled for Thursday, January 26th from 5:30pm to 7pm at the WSU Extension office. See below application packet for directions.
Questions? Email Cori at carltoc@co.thurston.wa.us
WSU Master Gardener Program
of Thurston County
"Cultivating Plants, People and Communities since 1973"
Statement of Purpose
To provide public education in gardening and home horticulture based on researched-based information from WSU Extension.
About the Program
The Washington State University Extension faculty in King and Pierce counties began training volunteers to serve as WSU Master Gardeners in January 1973. Little did they realize that they would launch an entire "Master Gardener Movement" which would spread across the nation and world, making it a historic, sociological "grassroots" movement with widespread impact. It is considered a premier program within Washington State University, being that only uniquely WSU program with such widespread adoption and impact.
The WSU Master Gardener Program is a combination of training and public service. WSU Master Gardener volunteers provide professional, unbiased, researched-based home gardening and horticulture information to the public. In order to prepare volunteers for this role, WSU Thurston County Extension trains committed gardeners in basic botany, integrated pest management, soil science, plant identification, pest and disease diagnosis, and more. Master Gardeners are not paid for their community service, nor are they allowed to use their status for personal/business gain.
Organizational Structure
Guidance for the WSU Master Gardener Program is provided by faculty and staff from the WSU Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, in close cooperation with the WSU Extension. The WSU State Master Gardener office and coordinator is located in Spokane. Within each county, the County WSU Extension office supervises the Master Gardener Program.
The WSU Master Gardener Program also participates in both regional and international Master Gardener conferences and committees and networks with other state coordinators across the United States and Canada.
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WSU Master Gardener Training Background Information
There is a perception that to become a WSU Master Gardener you must know everything about gardening. This is unrealistic and untrue. To be a WSU Thurston County Master Gardener you must have gardening experience, but more importantly you must have the commitment to be a life-long learner and sharer of information.
This program offers gardeners opportunities to gain personal gardening knowledge, but our primary focus is to develop community educators. Once trained, Master Gardener volunteers help deliver messages related to:
- water-wise gardening
- growing your own food
- diagnosing plant diseases
- identifying insects/pests etc.
- low-impact landscaping
We provide a number of different venues, including demonstration gardens, community booths and question/answer clinics, through which volunteers deliver these messages. The WSU Master Gardener training will also teach you how to access even more resources for those subjects you may not know too much about. You will become one of 200+ Thurston County WSU Master Gardeners who have very diverse backgrounds of gardening expertise and interests. As a result of this diversity, you will have fun learning from one another while making lifelong friendships.
It is important that applicants understand two guiding principles of the Master Gardener program.
- The program is based on research findings related to the horticultural topics. When providing information to the public volunteers we use only research vetted material.
- While pesticides are discussed throughout our entire training program, it is important to note that these are only considered as a last approach for the control of pests when using the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) process. Through IPM we will take a look at biological and cultural controls as the primary option for pest and disease control. You must agree with the IPM process to be a WSU Master Gardener. The IPM process will be explained at pre-orientation sessions.
WSU Master Gardener Training Details
For the first time since 2003 the training classes will be held on alternating Tuesday/Thursday evenings and on one Saturday morning per month. This training format is only for 2012 and will return in 2013 to daytime Friday classes. So don’t delay and apply today if the evening/Saturday format works with your schedule. Classes will be held at South Puget Sound Community College-main campus in Olympia.
To be considered for one of the limited training spots you must complete an application and attend a pre-orientation session.
Pre-orientation sessions are held at the Thurston County Extension Office in West Olympia, directions are included in the application packet. At these sessions you will learn what it takes to be a WSU Master Gardener. This includes program expectations as well as all the benefits you will receive being a WSU Master Gardener. The following sessions will allow you to see if the WSU Master Gardener Program is a right fit for you.
No pre-registration needed.
- January 26th from 5:30pm to 7:00pm at the WSU Extension office-see application packet for directions.
Upon acceptance into the program a $275 class fee will be collected. This fee covers all training materials and field trips. For those in need see the application packet for more information on scholarships and payment plans.
To download an application please click here.
2012 MG Application ext.pdf
Applications are due by Friday, January 20, 2012.
Please direct questions to Cori Carlton at 360-867-2162 or carltoc@co.thurston.wa.us
Additional Program Information
If you are interested in receiving a once-monthly update from the WSU Master Gardener listserv, send your name and email to Cori at carltoc@co.thurston.wa.us or call 360-867-2162.
"Like" us on Facebook-WSU Master Gardener Program of Thurston County
Blog: wsumgtc.wordpress.com
*You do NOT have to be a WSU Master Gardener to follow the postings on our Facebook or Blog pages. We post interesting gardening information on both of these sites a couple times a month.
Extension programs and employment are available to all without discrimination. Evidence of noncompliance may be reported through your local Extension office. All programs comply with federal, state, and county regulations.
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