2012 Thurston County WSU Master Gardener Volunteer Training

Washington State University Thurston County Extension is currently accepting applications for its 2012 Master Gardener volunteer training.

The WSU Master Gardeners of Thurston County is a volunteer service program. 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 lifelong 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, WSU Master Gardener volunteers help deliver messages to the citizens of Thurston County related to water-wise gardening, how to grow your own food, low-impact landscaping, diagnosing plant diseases, identifying insects/pests etc. 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 part of over 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.

IMPORTANT: 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.

To be considered for one of the 70 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.xxx

• October 18th from 5:30pm to 7:00pm
• October 28th from 5:30pm to 7:00pm
• November 10th from 5:30pm to 7:00pm
• November 29th from 5:30pm to 7:00pm
• December 7th from 5:30pm to 7:00pm