Cornell University | Cornell Cooperative Extension

Master Gardener Program
Jessica L. Spence, Master Gardener Coordinator
jls233@cornell.edu

www.gardening.cornell.edu

Gardening Articles written by Yates County Master Gardeners
Fall is just around the corner... do you know how to prepare your flower and vegetable gardens for the unusually cold, snowy winter that is being predicted by the Farmers' Almanac?
If not, call the Master Gardener Hotline!
315-536-5123
 
The Master Gardener Program is a national program of trained volunteers who work in partnership with their county Cooperative Extension offices to extend gardening information to the local community. Over 1,500 volunteer Master Gardeners in New York State contribute educational services to meet the outreach mission of Cornell, influencing many thousands of consumers on horticultural issues.

Up to their elbows in dirt, Master Gardeners see soil as the base for germination of seeds destined to become beautiful plants, blooming in their maturity. So in turn Master Gardeners have cultivated their involvement in the community with hope of creating an ideal growing medium for Yates County youth.

Recently, the Master Gardeners sponsored a staff member from the Keuka Lake School to attend the Greener Beginnings conference at Cornell University. The conference focused on gardening activities for school children. This has led to a collaboration where Master Gardener volunteers work with teachers and students from the school in hands-on horticultural education. This continues a tradition of working with youth for the Master Gardeners. Other activities include an intergenerational holiday workshop, the maintenance of the Penn Yan mini-park with Penn Yan FFA, and the Dundee Interactive Gardening club.

Highlights

  • There are approximately 20 active volunteers in Yates County that are trained as Master Gardeners in a twelve-week intensive course and in return, provide 60 hours or more of horticulture community services.
  • Hundreds of home horticulture questions are researched and answered by Master Gardeners each year.
  • The Master Gardeners plan and host the Annual Yates County Yard N' Garden Day in April with attendance of more than 60 people.
  • The Master Gardeners maintain several community and school gardens such as the NAMI Garden (in conjunction with the clients at the Behavioral Health Center) and the garden at the Keuka Lake School.
  • Once per month Master Gardeners contribute a gardening or plant related article to the Extension Corner Column in the Chronicle Express.
  • The Master Gardeners host a plant sale at The Windmill in June to raise awareness about the program and generate income to support Master Gardener reference materials.

If you have a gardening question, you may email mgyates@cornell.edu or call Cornell Cooperative Extension of Yates County at 315-536-5123. During the summer, Master Gardeners are in the office Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings but you can call anytime and leave a message for them.

Do you love gardening and are looking for a way to share your interest with others? Email Jessica Spence, jls233@cornell.edu, to find out how you can become a certified Master Gardener!

Cornell Cooperative Extension Yates Association
Last updated: 4/5/05

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