The
Westchester County Master Gardener Volunteer Program
Background
Have you seen articles about “Master Gardeners”
and wondered who they are and how you could become one?
Master Gardeners are home gardeners, just like yourself, who
have completed a 75-hour training class with Cornell Cooperative
Extension of Westchester County (CCE/WC) and then volunteered
in their community a minimum of 100 hours over a two-year
period.
The mission of the Master Gardener program is to extend the
horticultural reach of Cornell Cooperative Extension to communities
of Westchester County. Every two years CCE/WC selects approximately
30 qualified applicants to become the next class of Master
Gardeners. If you are interested in becoming a part of this
active group of volunteers, the following information will
help you decide if this is the program for you. The fee for
the Master Gardener training in 2008 was $400. This fee is
expected to increase for 2010.
Since the role of the Master Gardener is educational, time
and willingness to work as a volunteer in disseminating research-based
information from Cornell University to your community is a
necessary pre-requisite for admission into the program.
Many Master Gardeners so enjoy their work in the community
that they often continue to volunteer long after their required
hours have been completed.
In order to apply, you must be a resident of Westchester County.
Training
Westchester County’s Master Gardener Volunteer Program
is directly linked to Cornell University, the land-grant college
for New York State. Each Master Gardener trainee receives
an initial 75 hours of research-based instruction in selected
areas of horticulture. Certified Master Gardeners are kept
up-to-date on the latest developments in environmental horticulture
through Cornell Cooperative Extension’s educational programs,
meetings, special events, conferences, and newsletters.
Master Gardener applicants should have basic gardening experience
prior to completing an application for the program. In-depth
lectures, hands-on instruction, weekly quizzes and a final
take-home exam are all part of the curriculum.
Following completion of the 10-12 week training course, Master
Gardener applicants will commit to 100 volunteer hours over
a two-year period to become a certified Master Gardener. As
you will discover, there is a wide range of activities available
to Master Gardeners combining their skills and interests with
the educational needs of Westchester County Cornell Cooperative
Extension.
Please contact us regarding future Master Gardener training
and we will add your to our mailing list.
Some of the ways in which Master Gardeners can get involved
in New York State:
-help with horticultural inquiries and diagnostic clinics
-give presentations to community groups through the Speakers’
Bureau
-write articles and answer questions about gardening for publication
-hold an annual Home Gardening lecture series
-set up demonstration projects in public places
-assist with school and community gardening projects
-conduct site visits to residential gardens
-assist in historic garden restoration participate in horticultural
therapy
-organize plant sales
-set up garden tours
-staff county fair informational booths
-increase awareness of integrated pest management, water quality
conservation, and other environmental issues.
-The
Cornell Cooperative Extension educational system enables people
to improve their lives and communities through partnerships
that put experience and research knowledge to work.
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Find out more about beautiful Westchester County on the
County Home Page.
