The Blair County Extension office is now accepting applications for residents to enroll in the upcoming Master Gardener Basic Training class in the fall of 2024. Master Gardeners are always excited for the new visions, ideas, and background knowledge that each incoming trainee brings to the program, and we encourage everyone who is passionate about gardening to apply.
The Blair County Extension office is now accepting applications for residents of Blair to enroll in the upcoming Master Gardener Basic Training class in the fall of 2024. Virtual training via Zoom is held on Thursday evenings. These sessions are recorded but you are encouraged to attend the live sessions to have your questions answered by our professional educators.
Master Gardeners are always excited for the new visions, ideas, and background knowledge that each incoming trainee brings to the program, and we encourage everyone who is passionate about gardening to apply. Master Gardeners are taught best practices from Penn State Extension during their Basic Training classes and will use this knowledge to teach the community about growing vegetables, keeping your landscape healthy, growing indoor plants, safe choices for dealing with pests and diseases, and conservation of pollinator resources. If you would like to pursue this path, please apply online using this link:
Master Gardener Basic Training Application
or contact the extension office for a paper application.
We ask Master Gardeners to have a keen interest in gardening, a willingness to learn more, and a strong desire to share your knowledge with others. To become certified as a Penn State Master Gardener, you must complete a minimum of 40 hours of training, score at least 80 percent on the midterm and final exam, and fulfill 50 hours of volunteer service in your first year of service.
A few of the topics you will learn are the following:
Botany, Plant Propagation and Pathology, Soils, Entomology, Native Plants, IPM, Turfgrass, Vegetables, Plant ID and Diagnostics, Small Fruits, Herbaceous & Woody Plants, Pruning, Vegetable Gardening, Weeds, and Indoor Plants.
The training will be held via Zoom with educators across the state and trainees will have access to these sessions and as well as opportunities for hands on activities for learning. The cost of the training is $200 that includes the award-winning Penn State Extension Master Gardener Manual.
Currently, there are 30 Master Gardeners in Blair County delivering educational programs to the community through gardening classes, a helpline service and demonstration gardens. Come and take part in the training and join this fun, educational group of gardeners!
When asked why they wanted to join the program, nearly every Master Gardener cites a love of learning and a passion to share horticultural knowledge with others. If you fit that description, you too can become a Master Gardener!
Contact Information
Contact
Pam Rose
pmr5444@psu.edu
Phone
814-940-5989
Please leave a message and I will return your call
