The Master Gardener Program in Wyoming County will hold Basic Training beginning in Fall 2024!
Hands working in a garden bed
Prospective applicants are invited to attend an Information Session to learn more about the Master Gardener volunteer program in Wyoming County. Information sessions will occur at the Penn State Extension office, 71 Hollow Crest Rd, Ste 2, Tunkhannock, PA 18657, on Thursday, September 5. Two time options are available: 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. The sessions will provide an overview of the Basic Training course, Master Gardener volunteer opportunities, and program requirements.
The next Master Gardener Basic Training course in Wyoming County will be offered beginning in Fall 2024. Master Gardeners are volunteer garden educators who support the outreach mission of Penn State Extension by utilizing unbiased research-based information to educate the public and their communities on best practices in sustainable horticulture and environmental stewardship. No gardening experience is required, as all volunteers undergo a 60-hour Basic Training course in horticultural science. Trainees must then complete 50 hours of volunteer service within their first year to achieve their official Master Gardener certification. Master Gardeners maintain their certification by completing 20 hours of volunteer service and 10 hours of continuing education each year.
Weekly classes will be held virtually on Thursday evenings via Zoom webinar, 6:00-8:00pm, beginning in early October and continuing through mid-March 2025. Access to a computer, smartphone, or tablet is necessary to complete the course. If you are not available to join the weekly evening webinars, the sessions are recorded and can be viewed later at your convenience. Monthly in-person learning opportunities will be scheduled as well. The course is designed to provide home gardeners with the information and skills necessary to share their experience and knowledge with others. Course topics include Basic Botany, Plant Diseases, Soil Health, Plant Propagation, Weeds/Invasive Species, Pruning, Vegetable Gardens, Indoor Plants, Native Plants, Tree Fruits, Landscape Design, and more.
Volunteerism is a requirement of the Master Gardener program. Master Gardeners in Wyoming County maintain a Pollinator-Friendly Garden at the Wyoming County Fairgrounds, record observations for a Home Garden Vegetable Trial study, help with conservation projects in the community, host an annual Seed Exchange, answer home gardening questions submitted through a County Garden Hotline, maintain a Seed Library, and offer educational outreach programs including Seed to Supper beginning vegetable gardening classes and the "Think Spring!" Gardening Seminar. We would love to welcome new trainees who can help us extend our outreach!
The course fee is $200, which includes a hard copy of the Master Gardener Manual. For questions or additional information, please contact Melissa Wright, Master Gardener Coordinator in Wyoming County, at 570-836-3196 or mbw5781@psu.edu.
Click the blue words to fill out an easy online application or download and print the PDF version of the application -Printable Application-PDF - and email to mbw5781@psu.edu or snail mail to:
