What is Montgomery County Master Gardeners?

WHAT IS THE MASTER GARDENER PROGRAM?

The Master Gardener program provides training in a broad range of horticultural topics to interested gardeners who then volunteer their time assisting with educational programs and activities for Montgomery County residents.  The training involves 45 to 50 hours of classroom instruction, after which, the trainee must volunteer 50 hours of horticultural service to the community to become a certified Master Gardener.

Working with the county Extension personnel, Master Gardeners provide such educational services to their communities as: answering gardening questions from the public; coordinating clinics; gardening activities with children, senior citizens, or disabled person; beautifying the community; and other horticultural activities.

The Master Gardenr program in Ohio has existed since the late 1970's and had grown steadily.  Although it's initial start and growth was in the more urban counties of Ohio, there are now nearly 3,000 active Master Gardeners in more than 60 Ohio counties, urban, suburban and rural. 

OUR MISSION: The Ohio State University Extension Master Gardener Program provides knowledge to, and develops the leadership abilities of, volunteers who in turn enable others to improve the quality of their lives by enhancing their home and community environments through horticultural education and activities.

OUR VISION: The OSU Extension Master Gardener Program is a premier statewide network of volunteer education and leadership development; as well as a consumer horticulture education delivery system that maximizes human, material, and natrual resources, and values teamwork and excellence in educational programming.

HOW DO I BECOME A MASTER GARDENER?

You must be accepted to the program, attend an 18-week training class, and complete 50 hours of volunteer activity.  Contact Clare Thorn at 937-224-9654 for more information and an application.