If you enjoy gardening, learning, fellowship with those who share enthusiasm for the hobby and participating in community service, being a Master Gardener may be right for you.

The Adams County Master Gardeners would like to invite you to join the Adams County group by signing up for our annual training classes. The Mississippi Master Gardener program was started in 1992 and is an educational exchange program offered through county offices of the Mississippi State University Extension Service.  Through the program, individuals are trained in horticultural and related areas. In exchange for educational training, individuals are asked to volunteer their time with county extension offices with horticulture projects that benefit the local community. The program has successfully grown since inception to provide over 53,000 hours of investment in statewide communities by a combined 1,777 master gardener volunteers in 2013.

The training classes will be from 1 to 5 p.m. Feb. 17 to March 24 and will meet on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Adams County extension office, 75 Carthage Point Road in Natchez. Six weeks of intensive training cover a variety of topics including, basic botany, soils, invasive plants, lawns, entomology, plant propagation, ornamental gardening, weed science, plant diseases, vegetable gardening and fruit and nut trees. In order to complete the program and become a certified master gardener, individuals volunteer 40 hours of service within one year of their training. After the first year, only 20 hours of volunteer service and 12 hours of educational training annually are required to maintain the certification.

Master gardeners enjoy varied ways to receive ongoing education after the initial training. An educational session, which is also offered to the public, accompanies each local monthly meeting.  Educational opportunities are available with other master gardener groups across the state including workshops, seminars, and district meetings. There are also multi-day state, regional, national and even international conventions you may wish to attend. Closer to home, field trips to horticulturally related educational events and destinations are available.

Completing your volunteer service hours passes quickly with a wide variety of continuing and upcoming local projects to choose from. Educational and service projects include: the walking trails at Historic Jefferson College and the Grand Village of the Natchez Indians, crepe myrtle pruning demonstrations and service at the Natchez City Cemetery, demonstration gardens at Melrose Historic National Park, St. Mary Basilica garden, Belk Senior days, community beautification, educational speaker opportunities, annual plant sale and more. New members are also encouraged to lead their own projects if you have any ideas for new ones.

Pre-registration for the class is required by Feb. 10 and registration fee of $95 includes all classes, materials and first year of membership dues. Dues are only $15 per year after taking the classes.

Please call the Adams County Extension Office at 601-445-8201 to register and for more information.

Being a master gardener is a rewarding way to learn about gardening and horticulture with those who share similar interests, while serving the community. Come join us.

 

Teva Cardneaux is a member and vice president of the Adams County Master Gardeners.