What's a Master Gardener?
Perhaps you've heard someone announce they are a master gardener, and you thought, “What the heck does that mean?”
The fact is, there are many varieties of master gardeners, but the most common certification is the Penn State Extension Master Gardener.
A Penn State Master Gardener is a trained volunteer who provides information and educational services to home gardeners based on the current best practices in horticulture.
These Master Gardeners are a part of the Penn State Extension Service, and an important part of the extension's long history. During the Lincoln administration, the Morrill Act of 1862 established land grant universities to provide agricultural education.
In 1914, the Smith-Lever Act established the Cooperative Extension Service within the land grant universities as a partnership of federal, state and county governments to aid in distributing useful and practical information about agriculture and home economics. The primary goal of cooperative extension continues to be to educate Pennsylvania families, youths and adults on topics as varied as agriculture, food safety and natural resources.
By the mid-20th century, the professionals working in Cooperative Extension recognized a growing demand for consumer gardening information. In 1972, the State of Washington was first to establish a group of volunteer Master Gardeners to meet that need. The number of state programs grew quickly, and by 1981 Penn State University initiated their own program.
Today, the number of active Master Gardeners in Pennsylvania has grown to more than 3,300 individuals.
These dedicated volunteers support Penn State Extension's efforts to educate gardeners in a variety of ways. Some conduct garden tours and classes; others answer questions, create exhibits and work on community gardens. Master Gardeners also speak to local groups and develop articles about gardening in their part of Pennsylvania.
As part of their training, Penn State Master Gardeners must complete a minimum of 40 hours of instruction provided by Penn State and pass a final exam on a broad range of horticultural subjects.
Each must also perform 50 hours of volunteer work on approved Master Gardener projects within the community during their one-year apprenticeship. Once these qualifications are met, the apprentice is certified as a Penn State Master Gardener. To retain their certification, each Master Gardener must complete a minimum of 10 hours of approved continued education and provide an additional 20 hours of volunteer service each year.
Penn State Master Gardeners are here to provide you with answers to your gardening and landscaping questions, and their services are easily accessible. If you have a question about a gardening topic, or a problem with your plantings, call the gardening telephone hot line (the Greenline) at 724-287-4761, Ext. 229.
If the Master Gardeners who staff the Greenline can't answer immediately, they will research your question and get back to you with the latest information regarding your particular issue.
Learn more about the Master Gardeners by visiting the Butler County Extension website at extension.psu.edu/butler and clicking on Master Gardener Program. In Butler County, the extension office is located at 101 Motor Pool Way, near the Sunnyview Nursing and Rehab Center.
Spring Fever Gardening Classes are offered by Master Gardners from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at Alameda Park in Butler Township and the Cranberry Township Municipal Building.“What are These Weeds and Where Did They Come From?” today at Alameda and Thursday at Cranberry.“Vegetable Container Gardening” on April 26 at Alameda and April 28 at Cranberry.To register for the classes, contact the Parks and Recs department where you wish to attend: Alameda Park at 724-284-5383 or Cranberry at 724-779-4386.Other events sponsored by the Master Gardners are:14th Spring Garden Market and Home Show from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 21 at Alameda Park, Butler Township. Included will be a plant sale, entertainment, food, children’s activities and home and nursery vendors.Mars Library Speaker Series featuring native and invasive plants from 6:30 to 8 p.m. May 19. To register, call 724-625-9048.
