Butler residents Paul Starr and Marsha Alvino, Master Gardener apprentices, talk during their coursework in the 2018-19 training class. An open house is planned on Sept. 5 for Butler County residents interested in the Penn State Extension Master Gardener program.

Have you considered becoming a Penn State Extension Master Gardener but don't know where to begin?

Start by attending an open house from 6 to 8 p.m. Sept. 5 at the Penn State Extension Office, 101 Motor Pool Way, to learn more about this exciting opportunity to serve the Butler County community.

Butler County Master Gardeners are examples of the power of volunteerism.

The Butler County program was founded in 1991.

In 2017-18, there were 77 active Master Gardeners and 15 new Master Gardeners trained who donated 3,872 volunteer hours.

During education and community activities, Butler County Master Gardeners had 1,714 adult contacts and 673 youth contacts.

Trained volunteers answered 261 Garden Hotline calls. There were six educational outreach presentations given throughout the county and 25 gardening articles published. The eight county demonstration gardens comprise 8,417 square feet which are maintained by volunteers.

The Penn State Extension Master Gardener Program, coordinated by Penn State Extension, provides horticultural training to interested individuals in exchange for a commitment of volunteer time.

A Master Gardener completes a minimum of 40 classroom hours in subjects such as entomology, botany, soil science, pesticide safety, plant propagation and communication skills. This training is provided by extension and non-extension professionals.

To be considered for the Master Gardener training program, an application and interview is required. Once accepted into the training program, the Master Gardener apprentice pays a nominal fee of $200 for program materials and a manual.

This year's training begins Oct. 3 and continues until March. Apprentices are assigned a mentor to help them gain experience in existing projects.

Master Gardeners must complete the required class work, score a passing grade on a written examination administered by Penn State Extension, and fulfill 50 volunteer hours to obtain certification.

Many Master Gardeners continue with the volunteer program for years.

Master Gardeners engage in a wide variety of services to the community including answering home gardening questions that are phoned into the “Garden Hotline,” organizing and staffing the May Market at Alameda Park, conducting informational seminars, maintaining pollinator demonstration gardens, and communicating with the public through newspaper articles and the speakers' bureau.

Master Gardeners have a monthly education and business meeting that supports ongoing continuing education and group problem solving.

Every two years, the Master Gardener program coordinates a statewide Master Gardener conference. This year, Pennsylvania Master Gardeners hosted the International Master Gardener Conference.

The Penn State Extension Master Gardener volunteer program supports the outreach mission of Penn State Extension by utilizing unbiased research-based information to educate the public and communities on best practices in sustainable horticulture and environmental stewardship.

The Penn State Extension Master Gardeners Butler County contribute to the program's mission throughout the year.

Butler County Master Gardeners can be contacted through the county extension office by calling 724-287-4761 or you can submit your question along with your name, address and telephone number to Master Gardener, c/o Penn State Extension, 101 Motor Pool Way, Butler, PA 16001. Email inquiries can be sent to Butlermg@psu.edu.

To learn more about the program, visit the Master Gardener website at https://extension.psu.edu/programs/master-gardener.

Julia Habsburg and Lisa Marie Bernardo are Butler County Master Gardeners.