Master Gardeners teach horticulture

By MINDY POEHL | Central Texas Edition

Employees, Debra Reyes and Abraham Alvarez, at Barrera's Nursery and Landscape, in Hewitt, prune flowers that just arrived. Master Gardeners teach people how to prune plants, as well as perform other horticultural acts. Photo by Mindy Poehl

Sept. 16, 2004 - Growing fruits, planting flowers, tilling fields and landscaping lawns are some of the activities that can be learned in the Master Gardener program. The Texas Master Gardener program is an educational endeavor offered by the Texas Cooperative Extension, that is designed to increase the availability of horticultural information and extend horticultural projects throughout the community.

The Texas Master Gardener program is available in all 254 counties across Texas, however not all counties have a program set up.

"Some counties join together and have the schooling," said Dale Groom, Dallas County Extension Horticulturist. "It's a 100 percent volunteer organization. It attracts citizens of all walks of life and people who are interested in gardening in Texas."

Beginning in January 2005, Milam County will begin its first Master Gardener program. Clint Perkins, Agricultural and Natural Resources Extension Agent in Milam County, will train the new master gardeners.

"This is for anyone who has a willingness to learn," Perkins said. "We train volunteers and they can take the wealth of what they've learned and teach others. It's like an extension of an extension."

Professional and amateur horticulturists, as well as people exploring up-to-date horticultural trends, can advance their knowledge of gardening. They can also gain self satisfaction through the volunteer aspect of the program, which allows individuals to dedicate their time and talents to enhancing the lives of the citizens of their community, Perkins said.

"It's wonderful. I am the coordinator for the Dallas County program and I was able to obtain the best people in Texas to speak at our classes," Groom said. "It's the top, top people in horticulture and they cover all in horticulture and they cover all aspects of it."

Groom was able to obtain people covering different fields, such as a nationally known horticulture author, a wildlife biologist in critters and landscapes, a 30 year Extension Agent, and a vegetable specialist.

As a trainee in the Master Gardener program, certain rules must be followed. Depending on the county, trainees must attend a minimum number of hours of instruction, pass an exam and volunteer a certain amount of hours of service given back to the community to earn the title of Texas Master Gardener. The minimum hours in Milam County are 50. The minimum hours to become a Master Gardener in Dallas County are 72.

"Once the training in completed, it's not that difficult," Perkins said. "Volunteer opportunities cover just about everything. You can create and maintain demonstrations, you can go to local schools, you can teach Junior Master Gardeners, you can complete beautification projects, you can write monthly newsletters, and you can use horticulture in therapy, like providing a peaceful environment at nursing homes."

Groom said the program creates an interest and excitement in horticulture.

"It's great to teach students something as simple as growing and nurturing a plant. They can plant seeds and watch them turn into plants. They watch a ripe tomato grow and realize, 'Wow, it doesn't just come from the store,'" Groom said.

In order to retain the title of Master Gardener, people must take 12 hours of recertification training and provide an additional 12 hours of volunteer service through the Extension office every two years.

People from all walks of life attend the Master Gardener programs.

"We have people with diverse backgrounds," Groom stated. "We have lawyers, custodians, bankers and retirees. It's a wonderful group of people to work with, who are interested in serving the public."

Groom says the whole purpose of the Master Gardener program is promoting education.

"We teach well kept secrets that citizens need to be aware of. Master gardeners help to multiply helpers to help the community," Groom said. "This program puts out an effort and teaches patience and life long lessons."