Master Gardener certification training will be offered February 25 through April 1. Training is every Tuesday and Thursday from 1:00 - 5:00pm at the MSU Extension - Choctaw County office. Participants are expected to attend all training session. Cost is $100 for notebook of all materials, one year membership in the Mississippi Master Gardener Association and refreshments. Registration and fee must be paid by February 4 at the MSU Extension - Choctaw County office (Courthouse Annex in Ackerman).
Through this program, individuals are trained and certified in consumer horticulture and related areas - basic botany, soils, honeybee care, entomology, urban tree care, ornamentals, turfgrass, weed, vegetables, fruits and nuts, plant diseases and plant propagation.
In exchange for 40 hours of educational training, individuals are required to return 40 hours of volunteer service within one year of their training. This service should help county Extension offices with horticulture projects that benefit their local communities. The Master Gardener approach helps the local Extension office reach a broader audience than is possible with only one or two agents. Volunteers help extend the educational arm of the university to the public by providing horticultural information based on university research and recommendations.
The Master Gardener Volunteer program is a great way to gain horticultural expertise at a low cost, meet other avid gardeners, share gardening experiences, get connected to the community, and belong to a well-respected and educational organization.
For more information, contact Juli Hughes, County Coordinator/Extension Agent III, at j.hughes@msstate.edumailto:j.hughes@msstate.edu> or 285-6337.
