Master Gardener: Here's what you need to know

Penn State Extension in Carbon County is currently accepting applications for the 2015 Penn State Extension Master Gardener program.

The program consists of a volunteer training course designed to provide experienced home gardeners with information and skills necessary to share their experience and knowledge with others.

Weekly Tuesday classes will be held from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Oct. 14 through March 17 at various field locations and the Carbon County Environmental Education Center.

According to the Penn State Master Gardener website, volunteers must:

• Complete a 40-plus hour training program

• Volunteer 50 hours in their first year. (Volunteers will have one year from the end of their training to complete the volunteer requirement.)

• Complete 10 hours of update training in subsequent years

• Volunteer 20 hours in subsequent years

In addition, volunteers will:

• Maintain an activity log and submit it to the county extension office as directed.

• Attend meetings to update information, discuss gardening problems and coordinate master gardener activities.

• Participate in cooperate extension activities as needs arise; cooperate with other volunteers and extension staff involved in the program.

• Be accountable to the county master gardener coordinator and district director.

• Accept volunteer assignments and changes made by coordinator or supervising extension educator.

• Provide one's own transportation.

• Maintain a flexible schedule which permits day and/or evening or weekend activities.

Qualifications for becoming a master gardener include:

• A strong interest and knowledge in horticulture as evidenced by scoring a minimum of 80 percent on a final exam administered by Penn State Cooperative Extension.

• A willingness and availability to undertake extensive training in horticulture. Trainees may not miss more than one training session of the core and supplemental/additional topics of training.

•Ability to communicate in an effective, diplomatic and professional manner with others by telephone, personal contact, group contact and in writing.

• Willingness to support Penn State Cooperative Extension staff in providing extension audiences with unbiased, research-based consumer horticulture information.

To learn more about the Penn State Master Gardeners Program, go to http://extension.psu.edu/plants/master-gardener.

For more information about applying to become a master gardener in Carbon County, contact the extension office at 570-325-2788, Ext. 3804; or email CarbonExt@psu.edu.

There is a program fee of $175 to cover the cost of training materials, supplies and expenses.

Applications are being accepted through Sept. 21.