Become a master gardener

If you think you might have what it takes to be a master gardener, Carbon County is looking for you.

Classes will be starting soon, and Master Gardener Slate Altenburg, of West Penn Township, is hoping to attract more home gardeners and enthusiasts.

He says becoming a master gardener is a great way to increase your knowledge and skills and have fun while sharing with others.

For Altenburg, it seems that "fun" may be the best part.

"One of the most fascinating parts of our program is the 'Hotline' where we answer questions, identify plants, diseases and bugs from all over the county. One would think it is intimidating, and take an expert to handle the wide variety of questions, but it's fun," says Altenburg.

"Most often our first answer is 'I don't know,' and then the fun begins!"

That "fun" could mean looking at bugs or pathogens under the microscope.

"I'm still a kid at heart and get excited whenever a leaf or bug goes under the microscope," says Altenburg.

"Then rubbing elbows with other master gardeners who have years of experience often gets an answer. And if not, we have the best people at Penn State right at our fingertips for help."

Altenburg says that learning to solve these problems has given him a new awareness, not just for his own gardens, but it has enhanced a simple walk in the woods, or even just across the lawn.

"Being able to identify native plants, trees, and know the good bugs from the bad, emphasizes the world around me and brings far more life into each step.

"Yup," says Altenburg, "even weeding is more fun when you pull them out by name!"

Originally from Maine, Altenburg says he has always enjoyed the outdoors. He became a master gardener four years ago when he wanted to improve his own gardens and landscape.

Carbon County currently has about 14 active master gardeners and they are hoping to sign up at least a dozen more for the new series of classes.

Classes begin Oct. 14 and will run from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Tuesdays through March 17.

After the training program, the new master gardener apprentices will be required to volunteer 50 hours over the next year to the Carbon County extension office.

Those volunteer hours could include manning the hotline, working at the pollinator garden or the new raised bed propagation garden.

Local master gardeners have worked closely with the Penn State Pesticide Education Department to educate both young and old alike, and have brought the "Mr. Yuck" household poison prevention program to county residents through the Blue Mountain Health Fair, Safe Kids program and at the Carbon County Fair.

Master gardeners do short programs at schools or for civic groups within the county as well.

"I think of the hundreds of dollars I spent for years on fertilizers and lawn products without ever taking a soil sample," says Altenburg, "then wondering why my lawn was dying. Kind of like putting salt in the soup before you taste it. Even MapQuest asks where you are before giving directions to get you where you want to be.

"Do the same with the lawn or garden," he says. "Find out where you are before stepping blindly in just any old direction. There is a lot of satisfaction when we know the steps we are taking are ones recommended by the experts at Penn State and are the right ones."