Article Title

20 Master Gardener Volunteers Complete Palm Beach County Cooperative Extension Training Program

Post Date

Rollup Image

20 Master Gardener Volunteers Complete Palm Beach County Cooperative Extension Training Program

Body

Palm Beach County Cooperative Extension engages people in learning to use unbiased, University of Florida research-based horticulture and gardening practices through a network of trained Master Gardener volunteers.   Master Gardener volunteers are coordinated and supported by University of Florida faculty and our county staff.

The Master Gardener educational program covers a range of gardening topics including botany, right plant right place, soils, vegetables, integrated pest management, pruning, irrigation, propagation, water conservation and requires a internship answering plant problem questions from the public in the PBC Extension Service office.

January to December 2016 two hundred fifty-five Palm Beach County Cooperative Extension Service Master Gardener Volunteers assisted over 53,000 residents and visitors. Master Gardeners volunteered over 15,000 hours to our community. Certified Palm Beach County Master Gardeners additionally attended 6400 hours of continuing educational training.

We are now accepting applications for the Spring 2017 Palm Beach County Master Gardener Volunteer Training program. Stop by the Palm Beach County Cooperative Extension Service 531 North Military Trail West Palm to pick up an application or download application http://discover.pbcgov.org/coextension/mastergardener/Pages/default.aspx

Spring 2017 Master Gardener Volunteer training class interviews are scheduled for Wednesday February 8 2017.

This volunteer training program is a 16 week commitment beginning consecutive Wednesdays February 22, 2017 to June 7, 2017 8:30AM-3:30PM classes are held at the PBC Cooperative Extension Service 531 North Military Trail WPB. University of Florida specialists, County Extension faculty, Industry professionals and Master Gardeners conduct the volunteer training. Volunteers in training are required to volunteer 4 hours on call in the West Palm Beach Hotline office and another 8 hours volunteering for the Cooperative Extension Service during their training. Master Gardener graduates are also required to volunteer 75 hours the first year and 35 hours each year after that to stay certified. The trainee cost for the program is $199 which includes PBC Florida Master Gardener Training materials, polo Shirt, graduation certificate and University of Florida Master Gardener identification name tag and id card.

The Palm Beach County Master Gardener Volunteer Program is open to Palm Beach County residents who have an interest in gardening and willing to help serve Cooperative Extension by sharing their gardening knowledge and skills to help others in our community. Send completed applications to Palm Beach County Cooperative Extension Service attention: Master Gardener Coordinator Deborah Levulis 531 North Military Trail West Palm Beach, FL 33415-1311. Call 561-233-1759 or email dlevulis@pbcgov.org for information on the Palm Beach County Master Gardener Volunteer Program.

Attachments