Wanted: a few good gardeners

by Donna Cuin, Horticulturist and Master Gardener Coordinator, University of Wyoming Cooperative Extension Service
Tuesday, January 29, 2008 1:26 PM MST

Natrona County Master Gardeners are looking for a few good gardeners to sign up for upcoming training sessions.

The training sessions begin Saturday, Feb. 9, at the Agricultural Resource and Learning Center (ARLC) and will be held on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, as well as a few Saturdays through March 20.

The classes consist of more than 40 hours of classroom time, as well as some practical hands-on training to assist the new Master Gardener trainees to become proficient at proper gardening practices so they can assist other gardeners with their garden problems.

The training is based upon the Sustainable Horticulture for Wyoming, a Master Gardener Handbook. It includes a wide variety of training materials in 23 chapters on such information as botany basics and vegetable and herb gardening as well as best practices for pruning trees and shrubs.

Trainees each will receive a copy of the Master Gardener Handbook, a soil test for one area of their yard or garden and free attendance to the upcoming Annual Spring Conference as a part of their training.

After signing up and participating in the classes, new Master Gardener trainees become interns and will have the opportunity to work with active Master Gardeners to help members of the community to solve their various gardening problems.

The Natrona County Master Gardener office is full of resources to assist in the research of answering the array of gardening questions that arise in the course of the summer growing season.

Through the summer gardening season, the interns are required to volunteer a minimum of 40 hours helping other gardeners. They’ll help gardeners learn more about gardening practices and how they can prevent future problems with pests and diseases, or preventing drought related problems with their plants.

This assistance is given by volunteering in the Master Gardener office and going on yard calls with more experienced active Master Gardeners.

Master Gardeners also have the opportunity to participate in a variety of other training events as a part of their continuing education requirements. Each year the Master Gardeners hold an annual spring conference, and the Wyoming State Master Gardeners hold a conference every other year.

There are field trips throughout the year, programs are given at each monthly meeting and the University of Wyoming hosts “Train the Trainer” classes for anyone interested in helping to train others through more in-depth training.

Members of the Master Gardener organization also have opportunities to volunteer for committees within the organization, such as the Annual Plant Sale, the annual seedling tree distribution, assisting with the gardens at the ARLC, the Farmers’ Markets, writing articles for the Casper Journal, speaking to clubs or organizations who request speakers, visiting other members’ gardens for summer potlucks or helping to build the Master Gardener library at the ARLC.

To sign up for the training sessions, contact the Natrona County Cooperative Extension Service office at 2011 Fairgrounds Road in Casper, or call the office at 235-9400, ext. 13, to sign up or to receive information.

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