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The Master Gardener Program Gardening is now considered America's leading pastime, and Penn State Cooperative Extension assists gardeners in Bucks County with an active Master Gardener Program. |
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The Bucks County Master Gardener program includes:
- Compost Workshops
- Garden fairs and seminars
- Master Gardeners are available through the Speakers Bureau to give gardening presentations to garden clubs, libraries, etc.
- Demonstration gardens located at the Extension office at the Neshaminy Manor Center, 1282 Almshouse Road, Doylestown, PA.
- In addition, Extension responds to gardening questions by telephone, consumers can call the office with questions at 215-345-3283.
The Master
Gardener Program is one of nine master volunteer extension
programs in Pennsylvania. The Master Gardener program
is designed to use the services of trained volunteers
who have horticultural knowledge and a willingness
to share that knowledge with other county residents
through Cooperative Extension. The program was initiated
in 1972 in Seattle, WA. Bucks County trained their
first class of Master Gardeners in 1990. Currently
we have over 90 active Master Gardeners who donate
over 3,500 hours each year towards educating the public
about good gardening practices.
What
are the requirements for Master Gardeners?
Penn State and Cooperative Extension
provide approximately 40 hours of training over
a 14-week period. Attendance at all weekly training
sessions is required, so there is a big commitment
on the part of the volunteers. Following completion
of their training, the new volunteers must return
50 hours of volunteer service during the year after
training. To remain active in subsequent years,
the volunteers must complete 20 hours of volunteer
service and 8 hours of continuing education each
year, although most volunteers donate many more
hours each year.
How do you apply to become a
Master Gardener and how
are Master Gardener trainees chosen?
Given the increased interest in gardening,
in recent years we have had more applicants than
we have space for. Difficult choices must be made;
therefore, there is a selection process. In Bucks
County, we usually receive twice as many applications
as we have room for. To aid in the selection process,
a brief interview is scheduled for each applicant.
The most important attributes for a Master Gardener
volunteer include a passion for gardening, a desire
to both learn and then share that knowledge with
others and a willingness to do volunteer work. While
a formal background is helpful, it is not necessary.
Penn State can provide the education; they cannot
provide the enthusiasm necessary for a successful
volunteer. Bucks County will not be training again
until Fall of 2007. If you are interested in becoming
a Penn State Master Gardener, contact the county
extension office to have your name placed on the
waiting list for the next training session.
If you are interested in horticultural education rather than volunteering, there are a multitude of other opportunities in and out of the County. Contact the county extension office for more information on these opportunities.
Bucks
County Cooperative Extension
Neshaminy Manor Center
1282 Almshouse Road
Doylestown, PA 18901-2896
Phone:
215-345-3283
Fax: 215-343-1653
E-mail: BucksExt@psu.edu
This page last updated Monday, September 10, 2007
Copyright Information
This publication is available in alternative media on request.
Penn State is an Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity University.
This site is a product of Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences.
Please e-mail us with your questions, comments or suggestions at BucksExt@psu.edu.