What is a Master Gardener? How do you find one?

Question

I heard people brag about getting free help from Master Gardeners by I have no idea what they mean.? What or who are Master Gardeners?

Answer 1

MASTER GARDENER TO THE RESCUE

A MASTER GARDENER is a highly trained and motivated County Extension Volunteers. Usually selected from a long waiting list the volunteer must first pass thru an interview process given by Univ Extension Employees and sitting M.G.s.. Those lucky few who are selected will undergo extensive training for several months by Univ horticultural experts in all aspects of home gardening. Everything from Entomology to Toxicology. fertilization to irrigation. pest control to disease identification.
Tested along the way, each student M.G. must meet State Univ standards on all subjects. No home remidies or neat tricks you learned from grandma are allow. MGs can only give advise that is approved univ policy.
The student must pass the finial exaim with a score of 85 % or higher. Those who pass are certified by the state and county for a period of one year. In return for the training the new MG must put in a certain number of volunteer hours during the year. They are also required to take contuning education thru out the year. If the MG has met all the standards and requirements they still must be recertified annually.

You will never find a MASTER GARDENER working at a nursery or home center or garden shop. They cannot use their title for any for profit business. The services they provide to the public are always to univ standards and free of charge.

MG's answer home garden questions that come into the extension or farm advisors office by phone calls, mail, e-mail and by walk ins to the office. They also speak to garden clubs and groups requesting speakers. Many groups have very active school garden programs for children. They also hols educational seminars thru out the year.

MASTER GARDENER are located in all 50 states & Canada. Almost every large county will have an MG sight. Usually located at the County Farm Advisor's Office

Answer 2

Most of the answers here are partially right. A Master Gardener is someone who has taken the classes put on through the local county extension office, which is usually run by a state university. After taking several classes and passing a test you then are a Master Gardener. So yes, call your county extension office and they will be able to hook you up with one. I am one, I just have not been keeping up on "gardening" stuff for a few years.

Answer 3

Call your local extension office. Most of them have a Master Gardener training program, and can hook people up with graduates of the program.

I'm not sure exactly what goes into being a Master Gardener, to be honest. I was going to sign up for the program once, but then decided against it due to the time commitment.

Answer 4

The best place is:
a) Contact your country extension agent.. EVERY city has one\\
b) If you have any botanical gardens in your area, contact them because they also would know

Answer 5

He is a little old Italian man. try the nursey, The deli, The Italian American club, Once I saw him at the park but I don't think he's still there.

Answer 6

http://www.google.com/search?lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=Master%20Gardener