Looking for New Master Gardeners

This year successful applicants from Dauphin County will attend weekly classes on Wednesday’s, from 9:00 a.m. - Noon beginning the week of August 15, through December 12, 2012, with the first half at the Penn State Extension – Cumberland County Office and second half of the class at the Penn State Extension – Dauphin County Office (Dauphin County Agriculture & Natural Resources Center). Topics to be studied include soils, plant science, insects, diseases, integrated pest management, lawn care, plant propagation, fruits, vegetables, and ornamentals.

The Master Gardener Program is a volunteer training program designed to provide home gardeners with the knowledge and skills necessary to share their experience and information with others. In exchange for the instruction, candidates agree to complete 50 hours of volunteer service to Penn State Extension’s Consumer Horticulture and Urban Gardening Programs to be completed your first year. The program is looking for volunteers who will make a commitment to answer lawn, landscape, and garden questions at the extension office and provide educational presentation to organizations and the public. 

To be eligible for the program, individuals need only to want to be a volunteer and have a genuine interest in gardening, and want to share their knowledge and experience with others. The Master Gardener Program is sponsored by Penn State Extension. For additional information or to receive an application packet, Dauphin County Gardeners should call the Penn State Extension - Dauphin County Office at (717) 921-8803 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. or visit the website at http://extension.psu.edu/dauphin/programs/master-gardener/master-gardener-application for the application.