Dates set for Panhandle Master Gardener training program

Nebraska

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension is offering the Master Gardener Training Program to volunteers who have a desire to share their knowledge with others in the community.

Anyone who is interested in plants and is willing to volunteer is encouraged to participate. The training sessions start on Feb. 12 and conclude March 25.

Master Gardeners are asked to volunteer an equal amount of time back to their local communities for the training they receive. They work closely with Extension Educators in the local County Extension Office in solving problems or giving information. They also give talks or workshops to the public or write news articles about various phases of horticulture in which they are knowledgeable. Some may talk on care of house plants, others on flowers, vegetable gardening or other subjects.

Participation in Master Gardener Training is $30 for either advanced or beginner sessions. The cost to attend both advanced and beginner sessions is $45. Individual sessions are $10. At the end of the training sessions, Master Gardeners are required to give 40 hours of volunteer service to their local County Extension Office or their local community. Participants can also purchase an optional Master Gardener Handbook as a reference.

Anyone who is interested in participating or who has questions is encouraged to contact Jim Schild, Extension Educator in Scotts Bluff County, at 308-632-1480; Karen DeBoer, Extension Educator in Cheyenne-Kimball-Banner Counties at 308-254-4455 or 1-866-865-1703; or Bill Booker, Extension Educator in Box Butte County, at 308-762-5616.

A series of six training sessions for beginning Master Gardeners will take place on Tuesday evenings from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., at the Alliance and Sidney Extension offices and the Panhandle Research and Extension Center in Scottsbluff. This training is designed for new Master Gardeners and will cover basic horticultural information. It will start on Feb. 12 and conclude on March 18. The training will be offered via the Internet, with local UNL Extension Educators at each of the sites to help answer questions.

The topics are as follows:

--Feb. 12: Small Fruits and Tree Fruits Basics;

--Feb. 19: Basic Turf Selection and Management;

--Feb. 26: Herbaceous Perennials and Management;

--March 4: Landscape Design and Landscape Solutions;

--March 11: Basic Tree Management and Pest Control;

--March 18: Basic Disease Management.

Advanced Master Gardener training sessions will be Feb. 18, Feb. 25, March 17 and March 25 at the University of Nebraska Panhandle Research and Extension Center, 4502 Avenue I, Scottsbluff, starting at 10 a.m., and concluding at 3 p.m. The topics are designed for advanced Master Gardeners, however, they are open to everyone.

Topics include:

--Feb. 18: "Top 10 Urban Horticulture Legends" and "What's Bugging You?"

--Feb. 25: "Soil Water: How Does It Work?" and "Getting the Last Drop out of the Last Drop."

--March 17: "Is It a Weed or a Flower?" and "How Do I Kill that Darn Weed?"

--March 25: "Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Turf Grass but Were Afraid to Ask."

2/4/08
6 Star Midwest Ag\9-B

Date: 1/30/08

	Web hpj.com

Copyright/Privacy
Copyright 1995-2011.  High Plains Publishers, Inc.  All rights reserved.  Any republishing of these pages, including electronic reproduction of the editorial archives or classified advertising, is strictly prohibited. If you have questions or comments you can reach us at High Plains Journal 1500 E. Wyatt Earp Blvd., P.O. Box 760, Dodge City, KS 67801 or call 1-800-452-7171. Email: webmaster@hpj.com