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Master Gardener class starts March 12Texas A new and improved Master Gardener class will start March 12 in San Benito and hold monthly meetings through mid-September, organizers say. "This class will be more user-friendly," said Dr. Enrique Perez, Texas AgriLife Extension Service agent in Cameron County. "We've taken comments and suggestions from former students and integrated ideas they thought would make the class more convenient and enjoyable." One innovation in the program will involve meeting once a month instead of once weekly for 13 consecutive weeks. "That will help with people's schedules," Perez said. "Classes will last longer, but that will give us time to complete projects we're working on." To become a Master Gardener, each student must complete a minimum of 50 hours of classroom instruction, then volunteer 50 hours of community service under Perez's guidance. Classes cover such topics as plant growth and development, plant diseases and insects, soils and basic landscaping. "Master Gardener graduates become part of Extension as volunteers, and even after they complete their classroom instruction and 50 hours of volunteer work, they must do 12 hours of volunteer work every year to maintain their certified Master Gardener status," said Mary Beth Simmons, a member of the Cameron County Master Gardener Association and a graduate of the class. But the training and volunteer work are rewarding, she said. Many graduates become involved in community service. Bonnie Garcia, another graduate who moved here from Seattle, said the Master Gardener program taught her local gardening skills that differed greatly from the skills she used in Washington. "It's a rigorous training program, but we have a lot of fun at it, especially in the hands-on projects we do such as designing landscapes and learning the techniques of plant propagation," Garcia said. "We impart a lot of knowledge, but the intent of Master Gardener is to develop a self-sustaining, civic horticultural effort here in the Valley." Another innovation in this year's class will be to offer instruction in subject matter requested by students. "The class may decide they want to learn more about organic pest control or tree care or maybe they decide they want to learn more about what to plant in areas shaded by trees," said Juan Olivarez, another graduate and member of the association. The class is sponsored by the Cameron County Master Gardener Association, which played a major role in developing an arboretum on land next to the county offices on Expressway 83 at Williams Road, where classes will meet. "Both instruction and volunteer work can be done there in developing that area and learning about which trees do well in the Valley," said graduate Debbie Cox. "We want our Master Gardeners to take an ownership attitude toward the arboretum and at the same time use that area to help attract others to the program." For more information, contact Perez at 956-361-8236. 3/10/08 Date: 3/4/08
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