High Elevation Gardening Web Log "Blog"

The opportunity to provide this class is possible due to the generous support of the Coconino County Board of Supervisors, a beneficent grant from a private foundation and numerous contributions from Master Gardeners themselves. I want to thank everyone for their support of the Master Gardener program and enabling us to continue to offer the class. I am truly grateful.

Applications are now being accepted for the Master Gardener Training Course. The course is part of a nation-wide certification program that provides horticulture training to volunteers for the purpose of enabling them to help their communities through horticulture education.

This course is designed for those who are interested in learning more about high elevation gardening and who are willing to share this knowledge with others. This will be the 17th year for the Coconino County Master Gardener Program. Tom DeGomez, former Agricultural and Natural Resources Extension Agent, introduced the program to our county in 1991. Now the Extension Forest Health Specialist for the University of Arizona, Tom continues to contribute to the Master Gardener Program and will be a guest lecturer for two of the classes.

The Master Gardener Program began in Washington State in 1972 in response to numerous requests for home gardening information. The idea was to involve horticulture cooperative extension faculty in training gardeners to assist in providing horticulture information to the community. The concept has since spread to all 50 states and several Canadian provinces. In Arizona, the Cooperative Extension service is part of the University of Arizona.

The Master Gardener Training Course will be offered in Flagstaff from September 5 thru December 5, 2007. The class will meet on Wednesdays from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on the NAU campus. Registration for the program is $185. A $50 rebate for completion of the volunteer portion of the program is offered. A copy of the Arizona Master Gardener manual can be purchased for $40 but is also available on line for free.

An interest in plants, a personal commitment to volunteerism, and an enthusiasm for sharing knowledge with others are the only prerequisites for the course.

Participants will learn the keys to successful gardening in high elevation environments. University of Arizona Extension specialists and instructors, local experts, and Master Gardeners will teach classes in basic botany, soils, plant propagation, plant problem diagnosis, insect management, pruning, fruit trees, vegetable gardening, Xeriscape, ornamental plants, composting, and arboriculture.

After completing the course, class members perform 50 hours of volunteer service. There is a wide range of volunteer activities available. The projects you work on are of your choosing and done at times that are convenient for you. Possible projects include: answering “hotline” questions, writing articles for the newspaper, working with a local non-profit organization to improve the landscape at their facility, propagating plants for re-vegetation projects, helping with a garden tour, or volunteering at the Arboretum at Flagstaff. After completion of the 13 classes and your volunteer hours, you will be awarded the title of Certified Master Gardener.

Contact Coconino County Cooperative Extension at (928) 774-1868 ext. 10 to request an application or for more information. The class is first come, first serve and class size is limited. A limited number of scholarships are available based on need.

By Hattie Braun
The author is the Master Gardener Program Coordinator for Coconino Cooperative Extension. If you have a gardening question, call the Master Gardener hotline at (928)774-1868 ext. 19 or visit our Web site: highelevationgardening.arizona.edu.