UNH Cooperative Extension Master Gardener

University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Training

UNH Cooperative Extension will hold a Master Gardener spring training session at the Urban Forestry Center, 45 Elwyn Road, Portsmouth, from March 5 through May 21. This 12-week course takes place every Monday from 1 to 6 p.m. One additional class will be held on a to-be-announced Tuesday in April from 9 to 4 p.m. The class costs $250. After completing the in-class training, each trainee must complete a 55-hour internship, followed by a minimum of 15 hours of volunteer work each year.

The Master Gardener program trains people to assist home gardeners throughout the state with horticulture, conservation and homeowner questions. Master Gardeners may work at the UNH Cooperative Extension Infoline in Goffstown, answering questions by phone or online. A wide range of resources and support staff are available through the Infoline. Master Gardeners also provide education and complete projects in their communities, including establishing school and community gardens. Master Gardeners may also participate in the Master Gardener Speakers Bureau and host presentations on a variety of topics, such as seed-starting, composting and pest management in the garden, for community groups and organizations.

The in-class training covers a many topics, including botany, insects, invasive species, vegetable gardening, growing fruit, irrigation and tree identification, all topics of interest to homeowners throughout New Hampshire. Each participant has access to the Master Gardener online manual. Experts from around the state, including UNH Cooperative Extension field specialists, will serve as guest speakers for the class. The class also offers several field trips related to subjects including tree identification, tree planting and pruning.

Nancy Johnson recently completed the fall training session. She says, “People in my class were from all walks of life, including a pilot, a fly-fishing guide, a retail employee and a semi-retired college professor. The one thing we all had in common was the desire to give back to our communities. Our interests and skills in gardening varied from planting a square-foot vegetable garden to establishing a small organic farm.”

The application deadline is Feb. 5. For more information about becoming a Master Gardener or to complete the online application, go to extension.unh.edu/Master-Gardeners/How-do-I-become-Master-Gardener-Volunteer. Class size is limited. Financial aid and payment plans are available. You may also contact Master Gardener coordinators Marcy Stanton at Marcy.Stanton@unh.edu or Amanda Gourgue at Amanda.Gourgue@unh.edu for more information.