Fall 2019 Master Gardener Program Now Accepting Applications

Join your OLLI friends as Master Gardeners! The Monongalia County Master Gardener Program is now accepting applications for the Fall 2019 program. The 2019 classes will begin Wednesday, August 14th at 6:00 PM in the WVU-Monongalia County Extension Office located in Big Lots plaza in Westover, 34 Commerce Drive, Suite 106. The classes will continue on Wednesdays every week from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m., ending with class presentations on November 13th. A total of 40 educational hours is required, and a trainee may not miss more than one training session. In addition, trainees must complete 40 hours of volunteer service on or before January 1st, 2021, in order to become a Certified Master Gardener.  

The program is designed to make gardening a fun learning experience and utilizes trained volunteers to assist the Extension Office in disseminating research-based knowledge. This program is available to all persons without regard to race, color, sex, disability, religion, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, or national origin.  The nonrefundable cost is $125 and covers the cost of the textbook, class materials, Monongalia County Master Gardener Organization dues, and a name badge (which will be received upon certification).

The educational hours include sessions on pesticides, soils & fertilizers, plant propagation, plant diseases, and pruning, among other topics. Trainees must make a presentation of a topic of their interest related to the class and must score 80 percent on a final take-home exam. Current Monongalia County Master Gardeners volunteer throughout the county, including maintaining flower beds at Mason-Dixon Park and Jack Roberts Park and providing volunteer assistance at the WVU greenhouse, North Elementary School, and the West Virginia Botanic Garden. They also make presentations to garden clubs, civic groups, and other public groups.

Anyone interested in the class must complete an application form available at Monongalia.ext.wvu.edu and return it to: Monongalia Master Gardener Organization, c/o WVU-Monongalia County Extension Office, 34 Commerce Drive Suite 106, Morgantown WV 26501 or fax to (304) 291-7202. Students will be accepted on a “first come-first serve” basis. Any questions may be directed to Sheryl Bergen Jarvis at the Extension Office (304-291-7201) or SBJarvis@mail.wvu.edu.