Want to become a Master Gardener?
Residents who want to improve their gardening skills, enhance their knowledge, and most importantly, share what they have learned with others through volunteer work should reserve their space in the 2012 VCE Master Gardener Volunteer Training Program quickly. Application packets can be downloaded from this page once it is available online. For frequently asked questions about the training program please click the following link: VCE Master Gardener Volunteer Training Program FAQ
Offered by Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE), Arlington County Office, in cooperation with the City of Alexandria, the VCE Master Gardener program trains participants in practical gardening and landscaping techniques that preserve and protect, as well as beautify, the environment. Our next VCE Master Gardener Training course will be held beginning September 2012. We plan to hold those classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00AM until Noon. The class will last approximately 11 weeks. Please contact the VCE Master Gardener help desk at mgarlalex@gmail.com to have your name and contact information added to our list of inquiries. We will send you an annoucement in the May / June 2012 timeframe with all the details.
Enrollment is limited to 40. Residents of Alexandria City and Arlington will receive preference, but others in the Washington area may also enroll on a space-available basis. Tuition, which covers the cost of study materials and instructor fees, is $200 for residents of Arlington County and Alexandria City and $250 for others. Limited need-based scholarships are available to cover some of the tuition costs for the training. A separate application is required for consideration for a scholarship — Click the links to download the scholarship application and scholarship criteria information.
After over 70 hours of classroom training, candidate VCE Master Gardeners must complete a 60-hour internship focusing on community service in VCE-approved,educationally oriented gardening activities. Once both the classroom program and the internship portions are completed, participants become certified VCE Master Gardeners. At that point newly certified VCE Master Gardeners will assist VCE staff in teaching environmentally sound gardening techniques in their communities through plant clinics, a horticultural help desk, demonstration gardens, and other projects. To maintain certification, VCE Master Gardeners must volunteer a minimum of 20 hours a year in VCE-approved activities and attend 8 hours of continuing education programs. VCE sponsors monthly continuing education programs to help Master Gardeners maintain certification. To RSVP and for more information and an enrollment form, contact the Virginia Cooperative Extension office, 3308 S. Stafford St., Arlington VA 22206; telephone, 703-228-6414; e-mail Master Gardener Help Desk: mgarlalex@vt.edu VCE’s local website is http://offices.ext.vt.edu/arlington.
