The NC State University Extension Office in Henderson County is accepting applications for its 2020 Master Gardener program now through Nov. 12, 2019.
Applications are available at the Extension Office, 100 Jackson Park Road in Hendersonville. Candidates can also request an emailed form by calling 828-697-4891 or emailing [email protected]. The training fee is $135.00, and class size is limited.
The program’s educational component includes a required 12-week class typically offered on Wednesday mornings from mid-January through early April. Topics include general botany; soils and fertilizers; annuals, perennials and woody ornamentals; trees; and plant diseases.
Students also give 40 hours of volunteer service for the remainder of their first year. Once certified as a Master Gardener, each must volunteer 25 hours per year on approved projects, and continue their horticulture education through occasional part-day classes.
The Master Gardener Volunteer Program is one of the most popular initiatives provided by the North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension program. Many community members know they can rely on Master Gardeners for accurate, research-based information. Just as many are curious about the Master Gardener program itself, perhaps wondering if they, too, can become a “master.” Now is their chance.