GardenLine | Porpourri - Miscellaneous | The Saskatchewan Master Gardener Program

The Master Gardener Program was conceived so that a volunteer group of horticultural enthusiasts could be created to off load professionals with regard to answering many everyday common gardening questions. Master Gardeners' duties include working on garden hot lines, conducting gardening clinics at malls and nurseries, writing garden columns for local newspapers, speaking to horticulture societies, libraries and schools, as well as teaching courses for local community colleges, and conducting hort therapy workshops.

The Saskatchewan Master Gardener Program will be administered by the Division of Extension at the University of Saskatchewan. The Department of Horticulture Science will be responsible for the subject matter that will be taught. An advisory committee including members from Saskatchewan Agriculture, Agriculture Canada and the Saskatchewan Horticultural Association as well as these University departments will be responsible for designing the requirements for Saskatchewan's program.

What does one have to do to become a Master Gardener? Although Master Gardener Program differs from state to state and province to province, there are subject areas that are common to all. A Master Gardener-In-Training must exhibit a level of competence in basic botany and horticulture. Special emphasis is placed on plant identification, and being able to deal with disease and pest problems common to horticulture. In addition to demonstrating an adequate level of knowledge, candidates must complete a internship period which is a specified number of volunteer hours. These hours would have to deal with such activities that were described above and which must be sanctioned by the Advisory Committee. Once a candidate has attained a Master Gardener certificate, in order to maintain the Master Gardener status, he or she must be willing to provide a minimum number of hours of service annually plus take updating courses every so often.

Who are Master Gardeners? Master Gardeners come from all walks of life and are all ages. But they have one thing in common. They are all gardening and horticultural enthusiasts who want to share their knowledge and experiences with others. They love to help their fellow gardeners and always willing to assist anyone getting started or becoming more involved in the field of horticulture.

To find out more about the Saskatchewan Master Gardener program please contact me at the Division of Extension (966-5551) and I will be glad to provide you with more information. A more detailed brochure explaining the Master Gardener Program will be available shortly through your local horticultural society, nurseries, garden centres, and greenhouses as well as our office here at the University of Saskatchewan.

The University's new Master Gardener Program is for enthusiasts of horticulture who enjoy helping other gardeners. The Master Gardener Program: Grassroots Horticulture

Hobin is an Extension Specialist with the Division of Extension and Community Relations. This column is provided as an extension service by the Division of Extension and Community Relations and the Department of Horticulture Science, University of Saskatchewan.

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Sustainable horticultural information, offered free of charge to the public with the support of the University of Saskatchewan Extension Division, the Department of Plant Sciences and the Provincial Government.