Voice of the Mid-Columbia | Kennewick, Pasco and Richland, Wash. |
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closeSaturday, Nov. 29, 2008
Walla Walla Master Gardeners looking to bring in new members
By Loretto J. Hulse, Herald staff writer
WALLA WALLA -- Do you have a green thumb or want to learn more about gardening in the Mid-Columbia? Do you like to help your community?
Consider becoming a Washington State University Walla Walla County Master Gardener. You don't even have to have a thumb that's entirely green. The training will take care of that for you.
Master Gardeners are trained volunteers who serve as horticultural educators.
They put on educational programs, give advice and answers to questions on home gardening and landscape maintenance, pest management, composting and related topics.
To do this they put on plant clinics and demonstrations, take phone calls and make personal contacts all supervised and supported by the Walla Walla County Extension program.
You'll also find Master Gardeners at Farmers Markets, at Walla Walla Fair & Frontier Days and at Extension office clinics between April and October.
To become a Walla Walla County Master Gardener, you need to:
-- Fill out a Master Gardener Application and appear for an interview. Applications are available at the WSU Extension Office, 328 W. Poplar Ave., Walla Walla.
-- Attend a 60-hour horticulture training program and pass an exam. Master Gardener classes are one afternoon a week for 15 weeks at the WSU Tri-Cities campus in Richland beginning at the end of January.
-- Pay a training fee of $150 with $50 of it refundable after completing training and fulfilling the 50-hour volunteer commitment by Oct. 31.
-- Work well with adults and youths.
Deadline for applications is Jan. 15.
For more information on the Walla Walla County Master Gardener program, call the Extension office at 509-524-2685 or contact Mary Eagon by email at meagon@ wsu.edu.
* Loretto J. Hulse: 509-582-1513; lhulse@tricityherald.com.
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