James City County/Williamsburg Master Gardeners
Master Gardener Training Program

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2012 MG Training Class

Master Gardener Training - James City County/Williamsburg and New Kent

The 2012 Master Gardener Training Program will be held Monday and Wednesday mornings, January 9 - April 5th, 2012, followed by 70 hours of internship. Topics covered include botany, weeds, insects and pest control, gardening practices, lawn care, flower, fruits and vegetables, pruning, landscape design and water conservation. Students will assist Virginia Cooperative Extension as volunteer community educators when their training is completed. The program fee is $150. Applications and information are available at the Toano Extension Office (564-2170). Application deadline is Oct. 30, 2011. The training is open to all citizens in James City County, Williamsburg and New Kent County.  No previous gardening experience is necessary—only a desire to learn new skills, make friends with similar interests and support your community through volunteerism.

Many people are attracted to the program through a desire to understand gardening for their own personal interest or to enhance their own back yards, and after the training they find an even greater reward in the opportunity to apply their knowledge as Virginia Cooperative Extension volunteer educators. VCE Master Gardeners are a valuable resource and assist in bringing educational outreach to the community in all aspects of horticulture to protect and enhance the environment.

Well-known experts from the local community, area colleges and Colonial Williamsburg will be teaching classes on a wide range of horticultural subjects.  Classes will be given on basic botany; identification and control of insects, weeds and diseases; turf, trees, shrubs, flowers, fruits and vegetables; pruning and landscape design; water quality issues, and other topics needed to become well-versed in sound horticultural and environmental practices.

For additional information, please call Virginia Cooperative Extension at 564-2170.

Certification

Master Gardener trainees will become certified VCE -Master Gardener Volunteers upon satisfactory completion of all training and volunteer commitments. Experienced Master Gardeners assist and advise students during all stages of the training program.