The UC Master Gardeners are devoted caregivers to Mother Earth!
The Cambrian Library is fortunate to become the base of operations, so to speak, for one of their series of classes this spring!
One of the Master Gardeners, Susan Holmer, sent me some information about the program. Next week, we'll learn more about Susan and her volunteer peers. In the week after that, we'll learn more about the classes at Cambrian Library.
What are the Master Gardeners? What makes them experts in gardening?
"The UC Master Gardener Program of Santa Clara County is a volunteer organization sponsored by the University of California Cooperative Extension. Our mission is to extend research-based knowledge and information on home horticulture, pest management, and sustainable landscape practices to county residents.
As volunteers we completed a 16-week, 60+ hour training program in home horticulture and remain certified on a yearly basis.
What do I have to do to become a Master Gardener volunteer?
"Becoming a Master Gardener is a multi-step competitive process. We complete applications where we outline our background, skills and interests, attend an interview and then if selected we complete a 60+ hour course of training. We are all residents of Santa Clara County."
To be a Master Gardener, Susan advises that the applicant should "have interest in learning science-based gardening practices and enthusiasm for passing the knowledge on to others."
The volunteers come from all sorts of backgrounds. You don't have to be an expert when applying.
As one of Susan's peers commented, “I am sharing my love for gardening with the community as well as with friends and family."
How is gardening information shared with the Santa Clara County Community?
"UC Master Gardeners are a primary resource for delivering gardening information from the University of California to the Santa Clara County community."
"We present events and classes, mostly free, on a wide variety of gardening topics, held at venues throughout the county.
Available classes are posted on the Master Gardener website."
Next week, in Part 2 of 3, we'll meet the volunteer Master Gardeners in a Volunteer Spotlight. In Part 3 of 3, we'll learn more about the Cambrian Library classes and what students have said about them!
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