Master
Gardener & Composter Programs
"Cultivating Plants, People and Communities since 1973"
About the WSU Master Gardener Program
The Washington State University
Extension faculty in King and Pierce counties began training volunteers
to serve as WSU Master Gardeners in January of 1973. Little did
they realize that they would launch an entire "Master Gardener
Movement" which would spread across the nation and overseas, making
it a historic, sociological "grassroots" movement with widespread
impact. It is considered a premier program within Washington State
University, being that only uniquely WSU program with such widespread
adoption and impact.
The WSU Master Gardener Program is a combination of training and public service. WSU Master Gardener Volunteers provide professional, unbiased, research-based home gardening and horticulture information to the public. In order to prepare volunteers for this role, WSU Thurston County Extension trains committed gardeners in basic botany, integrated pest management, soil science, plant identification, pest and disease diagnosis, and more. Master Gardeners are not paid for their community service, nor are they allowed to use their status for personal/business gain.
WSU Master Gardener Program Purpose Statement
To provide public education in gardening
and home horticulture based on researched-based information from
WSU Extension.
Organizational Structure
Guidance for the WSU Master Gardener
Program is provided by faculty and staff from the Department of
Horticulture and Landscape Architecture in close cooperation with
the WSU Extension. The central Master Gardener office is located
at the Puyallup Research and Extension Center. Within each county,
the County WSU Extension office, often assisted by local Master
Gardener Organizations, supervises the Master Gardener Program.
(see the Partnerships page.)
The WSU Master Gardener Program also participates in both regional
and international Master Gardener conferences and committees,
network with other state coordinators across the United States
and Canada.
Training Information
Interested in becoming a Master Gardener? The next training begins February 2010. Applications are due November 6, 2009.To learn more download the following application and fact sheet or scroll back up and click on the "Training" heading on the sidebar.
2010 application & fact sheet - WORD
2010 application & fact sheet - PDF
For more information, contact Cori Carlton, Program Manager.
Email: carltoc@co.thurston.wa.us
Phone: 360-867-2162
Time Sheets for Certified Master Gardeners
2009 Timesheet PDF
2009 Timesheet Excel
2010 Timesheet PDF
2010 Timesheet Excel
Important Links
Composting Bins & Workshop Information- Thurston County Residents get Discount on Composting Bins!
Gardening in Western Washington - Hosted by WSU Extension State Master Gardener Program
Hortsense - Home gardener fact sheets for managing plant problems with IPM or Integrated Pest Management.
Thurston Conservation District - The Thurston Conservation District promotes voluntary stewardship among private landowners in Thurston County. Its services are free to residents of Thurston County.
Newsletters, WSU Publications - Free & Downloadable!
|
