Applications for becoming a certified University of Minnesota (UMN) Extension Master Gardener are currently being sought by the Crow Wing County Extension office in Brainerd.
The UMN Extension Master Gardener program is an educational program designed to train volunteers to help other people in their communities with issues relating to horticulture. The program was created in 1977 and is administrated by the University of Minnesota Extension.
To be a certified master gardener you should have an interest in gardening and a desire to share this interest with others. As part of the requirements for the first year, interns must pay for and complete the required 49-hour educational training, "Core Course." The online training will cover a different horticulture topic each week from January to May of 2015. In addition to the training, Interns must complete a minimum of 50 hours of volunteer work during their internship year. To retain the certification, program members must complete each year a minimum of 25 hours of volunteer work and 5 hours of continuous education.
For more information about the UMN Extension Master Gardener program in Crow Wing County, go to z.umn.edu/crowwingmgs. For more information about the registration process contact Jackie Froemming, County Coordinator at 824-1068 or at froem022@umn.edu .
