The Missouri Master Gardener program is a program offered by the University of Missouri Extension.
To become a Master Gardener, you don’t have to be an expert. All that is required is an interest in gardening and a desire to serve your community using gardening skills. The Wright County Extension office is offering the program.
To be certified as a master gardener, participants undergo extensive training for 13 classes. Master Gardeners are taught about all aspects of gardening, including plant growth, soils, diseases, insects, fruits, vegetables, flowers, trees and others. The classes are taught by MU Extension specialists from across the state.
After classroom course completion, Master Gardeners are required to fulfill 30 hours of service to the community. Volunteer service can include many types of projects, such as community beautification, teaching gardening knowledge through speaking or writing, youth gardening projects and working with the elderly.
Master Gardeners include adults of all ages who come from a variety of backgrounds. They all have two traits in common: A love of gardening and a desire to help others. Monthly meetings are an enjoyable time to get together with fellow gardeners and learn from each other.
The Wright County Extension office is planning a Master Gardener core class that will start in late fall. The classes will be held one night per week at the Extension center in Mountain Grove. A break in classes is planned for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. Cost is $175 for the complete 13-week session, which includes the Master Gardener Core Manual for participants to keep. A minimum of 10 participants is required to hold this class. To be put on the list of participants or for more information, call the Wright County Extension office at 417-349-4134.