Becoming a Master Gardener Volunteer
Who are the Putnam County Master Gardener volunteers?
Interested? The process is simple.
Master Gardener volunteers come from all walks of life and share a passion for plants and their care, an interest in the intelligent use of natural resources and a commitment to sharing their knowledge with the community.
Interviews will be held starting June and continue through August.
A criminal background check is required of all candidates.
Current Master Gardener volunteers are physicians, teachers, nurses, secretaries, computer specialists, writers, grandparents, entrepreneurs, homemakers and retired
We will send you a letter notifying you of your acceptance into the program.
Once you’ve received your acceptance letter, please send your agreement forms and your check for $350.00 to: Cornell Cooperative Extension Attn: Daniel Feeser 1 Geneva Road Brewster, NY 10509
firefighters. Their garden styles include exotic flowers and heirloom vegetables, fruit trees, formal beds with sculptures and manicured shrubs, cutting gardens, natural wetlands and rock gardens. Their properties range from window boxes to acres of forest and everything in between. Experience ranges from near-professional to just
Complete the application and interest survey. Send both to: Cornell Cooperative Extension Attn: Daniel Feeser 1 Geneva Road Brewster, NY 10509
beginning, so no matter where you fit horticulturally, there’s a place for you. As a Master Gardener volunteer, you’ll learn how to help address critical issues like invasive plants, fragile habitats and endangered species. The Master Gardener Plant Sale each May is an excellent teaching opportunity, and the many adult classes we host help home gardeners grow healthy vegetables, use water wisely and use less pesticides. Cornell Cooperative Extension provides equal program and employment opportunities. Please contact our office if you have special needs.
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Putnam County 1 Geneva Road ● Brewster, NY 10509 Phone: Fax: Website: Email:
845-278-6738 845-278-6738 www.cce.cornell.edu/putnam [email protected]
Becoming a Master Gardener Volunteer: Your Guide to the Program and the Process in Putnam County
Welcome to the world of the Master Gardener Volunteer What do Putnam County Master Gardener volunteers do? Master Gardener volunteers provide university-tested, science-based education to home gardeners through Cornell Cooperative Extension programs in Putnam County. Each year, Master Gardener volunteers help thousands of homeowners grow healthier plants, learn about the county’s ecosystems and natural resources and help protect the environment. You can teach people how to use fewer synthetic pesticides, how to garden under drought conditions, how to prevent and control plant diseases and more. After an initial 15-week training, an annual commitment of 30 hours of volunteer activity is required of all Master Gardeners. This yearly commitment must include:
Attending at least 5 of the 12 monthly meetings
Answering questions in the Diagnostic Lab at least 3 times each year
Participation in at least 3 primary programs: May Plant Sale, 4-H Fair Plant Sale, Farmers Markets or Gardening and Health.
What kind of training do Master Gardener volunteers get? Because you will represent Cornell Cooperative Extension in the community, you will go through an extensive training program. You’ll learn the basics of botany; soil science; entomology; plant pathology; ecological lawn care; control of pests and wildlife; the propagation and care of annuals, perennials, vegetables, fruits and trees; organic gardening and public speaking. You’ll learn the latest about climate change. Faculty from Cornell University’s Department of Horticulture & Plant Sciences are your teachers for six of the classes. Other instructors include Cooperative Extension Educators from the Hudson Valley region and professionals in the field. The curriculum is the equivalent of a threecredit, college-level introductory horticulture course. The training begins with an orientation to our county’s programs and is followed by 14 more classes—one full day a week—to help you bring Cornell Cooperative Extension’s research-based horticulture information to Putnam County residents. Your training curriculum will give you the foundation you need to be a full-fledged volunteer, but before your volunteer service begins, you will also get hands-on training in the Horticulture Diagnostic Lab and with other Master Gardener volunteers. Your education continues at the regular monthly meetings, on trips to area gardens and presentations from horticulture and university specialists. The statewide and
You’ll also find many other options to volunteer that fit your interests
regional Master Gardener Conferences offer even more, and we offer a one-half
and skills, including:
reimbursement toward the registration fee for active Master Gardener volunteers. The
Teaching classes through Adult Education programs, town
2009 conference at Cornell University, for example, featured classes and tours on subjects
recreation departments, garden clubs and civic associations;
that included the Viburnum Leaf Beetle research, a visit to the Lab of Ornithology, and
Designing or maintaining gardens and composting areas
classes on soil, fruit trees and much
Helping promote Master Gardener and Cooperative Extension
more.
events;
Developing educational events or designing educational displays;
Helping children learn about gardening and growing food at libraries and schools;
Writing for our Facebook page and blog;
Participating in field and survey research.
What is the fee for the training? Tuition for the training is $350. Each Master Gardener volunteer trainee receives a Training Manual and extensive course material from Cornell University. The tuition fee covers instruction, the Training Manual and all additional books and materials.
Interested? The process is simple.
Master Gardener volunteers come from all walks of life and share a passion for plants and their care, an interest in the intelligent use of natural resources and a commitment to sharing their knowledge with the community.
Interviews will be held starting June and continue through August.
A criminal background check is required of all candidates.
Current Master Gardener volunteers are physicians, teachers, nurses, secretaries, computer specialists, writers, grandparents, entrepreneurs, homemakers and retired
We will send you a letter notifying you of your acceptance into the program.
Once you’ve received your acceptance letter, please send your agreement forms and your check for $350.00 to: Cornell Cooperative Extension Attn: Daniel Feeser 1 Geneva Road Brewster, NY 10509
firefighters. Their garden styles include exotic flowers and heirloom vegetables, fruit trees, formal beds with sculptures and manicured shrubs, cutting gardens, natural wetlands and rock gardens. Their properties range from window boxes to acres of forest and everything in between. Experience ranges from near-professional to just
Complete the application and interest survey. Send both to: Cornell Cooperative Extension Attn: Daniel Feeser 1 Geneva Road Brewster, NY 10509
beginning, so no matter where you fit horticulturally, there’s a place for you. As a Master Gardener volunteer, you’ll learn how to help address critical issues like invasive plants, fragile habitats and endangered species. The Master Gardener Plant Sale each May is an excellent teaching opportunity, and the many adult classes we host help home gardeners grow healthy vegetables, use water wisely and use less pesticides. Cornell Cooperative Extension provides equal program and employment opportunities. Please contact our office if you have special needs.
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Putnam County 1 Geneva Road ● Brewster, NY 10509 Phone: Fax: Website: Email:
845-278-6738 845-278-6738 www.cce.cornell.edu/putnam [email protected]
Becoming a Master Gardener Volunteer: Your Guide to the Program and the Process in Putnam County
Welcome to the world of the Master Gardener Volunteer What do Putnam County Master Gardener volunteers do? Master Gardener volunteers provide university-tested, science-based education to home gardeners through Cornell Cooperative Extension programs in Putnam County. Each year, Master Gardener volunteers help thousands of homeowners grow healthier plants, learn about the county’s ecosystems and natural resources and help protect the environment. You can teach people how to use fewer synthetic pesticides, how to garden under drought conditions, how to prevent and control plant diseases and more. After an initial 15-week training, an annual commitment of 30 hours of volunteer activity is required of all Master Gardeners. This yearly commitment must include:
Attending at least 5 of the 12 monthly meetings
Answering questions in the Diagnostic Lab at least 3 times each year
Participation in at least 3 primary programs: May Plant Sale, 4-H Fair Plant Sale, Farmers Markets or Gardening and Health.
What kind of training do Master Gardener volunteers get? Because you will represent Cornell Cooperative Extension in the community, you will go through an extensive training program. You’ll learn the basics of botany; soil science; entomology; plant pathology; ecological lawn care; control of pests and wildlife; the propagation and care of annuals, perennials, vegetables, fruits and trees; organic gardening and public speaking. You’ll learn the latest about climate change. Faculty from Cornell University’s Department of Horticulture & Plant Sciences are your teachers for six of the classes. Other instructors include Cooperative Extension Educators from the Hudson Valley region and professionals in the field. The curriculum is the equivalent of a threecredit, college-level introductory horticulture course. The training begins with an orientation to our county’s programs and is followed by 14 more classes—one full day a week—to help you bring Cornell Cooperative Extension’s research-based horticulture information to Putnam County residents. Your training curriculum will give you the foundation you need to be a full-fledged volunteer, but before your volunteer service begins, you will also get hands-on training in the Horticulture Diagnostic Lab and with other Master Gardener volunteers. Your education continues at the regular monthly meetings, on trips to area gardens and presentations from horticulture and university specialists. The statewide and
You’ll also find many other options to volunteer that fit your interests
regional Master Gardener Conferences offer even more, and we offer a one-half
and skills, including:
reimbursement toward the registration fee for active Master Gardener volunteers. The
Teaching classes through Adult Education programs, town
2009 conference at Cornell University, for example, featured classes and tours on subjects
recreation departments, garden clubs and civic associations;
that included the Viburnum Leaf Beetle research, a visit to the Lab of Ornithology, and
Designing or maintaining gardens and composting areas
classes on soil, fruit trees and much
Helping promote Master Gardener and Cooperative Extension
more.
events;
Developing educational events or designing educational displays;
Helping children learn about gardening and growing food at libraries and schools;
Writing for our Facebook page and blog;
Participating in field and survey research.
What is the fee for the training? Tuition for the training is $350. Each Master Gardener volunteer trainee receives a Training Manual and extensive course material from Cornell University. The tuition fee covers instruction, the Training Manual and all additional books and materials.
