Welcome to Level 1 Master Gardener!

Montana State University Extension Master Gardener Program: Education and Volunteering Toby Day Montana Master Gardener Coordinator P.O. Box 173140 312 Leon Johnson Hall Bozeman, Montana 59717 Tel: (406)994-6523 toby.day@montana.edu

The History of the Extension Master Gardener Program Began in Washington State (WSU) in 1972 Dr. David Gibby, Ext. Agent in Horticulture Response to the overwhelming number of requests for gardening information Gibby was the agent for King County, developed the MG program for Washington State

According to the 2009 National Extension Master Gardener Survey Active in 48 states and 4 Canadian provinces Current # of MG Volunteers – 94,865 Total annual volunteer hours – 5,197,573 Value of volunteer hours – $101,400,000 New Master Gardeners this year – 16,471 Personal contacts by MG – 4,850,285 Pounds of produce donated to local food banks – 685,554 Personal contacts are # of people served by Master Gardeners

Montana State University Extension Master Gardener Program Level 1 – Basic yard and garden class (beginner to intermediate) Level 2 – More intensive training for experienced gardeners (Intermediate to advanced) Level 3 – Three day intensive training at MSU “Master Gardener University”

Level 1 Extension Master Gardener 8-week beginning level course Must complete 20 hours volunteer commitment Open book or take home test Soils and fertility (N-P-K-Fe) Plant growth and development Vegetable gardening Planting and maintaining flower beds Trees and shrub selection, installation and maintenance Lawns and irrigation Small fruit and fruit trees Composting Intro to integrated pest management (IPM) Volunteer commitment explained later.

Level 2 Extension Master Gardener 8-week intermediate/advanced level course More emphasis on IPM and Extension Must complete 30 hours volunteer commitment The role of Master Gardener in Extension Binomial nomenclature Fertility, plant nutrients (more emphasis on micronutrients and microorganisms) Propagation Plant growth and development Entomology, plant diseases and abiotic disorders (review of IPM) Vegetable and fruit IPM Trees, Shrubs, and Lawn IPM

Level 3 Extension Master Gardener Program “Master Gardener University” 3 day intensive training at Montana State University Approximately 30 hours of class time 40 hours volunteer commitment More emphasis on hands-on and roles of volunteers Commitment to helping local MSU Extension offices with Master Gardener Offered the summer of 2011

MSU Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Commitment Responding to horticultural inquiries in a local MSU Extension office Researching and writing horticulture-based articles for local media outlets Giving talks to local groups Introducing children to gardening Presenting information at garden and trade shows Volunteering at farmers’ markets Presenting educational programs Providing research assistance Creating and maintaining demonstration and community gardens

Online resources for Master Gardeners MSU Extension Homepage http://www.msuextension.org Montana Master Gardener Program Website http://www.mtmastergardener.org Master Gardener site is where you can login to get presentations and handouts. Encourage MG to log into the forum to get questions answered or to answer questions

Thank you Extension Horticulture Associate Toby Day P.O. Box 173140 312 Leon Johnson Hall Bozeman, Montana 59717 Tel: (406)994-6523 toby.day@montana.edu