I’m really excited because tonight is my first class in the Master Gardener certification training that I am taking thru the University of Tennessee for the next four months.
As a former, very avid 4-H kid, and current, very enthusiastic (!!), novice gardener, getting involved with the state’s Master Gardener program was a natural fit for me.
For your amusement, here I am at about age 12 posing with Bonnie, the purebred Jersey heifer I won in the annual Duck River Electric Cooperative Essay Contest. When this photo was snapped, Bonnie and I had just won the Jr. Dairy Showmanship Award at the Bedford County 4-H Livestock Expo.
But back to the Master Gardener training…Any of y’all who have read my blog over the past year or two know how much joy my garden has brought me, and how passionate I’ve become about learning all I can about growing things. So you can imagine how psyched I am about getting to spend three hours every Tuesday night for the next few months being schooled in gardening fundamentals by experts from UT’s College of Agriculture.
And once I have the requisite training hours and pass the test to become a bonafide MG (I wonder if all Booker T’s friends were actually plant geeks…?), I am also excited about getting involved with the various flora-related volunteer activities that Master Gardeners do around these parts.
As soon as I learned of the existence of the Master Gardener program about a year ago, I knew that I wanted to eventually apply and take the certification course. However, I figured my enrollment would need to wait a year or two for logistical reasons. But as it happens, I was offered a slot in this semester’s class thru my employer, and when I mentioned the idea to Jon, he was incredibly enthusiastic about me doing it, so things just came together nicely. The big kids have also offered to help on Tuesday nights for the next few months so that Jon can more easily get their little sisters fed, bathed and to bed on a school night while I’m away in my class. (Thanks Jon! Thanks J and E!)
Have any of y’all taken the Master Gardener training where you live? What did you think? What kind of volunteering have you done since you finished your training? Do tell.
I cannot wait to have you work your gardening magic here!
Here in Southern California, Master Gardeners need to do so many hours of community service–is this required in Tennessee as well? However will you find the time?
@Tom-
Certified Master Gardeners in TN are required to perform 40 hours of approved community service annually, and also complete 8 additional hours of continuing education each year.
You’re right that finding time to volunteer is a challenge – and that’s the case for everyone I know, no matter their particular life circumstances.
Happy New Year!
Katie
4 hours twice a month, six months out of the year = 48 hours
So you could even miss twice and still be good to go!
I think all Master Gardeners in the US are required to do community service. I don’t think that’s up to the particular state you live in – it’s just part of the certification.
@Clisby
You are correctomundo. The reason I specified “Tennessee” is because I think the specifics of how the service is required to be done may differ from state to state (and maybe even among counties), and I only know what we were told about what TN MGs’ service requirements are. Thus, I wanted to be clear that I was only describing our state’s guidelines, and not any other state’s MG program
-Katie
I’m excited to hear how the class goes. I’ve been trying to get into a local one near me for awhile. I’ve actually felt like the group here has been a little exclusive, so I’m hoping that’s not universally the case.
@Anne – The group at our first class tonight was way larger than I expected and relatively diverse, given the general diversity of East Tennessee. Everyone was extremely friendly, and I feel like we’ll all be pals by the time we finish the class together in the spring.
-Katie
Yay you for taking this step. Exciting.
Thanks @TCSeattle
-Katie
One of my friends through Girl Scouts is a Master Gardener. I’d love to take some sort of class. We always had a garden growing up, and I miss the taste of that kind of food.
Where I live in VA has a similar climate to where I grew up (Gatlinburg), and I think the tomatoes here are a rival for Granger County tomatoes.