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Become a
MASTER
GARDENER
volunteer
for Miami-Dade County !
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Master Gardener
Class-'02 |
Join the
elite group of dedicated gardeners who help others solve their
horticulture problems
LEARN & HAVE FUN!
If you love plants, want to know more
about them, and you like to volunteer, this program is for you!
What
Is A Master Gardener?
Master Gardener is a title
granted by the University of Florida to individuals who complete both the
Master Gardener training and their volunteer hours. They are individuals
who are interested in:
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Horticulture
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Educating and helping others
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Making civic contributions through volunteer work.
What
Does A Master Gardener Do?
| Master Gardeners make an
important contribution to the community through volunteering their time
and learned expertise by assisting the Urban Horticulture Agent in several
ways.
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1)
At the Extension office, Master Gardeners help answer homeowner
phone calls on:
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Flower & vegetable gardening
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Plant selection
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Insect, disease, & weed identification
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Least-toxic pest control
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Pesticide & fertilizer use
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Composting, recycling & mulching
2)
Veteran Master Gardeners assist the Extension Agent with:
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Establishing demonstration & community gardens
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Horticultural presentations & demonstrations
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Staffing gardening information booths at community events
& plant shows
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Teaching horticultural practices of the “Florida Yards
& Neighborhoods” program
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And more …..
| Master
Gardeners staffing booth at Tropical Ag. Fiesta |
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How
Do I Become A Master Gardener?
By
attending the Master Gardener training program and completing an
internship at the Homestead office for a minimum of 60 hours during
weekdays. Classroom training takes one full day per week
(M-F) for 10-12 weeks and is usually held at the Miami-Dade County
Extension office in Homestead, Florida. Volunteering opportunities
are at selected sites throughout the county after completion of the
internship in Homestead.
How Is A Master Gardener Trained?
Through the Master Gardener training program,
participants receive more than 80 hours of classroom & field training
from University of Florida professors, horticultural professionals, and
Extension Agents. The Miami-Dade County Extension office offers the
program once a year in the FALL (classes run from
September to December).
Master Gardeners learn
about:
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Flower & Vegetable Gardening
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Fruit Trees
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Ornamental Trees, Palms, & Shrubs
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Lawns
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Insect, Disease, & Weed Identification
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Proper Pesticide & Fertilizer Use
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Soils, Composting, & Mulching
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Basic Botany
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And much, much more!
What
Does It Cost?
Master Gardeners pay for their specialized training
by volunteering sixty (60) hours of their time and expertise to the
Miami-Dade County Extension office. This is a required internship before
the title ‘Master Gardener’ is granted.
In addition to your
volunteer contribution, there is a nominal fee to purchase the Master
Gardener literature, which is yours to keep. The comprehensive Master
Gardener literature, prepared by the University of Florida, includes:
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Three volumes of Master Gardener Books
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One Lawn Handbook
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Twenty-six color sheets of Florida Insects & Diseases
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In-house gardening fact sheets
As
of January 2003, the fee is $125.00 to cover the cost of all books,
materials and refreshments.
Classes
are during the week and are intense, but rewarding. There is a final exam
at the end of the course. You will be contacted for an interview once your
name is on the waiting list and a class space is open. We are looking for
people who are interested in making a long-term commitment to
volunteering.
This
program is meant for those who have a flexible schedule.
Just as
a reminder, classroom training is at the Homestead Extension
office. The majority of the initial volunteering (internship) is at this
office location. Answering gardening phone calls during the week is a
major volunteer effort as a Master Gardener intern.
| Come
join our Miami-Dade County team of Master Gardeners today...........
Learn, Share
and Have Fun too!
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Miami-Dade
Master Gardener Class Registration Form
Adrian Hunsberger, Urban
Horticulture
Agent
Master Gardener Coordinator
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