Understanding the Master
Gardener Program
Rachel Suits, Master Gardener Program Coordinator
Question 1
What type of
Research-based
information do
information, nonMaster Gardener’s
biased and
pass on to the
customized for
community?
the customer.
1
January 26, 2016
Question 2
What percentage
of households
participates in
gardening as a
recreational
activity in the
United States?
2
January 26, 2016
80%
Question 3
What are the three
requirements to become
a certified Master
Gardener in the Central
Gorge Program? Hint:
there are different
requirements for new and
returning Master
Gardeners
3
January 26, 2016
• New MGs:
• Attend all training hours
• 55 hours of payback (12
in plant clinics)
• Pass the exam with
70%
• Returning MGs:
• 24 hours of training
• 24 hours of payback (12
in plant clinic)
• Pass test with 70%
Question 4
What OSU
Extension Program
Area does the
Master Gardener
Program belong to?
4
January 26, 2016
Agriculture
and Natural
Resources
Question 5
Which Act was
signed in 1862
and what is the
land-grant
university
system?
5
January 26, 2016
Morrill Act provided
states with land that
could be used to
establish an
educational institution
to teach agriculture
and the mechanical
arts.
Question 6
How was
Cooperative
Extension
Service
formed?
6
January 26, 2016
Smith-Lever Act
formalized the public
distribution and
dissemination of
science-based
information developed
by land-grant
universities and
agricultural experiment
stations
Question 7
How was the
original Master
Gardener
Program
established?
7
January 26, 2016
King and Pierce County
Extension agents trained 200
volunteers in 1973 to answer
home horticulture questions
after agents received an influx
of questions from homeowners
they could not answer. Now
Master Gardener programs are
in all 50 states, 9 Canadian
Provinces and South Korea.
Question 8
As of 2009, how
many Master
Gardener
volunteers are
trained?
8
January 26, 2016
94,865
Question 9
Read the mission, vision and
strategies on page 8 of the
document “An introduction to
being a Master Gardener
volunteer.”
9
January 26, 2016
Question 10
What are the threeprongs that landgrant universities
develop and
disseminate
knowledge?
10
January 26, 2016
Teaching,
Research
and
Extension
Question 11
Why did you become a
Master Gardener?
11
January 26, 2016
Question 12
What forms are
required to
complete before
you are eligible to
become a Master
Gardener
volunteer?
12
January 26, 2016
• Pest Control Agreement
• Use of the title ‘Master
Gardener’
• Code of Conduct
• Conditions of Volunteer
Service
• Position Description
• Criminal History
• Motor Vehicle Check
• Extension Photo Release
(optional)
Question 13
What are three Master
Gardener volunteer rights?
13
January 26, 2016
Question 14
What are three Master
Gardener volunteer
responsibilities?
14
January 26, 2016
Question 15
How long is the
Master Gardener
certification good
for?
15
January 26, 2016
One year
Question 16
What are two topics Master
Gardeners can provide
recommendations for?
16
January 26, 2016
Question 17
What are two topics Master
Gardeners cannot provide
recommendations for?
17
January 26, 2016
Question 18
What are some
resources where
Master Gardeners
can find information
regarding the least
toxic approach to
pest control that will
result in safe,
effective
management?
18
January 26, 2016
• PNW Handbooks – weed, insect
and plant pathology; not a legal
document, clients must refer to
pesticide label for instructions,
let the clients calculate their
own rates
• OSU Extension publications
• Extension publications from
other areas in the PNW
• Extension publications from
other states
• Articles from scientific journals
Question 19
What is the
OMGA?
19
January 26, 2016
A 501(c)(3) nonprofit
organization that was formed
in 1982 to enhance and
support the activities of the
OSU Extension MG program
by assisting in the continuing
education of MGs, providing
educational programs to
members at monthly meetings,
and organizing other
education events.
Question 20
What is
the
CGMGA?
20
January 26, 2016
• The local chapter of OMGA with
a governing board and officers,
including an elected
representative who works with
the OMGA at the state level
• Supports the program by
providing financial support for
projects through fundraising
activities, sponsoring additional
learning opportunities, producing
the weekly e-newsletter, and
organizing many social activities
Question 21
What are 3 projects you may
be interested in participating
in 2016?
21
January 26, 2016
Question 22
Who are the
2016 CGMGA
officers and
when does the
Executive
Committee
meet every
month to make
decisions?
22
January 26, 2016
•
•
•
•
•
President—Shari Bosler
President Elect—Sue Sanchez
Secretary—Christie Bradley
Treasurer—Nancy Slagle
State OMGA Representative—Eric
Bosler
• State OMGA Representative
Alternate— TBD
• Extension staff are ex-officio members.
• This committee meets on the second
Tuesday each month from 10am-noon
at the Extension office conference room
to manage the association business