Horticulture Training Program
Horticulture Training Program
Cornell Cooperative Extension Announces 2024 Master Gardener Course
ELLICOTTVILLE - Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cattaraugus County’s Master Gardener Program is excited to announce their next Master Gardener 14-week training class. Classes begin Tuesday, March 5, 2024 and will occur every other Tuesday evening from 6:00-8:00pm at 28 Parkside Drive, Ellicottville, NY. There is a remote Zoom option available if you are unable to attend in-person. Tuition is $125.00 which includes all materials.
The Master Gardener Program is a national program of trained volunteers who work in partnership with their county Cooperative Extension office to expand educational outreach throughout the community by providing home gardeners with research-based information. In Chautauqua and Cattaraugus Counties, the Master Gardener program is part of our community horticulture outreach activity, with volunteers educating home gardeners, youth in schools and after-school programs, community gardeners, and consumers of horticulture products. Neighbors teach neighbors about landscape, fruit, vegetables, herbs, beneficial and harmful insects, plant diseases, integrated pest management, wildlife, soils, composting and much more.
The Training Program includes a core course in gardening as well as refresher classes, field trips and workshops to enhance expertise and ability to communicate information related to ecological gardening and related topics to the public.
Each Master Gardener volunteer is expected to maintain 35 hours of volunteer time per year, which can be completed through community gardening efforts, educational presentations, fundraising for the Master Gardener Program, professional development meetings, and other gardening projects.
Benefits of being a Master Gardener volunteer:
• Satisfaction of serving your community
Interaction with others in your community with similar interests in gardening and community service
A deeper understanding of the science behind gardening
Are you interested in becoming a Master Gardener volunteer in Cattaraugus or Chautauqua County? Please contact Shannon Rinow, Master Gardener Program Coordinator, at smr336@cornell.edu or apply online at https://cattaraugus.cce.cornell.edu/gardening/master-gardener-volunteer-program. For more information about Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cattaraugus County and other programs, call 716-699-2377 or visit their website at https://cattaraugus.cce.cornell.edu/.