become a master gardener

I love to garden. My goal for getting a Master Gardener certificate is for personal reasons. This is not something I want to make a career of, but would love to know more about what I’m doing and make what I do with my gardens, better. I am especially fond of garden design.

I applied for the program back in Oct of 08, and got in. Now that I’ve left my job, I have a ton of time to really absorb what I’m learning in the program. I’m looking forward to completing the program and starting the volunteer aspect so that I can meet people and be a more active part of my community.

So far, we have learned a TON. I’ve got a to-do and to-read list a mile long, which is exciting. It’s finally all coming together.

I usually let plants etc. survive on their own, but I would like to cultivate a beautiful thriving garden.

I finished my volunteer hours back in December, but just received certificate this week. Yay! Now to maintain it I need to continue doing 15 hours of volunteer time and 5 hours of educational hours each year… no problem.

I love to garden! Now that I live in a house, I have 3 functional gardens.

1 in the front by the walkway that is just for flowers and flowering shrubs.

1 in the front under the bedroom window for berries and melons.

and…

1 in the back (that is about to get moved to the far back where there is more space expanded) for vegetables.

This season coming up I will take the old vegetable garden space in the back against the house and make it an herb garden.

Even with all the gardening I do. I’m just an amateur and would like to take classes to become a professional so that I can got top quality plants and start selling them at the farmers market or even just add it to my man’s arborist work!

I have to take the Master Gardener class!
(and yes, those are some of the flowers in my garden)

2 orchids and a beautiful healthy fern

However, I have managed to keep a pony tail palm alive for over 2 years =] (that is the only one that survived)

I have no idea which plants grow in which seasons.

Always ready to learn.

i’ve enrolled in the course, took all the sessions, all i have to do is complete my volunteer hours, and i’m a master gardener! the group of people i’m surrounded with are SO COOL, and i’m looking forward to getting to knowing all of them so much more. :-)

... We finished our course in December and now need to complete 40 hours of volunteer service, which probably won’t start until this spring/summer =)

I went through the Master Gardener program out of Shelby County Alabama this fall. I got certified in the middle of November. Overall it was a great experience. I met a lot of really cool people and learned way more than I thought I would about gardening in my area. Our county was going through some new testing tools so that made our tests more difficult than previous classes – but overall very worth doing!

My husband and I have attended the first class and already planning what we will do for our volunteer gardening… very exciting! =)

This will be complete in the next 12 months =)