Our Mgs designed and maintain 18 gardens around the Ext. office. All the work is done by small groups in each garden. Each garden has it's own theme and with rare exceptions no garden repeats planting what is in another garden. I have helped in ornamental grasses, everlasting and cutting gardens and the terrace hydrangea garden. I designed and with the help of others put in a small pond which we hope to enlarge this year. We are almost finished with the greenroof project on the shed. There is a Monet garden, a veggie garden, an herb garden,a moonlight garden, a cottage garden, a trial garden, a butterfly garden, woodland fen, rock garden, childrens garden,(jr MGs), a propagation group and I forget what I have missed. Oh, a prairie. Others are in the planning stage. The pond took one winter to figure out and researching and designing the greenroof took over 300 hours. In the interest of continuity, there is a group who has put in irrigation systems (Hooray! No more hauling hoses) and another who builds fantastic raised beds. (That is mostly the work of one very nice guy). There is also a composting demonstration area, and a conifer grove. Areas between gardens are planted with trees, shrubs, and flowers that are cared for by most everyone who has time on workdays. We haven't hired any professionals but some of us have become professionals. I think this is one of the reasons we have been able to keep a large proportion of the people who take the classes. All expenses are covered by such things as plant sales. It is probably one of the best gardens in the midwest. Oh, I have to mention the brave people who do the record keeping, organizing, lunch preparation and the ones who contact local nurseries for donations (shudder). All jobs I would hate to do but I sometimes get jealous because I can't work on someone else's project. Sandy

Well Jim Dandy, here are the reasons that potential applicants are rejected as I see it in our county: A. If someone has questionable Legal Problems with abuse or drugs or a felony, they are out B. During the initial panel interview you turn one or more of the interviewers off with saying that they only believe in organic gardening. The interviewers want to hear that you practice IPM and that you would spray if necessary. I practice IPM and hardly ever have to spray. C. If someone appears to want to join the program with the purpose of moving on to a horticultural paying job and drop out of the program after they get a free education D. Favor will be given to friends and family of current mg's who apply. E. Favor will be given to someone who has money or political connections which can be of benefit to extension to provide networking in the community F. Preference will be given to those who have a higher education already thus proving that they like to learn G. The selection is made from many and a few are chosen each year for the program. The space is limited. The initial test is just to show everyone that gardening is a life-long learning process and that no one, not even the professors know it all. We all have to look things up and rely on each other for information and sometimes even make new discoveries. The panel interview we took was overwhelming and scarey for some applicants, but then again, so is giving a talk in front of 7 park rangers and 30 various assorted people for the first time. The mg test is hard, open book, answers had to be qualified from notes from class or other approved reference material. The hours were many as a volunteer, my first year I put in 185 and then was rejected to be on the advisory board, because I didn't have the "vision" though my peers said they would have voted me in at a heartbeat for my dedication alone to the program and the fun they had in working with me. I was heartbroken, but knew that it was a political decision and didn't take it personally. I've worked on every committee and created teamwork where there was formerly none. It's the agents decision in the final round. Sometimes ya gotta just roll with the punches and find other outlets for your volunteer efforts Maybe you should get a masters in horticulture and become an agent for a county! I know a few who went that route when things weren't going as planned. When I get all done with my mg stuff and advanced training classes, I just move on and go to help other organizations who also appreciate me so much that they take me to dinners, theaters, send me gift certificates etc. At our group, we don't receive extra hour pins, get to participate in mg of the year awards or agent of the year awards, we do it all simply because we love each other and learning and teaching about gardening. There are a plenty out there who would love to have you help them! I love being an mg and getting others involved in gardening and solving problems. Hope you try again next year! In the meantime, be sure to go to a lot of the mg talks which are offered at county extension to get the feel of things in your county extension office. Each one is a little different than the others.

Gardener Sandy, the MG clinics in my area are sponsored by nurseries and garden centers to help support the program. And to lighten the load on the nursery personnel themselves during the busy season when nursery sales are paramount and answering questions (which we do anyway) can take up a lot of time and sales staff. 8 weekend MG clinics during the course of the year is not what I'd consider a huge demand in a nursery that operates a full 12 months. And as for professionals calling for answers, there are "professionals" and then there are professionals. Training, education and experience can vary widely in this industry and I have no doubt there are scores of landscapers out there that are self-taught and are grateful for a resource such as the MG hotline to get answers to specific questions they are not familiar with. FWIW, I also get professionals in my nursery asking for plant ID's and disease or pest diagnoses as well. Don't be defensive - it is a valuable program and MG's offer a worthwhile service but based on my many years of experience in both the nursery industry, the landscape profession and with the MG program, I'd have to say there is very much a mixed perception of the role of the master gardeners by the general public. At least in my area, and this is where the program started initially - if the confusion exists here where the program has been established for 30+ years, it must also exist elsewhere.

It is all a matter of education. I find if I bring something unusual to market I spend a lot of time explaining but not much selling of it. However, they do come into the booth to see what else I have (normal)or what weird next week, so it is good in that sense. I wouldn't base my major selling item as the "needs explanation and only the brave will try it" item. I call these things "shills". Recipes are wonderful, though a tiny bit of extra work. What really does work is lots of prepared food samples. People like to eat stuff that is FREE. If you are going to offer this same weird thing for weeks, people come back and ask for it. If it is a one time thing, they forget. I once offered "do-it-yourself" horseradish with tastes and recipe. Two years later people are asking me when it will be offered again. I offered Korean Red (very hot and spicy) garlic by the clove (not bulb) for the adventuresome (with samples of green beans marinated with these cloves and chopped onion, olive oil, salt). They still come by and ask if I have any this season (yes, I just happen to have some cloves here at $10 per pound). If you think there is a market for purslane, go for it. Most people view it as a weed but it really is nutritious and your job is to educate them. Just tell them not to put into their compost pile and to please, take a bite of this delicious "prepared whatever". Nancy