It is very big ag friendly from what I understand. Traditional views. I am a biological gardener so my views are skewed to balance all living things in the soil. I did Smiling gardener course on line.

I did it many years ago and really enjoyed it. Not sure how much I learned that I already learned from my ancestors and experience but was nice just the same. I just recently donated all the material from the class to a good cause. There was a lot of good stuff in there. I have considered taking it again, if just to get out an evening in the winter and meet new people.

I think the best part was meeting new people and sharing some of my own experiences.

I have not continues to keep my accreditation after the first year. To keep it you must...

" Maintaining MSU Extension Master Gardener volunteer status requires completing a minimum of 20 hours of community service and 10 hours of education each year. "

I say, go for it!

I haven't but I've had a saved email on my phone about it for a few weeks!..I'm conflicted..my county offers fall classes starting in Sept..I'm busy raking, chipping, bringing in plants then..the adjacent county has classes starting Jan 8th..a longer evening drive in a cold sometimes snowy Indiana winter for 3 hours weekly for 15 weeks..they did say classes are rescheduled in extreme weather..if the class was 5 mins away it would be a no brainer..or I could push myself and do it in the fall..a shorter drive and better weather..so as usual overthinking and no decision..I did attend the City Gardener program in my county..a weekly 3 hour class for 6 weeks and enjoyed it..I have a feel now for the Master Gardener classes..my neighbor took the classes and like Ken didn't complete the volunteering..

pandora - if you lived here we could go together and I would do it!

The whole purpose of the EMG program is to educate the public on gardening and horticultural issues via volunteering. If you do not plan to volunteer your services after completing the training, then don't sign up. It is not intended to be a series of classes just for the benefit of hobby gardeners but an opportunity to give back to the community the additional insight you have gained. Since there is usually a waiting list of applicants, leave it to those who are serious about contributing their volunteer time.

gardengal..I would plan on volunteering..I'm retired..it's possible..but it does require time and effort..I haven't been ready to make the sacrifice..

Ye, it does require time and effort :-) And a reason a lot of those who do participate in the program are retired.

I never did. But then , I am gardening since 1974, have hostas since 1990, have 300 different hostas since 2009, do hosta hybridizing since 2011. I also have 60 different conifers. My garden looks good, great, I also have a dry creek bed where water runs from gutter downspouts for 100 ft to the fence. I successfully fight any garden diseases, though fightening those voles with pvc Z shape bait dispensers is an on-going battle.

So I never thought to go to this training, why when all runs OK, and I enjoy it?

"So I never thought to go to this training, why when all runs OK, and I enjoy it?"

Because it is not intended solely for your benefit but to give back gardening support to your community via the volunteer efforts. If you don't focus on that or want to do the volunteer work, then there is no point in joining.

the class that I attended had about 30 people..and quite a few seniors..like me..I'm 64..

in ny..I get what you say..I've owned plants forever..it's not as if my garden is completely finished and I'm bored..my garden could keep me busy 24/7 until the day I leave it..the program is just a goal that I'd like to achieve..

hit submit too soon and can't edit (sigh)..I think I would enjoy helping others but worry that I couldn't keep up at home..

Thanks for all your comments. I never realized that the intent was to volunteer to help others. Very interesting.

Ken, I'm very impressed that you were a stay at home dad. Congrats. Now, I see where your sense of humor comes from.

I have been thinking about this as a goal for a few years, but I might not get all the volunteer/education to keep it up. In my retirement I think I'm done with that type of commitment. I had to constantly update my tech skills for 42 years. Hmmm, might not be for me. Put it back on the back burner for now. I plan to attend more of their events this year and get involved that way.

Happy New Year all.

stay at home dad. Congrats. Now, I see where you sense of humor comes from.

==>>> never thought of blaming the kids for that too ... lol ...

the lenawee county course is run out of MSU hidden lakes gardens in tipton MI .... you can easily do your volunteer work right at those gardens .... its not like you would have a hard time searching for the opportunity ....

but it did boil down to raising my kids in my garden .. spending 6 or 8 hours a say in the yard ..... and the thought of then going on weekends to work in someone elses garden.. just didnt pan out ...

i did have high ideals about actually doing the volunteering ... it just never happened ...

ken

ps: the waiting lists sound more like a city issue.. rather than a rural issue ... i was never aware of anyone being turned down ... but alas ... its been a long time ....

I took a class from a prominent garden/landscaper company.....long ago. 6 weeks of 2-3 hours each, got a certificate of some kind, got it somewhere..... there was something about volunteering but never did that. I have had a notoriously bad back (surgeries, hardware, injections) so never had the well-being to volunteer, I can hardly do my own gardening and only with Bert’s help now, my neighbor.

I am now 23 years as a certified Master Gardener in California. The classes were 8 weeks long almost 8 hrs a day. Loved them and have over 3000 hrs volunteering. I love the learning aspect of the program and we need to take continuing ed classes to keep our knowledge up. Lots of people take the classes and then lose interest. Too bad as there are great opportunities in the program. Have to love gardening and learning new things. And have to love sharing those things learned with others.

Continuing ed and volunteerism remain a big annual requirement. Hours of each have increased of late, but typically if you are a MG, the hours of service occur in but a blink of the eye. You can do it all in two weeks, or do it in six weeks or so. And much of the continuing ed stuff is available on video. I spend my winters researching garden topics on line ... those hours melt away quickly as well. I rehabilitated a dozen park benches last summer ... took lots of time, much more than the 'required' time.

The secret handshake involves a trowel ... UNLESS you are gardening with Gordon Ramsey, in which case the handshake requires 'a cocktail stick.'

I remember being very impressed by master gardeners in California and was interested in taking the program. When I heard about it in Ohio, it was a little confusing to hear how much easier it is here. I may still do it here, but I'm just not as interested.

You don't mention (or I didn't notice) what state you live in. I'm in PA, was interested in the program over 12 years ago and was actually between jobs but figured "what if I get a job with hours that cause me to have to drop out?" So I didn't...and after I figured out I'd have been able to do it then had I known how life would roll out ("cause don't we all"?) I kicked myself until I thought I had extra time & was accepted to the program. Turns out I did my training (I think it was 40 hours) while working full time but at least it wasn't too far from home. I think the volunteer hours were 50 the 1st year but 20 after that. Every state is different, so check out what is required in your state. Our CE is 10 hours a year, but if you're OK with online you can have about a million hours in a bizarre year like this when if you follow just your interests you will be offered free webinars by just about every state college in the country!

Re: volunteer hours. Compare the price you pay with a credit course. In a lot of cases you are being taught by some pretty high powered experts, and while I did my training 7-8 years ago my handbook & materials would have cost more than back when I was in school.... I was kind of shy, but most of the folks in the MG programs are so helpful and most have a special interest or 2 that they love to share. Spend some time with them and you will open your borders & learn so much! I know so much more about bees than I ever did! Please, do not, any of you, be afraid of the volunteer time-yes the 1st year can be tough but there are lots of ways to do it (check with your local office) I've done a lot of "tents at events" but most programs also need people to write articles, organize the events, help in an office, answer a garden question line and yes, maybe organize folks to work with community gardens. Please don't shy away from trying something you've not done before. Your volunteer work IS a big part of providing some amazing educational info, and you can't believe how many folks you can reach and how many are interested in the info you will have to share. And how much they will teach you!